Bitdefender is a cybersecurity company headquartered in Bucharest, Romania, with additional offices in the US, Australia, Europe and the Middle East. Bitdefender offers several security tools for desktop and mobile devices, including parental controls, which the company bundles in its “Total Security” and “Internet Security” packages.
Bitdefender’s parental control app (opens in new tab) works on all major platforms; Windows and macOS for PCs and iOS and Android for mobile devices. You can use it to block specific websites, set screen time limits, check your child’s location, etc.
We’re reviewing Bitdefender to help you decide if it’s the right parental control app for you. We evaluate the app based on specific criteria including pricing, features, ease of use, customer support, etc.
Subscriptions and Prices
You can access the Bitdefender parental controls by clicking the “Total Security (opens in new tab)” or “internet security (opens in new tab)” package. The Total Security package costs $90 per year (for five devices), while the Internet Security package costs $80 per year (for three devices). Bitdefender offers significant discounts in the first year to lure customers, whereby $36 is charged for Total Security and $32 for Internet Security.
Buying a pack gives you parental controls and other cybersecurity (opens in new tab) features such as a password manager, file shredder, Wi-Fi security advisor, and ad-tracking browser extension. You can pay on the official website via PayPal (opens in new tab), PayNearMe or credit/debit cards. After payment, Bitdefender will send a software activation key to the email address you provided.
Bitdefender offers you a 30-day free trial to test the software before purchasing it. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee after every purchase.
Functions
Bitdefender offers many parental control features including;
Screen time
You can set time limits for your children’s screen activity. You can select specific schedules on a daily or weekly basis for when they access their device. The app also allows you to track screen time on any device.
Filter website
Bitdefender’s Parental Controls app allows you to block specific websites from your children’s devices. You can block specific URLs or entire website categories such as gambling, gaming, adult content, etc. Children are not mature enough to handle certain types of content, so this feature is useful, as they cannot access such content.
Phone contacts
You can access your child’s phone contacts to see who they are communicating with. If you notice a suspicious number, you can block it immediately.
Location child
Bitdefender allows you to continuously track the location of your children to know where they are. You can also receive notifications when your children reach historic locations, such as school or home.
Email Reports and Notifications
You can receive a summary of your child’s online activities by email at regular intervals (daily, weekly, monthly). The app also sends notifications if a child tries to access blocked websites or apps, sends or receives messages from a blocked/unknown phone number, or tries to uninstall the Parental Controls app.
Interface and in use
The Bitdefender Parental Controls app is available for download on macOS, Windows, iOS and Android. To download on macOS or Windows, you must download first Bitdefender Central, an app that manages all subscriptions to Bitdefender products. Select in the app My devices in the sidebar. In the My Devices section, click +Install Bitdefender products on your devices† Then a new window will appear; To elect Parental supervision from this window.
For mobile devices, you can download the Parental Controls app right away. After downloading the app you will need a Child profile and assign it to a device. Creating a profile requires basic information about your child, such as name and date of birth.
Bitdefender’s Parental Controls app has an intuitive interface. It is easy to use and navigate.
Customer service
Bitdefender offers 24/7 customer support via email, live chat and telephone. You can contact the company’s support representatives if you encounter any problems. Live chat and phone calls provide instant responses. If you send an email request, expect a response within 24 hours.
Bitdefender also has an extensive support center with video tutorials and how-to articles related to the platform. It’s a good place to refer if you’re having trouble using the Parental Controls app before seeking immediate support if you’re not happy.
The competition
Bitdefender Parental Control’s main competitors are Qustodio, SentryPC and Safe Family from McAfee. Bitdefender offers similar parental control features to these rivals. But the Bitdefender package also includes other security features (File Shredder, Password Manager, etc.) that give it a competitive advantage.
Final verdict
Technology has its good and bad sides. Children have access to many positive resources online and equally harmful content. Bitdefender’s Parental Controls app helps you prevent your children from accessing inappropriate online content or contact. It is a practical tool for any parent to monitor their children’s online activities.
Bitdefender parental controls are compatible with the four major desktop and mobile operating systems, which is good. It offers good value for money thanks to the many security features included in each package. However, we noticed some shortcomings such as the limited iOS app.
Buying guide
Parental controls are one of the many tools offered by Bitdefender, a Romanian cybersecurity software giant. It provides many tools to monitor your child’s online activities. You can set screen time limits, block specific apps and websites, track your child’s location, etc.
You can get Parental Controls as part of Bitdefender’s “Total Security” or “Internet Security” packages. The Total Security package costs $90 per year (for five devices), while the Internet Security package costs $80 per year (for three devices). Bitdefender offers hefty discounts in the first year, charging $36 for Total Security and $32 for Internet Security.
Bitdefender Parental Controls offer great value for money and are compatible with major desktop and mobile operating systems. We noticed some drawbacks of the app such as the limited iOS features.
