🛡️ Parental controls and family safety
CleanBrowsing
By CleanBrowsing. Visit CleanBrowsing
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
A DNS filter that blocks adult sites, malware and phishing for every device on a network, set once on a home router or on individual devices. It forces SafeSearch where it can. A free filter needs no account; the paid family plan adds custom categories, allowed and blocked site lists, profiles for different kids, and settings to block social media or games. Kids don't use it directly; blocked sites simply fail to load.
Our take: A cheap, private base layer for a home network; pair it with device controls for phones that leave the house.
| Ages it suits | whole household |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | Not stated in terms. (terms) |
| Price | Free, with paid extras. Free family filter; Basic family plan $8.99 a month or $75 a year for up to 25 devices (Oct 2026). |
| Works on | Windows, Mac, iPhone and iPad, Android, Chromebook |
| Account | No account needed |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | No AI. |
What's good
- Free option covers the whole home network
- Strong privacy promises
- Works on TVs and consoles via the router
- No app for kids to delete
Watch for
- Needs some technical setup
- Easy to bypass with mobile data, VPNs or changed DNS
- Blocks sites only; no time limits or monitoring
- Not built for kids' phones away from home
Data and privacy
CleanBrowsing says it does zero tracking on the free service, does not log DNS activity in a way that identifies users, and will never sell personal data; it processes anonymized, aggregate DNS data to run the service. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
The maker's own claims only; no independent study found.
In the Big Index
Alternatives to CleanBrowsing
Desk researchPaid
Amazon Kids Tablets (and Fire Kids tablets)
Amazon · ages 3+ and 6+ versions
A reasonable first tablet if you want Amazon's controls plus real Android apps; families who want a tightly closed device may prefer a device without the Play Store.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Amazon Kids+ and Parent Dashboard
Amazon · ages 3-12
A good-value bundle for families already on Amazon devices with kids 3-12; skip it if your child mostly uses an iPad or a phone.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Apple Messages and FaceTime (Communication Safety)
Apple · ages any age with a parent-made child account; teens 13-17
Worth turning on for any child with an iPhone or iPad; pair it with contact limits for younger kids.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Apple Screen Time
Apple · ages any age under 18
The first stop for any family whose child uses an iPhone or iPad; it does nothing on Android or Windows.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Apple Watch For Your Kids
Apple · ages kids who don't have their own iPhone; no set age
Good for iPhone families who want a phone alternative with strong contact controls; cheaper kids' watches exist if you only need calls and location.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Aura Parental Controls
Aura · ages kids and teens
Makes sense for families who already want Aura's identity protection; those who only need screen time limits can use free built-in tools.
Where these facts come from
- https://cleanbrowsing.org/
- https://cleanbrowsing.org/pricing
- https://cleanbrowsing.org/privacy
- https://cleanbrowsing.org/terms
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.