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Best for Online Safety
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Blocks harmful content on mobile devices
Robust screen time management tools
Unlimited devices
Best for Monitoring
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Extensive monitoring capabilities
Real-time location tracking
When it comes to parental controls, we believe Aura is a better option than mSpy thanks to its more robust screen time management and filtering options. That said, mSpy is a very powerful tool when it comes to monitoring, allowing you to see all messages sent or received.
Though mSpy feels quite intrusive, it may be your best option if you're faced with a particularly troubled teen who has a history of getting around other parental control apps. But for most parents, Aura has more features to promote a healthy digital lifestyle.
In this article, we will provide an overview of Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy, covering their features, test results, and pricing. Keep reading to discover which one of them is the best parental control app for you.
Aura Parental Controls and mSpy each offer unique benefits. Aura shines with its unparalleled web and app filtering capabilities, firmly positioning it as the top choice for safeguarding children online.
Conversely, mSpy provides an exhaustive overview of mobile device use, standing out in the realm of device monitoring.
 Our Pick |
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| Star rating | ||
| Price | $8.25-$32.00/mo | $11.67-$48.99/mo |
| Free trial | Yes — 14 days | |
| Number of protected devices | Unlimited | 1-3 |
| Web filtering | ||
| Conversation monitoring | Yes — Social media, texts, emails | |
| Screen time management | ||
| Location tracking | ||
| Activity reports | ||
| Remote lock | ||
| Supported devices | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
| Learn more | Get Aura Parental Controls | Get mSpy |
We put every parental control app through vigorous hands-on testing by downloading the software to our own devices. We test how the product works from both the parent's and child's perspectives, evaluating how well we're able to monitor device usage and deliberately attempting to sneak around the limitations.
By taking a fine-tooth comb through all available features and settings, we carefully compare each product using our proprietary grading rubric. The star ratings take into account price, screen time management, content filters, location tracking, monitoring, alerts, and ease of use.
To learn more about how we test, check out our full testing methodology here.
During our testing, we found that Aura Parental Controls performed well overall as a monitoring app. We were able to easily keep track of screen time and limit or restrict apps at will. We were also able to force safe search on the device, so the child couldn't get into any mischief.
That said, we were disappointed to see they had no location tracking capabilities, which we think is a huge miss. We were also able to delete the app our device without the parent dashboard noticing, making this a better option for younger kids.
There's no denying that mSpy is a very powerful app, basically giving you complete access to everything that's done on the device — right down to monitoring every keystroke on the keyboard. It even gives you instructions on how to remove most traces of it from the device, so the target may even be oblivious that they're being tracked.
Our hands-on testing found that the features all worked as advertised, though we were disappointed in the lack of screen time monitoring features. You could restrict access to certain sites or apps, but weren't able to set up time limits or filter content.
Overall, this app is better as a last resort for a troubled teen who you need to keep safe at all costs. It's best to start out with another app that's not as secretive or intrusive as this one so you can open up conversations with your child about safe internet use and healthy boundaries.
Aura gives you the better value overall, thanks to the option to bundle it with their ID theft products, topped off by free trial access and a long 60-day money-back guarantee.
Our Pick |
| |
| Price range | $8.25-$32.00/mo | $11.67-$48.99/mo |
| Best value plan | Ultimate Family for $32.00/mo (billed annually) | Family Kit for $28.00/mo (billed annually) |
| Free trial | Yes — 14 days | |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 60 days | |
| Learn more | Get Aura Parental Controls | Get mSpy |
Aura Parental Controls plans cater to families of various sizes, starting with a 14-day free trial that requires a credit card upfront. In addition to covering unlimited devices for kids, Aura offers advanced online security tools, premium identity theft protection, and comprehensive credit monitoring. Parents can manage screen time, block apps, and ensure their children stay safe on social media platforms like Discord and TikTok.
mSpy caters to the diverse needs of modern parents with its range of tailored plans, which monitor specific data for certain devices, ensuring their children's digital safety. Plans target specific monitoring needs and are tailored to specific platforms, features, and coverage lengths.
Though lacking in screen time management features, mSpy is loaded with monitoring capabilities that allow you to know exactly what's happening on the device at all times, including one of the most comprehensive conversation monitoring we've seen.
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Our Pick | |
| Website filtering | ||
| App filtering | ||
| Social media monitoring | ||
| Text message monitoring | ||
| Email monitoring | ||
| Internet search monitoring | ||
| Screen time limits | ||
| Remote lock | ||
| Cyberbullying and online predator alerts | ||
| Location tracking | ||
| Geo-fencing | ||
| Activity reports | ||
| Learn more | Get Aura Parental Controls | Get mSpy |
When comparing Aura Parental Controls and mSpy, several differences become evident. Aura Parental Controls offers comprehensive website and internet search filtering and app filtering for popular apps like Amazon, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Minecraft, and Roblox. It also offers screen time limits, activity reports, and cyberbullying and online predator alerts.
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On the other hand, mSpy provides extensive social media monitoring, including Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, as well as text message and email monitoring, location tracking, and geo-fencing.
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While Aura Parental Controls focuses on filtering and alerts, mSpy offers a wider range of monitoring features, making it more suitable for parents who want detailed insights into their child's online activity. Both programs have their own merits, with Aura Parental Controls being more focused on filtering and alerts and mSpy offering more comprehensive monitoring capabilities.
mSpy's features are critical for parents who are primarily concerned with monitoring and tracking their child's online activities across various platforms and apps. However, Aura Parental Controls may be sufficient for those who prioritize filtering and alerting features.
Aura and mSpy have very similar compatibility and support options on paper, but we found that Aura wins this category because some of mSpy's features require you to jailbreak iPhones.
Our Pick |
| |
| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Android | ||
| iOS | ||
| Other devices | ||
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Customer support options | Chat, phone, email, guides | Chat, phone, email, guides |
| Learn more | Get Aura Parental Controls | Get mSpy |
While neither option works on laptops, we found that Aura was a lot easier to set up on the phone than mSpy, which required a lot more steps, permissions, and even jailbreaking for some features.
Both apps offer 24/7 customer support with similar options, but we did find the Aura support was easier to access and talk to. Getting a refund from mSpy was near impossible in our experience, thanks to its strict refund policy.
Likely, no. mSpy operates discreetly, making it challenging for kids to detect its presence on their devices.
mSpy offers subscription plans with monthly costs ranging from $11.67-$48.99/mo. Tailored plans are available at different costs based on desired features.
Bark is a better parental control app than mSpy because it still monitors conversations, but only lets you see the content if it triggers your alerts. That allows your child to keep their privacy, but you can still be alerted if risky topics come up.
Aura is considered a comprehensive parental control app, especially strong in web and app filtering as well as identity theft protection.
Kids can’t disable Aura within itself. However, they can easily delete the app from their mobile device, which is a significant drawback.
We believe Aura Parental Controls is a superior app than mSpy because it allows you to set better screen time limitations and filter inappropriate web content.
That said, if your main priority is complete conversation monitoring, then no app does that better than mSpy, which will give you access to text messages, WhatsApp, Instagram DMs, and more.
Our Pick |
| |
| Value | ||
| Features | ||
| Compatibility & customer support | ||
| Learn more | Get Aura Parental Controls | Get mSpy |
For the best parental control app, consider the strengths of each platform and make an informed decision based on your family's unique needs.
Blocks harmful content on mobile devices
Robust screen time management tools
Unlimited devices
| Service | 
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| Star rating | |||
| Price | Starts at $5.00/mo | Starts at $4.16/mo (billed annually) | Starts at $4.58/mo (billed annually) |
| # of people covered | Unlimited | Up to 15 kids | 1 - unlimited |
| Screen time management | |||
| Content filtering | |||
| Conversation monitoring | Yes, on social media, texts, and email | Yes, on social media, texts, and email | |
| Location tracking | |||
| Details | Get Bark | Get Norton Family | Get Qustodio |
Robust parental controls to track, monitor, and limit device usage
Machine learning catches the latest slang and keywords
Screens content across 19 categories
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