Aura Parental Controls vs Norton Family: Keeping Kids Safe Online in 2024
As a cyber security expert with over a decade of experience protecting data in the cloud, I know firsthand how critical it is to safeguard our children in the digital world. In 2024, with more kids than ever interacting and sharing online, robust parental control software is a must for families. Two top contenders are Aura Parental Controls and Norton Family. In this in-depth comparison, I‘ll break down the key features, pricing, security, and more to help you decide which is the best fit for your family‘s safety.
Aura Parental Controls: Bundled Protection for the Whole Family
Aura is best known for their powerful identity theft protection and cybersecurity tools. Their parental controls are included as part of their comprehensive digital safety packages. Some standout features:
- Web content filtering for dozens of categories like mature content, gambling, weapons and more
- Screen time scheduling and limits across all devices
- YouTube and search monitoring to block inappropriate content
- Online gaming monitoring to help detect cyberbullying, grooming, and other threats
- Detailed activity reports to view your child‘s internet usage
However, Aura does lack some advanced features that many parents want, like social media monitoring, text/chat oversight, location tracking and geo-fencing. It‘s a solid offering if you‘re looking for capable web filtering and all-in-one family protection, but falls a bit short for total supervision and visibility into kids‘ digital lives.
Norton Family: Robust Monitoring for Hands-On Parents
Norton Family is a dedicated parental control solution with some of the most comprehensive monitoring capabilities on the market. Top features include:
- Detailed activity reports showing search, video, and website history
- App monitoring and blocking (Android only)
- Location supervision with real-time alerts
- "School Time" limits to block distractions during classes
- Instant Lock" to pause device access at any time
The biggest downsides are lack of compatibility with Mac computers, and limited social media monitoring only on Android. It also can‘t monitor SMS texting or emails. But for keeping tabs on younger kids‘ web activity and physical whereabouts, it‘s a powerful tool.
Pricing & Value
Aura plans start at $10/month ($96/year) which includes protection for up to 5 adults and unlimited kids. For comprehensive ID theft protection, their top-tier family plan is $30/month ($264/year). All plans come with a generous 60-day money-back guarantee.
Norton Family is more affordable at $50/year for 5 devices, but doesn‘t include additional cybersecurity or identity theft features. For that you‘d need to opt for one of the Norton 360 plans which bundle in device security, VPN, identity monitoring and more, starting at $85/year. They offer a 60-day refund as well.
From a value perspective, if online content filtering is your top priority, Norton Family delivers for a lower annual cost. But if you want a full-family digital defense system, Aura‘s bundled offering is compelling.
Security & Privacy
Any software that monitors your child‘s activity needs to be held to the highest standards of security and data privacy. Both Aura and Norton employ strong policies and safeguards:
- Industry-standard encryption (AES-256 for Aura, 128-bit SSL for Norton)
- Secure data storage on company-controlled servers, never sold to 3rd parties
- Option for multi-factor authentication on parent login
- Continuous security auditing and testing
Neither company is without past security incidents, but both are transparent about their practices and I‘m confident in recommending either from a data integrity standpoint based on my professional expertise and research.
Customer Experience
Aura and Norton both offer 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and chat. Aura has a slight edge with direct access to a dedicated support rep, while Norton relies more on FAQs and online guides. In testing the software hands-on, I found Aura simpler to set up and configure on multiple devices, while Norton had more granular options that took some tinkering to master.
Scanning user reviews, a few common themes emerge. Aura customers appreciate the all-in-one convenience and rave about the service‘s privacy and anti-theft features. Some complain about slow loading and occasional glitches. Norton families love the detailed control and customization but a few mention it can be circumvented by tech-savvy teens. Both earn generally positive feedback with ratings averaging 4/5 stars.
Alternative Options
If your priority is maximum visibility into social media activity and messaging, take a look at Bark ($100/year for unlimited devices). It can monitor 30+ apps and uses AI to proactively detect signs of distress. Kaspersky Safe Kids ($15/year) is a budget-friendly option best for younger children with more basic web filtering needs. And Net Nanny ($40/year) offers robust content blocking but lacks some more advanced features.
The Bottom Line
Aura Parental Controls and Norton Family are both solid, reputable options for protecting your kids online in 2024. Based on my expert evaluation, here‘s my bottom-line take:
- Choose Aura if your top concern is all-in-one cybersecurity, identity protection, and parental controls rolled into one platform.
- Go with Norton Family if granular supervision is your priority and you want maximum visibility and control, especially on Android devices.
- For intensive social media and text monitoring, consider alternatives like Bark.
- On a budget, Kaspersky Safe Kids delivers capable essentials at the best price.
Ultimately, the right choice comes down to your unique family needs, parenting philosophy, and what features matter most for your peace of mind. Whichever you choose, you‘ll be taking an important step toward safeguarding your children‘s digital lives.
