A good Internet filter, can give you and your family a safe Internet environment. How to choose a best Internet filter app for your devices? This article will introduce 9 best Internet filter for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android. Just choose the one suits you best.
Cisdem AppCrypt
Free Download macOS 10.12 or later 
Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7
Internet filter is a program to block dangerous, inappropriate contents on your child’s devices. Most of them can also monitor and limit the usage time on specific webs and apps. Some of the web filter have accountability report, making you aware of how much time you or your kids spend on social media or games a day.
With the rapid development of Internet technology, the Internet has long been closely related to our daily life. Since that, without Internet filter, we may be disturbed by harmful or inappropriate information when we surf on Internet. Children may be addicted to Internet. And our work efficiency may be reduced because of Internet. Using Internet filter is the best way to ensure family’s Internet safety and mental health.
You should choose an Internet filter according to your needs and preferences. If you are still confused, below are a few points you can consider.
1. AppCrypt
2. ContentBarrier
3. OurPact
4. Net Nanny
5. DNS Filter
6. Bark
7. Kaspersky Safe Kids
Applies to: Mac, Windows
Pros:
1. Powerful web filters for Chrome, Safari, Edge and more.
2. Includes 12 filter categories: social media, porn, gambling, games, etc.
3. Supports block a specific site or block URLs containing a certain word.
4. Supports block all websites except the one you approved.
5. Lock apps with password and protect privacy.
6. Requires password to enter/quit/uninstall AppCrypt.
7. Use little or no CPU.
8. Cheaper than other professional Internet filters.
Cons:
1. None
Features：
As an Internet filter, the most necessary and important function is web content filtering. AppCrypt does a great job at this. It can be used as a reliable parental control tool to block harmful or inappropriate websites on the Internet for children, such as porn sites, games sites.
If you think this still isn’t enough to keep your kids safe online, you can enable the “Block all websites” button on the upper left corner. Then tap on Exceptions. Enter the URL that you allow your children to access to the Always Allow list. That way, kids won't be able to access all sites on the computer except for a few that you allow.
AppCrypt is also a good productivity tool for adults. You are able to block those distracting sites such as social media, video sites on your web browsers during working time (including certain hours of a day, or certain days of a week). This Internet filter allows users to set a general schedule for all the apps and webs on the block list. It also supports adding custom schedule for a specific app or site.
Compared with other common Internet filters, AppCrypt also provides an advanced feature for some users who want to protect privacy-lock specific applications with password. Without the password, no one could open the locked app. When the locked app is deactivated for a long time, or when the user leaves the computer for certain amount of time, it will be auto locked (you can customize the time or disable this auto-lock function in Preferences). In addition, password is required every time you enter/quit/uninstall AppCrypt, prevent your child or others from changing the settings/bypassing the blocking.
Costs：$19.99/1 Year
Applies to: Mac
Pros:
1. Support to block out a category of websites.
2. Also provide the whitelist mode.
3. Set time limit on Internet use.
4. Email and chat monitor.
5. Provide the activity reports.
Cons:
1. Mac-only
2. Unable to lock apps with password.
3. Easy to uninstall.
Features：
The Scheduled Access function of ContentBarrier can help you control your child’s Internet behavior greatly. Only allow network access during selected time periods such as 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM. You are also able to set time limits at access allowed time, preventing your kids from addicted to Internet.
ContentBarrier not only support to block a category of websites and specific websites, but also allow users to block access to sites with specific keywords. In addition, this app will record the visited websites. You can also block specific websites from the history lists.
ContentBarrier can monitor the e-mail and chat on your Mac. You can set to Allow e-mail, Try to filter inappropriate e-mails using Antipredator, Block email or Block newsgroups. This will keep you away from inappropriate emails. If you want to monitor your child’s online behavior, you can choose to receive email alerts when objectionable content is detected.
Costs: $39.99/Year
Applies to: Android & iOS
Pros:
1. Block webs, apps and text messages on child’s device.
2. Supports setting daily screen time limits.
3. View child’s online activities with automated screenshots.
4. Allows parents to schedule child’s screen time throughout the day.
5. Track child’s location at any time with geo location and geo fences.
Cons:
1. Only has 1 filter category: adult contents.
2. Cost more than other similar Internet filters
3. It tracks child’s Internet activities too often.
Features:
OurPact is a mobile Internet filter designed to help parents manage and monitor when and what their children spend on smartphones. It will periodically capture screenshots of child's online activities. Although I personally think this is an invasion of children's privacy. It also allows parents to set time limits for their children's device usage. You can set the daily usage time limits according to your needs to ensure that your child allocates time reasonably for study, entertainment and other activities.
With OurPact, parents can choose to block/allow access to specific apps or websites. This helps control children's exposure to inappropriate content online. What’s more, when a new application is installed on your child’s device, you'll get an instant alert.
A more advanced feature is that it allows you to schedule the screen time throughout the day. This means, you are able to set a daily schedule for your child. For example, can’t play games during study time, can’t access social media during bad time, etc., and this Internet filter will be activated automatically according to the schedule you set.
Costs: $9.99/Month
Applies to: Mac & Windows & Android & iOS
Pros:
1. Monitor your family’s online activity.
2. Supports adding multiple family members’ accounts.
3. Provides the web filter and content filter from web browsers.
4. Let parents get instant alerts that your child may have viewed harmful contents.
5. Let you set the daily/weekly screen time limits.
6. Provides reports of online searched.
Cons:
Unable to limit screen time for specific apps
Features:
Different from other traditional whitelist function, Net Nanny provide real-time content filter for kids. Since there are countless new websites appear everyday, the traditional whitelist function that put a list of websites to the block list maybe useless. The real-time content filter will automatically flit inappropriate webs each time a page is loaded. You can determine to allow, block or receive an alert when Net Nanny detected the inappropriate content such as porn, gambling.
Spending too much time in front of screens will cause myopia, psychology problem, decreased sleep quality etc. Using Net Nanny, you can see how much time your devices are being used a day and limit the screen time for yourself or your child to manage the online activity. You can also set to turn off the Internet during selected time period.
With Net Nanny, you can see what applications are installed on your child’s device. You will get alert when a new app is installed. This program allows you to view the app’s usage report. If you found your child or yourself spend too much time on an app a day, you can set to block this inappropriate app.
Costs: $39.99/Year
Applies to: Windows & Mac & iOS & Android
Pros:
1. Stop users from visiting harmful or inappropriate websites.
2. Prevent users from viewing malicious content.
3. Protect users from phishing, malware and ransom ware etc.
2. Provide network activity and security reports.
Cons:
1. Don’t support to customize blacklist of websites.
2. Don’t support to lock unwanted apps.
3. Don’t have schedule function.
Features:
Protect users’ online security is more and more important since the developing of Internet. Users may be attacked by phishing, malware, ransom ware, affect child’s mental health, or your data on computer will be stolen. DNS Filter provides real-time domain analysis DNS threat protection. Protect you from different types of DNS attacks on the Internet.
As an Internet filter, DNS Filter let you choose from 36 content categories and 7 threat categories to block. Keep employees on company safe and productive.
Costs: $1.8/Month
Applies to: iOS & Android
Pros:
1. Block inappropriate websites.
2. Support adding multiple family members.
3. Make sure to protect your personal information.
3. Fast fraud alerts.
Cons:
1. Higher fees than others.
2. Unable to limit screen time.
Features:
Bark supports you to custom what your child can view online. You can set to limit access to some apps and websites, as you want. This program also support to block harmful or inappropriate websites by category.
Bark will secure your identity, online account and personal information. Users will get alerted if their personal information was exposed online.
If you want to protect your family online security, you can purchase the family plan. You can add up to 5 people’s account (whether kids or adults) to your family plan. But this will costs $50/Month.
Costs: $14/Month
Applies to: Windows & Mac & iOS & Android
Pros:
1. Block inappropriate content.
2. With Safe search function.
3. Allow you to set screen time on apps and websites.
4. Be able to track your kid’s location with GPS.
5. Be able to see reports on child’s online activities.
Cons:
1. Easy to change settings or uninstall.
Features:
Kaspersky Safe Kids is a qualified family safety software. Its Internet filter feature can automatically filter content that is not suitable for children on Internet, such as adult or sexual content, violence, gambling and more. Parents can also set specific website access permissions.
If your kids are addicted to Internet, or yourself can’t control the online time every day, you can use this program to set the permitted number of hours of screen time. The device will not be able to used once the limit is reached.
You may be worried about your child's safety when he's out playing. The GPS tracking of Kaspersky Safe Kids will locate your kids wherever they go. Your kids will get alerted if they leave the area you set that you want your kids stay in.
Costs: $46.99/Year
| Cisdem AppCrypt | ContentBarrier | OurPact | Net Nanny | DNS Filter | Bark | Kaspersky Safe Kids | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price |
$19.99/1 Year |
$39.99/Year |
$9.99/Month |
$39.99/Year |
$1.8/Month |
$14/Month |
$46.99/Year |
| Website blocker | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Web categories filtering | ✔ | ✔ | ✗ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| App locker | ✔ | ✗ | ✔ | ✔ | ✗ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Schedule feature | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✗ | ✔ | ✔ |
| White list mode | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✗ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Activity reports | ✗ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ease of use | Excellent | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Good | Fair |
| User interface quality | Excellent | Fair | Excellent | Good | Fair | Good | Good |
If you don’t willing to pay for an Internet filter and don’t need some advanced features, here’re 2 more choices for you. The process may be a bit cumbersome but it doesn't require you installing third-party software.
Screen Time is a built-in feature on Mac and iPhone designed to help users manage and limit the time they spend on the Internet. It can be used to monitor and filter web content, especially for children and teenage users.
Here are easy steps on how to filter inappropriate content on Mac using this free Internet filter:
Step 1. Go to the System Preferences on your Mac. Select Screen Time.
Step 2. Click Option on the upper left corner. Turn on Screen Time for this Mac.
Step 3. You can set the password to secure your Screen Time settings.
Step 4. In the sidebar, click App Limit. Click the plus icon to add screen time limits for specific applications.
Step 5. Then go to Content & Privacy in the sidebar. Turn on this function on the top. Choose Limit Adult Websites on the Web Content section.
Step 6. Click Customize button below it. Add inappropriate websites that you want to block to the Restricted box. Click OK.
For iPhone users, you can find this feature in the Settings app.
Windows hosts file is a text file that used to map domain names to IP addresses. It can also be used as the Internet filter. By adding entries to the hosts file, you can restrict access to a specific website or redirect it to other addresses.
Below are detailed steps to use this Internet filter on Windows computer:
Step 1. Search for Notepad on your Windows search bar.
Step 2. Run Notepad as administrator.
Step 3. Click on File > Open.
Step 4. Navigate to the following address: Local Disk(C) > Windows > System32 > drivers >etc. Open it.
Step 5. Now you can add a new line at the end of the hosts file. Redirect the unwanted website to the local IP address 127.0.0.1. For example, to block YouTube websites on the Internet, add the following text:
127.0.0.1 youtube.com
127.0.0.1 www.youtube.com
Step 6. Then click on File > Save.
Above are 9 Internet filter app that I recommend after testing. Each app has advantages and disadvantages. They are also suitable for different devices. You can judge them according to your needs and preferences. If you are a Mac user, I recommend you trying AppCrypt. This is a powerful and qualified Internet filter for Mac for your family. It has many useful functions and is easy to operate. Which one do you like best?
Rosa has worked in Mac software industry for more than eight years. She believes that the purpose of software is to make life better and work more productively. In addition to writing, Rosa is also an avid runner.
