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Best for Child Online Safety
- Blocks harmful content on mobile devices
- Unlimited devices
- Lacks location tracking and monitoring features
Best for Monitoring Teens
- Extensive monitoring capabilities
- Real-time location tracking
- Features like remote camera access can be intrusive
Aura Parental Controls is the premier choice for families seeking robust online safety measures, excelling in extensive web and app filtering alongside identity theft protection. Meanwhile, mSpy is the go-to for parents who need to keep on top of their teen's smartphone interactions, specifically the monitoring of texts, calls, and app usage.
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 vs. mSpy: prices
Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy: monitoring and alerts
Which is safer, Aura Parental Controls or mSpy?
Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy: compatibility and customer support
Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy FAQs
Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy: which is the better parental control software?
Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy review at a glance
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 teens' mobile device use, standing out in the realm of device monitoring.
- Aura Parental Controls: Best for child online safety
- mSpy: Best for monitoring teens
Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy compared
Starting price | $8.33/mo (billed annually) | $11.67/mo |
Free version | ||
Max number of protected devices | Unlimited | 1-3 |
Web filtering | ||
Screen time limits | ||
Location tracking | ||
Activity reports | ||
Learn more | Get Aura Parental Controls | Read mSpy Review |
Aura Parental Controls pros and cons
- Comprehensive app blocking
- Unlimited device protection
- Effective web filtering and screen time management
- Easy to delete app off mobile device
- No location tracking or geo-fencing
- Safe Gaming feature is limited to Windows devices only
mSpy pros and cons
- Social media apps and text message monitoring
- Location tracking and geo-fencing
- Tailored plans
- No cyberbullying monitoring features
- Remote camera access makes the app invasive
Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy: prices
Our Pick | ||
Monthly price range | $8.33-$20.00/mo | $11.67-$48.99/mo |
Best value plan | Ultimate Family for $20.00/mo (billed annually) | Premium for $11.67/mo |
Learn more | Get Aura Parental Controls | Read mSpy Review |
Aura Parental Controls plans
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.
Despite its useful features, Aura has some drawbacks, such as the absence of location tracking and geo-fencing capabilities.
- Aura Parental Controls: Designed for one adult and unlimited children, this plan focuses on basic web filtering and screen time management. With options to set up parental controls on iOS and Android devices, Aura excels in helping parents manage screen time limits, block apps, and ensure their children stay safe on social media platforms. While it effectively blocks harmful content, it lacks geo-fencing and location tracking, and its cyberbullying monitoring features are available only for Windows devices after installing the Safe Gaming tool.
- Aura Ultimate Family: This plan has extra features, like dark web monitoring, identity theft protection, and support for up to five devices, making it a good choice for larger families. Beyond the basics of app management and screen time management, it introduces unique elements like voice and text monitoring in games, offering peace of mind against online predators. It also has additional tools for credit monitoring and SSN tracking. On the flip side, the Ultimate Family plan might present a steep learning curve for less tech-savvy parents who prefer a simpler option.
mSpy plans
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.
There is no free trial, but a 14-day money-back guarantee is available as long as the refund request complies with its refund policy.
- mSpy Premium: This plan, available monthly, quarterly, or annually, caters to a single device per subscription. It stands out for its comprehensive monitoring capabilities to stay safe on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, as well as precise location tracking, restricting apps and internet access, and an in-depth analysis of text messages and call logs. A potential drawback of this plan is its device-specific coverage, requiring multiple subscriptions for households wanting to monitor several devices.
- mSpy Extreme: This annual plan offers advanced monitoring needs specifically for Android users. It distinguishes itself by offering exclusive features such as remote camera access and a hidden microphone, allowing for real-time insights into the child's environment. Its advanced features are not available on iOS, and the remote camera access is intrusive.
- mSpy Family Kit: Designed with families in mind, it enables the monitoring of up to three devices under a single subscription. It extends the comprehensive monitoring tools found in the Premium plan to more devices, suitable for families looking to keep tabs on multiple devices simultaneously. The main disadvantage is that families with more than three devices would need to purchase additional subscriptions, increasing the overall cost.
Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy: monitoring and alerts
Our Pick | ||
Website filtering | ||
App filtering | Yes — Amazon, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Minecraft, Roblox | Yes — WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Tinder, Snapchat, Viber |
Social media monitoring | Yes — Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat | |
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 | Read mSpy Review |
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. On the other hand, mSpy provides extensive social media monitoring, including Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, as well as text message and email monitoring, remote lock, location tracking, and geo-fencing.
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.
Which is safer, Aura Parental Controls or mSpy?
When choosing between Aura and mSpy for the best parental control software, you need to take into consideration security features. Two-factor authentication is crucial as it adds an extra layer of security, making it harder for unauthorized users to access your account. Additionally, understanding how these apps manage data security — specifically, the collection, sharing, and protection of user data — is essential. This includes evaluating what data is collected for account administration, payment processing, and monitoring purposes, ensuring it aligns with reasonable privacy expectations.
Aura is a good choice for parents who prioritize privacy as it does not share data with third parties and collects minimal data. On the other hand, mSpy employs robust encryption and also does not share data, showing a comparable level of commitment to user security.
When choosing between top parental control software like Aura, mSpy, Bark, Norton Family, Kaspersky Safe Kids, or Net Nanny, it's important to consider the varying methods these services use to safeguard data and privacy.
Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy data security
Two-factor authentication | ||
Collects data | Minimal | Minimal |
Shares data with third parties | ||
Learn more | Get Aura Parental Controls | Read mSpy Review |
Both Aura Parental Controls and mSpy have not publicly disclosed whether they have undergone security audits, which raises some uncertainty regarding their comprehensive security assurance measures.
Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy: compatibility and customer support
Our Pick |
||
Windows | Yes (for gaming only) | |
macOS | ||
Android | ||
iOS | ||
Browser extensions | Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Yes — Chrome |
24/7 customer support | Yes, by phone only | |
Customer support options | Chat, phone, online guides | Email, phone, online guides |
Learn more | Get Aura Parental Controls | Read mSpy Review |
When it comes to parental control software, compatibility with your child’s devices and customer support should be taken into consideration. That’s because you never know when you'll encounter a technical issue or need guidance on configuring settings to best protect your child online. Aura works well for families who use multiple devices and browsers, with support for Android, iOS, and Windows, as well as browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Meanwhile, mSpy is compatible with a wide range of devices, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and even has a Chrome browser extension.
Furthermore, Aura provides around-the-clock phone support, a feature that sets it apart for those who prefer immediate assistance, but unfortunately, it doesn’t offer 24/7 chat support. Moreover, mSpy's customer support encompasses email, phone, and comprehensive online guides. mSpy’s lack of 24/7 support, though, is mitigated by its variety of support options, ensuring help is available through multiple channels.
Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy FAQs
Can kids detect mSpy?
Likely, no. mSpy operates discreetly, making it challenging for kids to detect its presence on their devices.
How much is mSpy per month?
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.
What is better than mSpy?
Determining if another app surpasses mSpy depends on your needs. For instance, Qustodio provides extensive time management tools, and Bark features an advanced alert system for monitoring potential risks, making them preferable for specific scenarios. Check out our Bark vs. Qustodio review to see how these parental control apps compare.
Is Aura a good parental control app?
Aura is considered a comprehensive parental control app, especially strong in web and app filtering as well as identity theft protection.
Can kids disable Aura?
Kids can’t disable Aura within itself. However, they can easily delete the app from their mobile device, which is a significant drawback.
Which app is best for parental control?
There is no single answer, as the best parental control app depends on every parent’s needs. Aside from Aura and mSpy, we recommend other options like Bark for its comprehensive alert system for various concerns, as well as Net Nanny for its detailed content filtering and social media monitoring, among others.
Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy: which is the better parental control software?
When weighing Aura vs. mSpy in the realm of parental control software, both stand out for their unique capabilities. Aura Parental Controls is hailed for its robust web filtering and app management, ensuring children's and families’ internet safety.
On the flip side, mSpy offers an unparalleled experience in comprehensive device monitoring for kids and teens, focusing on social media monitoring, app usage, and location tracking — essential for modern parents looking to keep their kids safe online.
For the best parental control app, consider the strengths of each platform and make an informed decision based on your family's unique needs.
Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy alternatives
- Bark is the best parental control app, offering a comprehensive alert system across texts, emails, and social media apps. It distinguishes itself through its ability to monitor a wide range of content categories, ensuring parents are informed of potential cyberbullying, depression, and exposure to inappropriate content.
Get Bark | Read Our Bark Review
- Kaspersky Safe Kids excels with its precise location tracking and geo-fencing capabilities, setting it apart from Aura and mSpy, for parents who prioritize their child's physical safety alongside online security. It also offers robust web filtering and time management features, ensuring comprehensive control over your child's online activities.
Read Our Kaspersky Safe Kids Review
- Net Nanny automatically blocks harmful content in real time with its standout dynamic web filtering technology. This feature offers a more proactive approach than Aura and mSpy's standard web filtering. Its detailed activity reports and intuitive dashboard provide insightful visibility into your child's online world, making it a top choice for parents seeking in-depth monitoring.
Read Our Net Nanny Review