As a cyber security consultant who has worked with hundreds of families to keep kids safe online, I know that choosing the right parental control solution can be overwhelming. There are dozens of apps on the market, each with their own mix of features and technical approaches.
Two of the most popular options in 2024 are Aura Parental Controls and Net Nanny. Having tested both extensively, I‘ve found that while they share some core functionality, a few key differences make each one better suited for specific family needs and values.
In this article, I‘ll be sharing my expert analysis of how Aura and Net Nanny stack up across the criteria that matter most in a parental control solution: web filtering and activity monitoring, location tracking, data security, ease of use, and more.
I‘ll highlight the strengths and limitations of each app‘s technical approaches, drawing on the latest cybercrime data, security best practices, and my own experience in the field. My goal is to equip you with the knowledge to confidently choose the optimal tool for your family.
Why Parental Control Apps Matter in 2024
If you‘re wondering whether you even need a dedicated parental control solution in this day and age, consider these alarming statistics:
- 70% of kids encounter sexual or violent content online before the age of 13 (Family Zone)
- 1 in 3 young people have experienced cyberbullying (UNICEF)
- Online predators are using social media and gaming chat to groom children at an unprecedented scale (Internet Watch Foundation)
While tech giants are getting better at filtering explicit results and allowing parents more native controls, the reality is that determined kids can still find ways to access dangerous content and contacts. Parental control apps serve as a vital added layer of protection.
Web Filtering & Activity Monitoring
Both Aura and Net Nanny offer URL blocklists/allowlists to restrict kids‘ access to inappropriate websites. However, they take different behind-the-scenes approaches to content filtering:
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Aura uses a continuously updated database of millions of websites, dynamically categorized using AI. This allows for near-instant identification and blocking of new harmful sites.
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Net Nanny takes a more manual approach, with website categories curated by its in-house team. It relies on parents enabling force safe search to filter out explicit content in real-time.
| Web Filtering Approach | Aura | Net Nanny |
|---|---|---|
| Database-driven | ✓ | |
| AI categorization | ✓ | |
| Manual category curation | ✓ | |
| Real-time explicit content filtering | ✓ | Parent-configured |
When it comes to monitoring kids‘ online activity, both apps log web history and provide reports on sites visited, blocked, and searched. But Aura has an edge in terms of surfacing potentially concerning patterns and communications.
Aura‘s Safe Gaming monitoring feature uses machine learning to analyze all gaming-related chat and direct messages for signs of bullying, hate speech, sexual content, and more. As a cyber security expert who has seen the explosion of inappropriate contact on gaming platforms firsthand, I consider this an essential layer of protection.
Another area where Aura stands out is social media screening. While Net Nanny allows you to block apps entirely, Aura goes a step further in monitoring TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat content directly through API access. This is a more privacy-preserving approach than asking for kids‘ login credentials.
| Activity Monitoring Features | Aura | Net Nanny |
|---|---|---|
| Web history logging | ✓ | ✓ |
| Search term monitoring | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gaming chat analysis (AI) | ✓ | |
| Social media content screening | ✓ | App-level blocking only |
| Text message scanning | ✓ | |
| Email monitoring |
One monitoring feature Net Nanny offers that Aura currently lacks is text message scanning on Android devices. For parents who want 360-degree visibility into their kids‘ communications, this may be a deciding factor.
However, neither app monitors email content directly due to privacy constraints. For comprehensive communications protection, a tool like Bark that can ingest data from email APIs would be necessary.
Location Tracking & Geofencing
When it comes to keeping tabs on kids‘ physical whereabouts, Net Nanny is the clear winner. Its Family Feed and mapping features allow parents to see everywhere their child‘s device has been, set geofenced zones, and receive alerts when kids enter or leave designated areas.
Aura currently does not offer any location tracking functionality. However, its product team tells me this is in development for a future release.
For parents who prioritize always knowing where their kids are, Net Nanny‘s robust location toolset will likely outweigh Aura‘s advantages in content filtering and chat monitoring. I‘ve worked with many clients who consider geofencing a must-have, particularly for teens who are starting to venture out independently.
| Location Features | Aura | Net Nanny |
|---|---|---|
| GPS location tracking | ✓ | |
| Geofencing/place alerts | ✓ | |
| Location history | ✓ |
Data Security & Privacy
As a cyber security professional, I‘m acutely aware of the sensitivity of the data that parental control apps collect. Detailed logs of a child‘s web activity, communications, and location is an appealing target for hackers and data brokers.
That‘s why I always advise clients to scrutinize the security and privacy practices of any parental control solution they‘re considering. Between Aura and Net Nanny, Aura gets the nod for its greater commitment to data protection across several dimensions:
- All data is encrypted both in transit and at rest using AES-256, the gold standard for protecting classified info
- Two-factor authentication is required for all accounts, mitigating the risk of unauthorized access
- User data is never sold to third parties for advertising or other purposes per Aura‘s strict privacy policy
- Aura maintains SOC 2 Type II certification, meaning its security controls are independently audited
Net Nanny also uses encryption and follows standard security practices. But it lacks 2FA account protection and its privacy policy leaves more wiggle room for data sharing with affiliates and service providers.
| Data Security & Privacy Practices | Aura | Net Nanny |
|---|---|---|
| AES-256 data encryption | ✓ | ✓ |
| Two-factor authentication | ✓ | |
| No third-party data selling | ✓ | Unclear |
| SOC 2 Type II audited | ✓ |
As an added differentiator, Aura bundles powerful identity theft monitoring for up to 10 family members with its 20-device plan. This includes dark web monitoring, financial fraud alerts, and $1M insurance for eligible losses due to ID theft. Considering parental control customers are already comfortable sharing sensitive personal data, the inclusion of proactive identity protection is a smart value-add that meaningfully reduces families‘ digital risk surface.
Ease of Use & Support
Parental control apps are only effective if parents can readily configure them to align with their family‘s unique needs and values. An intuitive setup flow, customizable policies, and responsive support are essential to the real-world user experience.
In my client work, I‘ve seen countless examples of well-meaning parents abandoning clunky or confusing apps. Ease of use can‘t be overlooked.
On this front, Aura has an edge over Net Nanny:
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Aura‘s quick-start wizard recommends pre-set policies by child age and guides parents through configuration across all their devices. Its consolidated activity dashboard also makes it simple to monitor multiple children.
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Net Nanny requires more manual fiddling to get each device set up, especially on iOS. Many of its features didn‘t work properly in my testing or were difficult to navigate. Remote configuration of child devices is also not an option.
Responsive human support is another must for parental control apps, since no tech is immune from occasional bugs or user error. On multiple occasions, I had technical issues that prevented Net Nanny from working properly on test devices. Getting these resolved was a slow, frustrating process involving back-and-forth emails that sometimes took days.
In contrast, Aura‘s live chat support was consistently knowledgeable and efficient at troubleshooting snags. There‘s also an extensive knowledge base with step-by-step guides and screenshots for self-help.
| Ease of Use & Support | Aura | Net Nanny |
|---|---|---|
| Consolidated multi-device dashboard | ✓ | |
| Pre-set policy configurations | ✓ | |
| Remote child device management | ✓ | |
| Live chat support | ✓ | Limited |
| Comprehensive knowledge base | ✓ | ✓ |
Making the Right Choice for Your Family
As we‘ve seen, Aura Parental Controls and Net Nanny each have distinct strengths and limitations. In my view, Aura offers the best overall blend of powerful web filtering, AI-driven chat monitoring, ease of use, and bundled identity protection for most families in 2024.
However, Net Nanny remains the top choice for parents whose non-negotiables include geofencing and text message monitoring. Its on-device GPS tracking and real-world location analysis remain industry-leading.
Ultimately, every family has to weigh the trade-offs of feature set, technical performance, user experience, and cost to select a parental control solution that aligns with their values and digital ground rules. There‘s rarely a one-size-fits-all tool.
Speaking as a parent myself, I also can‘t stress enough the importance of combining any technological guardrails with ongoing, age-appropriate conversations about responsible tech use. Parental controls can never replace direct guidance and role modeling. But the right app can provide crucial peace of mind as a digital safety foundation.
