Studies show that four out of five people check their devices just 15 minutes after waking up. The technological world has turned nearly millions of people into phone addicts, and it doesn't stop there. According to various media outlets and reports, 71% of the population typically sleeps with their mobile phone within a meter of them.
On the other hand, it can be said that this uncontrolled activity does not only occur at night, since according to Arbitrion and Edison Research, 91% of people who have a device permanently in their hand have a record of 150 contacts per day, a paranoia, right?
This obsession is not only manifested in circumstances where many complain that family dinners are sacrosanct and devoid of technology, but many people, especially younger ones, cling to their smartphones at those times or while going to the bathroom.
Thus, the measures mentioned above have allowed the emergence of mobile phone monitoring apps, which must surely be some of the most downloaded in the world, since, unlike other apps, they have a direct impact and control over people's mental health.
You can also read: 10 Best Apps to Manage Your WiFi (Android and iOS)
The consequences of constant access to mobile phones
The use of mobile devices has become the favorite pastime of most people, which unknowingly affects their emotional state, their mood, and even their overall health in one way or another.
One of the complications that can arise from this is nomophobia, which is nothing more than the uncontrollable anxiety that occurs when a person is not near a mobile phone.
But while these consequences are a consequence of technology, there are others that are not entirely bad and, in fact, can be very useful and beneficial in addressing the diagnoses that define the relationship with addiction and the limitations that must exist to fully respect this activity.
10 Best Apps to Control Mobile Usage Time
Like a coin, technology has two sides. While we focus on its benefits, we often deliberately ignore its drawbacks. Facebook , Twitter, and other gaming apps on our phones can help us communicate, entertain ourselves, and stay up-to-date, but we lose track of time and interest in the real world.
Most people stare at screens all day , which not only distracts them from their current tasks but also damages their eyesight. That's why we need apps that track phone usage. There are many apps that limit phone use.
To help you choose, we've compiled a list of phone usage tracking apps that will help you monitor your Android usage and manage your time effectively. These apps also act as screen time trackers on your Android device.
1. Qustodio Parental Control
Qustodio is one of the best screen time tracking apps. It's easy to use and helps parents manage screen time. Qustodio offers powerful parental control and monitoring tools , such as setting screen time limits, filtering inappropriate content, and blocking apps and games.
The ability to control devices across different platforms is another advantage of the app. The app helps you understand how children use their phones, including apps and the internet, so you can set appropriate screen time limits and monitor their browsing activity.
Filtering technology protects children from harmful content and determines in real time whether content is safe for your child. Qustodio blocks inappropriate content , even in private mode, and allows you to set limits on games and apps, and even block certain games entirely.
Other characteristics
You can monitor the time your child spends on Facebook, Instagram , Twitter, or WhatsApp , track messages and calls, and even set time limits on multiple devices.
You can also track your child's location and call for help in an emergency using the panic button. Qustodio Parental Controls for iPhone and iPad offers web filters and time limits for some apps, but it lacks the comprehensive parental control features of the Android version.
This app offers an easy way to completely disable in-app purchases. Qustodio's most notable feature is its detailed tracking of text messages and call logs , and the control panel easily shows you who your child is talking to and messaging most.
2. FamiSafe – Parental Control
Famisafe is a parental control app that lets you monitor your child's phone, set geofences, control and block apps, filter web content, and manage screen time remotely. The app is ad-free and suitable for parents who want to monitor their children's digital and GPS activity.
With FamiSafe, parents can control screen time by setting a location-based schedule, rewarding kids for extra time, and monitoring the use of certain apps.
They can also limit the use of certain apps or set total smartphone usage time and monitor real-time location. The FamiSafe app allows them to set different conditions to filter inappropriate content on YouTube or websites.
Geofences are one of the most innovative features of the app. It allows parents to mark certain places as safe. This can be at home or at school. If a child leaves an area marked as safe, the parents will be notified.
3. Parental Control & Kid Tracker
OurPact is an app for screen time restriction, app blocking, GPS monitoring, child monitoring, and family monitoring that allows parents to manage their family's screen time and keep track of family members.
These are some of the main features of the application
- App Lock: Lock the Internet and apps at a glance.
- Calendars: Screen time throughout the day or week.
- Kid Tracker: Track your child's location with one of the best geolocation apps for families.
- App List: See what apps are installed on your child's device.
- Family Locator: Whether you want to keep your child safe, find a lost device, or coordinate a delivery, Family Locator is always at your fingertips.
- Block Text Messages: Limit access to iMessage and text messages with calendars, tasks, or handheld notebooks so text messages don't distract you from homework or family dinner.
- Block Porn: Filter sexy adult content on all browsers installed on your devices iOS or Android for kids, providing peace of mind where it's needed most.
OurPact's app policies let you control all the apps installed on your child's device. Block certain apps or set other control rules for educational apps instead of distracting social media. After all, not all apps are created equal.
4. Boomerang Parental Control
Boomerang parental controls offer parents the most flexible screen time options for Android devices. This app is also available for iOS, but has some limitations.
Boomerang lets you set screen time limits and restrictions for your child's Android device. It also helps you talk to your child about device usage, good and bad apps, internet browsing, videos, and more. Easily control your child's Android device from your Android or iOS device.
Once the account is created, the user has access to a wide range of powerful features. These include:
- Location tracking: This feature allows you to track your child’s location and GPS. Parents can receive notifications and updates about their child’s location. We found it very easy to set up and connect to your child’s phone with a simple email. The child dashboard also includes “stats” that allow you to see how your child is using the app and what its limitations are.
- Text Message Control: We love the fact that inappropriate keywords in your child's text messages can be edited and monitored. This powerful software also allows you to track sent text messages and unknown numbers.
- Call blocking: This feature allows parents to restrict who can call their child's phone and who can call them. Parents can also view call reports. Again, it's very easy to install and configure with simple navigation features.
- Web browsing: This app has a number of options to control and restrict Internet access. It can be used in conjunction with the company's SPIN Secure Browser.
- Application Discovery and Approval: A wide selection of applications in the App Store and Google Play allows parents to review and approve applications downloaded by their children.
5. Screen Time Parental Control
ScreenTime is one of the best screen time reduction apps for Android and iOS. It allows you to manage the time your children spend on their tablets and smartphones.
Parents can encourage positive habits by assigning and rewarding children for extra screen time. Parents appreciate the Instant Pause feature , which instantly pauses their children's devices—perfect when taking them to lunch or after school.
You can also invite your partner, parents, or other caregivers to manage your child's screen time settings. Easily manage your family's screen time with one account and control all devices, including your parents' if you want.
Other characteristics
Like all parental control apps, you can monitor the time your children spend on their smart devices . You can also see which apps are in use and for how long, receive notifications when your children try to install a new app, and see which websites have been visited from your child's device.
You can use the ScreenTime parental control app to block certain apps at certain times of the day and limit activity during school hours.
6. Screen Time Limit KidCrono
KidCrono is a unique app that monitors children's screen time. It's suitable for children of all ages who regularly use mobile devices. This app helps parents control the amount of time their children spend in front of screens , encouraging them to respect playtime limits on their iPad, iPhone, or iPod.
This app has no educational value, but it can be an important tool for parents concerned about their children's screen time. While children's use of mobile devices has greatly enhanced their learning experience, excessive screen time can also be harmful.
The app is well designed and easy to use, but we found it to be too thoughtful and menu-driven. We understand that creating a “screen time” app requires some technical tweaking of the device. Among the many apps on the market, this is probably one of the best.
7.ESET Parental Control
ESET Parental Control is a comprehensive parental control application that takes a holistic approach to keeping children safe online. It uses age filters to determine which apps your child can and cannot use.
It also blocks age-inappropriate websites and website categories. You can set time limits on the apps and games your child can use and check the location of your child's device or send a confirmation message before they can continue using the device.
Let your children explore the internet in a way that's appropriate for their age. Enter your child's age so ESET Parental Control can automatically detect available categories . For example, gambling and pornography are blocked by default.
Other characteristics
If your child visits a restricted site, they can ask for your permission to access its content. If parents grant permission, an exception is automatically made in Web Guard. Application Guard allows you to filter application access based on the child's age . Parents can decide which applications their children can use and for how long.
The list of apps is downloaded to the child's mobile device. ESET Parental Control offers parents added security by only showing age-appropriate apps to children. Apps that are not age-appropriate can be blocked automatically.
The app's parental portal makes it easy to set up web filters and restrict access to website categories using green and red beeps. ESET can track device activity and show your child's mobile device location at any time.
Playing games, keeping in touch with friends, and improving their online skills are important for kids, but so are other family activities. With this feature, you can set daily time limits for the apps you choose.
8. Norton Family parental controls
Ideal for families with multiple children, Norton Family Parental Control protects up to 10 devices (PC, Mac , Android, and iOS). It allows you to set age-appropriate settings for each device, filter websites, and monitor movement.
It offers an impressive range of monitoring and parental control features for parents of today's hyper-connected children. The app keeps you informed of the websites your children visit and blocks dangerous or inappropriate sites.
It also helps your children balance their online time by setting time limits on device use. Encourage healthy habits by establishing specific times of day or week when each device can be used and how many hours a day can be spent on each one.
Other characteristics
This app lets you see the words, terms, and videos your children are searching for on their devices. You can't block apps with the Norton Family Premier app . Parents also receive detailed reports about their children's online activity.
The privacy feature helps prevent your children from sharing sensitive information online, such as their phone number or the name of the school they attend.
By monitoring social media, you can see how often your children visit Facebook from a computer or an app, as well as the name and age they use on their profile, so you can talk to them about sensible social media habits.
In the Android version, you can see the apps your children have downloaded on their devices. The app's advantage is that it also protects against viruses, spyware, malware , and other online threats.
9 Limit Screen Time Control
Limitly lets you block apps, set time limits for apps, schedule apps, control which apps your kids use and how often, and prevent kids from using apps that haven't been tested and approved.
Another useful feature is the ability to quarantine an app the child has downloaded, allowing parents to review it before use. It's also great that the app is free and doesn't contain in-app purchases or other charges.
10 ScreenLimit
ScreenLimit is one of the best apps for limiting screen time. It allows you to control the time your kids spend on their phones by setting a daily time limit for the apps you want to limit.
The app offers flexible controls , allowing you to block social media but allow study apps during school hours, or prohibit games but allow reading apps before bed. You can temporarily block access if you want your children to leave their devices and monitor the apps they use.
Since children can switch devices to extend their restrictions, this is a cross-platform limiter with added benefits such as messaging, rewards, and allowed app lists.
Tips for apps and websites
If you have a child who is new to phone use, or a teen with their own device, it can be difficult to keep track of all the kid- and teen-friendly apps and websites.
Check out the best websites for kids and teens, keep track of the most popular social media apps used by teens, find apps that let you monitor your child's phone usage, and follow these smart and practical app rules for kids to keep your child safe on their mobile device.
Parental control apps aren't designed to be used by children, but rather to be responsive and flexible; children can request access to the content and apps they want. Parents can monitor their children's activities and respond to these requests through the parent portal.
You can also read: 8 Best Apps for Managing Social Media
My name is Javier Chirinos and I am passionate about technology. Ever since I can remember, I have been interested in computers and video games, and that passion has turned into a job.
I have been publishing about technology and gadgets on the Internet for over 15 years, especially in mundobytes.com
I am also an expert in online marketing and communication and have knowledge in WordPress development.