Best Reviewed
Parental Control Software
- Best parental control software Net Nanny *Est. $40
- Most versatile parental controls CyberPatrol Parental Controls *Est. $40
- Best web-based parental controls OnlineFamily.Norton *Est. $0
- Best parental controls for Macs Safe Eyes *Est. $50
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Best parental controls for Macs
- Can be installed on up to three computers
- Inexpensive extra licenses
- Very good remote management
- Can be used on Macs as well as PCs
- Not the most versatile
- No real-time data analysis, slow browsing
- Weak program blocking
Expert sources say Safe Eyes is among the better parental control programs available. You can create up to 10 user profiles, though these do not link with Windows user profiles. Other features include good remote monitoring and excellent (though sluggish) web filtering. It's also a good choice if you need to block content on more than one computer (the license allows you to install it on up to three computers at the same time), especially because Safe Eyes works well on both PCs and Macs. Safe Eyes costs slightly more than the competition, though for multiple installations, its extra licenses are cheaper (*Est. $17). Program blocking is one of Safe Eyes' weaknesses, so if you need to restrict access to hard-drive content as well as websites, reviewers recommend CyberPatrol Parental Controls (*Est. $40 per year) for up to three computers or Net Nanny (*Est. $40 per year) for one computer.
The best review of Safe Eyes can be found at PCMag.com, which tests the program against a wide range of parental control software. Safe Eyes also gets coverage at TopTenReviews.com and Child-Internet-Safety.com, although these sites aren't always as thorough as they could be.
Our Sources
Neil Rubenking evaluates Safe Eyes as part of a recent roundup of parental control software for PCMag.com. He says the program is "the best choice for families using both Macs and PCs." Web blocking and parental notification are strengths. Safe Eyes' vulnerability to certain hacks and its weak program blocking keep it from scoring higher.
Review: Safe Eyes 6.0, Neil J. Rubenking, Feb. 22, 2010
Safe Eyes ranks second, just behind Net Nanny, in TopTenReviews.com's latest roundup of parental control software. The program gets a high rating in the full review, which rates feature set, installation and other categories separately. The biggest complaint is that web filtering is slow, because each site must be checked against Safe Eyes' database before it can be blocked or allowed.
Review: Safe Eyes 2010, Editors of TopTenReviews.com
Child-Internet-Safety.com rounds up 10 parental control programs. Safe Eyes comes in third place, behind Net Nanny and CyberPatrol. According to reviewers, Safe Eyes "has all the right features" and is easy to use. However, the program can be slow, and the lack of Windows username integration is cited as a negative as well.
Review: Safe Eyes Review, Editors of Child-Internet-Safety.com
