5 Chromebook apps to help parents manage their children's activities

Chromebooks are a great choice for your children. These products are cheap, portable, lightweight, and the software that needs to be installed doesn't cost you any money. When children start using technology, parents often want to keep track of what they do.

Due to its focus on children, students, and educational goals, Chromebooks and Chrome OS have a range of parental controls. Some features come with Chrome OS, while others come from the Chrome Web Store or Google Play.

Here are the best parental controls for what kids are doing on a Chromebook.

1. Google Family Link

One of the best Chromebook's built-in parental controls available is Google Family Link. This Google-designed application allows parents to track their child's Chromebook usage from an Android smartphone. Family Link is an alternative to Chrome Supervised Profiles. Chrome Supervised Accounts still works, but you can no longer edit settings or create new profiles.

Google Family Link allows parents to:

1. Set a Chromebook time limit
2. Control daily time limit manually
3. Set time limits for individual apps
4. View children's app usage and uptime reports
5. Approve application downloads and other online activities
6. More applications focused on distance education and exploration
7. Remotely lock your Chromebook, with specific unlocking time
8. Locate your child through Family Link on Chromebooks

You can also control your child's Chromebook from another Chromebook (as long as you can install the Android app, because some Chromebook models can only install the Chrome Web Store app, instead of the OS app. Android).

Google Family Link has the same functionality as Chrome Supervised Profile, with some handy extras.

2. Mobicip Parental Control

Mobicip Parental Control with Screen Time (full title of the app) is a remote parental control application. This is one of the most popular and comprehensive parental control apps that works on Android, iOS and Chromebooks, as well as macOS and Windows.

Mobicip Parental Control includes the following features:

1. Schedule and limit Chromebook time use
2. Remotely lock your Chromebook
3. Review recent browsing history
4. Block and control social networking, video and gaming applications
5. Managing Internet content filtering
6. Send a message to the Chromebook; reminders, check homework, etc.
7. Track the location of your Chromebook with this feature enabled

Mobicip Parental Control is very easy to use and has many features. This is an advanced parental control application. One-year subscription for MobIDIA Standard package costs $ 49.99 (VND 1,115,000) / year, providing protection for 5 devices. Mobicip also offers a free 7-day trial to find out if parental controls are right for you and your child.

1. Download Mobicip for Chromebook | Mobicip for Windows | Mobicip for macOS | Mobicip for Android | Mobicip for iOS

3. WebWatcher

WebWatcher is a long-standing name in the parental control app market. This WebWatcher Chromebook app is not as comprehensive as Google Family Link or Mobicip Parental Control, but it does allow remote Chromebook management and has some handy content alerts. With Chromebook monitoring of WebWatcher, you can:

1. Track website and search history
2. Track social network URLs
3. Create word alerts with automatic screen capture
4. Use the continuous screenshot mode to update

WebWatcher's Alert Log tool is highly recommended. Alert Log constantly scans data on your Chromebook, using advanced filters to capture any malicious behavior or content. If your child engages in any unauthorized behavior on their Chromebook, you will receive a complete email update, along with a screenshot of the issue.

WebWatcher's Chromebook monitoring model respects the privacy of Chromebook users, and still informs parents about any dangerous activity.

WebWatcher for Chromebook is a parental control application. You can choose to pay monthly, for $ 3.32 (VND 77,000) or pay $ 39.99 (VND 929,000) for a 12-month subscription. WebWatcher also offers a free trial to check parental controls before buying.

4. Blocksi Manager Home

Blocksi Manager Home is a comprehensive parental control option on Chromebooks, with a range of management and monitoring features. There are several versions of Blocksi. The free Blocksi option offers standard but handy URL filtering and content, whitelist and site ranking.

The best option is Blocksi Manager Home Premium, which gives you:

1. Control Internet access time, social networking, video, gaming
2. Filter channels and additional YouTube keywords
3. Customizable filter policy
4. Provides search function, web history and real-time analysis
5. Notice of malicious or illegal content access attempts
6. Forcing children to adhere to the screen time set by their parents

Blocksi Manager Home Premium costs $ 59.50 (VND 1,382,000) / user / year. Relatively, Blocksi Manager Home is one of the products that provides parental controls on expensive Chromebooks. However, this is also one of the most comprehensive options. Like other Chromebook control options on this list, Blocksi offers a free trial. Apps like Blocksi prevent children from disabling them using passwords.

1. Download Blocksi (Free trial)

5. mSpy

mSpy is a parental control application, focused on continuous monitoring. In it, mSpy gives you an uninterrupted view of your child's Chromebook 'world', as long as the Chromebook is turned on or used. mSpy offers a wide range of parental control features, including:

1. Monitor social networks, including WhatsApp and Snapchat
2. Control web browsing, as well as track and report searches
3. Track and analyze emails
4. Location tracking when Chromebooks are in use
5. Warning geographical fence. If your child accesses the Chromebook outside this fence, you will receive a warning
6. Control, monitor and block installed applications

mSpy is extremely comprehensive, but it is also the most expensive parental control app on this list. Geographic barrier features, site blocking and more are included in the Premium subscription, priced at $ 53.99 (VND 1,254,000) / month. You can reduce costs with a 12-month subscription (for a price of $ 12.49 (VND 290,000) / month.

1. Download mSpy (Free trial)

If you want a free and relatively easy-to-use option, it's nothing more than Google Family Link. It works immediately. You can install this app on almost any Chromebook, as long as it is compatible. Google Family Link uses your existing Gmail account to track your child's Chromebook usage, and the app itself is also very intuitive.

The other options are handy, with many different strengths to increase parental control. However, since they all come with a certain price, the free option is better.

Wish you find yourself a suitable choice!