According to a recent study, 95% of teens aged 13 to 17 own smartphones, and 53% of children start using them by age 11. While cellphone use offers several benefits to kids, like staying connected with family and accessing educational resources, it can also be dangerous if not monitored properly.

Statistics show that over 30% of teens fall victim to cyberbullying, which can be extremely harmful to their mental well-being. That’s why it has become essential for parents to track the online activities of their kids.

That’s where this guide comes in. It contains a list of the best tracking apps for parents to help you choose the right option based on your needs.

Why Should Parents Track Their Child?

There are several reasons why parents should track their children. The most important ones include:

• Safety: Monitoring your kids can help you protect them from online scams and cyberbullying.
• Peace of Mind: Tracking your kids’ online activities and real-time location provides you with peace of mind, especially if they’re away from home.
• Quick Response: When you know your kids’ location, you can reach them quickly in an emergency.
• Accountability: Studies show that well-monitored kids are less likely to engage in rule-breaking behaviors.
• Academic Performance: By tracking your kids, you can find insights into their academic performance to offer timely support and encouragement whenever needed.

While tracking your kids can be helpful, make sure that you maintain open communication with them about responsible internet usage and online safety.

5 Best Tracking Apps for Parents

Here’s our list of the best tracking apps for kids with comprehensive parental control features.

Scannero

Scannero makes for the best location-tracking app for parents. It’s basically an online geo tracker that allows you to find precise location information of your kids using their phone numbers. The data it offers includes street details and coordinates, which are displayed on a user-friendly map.

What we liked the most about Scannero is that it doesn’t require you to install anything on your or your kid’s phone. You just need to create an online account on the official website and enter the desired phone number. The app will provide you with the location information within two minutes.

Additionally, Scannero also allows you to create a unique link that you can share with your kid. As soon as they click on the link, you’ll start getting real-time updates of their location.

Features

• Location by phone number
• Unique link generation for location tracking
• Reverse phone lookup to find strangers behind phone numbers
• Email and phone leak checker
• Anonymous voice messages sending

Pros

• Accurate location tracking
• Easy to use
• Doesn’t require access to the target device
• Quick functionality
• No app installation required

Cons

• Requires receiver to open the link
• Doesn’t offer other tracking feature

mSpy

mSpy is one of the best tracking apps for parents because of the features it brings to the table. Other than location monitoring, this app comes with an SMS viewer, screen recorder, website blocker, and social media tracker.

mSpy also allows you to view multimedia files such as pictures, videos, and audio exchanged during conversations. The social media platforms that the app covers include WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Viber, Snapchat, Kik, and Discord.

Additionally, the app is available on both iOS and Android platforms, which means you can run it on all mainstream smartphones and tablets.

Features

• Precise GPS location tracking
• Keylogging to view what your kid writes
• Web blocker to keep them from viewing harmful content
• Screen recording to view their activities
• Anonymous Instagram viewer
• SMS and call log viewing

Pros

• Comprehensive tracking capabilities
• Easy to install and set up
• Demo version to understand functionality for free
• Support for iOS and Android
• Works silently

Cons

• Needs to be installed on the target device
• No free trial offered
• Rooting Android devices is required for some features

Moniterro

If you’re looking for an easy-to-use tracking app for kids, Moniterro can be the best option. Its simple setup process, consisting of just 3 steps, really impressed us. First, you need to register by selecting a desired subscription plan, install the app using instructions received via email, and start monitoring.

In addition to ease of use, Moniterro offers excellent monitoring features and you can use it with both iOS and Android devices. However, you need access to the target device to complete the installation process.

But once installed, it runs completely silently on your kid’s device, without showing any icon or notification.

Features

• GPS location tracking
• Browsing history viewing
• SMS and call logging
• Social media monitoring
• Screen recording
• Website blocking
• Keylogging
• Email tracking
• Photo and video viewing

Pros

• Excellent monitoring features
• Easy installation process
• Silent functionality
• Refund policy
• Cross-platform functionality

Cons

• No trial period or free version
• Must be installed on the target device

Eyezy

The reason we consider Eyezy one of the best tracking apps for parents is that it offers everything you need to monitor your kid’s entire phone. From location tracking and social media monitoring to website/app blocking and browsing history viewing, the app covers everything.

But one feature that sets it apart from the competition, in our opinion, is its unique demo feature available on the website. It allows you to experience firsthand how the app functions in detail before making a purchase commitment.

Features

• Keylogger
• Social media monitoring
• Screen recorder
• Call and SMS tracking (including deleted messages)
• Location tracking and geofencing
• Calendar viewing
• Internet history monitoring
• Web, Wi-Fi, and app blocking

Pros

• Easy installation
• Stealth mode
• Great customer service
• Detailed demo

Cons

• Rooted Android devices are needed for some features
• No free trial available

Detectico

Detectico is another excellent location-tracking app for parents that you can use without installing anything on your or the target’s phone. That’s because it’s an online app that works across the globe with every phone and network.

To use Detectico, simply create an account on the official website and enter your child’s phone number. The app will generate a message with a unique link, and once your child opens it, you’ll instantly receive their current location.

Features

• Location by phone number
• Detect names behind unknown phone numbers
• Check if your personal data is at risk
• Totally private functionality
• Detect unlimited phone numbers

Pros

• Support for all phone carriers worldwide
• No installation required
• Affordable pricing
• Extremely easy to use

Cons

• No phone activity monitoring
• Requires the receiver to open the link

FAQ

Conclusion

By tracking your child’s online activities, you can find valuable insights to ensure their safety and well-being. It allows you to provide timely support and protect them from potential online risks.

We hope this guide has helped you make an informed decision in choosing the best tracking app for your kids based on your needs.

Regardless of the app you choose, make sure that you indulge in open communication with your kids to help them develop a healthy relationship with technology and build mutual trust.

Author: Nicklaus Borer