Looking for the best free parental control app in the UK? Here’s a plain-English comparison of the free options built into your child’s devices, plus two dedicated apps.
If you’re worried about what your child is doing online, you don’t necessarily need to pay for another app.
Most phones, tablets, computers and consoles already have some form of parental controls built in.
The tricky part is knowing what’s actually available, what you can see, and whether “free” really means free.
So I’ve looked at some of the most useful options for UK parents — including Apple Screen Time, Google Family Link, Microsoft Family Safety and dedicated apps such as Kaspersky Safe Kids and Qustodio.
This isn’t about spying on your child.
It’s about having enough visibility to make sensible decisions about their digital life.
Here’s where I’d start.
Apple Screen Time — best if your child uses iPhone or iPad
If your child has an iPhone or iPad, I’d start here before downloading anything else.
Screen Time is built into Apple’s devices and, when used with Family Sharing, gives parents a surprisingly good set of controls.
You can manage things such as:
- app and website usage
- screen-time limits and downtime
- app downloads and purchases
- age ratings and inappropriate content
- web content
- who your child can communicate with
- privacy settings
You can also use a Screen Time passcode so the settings can’t simply be changed from the child’s device.
For many Apple families, this may be all the parental control you actually need.
The big advantage is that it’s already part of the device — no extra monitoring subscription required.
My verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best for: families already using Apple devices who want straightforward parental controls without installing another monitoring app.
Google Family Link — best for Android and Chromebook
If your child uses an Android phone or Chromebook, Google Family Link is the obvious place to start.
It’s free and gives parents a useful overview of how the device is being used.
You can:
- see which apps your child uses and for how long
- set daily screen-time limits
- set bedtime or downtime schedules
- approve or block apps
- manage some content restrictions
- manage Google Play purchases and downloads
- see the location of supported devices
One thing to understand is that Family Link isn’t a secret monitoring tool.
It doesn’t let you remotely watch your child’s screen or read their messages.
That’s actually a good thing.
The aim is to give you useful information and parental controls without turning your child’s phone into a surveillance device.
Microsoft Family Safety — useful for Windows and Xbox
If your child uses a Windows PC or Xbox, Microsoft Family Safety is another option worth knowing about.
It can give parents visibility over things such as screen time and app or game usage, while also providing controls for content and spending.
You can use it to:
- view activity reports
- set screen-time limits
- manage app and game access
- apply age restrictions
- manage web and search filtering
- manage purchases and spending
It’s particularly useful if your child’s digital life revolves around an Xbox and Windows PC rather than a phone.
There is one important limitation: some features depend on the device, browser and account setup, so don’t assume that every type of activity is covered.
Kaspersky Safe Kids — more features, but check what you actually need
Kaspersky Safe Kids is different from the options above because it’s a dedicated parental-control app rather than a control built into the device.
It can provide more detailed monitoring and control, including:
- web filtering
- app usage reports
- screen-time limits and schedules
- YouTube-related controls
- location features on supported devices
- alerts and activity information
There is a free version, although some of the more advanced features are part of the paid version or trial.
That’s the important distinction when comparing parental-control apps.
“Free” doesn’t always mean you get every feature for free.
My verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best for: parents who want more detailed controls than the basic tools built into their child’s device.
Qustodio — useful if you want more detailed monitoring
Qustodio is another well-known dedicated parental-control service.
Its appeal is that it can bring more detailed monitoring and controls together in one place, particularly for families using different types of devices.
Depending on the plan and device, features can include:
- screen-time monitoring and limits
- web filtering
- app and game monitoring
- activity reports
- location tracking
- alerts about certain online activity
There is a free version, but it is much more limited than the paid plans.
That makes Qustodio a good example of why it’s important to look beyond the word “free” when comparing parental-control apps.
My verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best for: parents who want a dedicated monitoring service and may eventually need more advanced features across multiple devices.
So which parental control should you use?
For most parents, I’d start with the controls you already have.
If your child uses an iPhone or iPad, try Apple Screen Time first.
If they use Android or a Chromebook, Google Family Link is a good starting point.
If they spend most of their time on Windows or Xbox, look at Microsoft Family Safety.
If you want more detailed monitoring across different devices, then a dedicated service such as Kaspersky Safe Kids or Qustodio may be worth considering.
You don’t necessarily need the most powerful option.
You need the option that gives you the right level of visibility and control for your family.
And remember: parental controls aren’t a substitute for talking to your child about what they’re doing online.
Don’t confuse monitoring with spying
It’s tempting to think that the more you can see, the safer your child is.
I’m not sure that’s always true.
For younger children, you may quite reasonably want a good level of visibility over what they’re doing online.
As they get older, though, giving them some privacy while keeping sensible boundaries becomes increasingly important.
I’d use parental controls to:
- set reasonable boundaries
- prevent accidental access to inappropriate content
- manage spending
- understand how much time is being spent online
- spot things that might need a conversation
I’d be much more cautious about secretly reading every message or trying to monitor every conversation.
The goal isn’t to catch your child doing something wrong.
It’s to help them learn how to use the internet safely and responsibly.
The Digital Dad’s quick picks
If you just want the short version:
🍎 iPhone or iPad: Start with Apple Screen Time.
🤖 Android or Chromebook: Start with Google Family Link.
🎮 Windows PC or Xbox: Look at Microsoft Family Safety.
🛡️ Want more detailed monitoring: Have a look at Kaspersky Safe Kids or Qustodio.
💷 Want to spend nothing: Start with the controls you’ve already got. For a lot of families, they’ll be enough.
My advice? Don’t download five different apps and make yourself a second job.
Start with what your child’s device already gives you. See what it can actually do, then decide whether you need anything more.
You don’t have to monitor everything
The internet can feel like a lot when you’re a parent.
New apps appear, games change, and suddenly you’re expected to know what Discord, Roblox, Fortnite, TikTok and everything else are doing.
You don’t need to know everything.
Start with the device your child uses most. Have a look at the controls, understand what they’re actually doing online, and have a conversation with them.
That’s a much better starting point than panicking and installing every monitoring app you can find.
And if you find the technology confusing, that’s exactly why I started The Digital Dad.
Quick answers for parents
What is the best free parental control app in the UK?
For most families, the best free option is the one built into your child’s device: Apple Screen Time for iPhone and iPad, Google Family Link for Android and Chromebook, and Microsoft Family Safety for Windows and Xbox.
Is Google Family Link free?
Yes. Google Family Link is free and lets parents set screen-time limits, approve apps and manage Google Play purchases on supervised Android devices and Chromebooks.
Can I set parental controls on an iPhone for free?
Yes. Apple Screen Time is built into iPhone and iPad and, with Family Sharing, lets you manage app limits, downtime, purchases and content from your own device.
Do free parental control apps let me read my child’s messages?
The built-in tools don’t — and that’s by design. They focus on limits, approvals and content rather than reading private conversations.
Want a simple starting point?
If you’re mainly worried about gaming, our free Fortnite Parent Safety Check takes around 10 minutes and covers the basics every parent should know.
It’s free, straightforward and designed for parents who don’t want to spend hours digging through settings.
You can get it here:
The Fortnite Quick Parent Guide Free
And if you want to go further, The Fortnite Parent Guide covers the game, chat, spending, privacy, parental controls and the terminology you’ll keep hearing from your child.