Net Nanny
Parental control software that filters websites, limits screen time and blocks apps on kids' devices.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Windows, macOS, iOS, Web
Is Net Nanny free?
No, it's a paid product
- Starting price:
- $39.99 a year for 1 desktop (list $49.99)
Checked on Net Nanny's site Nov 8, 2026
4 alternatives with a free option Full Net Nanny pricing and plansSwitch from Net Nanny to
All 6
- Ka
- Verified facts
- 8 of 8
- Alternatives ranked
- 6
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Net Nanny
Net Nanny is one of the oldest parental control products, sold since 1994 and now owned by SafeToNet. It filters web pages as they load, so it can block pornography and other content categories rather than relying only on blocklists, and it lets parents set screen time schedules, block apps on iOS, see a child's location and read a Family Feed of searches and blocked sites. Parents manage settings from a web dashboard or the Net Nanny Parent App. It is aimed at families who want strong web filtering across a household's computers and iPhones. There is no free tier: yearly subscriptions cover one desktop, five devices or twenty devices. It protects Windows PCs, Macs and iOS devices; Android is not listed among supported platforms on the current site.
Best for: Parents who want strong real-time web filtering on family PCs, Macs and iPhones.
Net Nanny pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from Net Nanny's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plans | 1, 5 or 20 devices per year | Nov 8, 2026 | netnanny.com |
| Starting price | $39.99 a year for 1 desktop (list $49.99) | Nov 8, 2026 | netnanny.com |
| 5 Devices plan | $54.99 a year (list $79.99) | Nov 8, 2026 | netnanny.com |
| 20 Devices plan | $89.99 a year (list $129.99) | Nov 8, 2026 | netnanny.com |
Pros and cons
What works
- Real-time content filtering of each page as it loads
- Family Feed shows searches and blocked sites at a glance
- Plans cover up to 20 devices
- Long track record in parental controls
Why people leave
- No free plan
- Android isn't listed among supported devices
- App blocking and location tracking are limited to iOS
- Yearly subscription only
Net Nanny vs Google Family Link, Microsoft Family Safety and Kaspersky Safe Kids
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Net Nanny | Google Family Link | Microsoft Family Safety | Kaspersky Safe Kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free | Free | Paid |
| Verified price | $39.99 a year for 1 desktop (list $49.99) | — | — | — |
| Free plan | No | Free app | Free app | No |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Web | Android, iOS, Web | Windows, Android, iOS, Web | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
Top Net Nanny alternatives
See all 6- 1Google Family Link68.8
Free from Google, with screen time limits, app approvals and location for Android kids.
- 2Microsoft Family Safety64.8
Free screen time limits and Edge web filters across Windows, Xbox and Android.
- 3KaKaspersky Safe Kids61.8
Adds Android support plus GPS tracking and YouTube safe search, and comes with Kaspersky Premium.
- 4
Norton Family59.4Web, search and time supervision for kids from a big security brand, often bundled with Norton 360 plans.
- 5
Mobicip57.5Content filtering, app blocking and screen-time schedules across iOS, Android, Mac, Windows and Chromebook.
Why people left Net Nanny
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
No switching stories yet. If you moved away from Net Nanny, review the app you switched to and tell us why.
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Net Nanny: common questions
What is Net Nanny?
Net Nanny: Parental control software that filters websites, limits screen time and blocks apps on kids' devices. Best for parents who want strong real-time web filtering on family PCs, Macs and iPhones. Available for Windows, macOS, iOS and Web.
Is Net Nanny free?
No, Net Nanny is a paid product. Plans: 1, 5 or 20 devices per year (checked on Net Nanny's own site).
How much does Net Nanny cost?
Net Nanny is a paid product. Plans: 1, 5 or 20 devices per year; Starting price: $39.99 a year for 1 desktop (list $49.99); 5 Devices plan: $54.99 a year (list $79.99); 20 Devices plan: $89.99 a year (list $129.99). Checked on Net Nanny's own site, November 2026.
Is Net Nanny open source?
No, Net Nanny is not open source.
What platforms does Net Nanny run on?
Net Nanny is available for Windows, macOS, iOS and Web.
What are the best alternatives to Net Nanny?
The highest-ranked Net Nanny alternatives right now are Google Family Link, Microsoft Family Safety and Kaspersky Safe Kids. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Net Nanny vs Google Family Link: what's the difference?
Net Nanny is a paid product; Google Family Link is free to use. Only Net Nanny runs on Windows and macOS. Only Google Family Link runs on Android.