Parental control apps have become increasingly popular in recent years as a way for parents to monitor their children’s phone activity and ensure their safety online. One such app is Eyezy, which offers comprehensive monitoring features while aiming to balance child privacy with parental insight.
- Offers a solid mix of both monitoring and blocking features
- Easy-to-use parent dashboard provides at-a-glance visibility
- Can block individual apps and websites, not just categories
- Real-time location tracking with interactive map
- Some features require rooting or jailbreaking the device
- No screen time scheduling
- No alerts for inappropriate messages
Eyezy Features and Capabilities
The core capability of Eyezy is giving parents visibility into their child’s device usage. Once installed on a child’s smartphone or tablet, the app records information like texts, calls, websites visited, apps used, location history, and screen time. This data is viewable through a parent dashboard available on the web or through Eyezy’s mobile app.
Some key features of Eyezy include:
Text Message Monitoring
Parents can view all SMS and MMS messages sent and received on the child’s device. This includes reading message content and seeing information like date, time, and contact names.
Location Tracking
The app records location data and plots it on a map in the parent dashboard. Parents can see where their child has been throughout the day and set up geofences to get alerts when they enter or exit specified areas.
App and Website Blocking
Eyezy lets parents block access to apps and websites based on category or by manually adding specific URLs/app names. Blocked content is inaccessible on the child’s device.
Time Limits and Schedules
Parents can set daily time limits for app categories or individual apps. Schedules can also be created to restrict app usage or block content during certain times like school nights or after bedtimes.
Remote Management
From the parent dashboard, parents can remotely lock or pause a child’s device with the click of a button. This prevents access until the restriction is removed.
How to Install Eyezy
Installing Eyezy is a straightforward process that takes just a few minutes to complete. Here are the steps for getting the app set up on your child’s device:
On Android
- Download the Eyezy app from the Google Play Store on your child’s Android device.
- Open the app and tap “Add Device” then select “I’m a Parent” when prompted.
- Sign up for a new Eyezy parent account or log in to an existing account.
- Accept the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
- Tap “Install Eyezy” and grant the app the requested permissions.
- A notification will appear on your child’s phone requesting installation. Have your child tap “Install” to authorize setup.
- Once installed, open the Eyezy app on your own device and you’ll now see monitoring data.
On iPhone/iPad (iOS)
- Download the Eyezy app from the Apple App Store.
- Open the app and select “I’m a Parent” then sign up or log in.
- Accept the Terms and Privacy Policy.
- On the child’s iPhone/iPad, go to Settings > Profile Downloaded > Install to approve Eyezy’s installation.
- Enter the child’s passcode on the parental device to link the accounts.
- Grant notifications access when prompted.
- Monitoring features will now be active in the parent’s Eyezy dashboard.
And that’s it! Once these steps are completed, you’ll be able to monitor your child’s device activity through the Eyezy mobile or web app. Let me know if you need any clarification on the installation process.
How Eyezy Compares to Other Top Monitoring Apps
Eyezy isn’t the only parental control app out there. Some of its top competitors include Qustodio, Famisafe, Bark, and Location Labs. Here’s a rundown of how Eyezy stacks up against some of these alternatives:
- Qustodio – Offers nearly identical features to Eyezy but has weaker blocking capabilities. However, it does have better cross-platform support across iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows devices. Eyezy is currently only available on iOS and Android.
- Famisafe – Provides extremely robust location tracking and geofencing features that outshine Eyezy’s capabilities. However, Famisafe lacks options for blocking apps and websites. Eyezy has much stronger restrictions.
- Bark – Specializes in monitoring social media activity and alerting parents about signs of cyberbullying, aggression, depression, and other risks. Eyezy doesn’t scan message content for risk factors like Bark does.
- Location Labs – Focuses heavily on location tracking features. Parents get extremely detailed location data on a child’s whereabouts throughout the day. However, the app doesn’t monitor texts, calls, apps, etc.
Is Eyezy Worth the Cost?
Eyezy offers four pricing tiers depending on the number of devices you want to monitor:
- 1 Month: $38.39
- 3 Month: $22.39/month or $67.17/3 months
- 12 Month: $7.99/month or $95.88/year
At less than $40 per month for robust monitoring of a single device, Eyezy provides good value compared to competitors like xMobi that start at $49.99/month for fewer features. The pricing is very competitive for the level of oversight parents gain into a child’s activities.
One downside is that iOS limitations mean you don’t get full SMS monitoring, which reduces the value a bit for iPhone users. But for parents of children with Android devices, the SMS access makes the monitoring capabilities extremely thorough for this price point.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, Eyezy succeeds in its goal of giving parents enhanced visibility and control over their children’s device usage. While limitations like iOS SMS restrictions hold it back from being a perfect product, it still offers a wide array of monitoring tools for an affordable monthly price.
If you’re a parent concerned about who your child is communicating with, what apps they’re using, where they go and when, then Eyezy provides an effective way to get peace of mind through comprehensive oversight. Just be aware of the pros and cons before moving forward with it.