The Digital Dad

Parental Controls Guides

Step-by-step parental controls for consoles, phones, tablets and apps.

  • Best Free Parental Control Apps in the UK (2026)

    Best Free Parental Control Apps in the UK (2026)

    Looking for the best free parental control app in the UK? Here’s a plain-English comparison of the free options built into your child’s devices, plus two dedicated apps.

    If you’re worried about what your child is doing online, you don’t necessarily need to pay for another app.

    Most phones, tablets, computers and consoles already have some form of parental controls built in.

    The tricky part is knowing what’s actually available, what you can see, and whether “free” really means free.

    So I’ve looked at some of the most useful options for UK parents — including Apple Screen Time, Google Family Link, Microsoft Family Safety and dedicated apps such as Kaspersky Safe Kids and Qustodio.

    This isn’t about spying on your child.

    It’s about having enough visibility to make sensible decisions about their digital life.

    Here’s where I’d start.

    Apple Screen Time — best if your child uses iPhone or iPad

    Parent and child using a smartphone together

    If your child has an iPhone or iPad, I’d start here before downloading anything else.

    Screen Time is built into Apple’s devices and, when used with Family Sharing, gives parents a surprisingly good set of controls.

    You can manage things such as:

    • app and website usage
    • screen-time limits and downtime
    • app downloads and purchases
    • age ratings and inappropriate content
    • web content
    • who your child can communicate with
    • privacy settings

    You can also use a Screen Time passcode so the settings can’t simply be changed from the child’s device.

    For many Apple families, this may be all the parental control you actually need.

    The big advantage is that it’s already part of the device — no extra monitoring subscription required.

    My verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Best for: families already using Apple devices who want straightforward parental controls without installing another monitoring app.

    Google Family Link — best for Android and Chromebook

    If your child uses an Android phone or Chromebook, Google Family Link is the obvious place to start.

    It’s free and gives parents a useful overview of how the device is being used.

    You can:

    • see which apps your child uses and for how long
    • set daily screen-time limits
    • set bedtime or downtime schedules
    • approve or block apps
    • manage some content restrictions
    • manage Google Play purchases and downloads
    • see the location of supported devices

    One thing to understand is that Family Link isn’t a secret monitoring tool.

    It doesn’t let you remotely watch your child’s screen or read their messages.

    That’s actually a good thing.

    The aim is to give you useful information and parental controls without turning your child’s phone into a surveillance device.

    Microsoft Family Safety — useful for Windows and Xbox

    If your child uses a Windows PC or Xbox, Microsoft Family Safety is another option worth knowing about.

    It can give parents visibility over things such as screen time and app or game usage, while also providing controls for content and spending.

    You can use it to:

    • view activity reports
    • set screen-time limits
    • manage app and game access
    • apply age restrictions
    • manage web and search filtering
    • manage purchases and spending

    It’s particularly useful if your child’s digital life revolves around an Xbox and Windows PC rather than a phone.

    There is one important limitation: some features depend on the device, browser and account setup, so don’t assume that every type of activity is covered.

    Kaspersky Safe Kids — more features, but check what you actually need

    Kaspersky Safe Kids is different from the options above because it’s a dedicated parental-control app rather than a control built into the device.

    It can provide more detailed monitoring and control, including:

    • web filtering
    • app usage reports
    • screen-time limits and schedules
    • YouTube-related controls
    • location features on supported devices
    • alerts and activity information

    There is a free version, although some of the more advanced features are part of the paid version or trial.

    That’s the important distinction when comparing parental-control apps.

    “Free” doesn’t always mean you get every feature for free.

    My verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Best for: parents who want more detailed controls than the basic tools built into their child’s device.

    Qustodio — useful if you want more detailed monitoring

    Qustodio is another well-known dedicated parental-control service.

    Its appeal is that it can bring more detailed monitoring and controls together in one place, particularly for families using different types of devices.

    Depending on the plan and device, features can include:

    • screen-time monitoring and limits
    • web filtering
    • app and game monitoring
    • activity reports
    • location tracking
    • alerts about certain online activity

    There is a free version, but it is much more limited than the paid plans.

    That makes Qustodio a good example of why it’s important to look beyond the word “free” when comparing parental-control apps.

    My verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Best for: parents who want a dedicated monitoring service and may eventually need more advanced features across multiple devices.

    So which parental control should you use?

    For most parents, I’d start with the controls you already have.

    If your child uses an iPhone or iPad, try Apple Screen Time first.

    If they use Android or a Chromebook, Google Family Link is a good starting point.

    If they spend most of their time on Windows or Xbox, look at Microsoft Family Safety.

    If you want more detailed monitoring across different devices, then a dedicated service such as Kaspersky Safe Kids or Qustodio may be worth considering.

    You don’t necessarily need the most powerful option.

    You need the option that gives you the right level of visibility and control for your family.

    And remember: parental controls aren’t a substitute for talking to your child about what they’re doing online.

    Don’t confuse monitoring with spying

    It’s tempting to think that the more you can see, the safer your child is.

    I’m not sure that’s always true.

    For younger children, you may quite reasonably want a good level of visibility over what they’re doing online.

    As they get older, though, giving them some privacy while keeping sensible boundaries becomes increasingly important.

    I’d use parental controls to:

    • set reasonable boundaries
    • prevent accidental access to inappropriate content
    • manage spending
    • understand how much time is being spent online
    • spot things that might need a conversation

    I’d be much more cautious about secretly reading every message or trying to monitor every conversation.

    The goal isn’t to catch your child doing something wrong.

    It’s to help them learn how to use the internet safely and responsibly.

    The Digital Dad’s quick picks

    If you just want the short version:

    🍎 iPhone or iPad: Start with Apple Screen Time.

    🤖 Android or Chromebook: Start with Google Family Link.

    🎮 Windows PC or Xbox: Look at Microsoft Family Safety.

    🛡️ Want more detailed monitoring: Have a look at Kaspersky Safe Kids or Qustodio.

    💷 Want to spend nothing: Start with the controls you’ve already got. For a lot of families, they’ll be enough.

    My advice? Don’t download five different apps and make yourself a second job.

    Start with what your child’s device already gives you. See what it can actually do, then decide whether you need anything more.

    You don’t have to monitor everything

    The internet can feel like a lot when you’re a parent.

    New apps appear, games change, and suddenly you’re expected to know what Discord, Roblox, Fortnite, TikTok and everything else are doing.

    You don’t need to know everything.

    Start with the device your child uses most. Have a look at the controls, understand what they’re actually doing online, and have a conversation with them.

    That’s a much better starting point than panicking and installing every monitoring app you can find.

    And if you find the technology confusing, that’s exactly why I started The Digital Dad.

    Quick answers for parents

    What is the best free parental control app in the UK?

    For most families, the best free option is the one built into your child’s device: Apple Screen Time for iPhone and iPad, Google Family Link for Android and Chromebook, and Microsoft Family Safety for Windows and Xbox.

    Is Google Family Link free?

    Yes. Google Family Link is free and lets parents set screen-time limits, approve apps and manage Google Play purchases on supervised Android devices and Chromebooks.

    Can I set parental controls on an iPhone for free?

    Yes. Apple Screen Time is built into iPhone and iPad and, with Family Sharing, lets you manage app limits, downtime, purchases and content from your own device.

    Do free parental control apps let me read my child’s messages?

    The built-in tools don’t — and that’s by design. They focus on limits, approvals and content rather than reading private conversations.

    Want a simple starting point?

    If you’re mainly worried about gaming, our free Fortnite Parent Safety Check takes around 10 minutes and covers the basics every parent should know.

    It’s free, straightforward and designed for parents who don’t want to spend hours digging through settings.

    You can get it here:

    The Fortnite Quick Parent Guide Free

    And if you want to go further, The Fortnite Parent Guide covers the game, chat, spending, privacy, parental controls and the terminology you’ll keep hearing from your child.

  • Can You Talk to Strangers on Fortnite? A Parent’s Guide to Fortnite Chat

    Can You Talk to Strangers on Fortnite? A Parent’s Guide to Fortnite Chat

    Can you talk to strangers on Fortnite? Here’s what every parent should know about Fortnite chat, friend requests and who your child is really playing with.

    If your child plays Fortnite, one of the questions you’re probably going to ask sooner or later is:

    “Who are they actually talking to?”

    You might hear your child chatting away while playing and assume they’re talking to their friends from school.

    Sometimes they are.

    But Fortnite also has communication features that can connect players who don’t know each other in real life.

    That doesn’t mean Fortnite is automatically unsafe. It does mean it’s worth understanding who your child can communicate with and what the different settings actually mean.

    Here’s the straightforward version.

    Can children talk to strangers on Fortnite?

    Potentially, yes — but it depends on their age and communication settings.

    Fortnite has four main communication levels:

    • Everybody
    • Friends, Team Members & Connections
    • Friends Only
    • Off

    These settings cover both voice and text communication.

    There’s an important detail here that is easy for parents to miss.

    “Connections” doesn’t necessarily mean people your child knows.

    It refers to people linked to your child through their friends. So someone can potentially be connected to your child without being someone they know in real life.

    That doesn’t mean those people are automatically a problem. It simply means that “they’re talking to friends” doesn’t always tell you exactly who they’re communicating with.

    A better question to ask is:

    “Who’s actually in your party?”

    That gives you a much clearer picture of who your child is spending time with online.

    What do the Fortnite chat settings actually mean?

    The names can sound more complicated than they really are.

    Everybody

    Your child can communicate with anyone in the experience.

    Friends, Team Members & Connections

    Your child can communicate with their Epic or platform friends, people on their current team, and connections.

    Friends Only

    Your child can communicate with people already on their Epic or platform friends list.

    Off

    Voice and text communication are switched off, apart from Fortnite’s preset safe phrases.

    The important point for parents is that these settings aren’t simply a choice between “safe” and “unsafe”.

    The right setting depends on your child’s age, who they play with and how comfortable you are with them communicating with other players.

    Can Fortnite friends be people my child doesn’t know?

    Yes.

    This is one of the easiest things for parents to misunderstand.

    A Fortnite friend doesn’t necessarily mean a friend from school, football or the neighbourhood.

    Your child may have added someone because they played a few matches together, or because they met through another player.

    That doesn’t automatically make the person dangerous. Online gaming is social, and plenty of children play perfectly normally with people they’ve met through games.

    The useful distinction is:

    “Someone I play Fortnite with”

    isn’t necessarily the same as:

    “Someone I know in real life.”

    You don’t need to treat every online friend as suspicious. But it is worth knowing which is which.

    What should parents actually be worried about?

    I wouldn’t tell parents to panic every time their child talks to someone online.

    Most gaming conversations are completely ordinary.

    Instead, pay attention to what the other person is asking for and how your child reacts to the interaction.

    Things become more concerning if someone:

    • asks your child for personal information
    • asks where they live or go to school
    • asks them to move the conversation somewhere else
    • asks for photographs
    • offers gifts or free V-Bucks
    • repeatedly contacts them after they’ve said no
    • makes sexual or inappropriate comments
    • tells them to keep the conversation secret
    • makes your child feel uncomfortable

    One simple rule is worth teaching:

    “If someone online makes you uncomfortable, you can leave, block them and tell me.”

    Make it clear that telling you doesn’t automatically mean losing Fortnite.

    If children think speaking up will immediately result in the game being taken away, they may be less likely to tell you when something genuinely goes wrong.

    What about Fortnite voice chat?

    Voice chat is one of the main ways players communicate while playing together.

    If voice chat is enabled, your child’s conversations are controlled by the communication permission set on their account.

    For parents, the important thing isn’t to understand every technical detail. It’s simply to know that voice chat can be restricted or switched off.

    Fortnite also has Voice Reporting, which is designed to help Epic investigate reported conversations. For players under 18, Epic says Voice Reporting is always on.

    So there are two separate things to understand:

    Voice chat = whether your child can communicate by voice.

    Voice Reporting = Fortnite’s system for handling reported voice conversations.

    If you’re unsure what your child’s current settings are, that’s worth checking rather than assuming they’re set the way you want them.

    What should I check if I’m concerned?

    You don’t need to work through every Fortnite setting tonight.

    Start with the basics:

    • Who can your child communicate with?
    • Who is actually on their friends list?
    • Can they receive friend requests freely?
    • Do they know how to block someone?
    • Do they know how to report something that makes them uncomfortable?

    And don’t just ask what the settings are.

    Ask your child to show you.

    “Can you show me how you’d block someone?”

    That’s often more useful than a long conversation about online safety because you’re seeing what they actually know and do.

    One thing parents often overlook

    Fortnite isn’t the only place where communication can be controlled.

    If your child plays on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch or another platform, there may also be communication and privacy settings at the console or account level.

    That means you can change a Fortnite setting and still have other controls affecting what your child can do.

    This is why it’s better to think about Fortnite as part of your child’s wider digital life rather than treating it as a completely separate thing.

    If they’re also using Discord, PlayStation or Xbox chat, TikTok, Snapchat or other apps, those need their own checks too.

    The conversation I’d have with my child

    You don’t need to sit your child down for a serious “online safety talk”.

    Try something much simpler.

    “Who do you normally play Fortnite with?”

    “Are they people you know in real life?”

    “What happens if someone you don’t know sends you a friend request?”

    “What would you do if someone said something weird in voice chat?”

    “Would you tell me if someone made you uncomfortable?”

    The goal isn’t to make your child suspicious of everyone they meet online.

    It’s to make sure they know that you are the person they can come to if something doesn’t feel right.

    And ideally, have this conversation when nothing has gone wrong.

    It’s much easier to talk about online safety when Fortnite hasn’t just been taken away.

    What if something does go wrong?

    If your child tells you that someone has made them uncomfortable, don’t start with “I told you so.”

    Stay calm and find out what happened.

    Depending on the situation, you may want to:

    • leave the game or party
    • block the player
    • report the player
    • keep any relevant information that could help explain what happened
    • check whether the same person is contacting your child elsewhere

    Most importantly, keep the conversation open.

    Online safety works much better when children know they can tell a parent what happened without immediately being blamed or punished.

    You don’t have to know exactly what to do before your child tells you.

    You just need them to feel comfortable telling you.

    A simple rule worth remembering

    You don’t need to become an expert in Fortnite to keep your child safer online.

    You just need to understand the basics, know roughly who they’re communicating with, and make sure they know what to do when something doesn’t feel right.

    The most useful message you can give them is simple:

    “If anything online makes you uncomfortable, you can always come and tell me.”

    That conversation is more valuable than knowing every Fortnite setting by heart.

    Quick answers for parents

    Is Fortnite safe for kids?

    Fortnite can be suitable for children when communication, spending and play-time controls are set up for their age. The biggest safety question for most parents is who their child can talk to.

    Can my child turn off voice chat on Fortnite?

    Yes. Voice and text chat can be restricted or switched off through Epic Games’ communication settings and parental controls.

    Why does my child get random friend requests on Fortnite?

    Players can send requests after playing a match together or through mutual connections. You can limit who can send friend requests in your child’s settings.

    Want to check the important Fortnite settings?

    We’ve created a free 10-minute Fortnite Parent Safety Check covering the key areas parents should look at — without needing to become a Fortnite expert.

    It’s a quick starting point if you’re not sure where your child’s account currently stands.

    Download the free checklist here:

    The Fortnite Quick Parent Guide (free)

    And if you want the complete picture, including Fortnite terminology, communication, spending, parental controls, privacy and practical conversations with your child, take a look at:

    The Fortnite Parent Guide — £4.99

    Both were created by The Digital Dad to make the confusing parts of gaming easier for parents to understand.