Published on: July 10, 2023 Updated 4 times since publishing
- 🥇 Bark : Monitors your kid’s Snapchat in real time and sends you snippets of any disappearing messages on Snapchat containing inappropriate, suspicious, or concerning content. It also lets you set a customized schedule for your child’s Snapchat use. You can test Bark risk-free via its 7-day free trial.
The best parental controls for Snapchat can monitor your kid’s Snaps and disappearing messages — something Snapchat’s built-in Family Center doesn’t offer. The apps I recommend go much further, too: they let you scan your child’s incoming and outgoing messages (even if they disappear), limit screen time, block access to Snapchat’s app or site, and in some cases, monitor Snapchat activity without your child knowing.
Snapchat’s Family Center does offer some visibility — you can see who your child is friends with, who they’ve messaged in the last 7 days, and report suspicious accounts. But it doesn’t let you read messages, set time limits, or block access, which means most of the riskier content goes unchecked.
So, to find the best parental app for Snapchat, I tested 30+ parental apps. My personal favorite is Bark — it uses AI to scan and alert you about inappropriate and concerning content on your child’s Snapchat account and lets you limit your kid’s access to the app.
Quick Summary of the Best Parental Controls for Snapchat
🥇1. Bark — Best Overall Parental Control for Snapchat
Bark is the best parental control app for Snapchat in 2026. Unlike Snapchat’s built-in parental controls, Bark monitors your child’s disappearing direct messages, searches (even if they delete them in the app), and the AI chat in real time — but this is fully available only on Android. This lets you catch and address issues like cyberbullying or exposure to inappropriate content as soon as they happen.
- Monitors disappearing messages
- Monitors Snapchat app and web
- Uninstall protection
- Customizable alert rules
- More limited on iOS
Bark monitoring works by scanning all content against 19+ categories, like violence and bullying, and sends you a snippet of the Snapchat content that triggered its filters. This lets you instantly determine whether it’s worth interfering, so you won’t have to scroll through every one of your child’s conversations to find something potentially inappropriate.
I also think it’s great that Bark includes a tip on how to deal with the issue, depending on the type of content it detects, which is useful if you’re not sure what steps to take. The only downside is that this feature is only available on Android.
I also like that it’s customizable. You can choose which categories to turn on and off, which is great if you want to set more lenient rules for your older children. Plus, you can control the sensitivity level for each category to match your child’s maturity level. For example, you can set it to only alert you about “severe” content, so you don’t have to sift through tons of alerts about minor things like a text using the word “stupid.”
Bark lets you block the Snapchat app if you don’t want your kid to use it at all or set a schedule for Snapchat to make sure that your kid isn’t spending too much time on the app. This is something you don’t get as an option with Snapchat’s built-in parental controls. For example, you can block Snapchat at night while still allowing them to use it during the day.
If you’re worried that your kid will try to get around your restrictions, Bark’s web filter feature allows you to block the browser-based Snapchat version, too. Plus, it has uninstall protection to prevent your child from removing the app from their Android device. Even if they do, Bark will still monitor Snapchat and send you alerts about inappropriate content, as the monitoring happens on an account level.
Bark’s Premium plan, which costs $5.00 / month, has all the features to monitor Snapchat. Although there’s no money-back guarantee, Bark offers a generous 7-day free trial, which is plenty to try out all of its features.
Bottom Line:
Bark is the best parental control app for Snapchat. It monitors your child’s disappearing messages, searches, and AI chats, and lets you read snippets of inappropriate or concerning content (Snapchat’s built-in parental controls don’t). Bark even provides recommended actions when it detects suspicious content, and it allows you to set time limits and block the app completely. You can test the app using its 7-day free trial.
🥈2. Mobicip — Beginner-Friendly Monitoring Feature for Snapchat
Mobicip comes with a simple Snapchat monitoring feature that’s great for beginners — it’s super easy to find in the app (under Social Media) and takes just 1 tap to enable it. This makes it perfect for parents who need to quickly start monitoring Snapchat without any hassle.
- One-tap Snapchat monitoring setup
- Takes screenshots
- Time limits with Vacation Mode
- Only monitors 5+ categories
- Fewer insights than Bark
Like Bark, Mobicip scans for inappropriate or concerning language on your child’s Snapchat account in private and group messages and sends you a screenshot of the disappearing message, regardless of whether it’s incoming or outgoing. This is very useful considering Snapchat’s built-in parental controls don’t let you check any of your kid’s messages.
You can choose which content categories trigger alerts and how often you get them. However, it only scans Snapchat for content against 5+ categories (including cyberbullying, sex, violence, drugs, self-harm, or suicide), which is fewer than Bark’s 19+ content categories.
Mobicip is great for scheduling your child’s Snapchat screen time. It lets you block Snapchat during specific times in 5-minute increments — for example, I was able to restrict access to Snapchat and other social media during school hours, homework time, and late at night. I like that Mobicip offers a Vacation Mode, too, allowing you to relax Snapchat restrictions for a few days or a week without changing your regular settings.
I was also impressed to find that Mobicip can prevent my child from downloading Snapchat from the app store altogether, so if you decide to remove the app from their phone they won’t be able to reinstall it.
Plus, Mobicip’s web filtering feature lets you block Snapchat’s web version, so your kid can’t bypass your restrictions by using Snapchat in a browser. There’s also uninstall protection to stop your kid from deleting the Mobicip app and keep your time-related restrictions in place.
You get all monitoring features with Mobicip’s Premium plan, which costs $2.99 / month and is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Mobicip is great for beginners who want to monitor their kid’s Snapchat account. The feature requires 1 tap to enable and scans Snapchat’s disappearing messages against 5+ categories. You get other perks that Snapchat’s built-in parental controls lack, like deciding how often you want to receive notifications, blocking Snapchat’s web version, and choosing when your kid can access Snapchat. Mobicip’s Premium plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
🥉3. mSpy — Good For Viewing Your Child’s Snaps on Android
mSpy lets you see all of your child’s disappearing snaps and messaging on Android, giving you a complete view of everything happening on Snapchat if you have serious concerns. Plus, you can monitor your kid’s Snapchat without them knowing — it doesn’t leave any trace on their device and they won’t be able to see it even if they’re tech-savvy.
- Screen recorder auto-captures content
- Keylogger sends alerts on keywords
- Hidden mode for discreet monitoring
- Requires rooting or jailbreaking
- No time limit or scheduling
mSpy also includes a screen recorder that captures screenshots of Snapchat conversations, including text, snaps, and videos. It automatically takes a screenshot whenever there’s a change in the app, such as when a snap is sent or received. This ensures you don’t accidentally miss anything important – plus, you can use it to only check snaps, without having to scroll through long conversations.
mSpy sends you alerts about inappropriate text, too, via its keylogger feature, which tracks everything your child types on Snapchat, including private messages, groups, and searches. This is convenient since you don’t have to comb through every conversation yourself. However, unlike with Bark, you’ll need to manually enter the specific words and phrases you want to be alerted about.
mSpy blocks the Snapchat app and the web version if you don’t want your kid accessing it. However, it doesn’t come with screen time limits or a scheduling feature, so you can’t manage Snapchat screen time like with Mobicip.
What I really didn’t like about mSpy is that you have to root or jailbreak your kid’s phone to see their snaps and messages and use the Screenrecorder. The process isn’t only technical, but it can also compromise the security of your kid’s device.
mSpy offers 4 plans that give you access to features that monitor your child’s Snapchat: Premium ($11.67 / month), Family Kit ($34.00 / month), iOS Ultimate Kit ($40.83 / month), and Android Extreme ($33.99 / month). mSpy doesn’t provide a free plan, a trial period, or a money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
mSpy is a great choice for getting full access to every bit of Snapchat content on your kid’s Android without them knowing about it. It lets you see all disappearing Snaps and messages, read your kid’s entire conversations, and get alerts when your kid uses certain words and phrases. The downside is you’ll need to root/jailbreak your kid’s device to use all of these features. Also, you don’t get any free trial or a money-back guarantee.
4. Eyezy — Good For Checking Snaps on iOS
Eyezy lets you see all of your kid’s disappearing snaps on iOS. Its Social Spotlight feature shows you disappearing text messages and every image and video they’ve sent and received on Snapchat — all without your kid’s knowledge. Most parental apps (including Bark and Mobicip) can’t monitor Snapchat on iOS, and the built-in parental controls don’t track conversations at all.
- Works on iOS
- Captures disappearing messages
- Keylogger monitors typed content
- Requires jailbreak/root access
- No automatic keyword tracking
Eyezy has a screen recorder, like mSpy, that captures your kid’s entire conversations on Snapchat, including text, snaps, and videos. There’s also a keylogger that sends alerts when your child types certain words on Snapchat, but it’s not very intuitive, as you have to manually enter every word and phrase.
If you don’t want your kid to access Snapchat at all, you can block the app and web version. However, keep in mind that there may be a delay of up to 15 minutes before the block is applied to your child’s device. Also, there are no screen time limits or scheduling options like with Bark and Mobicip.
Setting up Eyezy requires you to root or jailbreak your child’s device, which isn’t ideal. It took me quite some time to do it, and I don’t recommend it unless you’re tech-savvy and are willing to compromise your child’s device security.
Eyezy’s desktop plan costs $7.99 / month. However, there’s no free plan, trial period, or money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Eyezy allows you to see all of your kid’s Snapchat activity on iOS, which is great, considering that not a lot of apps give you this kind of control over an Apple product. You also get a keylogger and screen recorder feature, as well as the option to block both the Snapchat app and the web version. Unfortunately, setting up Eyezy requires rooting or jailbreaking, which comes with security risks. In addition, there’s no free plan or trial period.
5. Qustodio — Best for Setting Time Limits on Your Kid’s Snapchat
Qustodio is great for setting daily time limits on Snapchat, and it’s perfect if you’re content with Snapchat’s built-in parental controls and are only interested in controlling screen time. That said, it lacks content monitoring for Snapchat, so you won’t be able to see messages or get alerts about inappropriate content.
- Set daily Snapchat usage limits
- Alerts when Snapchat is opened
- Activity timeline tracks app usage
- Doesn’t monitor Snapchat messages
- No alerts for inappropriate content
The best part about Qustodio is that it lets you decide how long your kid can spend on Snapchat each day, which is great for teaching your kids boundaries.
You can also block the app on your child’s device and restrict access to the web version, just like with Bark. Alternatively, you can allow your kid unrestricted access to Snapchat but receive alerts whenever your child opens it or visits the web version. For example, if your child opens Snapchat late at night or during study time, you’ll get an alert, giving you a heads-up without having to hover over them. This lets older kids use the app freely while still allowing you to step in if their Snapchat use becomes a concern.
Qustodio’s activity timeline is very helpful for keeping track of your child’s Snapchat usage. You can easily see how much time your child spends on Snapchat each day and review their activity over the past 30 days, helping you spot patterns like excessive use during school hours or late-night sessions.
Qustodio’s Complete plan is priced at $4.37 / month, lets you set app time limits, and is backed by a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Qustodio helps you control your child’s Snapchat screen time with daily time limits, which is perfect for setting boundaries without being invasive. I really like that its activity timeline tracks your child’s Snapchat usage and that there’s an option to allow your children unrestricted access to Snapchat but get notified when they use it. It’s also great that you can try Qustodio’s plan risk-free, thanks to the 30-day money-back guarantee.
Quick Comparison Table
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
I used our proven testing methodology to identify and rank the top parental controls for Snapchat in 2026. I tested each using real-life scenarios, focusing on performance and ease of use. Here’s a breakdown of the factors I used to decide which parental control apps made the cut and how they were ranked:
- I chose parental control apps that monitor Snapchat. Not many parental control apps can monitor Snapchat, but all my top picks keep track of inappropriate content in Snapchat’s disappearing messages or let you see your kid’s snaps and videos on the app, providing comprehensive monitoring for parents.
- I tested performance to ensure each app runs smoothly. It’s important that your parental control app doesn’t slow down your device or drain its battery. I tested all the apps on my list and found that they run efficiently without impacting device speed or battery life.
- I checked for essential parental control features. Every app I recommend allows you to block both the Snapchat app and the web version. Most also allow you to set time limits for Snapchat, giving you granular control over your child’s Snapchat usage.
- I tested user-friendliness. Both the parent and child apps of the parental control apps I recommend here are very easy to navigate, and most are pretty simple to set up.
- I ensured each app provides good value. The top choices on my list offer excellent features for monitoring your kid’s Snapchat — way more than what Snapchat’s built-in parental controls offer. They also either offer a free trial or a money-back guarantee and affordable plans, making sure you get great value for your investment.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- Norton Family. Comes with excellent screen time and scheduling features. However, it lacks support for setting time limits on specific apps and doesn’t offer monitoring for Snapchat.
- FamiSafe. Scans Snapchat messages and searches for 15+ customizable content categories on Android. But in my tests, it didn’t flag a lot of the dangerous language it was supposed to.
- McAfee Safe Family. Can block Snapchat and set a schedule for when your kid can access the app and web version. But that’s it — there’s no Snapchat monitoring.
- Kaspersky Safe Kids. Although it allows social media monitoring, it only works with the Russian social media site, VK.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use parental controls on Snapchat?
Yes. Snapchat has built-in parental controls that give you some options. At the moment, they only let you see who your kid has talked to in the last 7 days. You can also limit your teen’s access to the AI chatbot and hide sensitive content in Stories and Spotlight.
However, these controls can easily be bypassed. Plus, you can’t see or get alerts about conversations, snaps or videos, and you don’t get to decide how much time your kid spends on Snapchat.
For more control, it’s best to get a parental control app like Bark, which scans your kid’s messages, searches, and AI chats and sends you a snippet when it detects content that’s suspicious, dangerous, or concerning.
What is the best parental control app for Snapchat?
The best parental control app for Snapchat is Bark. It uses AI to detect inappropriate or concerning content on your child’s Snapchat account in disappearing private and group messages and the AI chats. Whenever it detects such content, it sends you an alert with a snippet of the message. In addition, Bark also allows you to set time limits for Snapchat.
Can parental control apps completely block Snapchat?
Yes, top parental control apps allow you to completely block Snapchat — both the app and the web version. Mobicip even allows you to block Snapchat from the app store to prevent your kids from downloading it.
Is there a free app available for monitoring Snapchat?
Unfortunately, no. Most free parental control apps often have limited functionality and rarely have any features that can help you see or restrict their Snapchat activities. Plus, free parental control apps don’t have the necessary tools to ensure that your kid won’t bypass your rules.
That’s why I recommend investing in a good parental control app that actually works. My top recommendation is Bark, as it works with Snapchat and provides real-time alerts whenever it detects an inappropriate or concerning message.
Can I monitor my child’s Snapchat without them knowing?
Yes, some of the apps I recommend, like mSpy and Eyezy, can monitor Snapchat without your child knowing. As part of the installation wizard, they instruct you on how to remove all traces of the app on your child’s phone and either get rid of the app or disguise it as a system app. They also help you monitor Snapchat Web, so you’re notified if your child tries to bypass app restrictions by using the browser version.
Both apps track disappearing messages, sent and received snaps, and have keyloggers to alert you about specific words or phrases your child uses or encounters on the app.
What happens if my child deletes their Snapchat messages or account?
That depends on the parental control. Bark, the #1 parental control for monitoring Snapchat, will continue to scan and send you alerts about inappropriate content. This is because it monitors social media apps on an account level — no matter what device your child uses to sign into Snapchat, you’ll get alerts about everything that triggers its filters.
Some apps, like mSpy and Eyezy, still capture Snapchat chats and other content as soon as it’s opened, sent, and received, thanks to a screen recorder and keylogger to ensure you don’t miss anything.
How do I explain to my child that I’m monitoring their Snapchat?
The best way to approach this conversation is with honesty and clarity. Explain that your goal is to ensure their safety and help them make responsible choices online. I’d also discuss the reasons for monitoring, such as protecting them from cyberbullying or inappropriate content. Finally, I’d make sure to reassure them that it’s about keeping them safe, not about invading their privacy, and establish clear boundaries on how the monitoring will work.
Which app lets me monitor Snapchat on iOS?
Eyezy is one of the few apps that can monitor Snapchat on iOS. It shows disappearing messages, snaps, and chat content — even if your child deletes them. Just keep in mind that Eyezy requires jailbreaking your child’s iPhone to access this level of monitoring, which may not be ideal for every parent.
Will parental control software block all inappropriate content?
No software can block everything 100% of the time. Even the best parental control apps may miss new slang or clever workarounds. That said, tools like Bark and Mobicip do a great job of scanning for risky content across multiple categories. The best approach is to combine software with regular conversations and guidance to help your child navigate online spaces safely.
What are the best practices to keep your children safe online?
Start with open communication. Let your child know they can talk to you if they see something upsetting or get approached by a stranger online. Use strong parental control tools to help set healthy boundaries, like screen time limits and content filters. And always keep an eye on new apps your child installs — stay informed about how they work and what risks they pose.
What parental control app works for iPhone and Android?
Most apps on my list support both platforms. For example, Mobicip, Bark, and Qustodio work on iPhone and Android. However, some Snapchat-specific features are limited on iOS due to Apple’s restrictions. If you need to view actual Snapchat content on an iPhone, Eyezy is your best bet, although it does require jailbreaking.
