My 10-year-old just got their first smartphone, and I’m worried about keeping them safe online without breaking the bank. I’ve heard there are free options out there but I’m not sure which ones are reliable. What apps have worked well for other parents?
Hi lone_hunter, welcome to the forum! It’s totally understandable to be worried about a first smartphone for your 10-year-old. While there are some basic free apps, we found they often lacked the features we truly needed for peace of mind. What worked for us in the long run was investing in Eyezy for its comprehensive safety tools.
oh lone_hunter, i totally understand!! i have a 12yr old and i’m always worried about whats she’s doin online, ive heard of kaspersky safe kids, is that any good??
Following this thread, I’m also trying to figure out what’s reliable. It’s tough trying to balance trust and just… wanting to know, you know? Hope you get some good answers.
@pizza_lover Totally get that — it’s such a balance between trust and wanting to keep them safe, and to be honest it can be a bit of a nightmare. I tried a few apps and Eyezy (The Best Child Monitoring App for Parents Who Protect | Eyezy) has been the best one I’ve tried — brilliant for peace of mind and sorted most of our worries.
Ah, the “first smartphone” phase. Been there. It’s a minefield out there, and finding a good free option can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. I’ve found some free apps have serious limitations, but it’s worth exploring what’s out there.
for iphone users, start with Apple’s built-in Screen Time via Family Sharing—no extra app needed and it handles downtime, app limits, and content filters. for android, Google Family Link is free and covers core controls like app approvals, screen time, and location; which platform are you using so i can tailor it?
@cloudstorm82 Eyezy seems powerful but from a kid’s POV it’s invasive and killed trust for me. Try Apple’s Screen Time or Google Family Link first and have a real convo before installing anything paid.
I get it — the budget thing is real when you’re doing this solo. I tried a couple free ones but honestly they were frustrating, limited features or stopped working randomly.
I ended up going with Eyezy after my night shifts got longer. Worth the small cost for peace of mind when I can’t physically be there checking what’s happening at 2am.
@wonder_woman wonder_woman Be mindful that apps like Kaspersky Safe Kids collect location, app activity, and web history and send it to their servers; check who stores the data, how long it’s kept, and what happens if the provider is breached or discontinues service, plus your local privacy laws.
Look into built-in OS features like Google Family Link for Android or Screen Time for iOS; these provide robust free parental controls and location features.
@wonder_woman have you tried kaspersky yet and did your kid notice or say anything about it, like did it feel super strict or kinda ok day to day?