Norton Family vs. mSpy 2024: Security vs. Surveillance

Best for older kids

4.5

AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Editorial Rating

Learn More

On Norton Family's website

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Norton Family

• Excels at app blocking and content filtering across 47 categories
• Offers age-specific restriction levels to enhance safety and unlimited device connections
• Not compatible with macOS and offers fewer monitoring features for iOS

Best for elementary-aged kids

3.0

AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Editorial Rating

Learn More

On mSpy's website

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mSpy

• Extensive monitoring capabilities
• Real-time location tracking
• Features like remote camera access can be intrusive

If you’re considering Norton Family or mSpy for a parental control option but aren’t sure which one is right for you, we’ve broken them down side by side.

Norton Family is great for older kids who are flexing their independence but still need parental guidance. While we think mSpy does a little too much, it could still work for younger children getting their first phone. Ultimately, it’s up to you, but we’ve included all the info you need to make that decision.

Norton Family vs. mSpy review at a glance

Parental controls can be tricky because you want to keep your kids safe without making them feel like you don’t trust them or are constantly surveilling them.

Norton Family has customizable controls that can grow with your kids. These controls are especially helpful in teaching older children and teens about healthy online habits.

If you want to have complete and total access, including being able to view your child’s screen in secret, then you may want to choose mSpy. It might be ok for younger kids with their first devices, but ultimately we think mSpy has a lot of overreach when it comes to parental control.

• Norton Family: Best for older kids
• mSpy: Best for elementary-aged kids

Norton Family vs. mSpy compared

Starting price	$49.99/first yr	$11.67/mo
Free version
Max number of protected devices	50	1
Web filtering
Screen time limits
Location tracking
Activity reports
Learn more	Get Norton Family Read Norton Family Review	Get mSpy Read mSpy Review

Norton Family pros and cons

mSpy pros and cons

Norton Family vs. mSpy: prices

	Our Pick
Price range	$49.99/first yr	$11.67-$48.99/mo
Best value plan	Norton Family for $49.99/first yr	mSpy Basic 12-month plan for mSpy Premium Monthly
Free trial	Yes — 30 days
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 60 days	Yes — 14 days
Learn more	Get Norton Family Read Norton Family Review	Get mSpy Read mSpy Review

Norton Family plans

The Norton Family service can be purchased separately or as part of a larger Norton 360 subscription. It includes all of the monitoring features and is backed by Norton support and functionality.

• Norton Family: This plan can monitor up to 50 devices with features including web and app monitoring. It also includes search term alerts, geolocation services, and social media monitoring.
• Norton 360 with LifeLock: This plan includes Norton Family, LifeLock, and Norton antivirus. It has several different price points and features, including identity theft protection and cloud backup.

Norton offers a 60-day money-back guarantee for all annual plans.

mSpy plans

Three plans are offered with more features as the price increases. All three plans include keyword tracking and the ability to view events, calendars, calls, contacts, and reminders. All plans also offer live chat and phone support.

• Basic: This plan includes the ability to read texts and emails, see stored information in apps, photos, videos, notes, and files, and even see deleted text messages. You’ll also have location tracking, control over online activity, and help to install the app on iOS or Android secretly so no one knows it’s on the phone.
• Premium: This plan includes everything in the basic plan. Additionally, you’ll be able to capture screenshots and use the keylogger to see what’s being typed in real time. You can also access private chat messages on social media sites.
• Extreme: This plan includes everything in the first two plans plus a remote camera and the ability to tap into the microphone on the target phone to hear what’s going on around your kids.

Norton Family vs. mSpy: monitoring and alerts

	Our Pick
Website filtering	Yes — individual or by category	Yes — block sites
App filtering	Yes — restrict permissions	Yes — view and block apps
Social media monitoring	Yes — via web and app monitoring	Yes — most major apps
Text message monitoring	Currently disabled
Email monitoring
Internet search monitoring
Screen time limits
Remote lock
Cyberbullying and online predator alerts
Location tracking
Geo-fencing
Activity reports
Learn more	Get Norton Family Read Norton Family Review	Get mSpy Read mSpy Review

Norton Family offers a lot of functionality without getting too far into the weeds. While kids may be annoyed with parental control software, there are ways to modify it so your child doesn’t feel spied on 24/7.

Norton even empowers parents with conversation topics and tools to help open up a dialog between them and their children about online safety. It’s a good choice for teens and older kids, especially if you’re concerned about staying safe on social media.

We found that mSpy lacked a lot of functionality that parents may want in parental control software. While you can set alerts for specific keywords, it glazed over categories like bullying, self-harm, and sexual issues.

This led us to more of a feeling of surveillance than parental control, especially considering it runs silently (and without detection) in the background of the device. It could be good for families with young children who are getting their first device, but we wouldn’t recommend it for teens.

Which is safer, Norton Family or mSpy?

Parental control software handles a lot of data from both you and your kids. When geo-fencing or location-enabled features come into play, it’s even more important that the software is secure.

You wouldn’t want a hacker learning your child’s location or their daily habits for where they are at any given time. The more security for parental control software, the better.

Norton Family vs. mSpy data security

	Our Pick
Two-factor authentication
Collects data
Shares data with third parties
Learn more	Get Norton Family Read Norton Family Review	Get mSpy Read mSpy Review

Norton Family allows you to set two-factor authentication (2FA) protection, while mSpy doesn’t offer that feature. Considering each of these services is handling your children’s data, we think it’s a necessary feature to include.

As far as data collection and storage, both services collect, store, and share your data. Children are still protected from data sharing, but the information is still hosted on each site’s servers.

Norton Family vs. mSpy: compatibility and customer support

	Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Browser extensions	Yes — Firefox, Chrome, Edge
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Online guides, phone, community forums, social media messages, live chat	Phone, email, live chat
Learn more	Get Norton Family Read Norton Family Review	Get mSpy Read mSpy Review

Norton products offer broad compatibility across a variety of devices, operating systems, and browsers. There are also lots of customer support options available. While we tried to see if any of the support or compatibility options were specific to the Norton Family, it seems they’re all-encompassing across all of Norton’s products and services.

Alternatively, mSpy offered barely any compatibility options. This is likely due to the invasive nature of the product working at the base level of the device, but we experienced bugginess when trying to sync with our iCloud account. While mSpy has fewer support options, we did try the live chat and found it to be helpful and informative.

Norton Family vs. mSpy FAQs

Norton Family vs. mSpy: Which is better?

Norton Family is hands-down better than mSpy. It’s less invasive while still being protective, offers 2FA, which is an important safety feature when dealing with children’s data, and has more compatibility and support options.

While mSpy might be good for very young children receiving their first devices, Norton Family offers the ability to grow out of specific controls as your child shows more responsibility and maturity.

Norton Family vs. mSpy alternatives

If neither of these is what you’re looking for to help keep your child safe online, we have some additional suggestions below. These are some of the best parental control options available. Each has its pros and cons, but we definitely would feel comfortable using any of them with our own families.

• Bark: You can monitor texts, emails, and applications and get friendly advice from child psychologists on how to talk to your kids about online safety. Bark uses AI technology to monitor and analyze your child’s activity to alert you to any potentially dangerous situations.

  Get Bark | Read Our Bark Review

• Aura Parental Controls: Whether you want to limit the internet, pause screen time, or help your kids game safer, Aura has a setting for that. The content alerts keep you informed of their activity while the filtering and blocking alerts help you create a safer online environment for your child.

  Get Aura Parental Controls | Read Our Aura Parental Controls Review

• Qustodio: Its easy-to-use dashboard keeps parents well informed about their kids’ online activities. You can also set screen time limits, track calls and texts, and use geolocation features. Qustodio even offers new subscribers a trial of its Premium plan.

  Read Our Qustodio Review

4.5

AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Editorial Rating

Learn More

On Norton Family's website

Norton Family

• Excels at app blocking and content filtering across 47 categories
• Offers age-specific restriction levels to enhance safety and unlimited device connections
• Not compatible with macOS and offers fewer monitoring features for iOS

Author Details

Mary James

About the Author

Mary is a seasoned cybersecurity writer with over seven years of experience. With a B.S. in Liberal Arts from Clarion University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Point Park University, she educates audiences on scams, antivirus software, and more. Her passion lies in educating audiences on helpful ways to protect their data.