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Should I use Net Nanny?

The best parental control and web filtering software. Complete visibility and control over your child's online activity. Sign up today to start. - netnanny.com

Depends. Buy it if you need serious real-time content filtering across Windows, macOS, and iOS and can tolerate fiddly setup. Skip it if free built-in parental controls would cover you, or if over-blocking school content would disrupt your kid's day.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 14 public sources: hands-on reviews, app store feedback, comparison guides, and official pricing pages.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security posture

Pricing

$39.99/yr

Single device

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierNo
Family Protection Pass (5)$54.99/yr
Largest family plan$89.99/yr

Best for

  • Parents needing strict content filtering
  • Households mixing Windows, macOS, iOS
  • Families worried about explicit material
  • Parents wanting screen-time plus location tracking

Not for

  • Casual needs — free built-in Screen Time or Family Link suffice
  • Non-technical users who struggle with complex installs
  • Teens who need phones fully functional for school
  • Anyone who requires 2FA on their account

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

No free tier; single-device plan runs $39.99/year

medium

Checkout shows $89.99 charges — pricing pages are confusing

medium

Headline $54.99 is 30% off $79.99 list — renewals likely full price

medium

Block lists need manual upkeep; adding sites takes time

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Real-time AI filtering blocks content before it loads
  • PCMag pick: screen time, location, YouTube and social monitoring
  • Strong at catching explicit material, per independent review
  • Windows app management: view, alert, block installed apps
  • Cross-platform: Windows, macOS, iOS plus Android app

Cons

  • Complicated install; unexplained VPN stub on Android
  • Over-blocks legit sites, including school and educational content
  • No two-factor authentication on accounts
  • One reviewer: app 'rendered my phone almost useless'
  • Perceived as under-maintained with stretched support

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/26/2026 - 14 sources - No known breaches found in sources; reviewers flag missing two-factor authentication, though data is encrypted at rest and in transit.

official x3review x11
  • No two-factor authentication, Hands-on review notes Net Nanny does not offer 2FA; it does encrypt information at rest and in transit.
  • Android app routes traffic via VPN stub, Reviewers report unexplained security settings and a VPN stub used to monitor internet traffic during setup.

Key stats

  • Value for money: 3/5

    Rating

  • $39.99/yr

    Starting price

  • 14

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 3/5. Competitors offer better pricing per comparisons
  • Ease of use: 2/5. Complicated installs and over-blocking reported
  • Feature depth: 4/5. PCMag pick for broad monitoring tools
  • Support quality: 2/5. Long-time users cite understaffed support
  • Security posture: 3/5. Encrypted, but no 2FA offered
  • $39.99/yr Starting price One Windows or macOS device
  • $54.99/yr Family pass 5 devices, 30% off $79.99 list
  • $89.99/yr Top tier Largest family plan at checkout
  • No Free tier Paid plans only

Pricing

Single device

$39.99/yr

  • One Windows or macOS computer
  • One year subscription

Family Protection Pass (5)

$54.99/yr

  • 5 devices
  • Windows, macOS, iOS
  • 30% off $79.99 list

Largest family plan

$89.99/yr

  • Top tier shown at checkout
  • Charged $89.99

Security

No known breaches found in sources; reviewers flag missing two-factor authentication, though data is encrypted at rest and in transit.

  • No two-factor authenticationHands-on review notes Net Nanny does not offer 2FA; it does encrypt information at rest and in transit.²
  • Android app routes traffic via VPN stubReviewers report unexplained security settings and a VPN stub used to monitor internet traffic during setup.⁶

What users say

Long-time users praise the filtering strength but frequently complain about over-blocking, complicated setup, and weak support.

“This app is awful. My parents got it for me to make sure I wasn't on any inappropriate websites. However, it rendered my phone almost useless.”
Apple App Store review
“Installation was complicated, including unexplained security settings (it uses VPN stub to monitor Internet traffic).”
Google Play review
“Basically I think the product is falling apart and they are not adequately staffed to maintain either the software or their web site.”
Reddit, r/Parenting
Full analysis

Based on 14 public sources: hands-on reviews, app store feedback, comparison guides, and official pricing pages.

Solid AI filtering for worried parents; setup pains, over-blocking, and no free tier push casual buyers elsewhere.

Methodology

Based on 14 public sources: hands-on reviews, app store feedback, comparison guides, and official pricing pages.

Sources

  1. Net Nanny homepagenetnanny.com
    official
  2. Net Nanny Review 2026 — All About Cookiesallaboutcookies.org
    review
  3. PCMag: Best Parental Control Software 2026pcmag.com
    review
  4. TechRadar Net Nanny reviewtechradar.com
    review
  5. Apple App Store reviewsapps.apple.com
    review
  6. Google Play reviewsplay.google.com
    review
  7. Reddit r/Parenting threadreddit.com
    review
  8. Parentaler effectiveness discussionparentaler.com
    review
  9. Boomerang full parent's reviewuseboomerang.com
    review
  10. Internet Matters guide for parentsinternetmatters.org
    official
  11. Net Nanny checkoutnetnanny.com
    official
  12. Bark vs. Net Nanny comparisonallaboutcookies.org
    review
  13. Qustodio vs. Net Nanny comparisonallaboutcookies.org
    review
  14. Kidslox Net Nanny reviewkidslox.com
    review

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