How to Set Parental Controls on Netflix in 2024

I can set age-based content restrictions and block specific titles, regardless of the rating, through Netflix. This is done by clicking the Manage Profile link of the child’s user profile and setting the rating limit. However, Netflix doesn’t offer the option to limit how much time my child can watch per day or block the app and website for a specific time, such as in the evenings or during school hours.

I tried several different ways to set parental control rules, and found that the only real option was to install a parental control app. I downloaded and tested over 15 apps, both free and paid, to see if they had the features I needed. Many didn’t work at all, and some couldn’t enforce the rules or block my kids from disabling or changing them.

Among them all, Qustodio proved to be the best and easiest app for setting up parental control rules on Netflix. It has customizable screen time rules, can block the Netflix app and website, and it generates reports so I can see how much time each child watches Netflix. Best of all, Qustodio has a 30-day free trial, so you can install it on your child’s devices and see how it works for yourself.

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Quick Guide: How to Set Parental Control Rules on Netflix

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Is the Built-In Netflix Parental Control Feature Good Enough?

I was really hoping that the Netflix parental control tool would have comprehensive features, so I wouldn’t need to find a third-party app to set up my rules. However, when I logged into my child’s account, I saw that I could only limit what shows and movies were available. This is done either by maturity ratings or creating a specific list of shows and movies to block. Unfortunately, it’s pretty easy for a child to change their maturity ratings or watch it on a different user profile with a higher rating.

The biggest limitation with the Netflix settings is the lack of screen time tools. I want to make sure that my child doesn’t binge more than 2 hours of Netflix on the weekend or an hour during the week. The only way to do this is by using a parental control app, and creating screen time limits for the Netflix app, blocking Netflix.com, and creating a usage schedule to prevent my child from streaming in bed or at school.

Netflix also lacks a good reporting system that shows how much time my child is on Netflix every day. I can view the viewing history, but there are no timestamps showing when they watched it, and it doesn’t show me if they sat through the entire episode or movie.

So, while it’s important to use the content moderator, I found that I also needed a premium parental control app to set the screen time rules and monitor their activity. I found 4 parental control apps that had powerful parental control rules and were easy to set up and use.

The 4 Best Parental Control Apps for Limiting Screen Time On Netflix

1. Qustodio: Comprehensive Screen Time Rules for Limiting Screen Time on Netflix

After installing Qustodio on my daughter’s phone and the family computer, I saw that it has the most complete collection of screen time tools from all the apps I tested. I logged into my account and was happy to see that I could manage both devices from a central dashboard. I clicked on the Rules tab on the sidebar menu and then opened the Games and Apps section. This is where I can set screen time rules for the Netflix app or block it entirely.

When the screen time ends, the app won’t open, and my kids see a message that time is up.

Blocking or limiting the app by itself isn’t enough, because my kids can also go to the browser and continue watching Netflix. To prevent this, I opened the web filter, and at the bottom of the page is a box to enter specific URLs I want to block. I added Netflix.com, and now my kids can only stream through the app.

In addition to screen time limits for Netflix, I wanted to create a schedule so my kids couldn’t stay up all night binging their favorite shows or watching movies. This usage schedule applies to the entire device and not just a single app, such as Netflix.

Qustodio also has detailed reporting that I use to see how much time my kids actually open Netflix. This gives me valuable insights into my kids’ Netflix habits, so I know if the screen time rules are needed, and whether or not it affected their behavior.

Qustodio is compatible with mobile devices and computers and can be installed on up to 25 devices with a single account. I found a special link that will give you a 30-day free trial, instead of their usual 3 days free trial, with no credit card needed to activate the account. This will give you enough time to set up the parental control rules on Netflix, and see how they work for your family.

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2. mSpy: Records Screenshots so You Can Monitor What Your Kids Watch on Netflix

While the Netflix content restrictions work pretty well, it’s very easy for a child to bypass the rules, either by changing their profile settings or using an adult profile. I found that the best way to see if your child is doing this is with mSpy. Once the app is installed (no need to root an Android, although jailbreaking is needed for iOS) it starts taking screenshots and uploading them to the parental dashboard. I can scroll through these images, which are organized by the app that was in use and see exactly whether my child is watching shows that should be blocked.

The keylogger is another helpful parental control tool. It tracks everything that my child types on their phone, which lets me see what shows they’re searching for, if they have a secret Netflix account that they’re logging in to, or if they try and use my password to login and change the account settings. Each keylog is uploaded to the dashboard, along with a timestamp, so I know when they’re watching Netflix, and I can match it up with the screenshots for a complete picture.

mSpy has a Keyword Tracker feature that allows me to create a list of keywords that I want mSpy to alert me when they are typed on the phone. I added a bunch of movies, documentaries, and TV shows that I don’t want my child to watch, and I’ll get an alert if they search for these titles on Netflix. This is a little easier to manage than the keylogger or screenshots, because it sends me alerts, so I don’t have to scroll through hundreds of images or keylogs.

mSpy doesn’t have any screen time tools, but it does have a website and app blocker. While there it doesn’t track how long my child uses Netflix, I can view her viewing habits through my Netflix account. So, if I see that she isn’t following my rules or streaming for too long, I can block the access to the streaming site.
mSpy has a stealth mode, so you can monitor and set your parental control rules without your child even knowing. This is helpful if you don’t want them to change their behavior if they suspect they’re being monitored. All of the mSpy subscription plans include a 14-day money back guarantee, but you will have to explain to the customer support team why you want to cancel before they refund your money.

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3. Bark: Set Custom Screen Time Routine for When Netflix is Available

Bark specializes in monitoring social media, messenger, and email apps and while it can’t monitor or filter Netflix content, it does have two valuable parental control features.

The Bark screen time rules are different from most other apps I tested. Instead of setting a general screen time limit or limits for specific apps, it lets me create a detailed schedule of what types of apps can be used throughout the day. There are three main time segments: School time, Free Time, and Bedtime. For each segment, I can choose specific apps, websites, or categories of apps and websites I want to either allow or block.

The categories are important, because Netflix isn’t specially listed, but I was still able to manage streaming sites and apps, which worked on Netflix. When I created my son’s screen time routine, I blocked streaming apps and websites during sleep and school time, so it was only available during free time. I then set free time for an hour after school and 45 minutes after dinner.

Bark also has a Pause Device button that I can activate from the dashboard. This pauses the internet, but it won’t stop my son from watching Netflix if he already downloaded a show or movie.

One of the benefits of Bark’s email monitoring is that if my child were to open a new Netflix account, I would get an instant notification. This is helpful if your child has access to your PayPal account or uses your credit card without permission to set up a new account.

Bark has two plans, Bark Premium and Bark Jr. If you don’t need social media and email monitoring, the Bark Jr plan has all the features you need for setting parental controls on Netflix. Bark also has a 7-day free trial, which gives you access to all its features, including the Premium one, so you can make an informed decision about which is the best plan for you.

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4. Norton Family: Multiple Tools to Set Netflix Screen Time Limit

When I installed Norton Family on my daughter’s phone, I saw that it had default screen time rules that applied to all apps and web browsers. It also gave me the option to adjust these defaults so I could sync it with my son’s schedule.

The screen time schedule is easy to set. I set an overall screen time limit, and then added times throughout the day, such as during dinner or at night, when the phone (and Netflix) should be blocked. Unlike Qustodio, Norton Family doesn’t have the option to only limit Netflix, so it’s important to keep in mind that whatever rules you set for the phone or computer apply to all apps and websites.

The School Time feature is a unique tool that blocks distracting websites and apps during school and homework time. I like it because it allows my kids to use their phone or computer for educational purposes, and it doesn’t count against the general screen time limits. This way, my child won’t avoid doing homework out of “fear” that he won’t have any time for Netflix.

The Norton Family dashboard generates reports on the apps and websites that my children use, so I can see whether they’re spending too much time on Netflix. This is especially helpful because while there are no tools for setting screen time limits for specific apps, I can use Norton Family to block Netflix if I see my kids spend too much time streaming.

Norton Family recently added a 30-day free trial, which gives you access to all the premium features so you can see for yourself if it has the tools you need to set parental controls on Netflix, with no risk.

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What About Free Parental Control Apps

Much like anyone else, I would rather use a free app than pay for one. However, that’s assuming the free app can get the job done. I tested many different free parental control apps, including Family Link and none of them were worth it. These free apps had similar issues:

• They were easy to uninstall
• Couldn’t enforce any parental control rules
• Drained the device battery
• Slowed down the phone or computer.

The one exception was the free version of Qustodio, which helped limit how much screen time my kids had. However, I did have to upgrade the premium version when I wanted to limit or block the Netflix app or install it on multiple devices. The other issues with the the free apps are:

I don’t trust my child’s data with free apps

A free app that actually invests in developing decent parental control features, needs a way to monetize the app. In my experience, that means that my child is their product. They have access to so much private data, including the live location, internet history, account logins, etc, that they can abuse. Some companies sell the data to third party marketers and use targeted ads to make a profit, while others don’t protect the data and it can leak out to hackers.

Free parental control apps are not reliable

I wasted a lot of time setting rules for when my child could watch Netflix, but the app didn’t have the capability to block the Netflix app or browser. Another example I had was when I wanted to monitor how much time my kids were on Netflix over the course of a week. When I tried checking the reports, I saw that while the app was installed, there was no information in the report.

Limited feature or paywalls that block the premium features I need

A lot of apps that claim to be free are really “freemium,” you can install it for free, but any feature needed to set rules for Netflix would end up costing money. The “really free” apps didn’t have the features I needed, such as app specific time limits, monitoring app or web history, and blocking Netflix.

No cross platform compatibility

My kids watch Netflix on the phone, tablet, laptop, and computer. The free apps could only monitor one device per account. This means that I would need to get multiple accounts, which is difficult to manage, as opposed to one app that can monitor all the devices from a central dashboard.

Parental control apps are affordable, costing less than a Netflix subscription, and they offer significant value. You can test this yourself by taking advantage of Qustodio’s 30-day free trial, which doesn’t require a credit card. This allows you to try it with no risk before committing to a premium subscription.

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Important Factors to Consider When Selecting a Parental Control App for Netflix

After testing more than 15 premium parental control apps, I know that not all apps were created equal. When choosing the app that’s best for you, it’s important to consider the following factors:

• Ease of use: Find an app that is easy to install on your child’s devices, set up and monitor from a remote location.
• Customizable options: Avoid apps that enforce default screen time rules, which are based on some expert or study but might not be a good fit your needs. It’s a good idea to look for apps that have different types of monitoring and screen time rules, so you can create a custom set of rules that work for your family.
• Rules that can’t easily be bypassed: Kids are resourceful, and if they work hard enough, they can bypass just about any parental control rule. That doesn’t mean you have to make it easy for them. The apps I recommended above have tools to prevent kids from changing the parental control rules, are frequently updated to fix any weaknesses that kids exploit, and most importantly, alert the parents when a rule or setting has been changed.
• Detailed reporting: Use an app that provides reports, daily, weekly, and monthly, showing how much time your child spends on Netflix, and other apps.
• Cross platform compatibility: If you use an app that only monitors one device and you set the Netflix limit for an hour, then your child can watch an hour on the phone, an hour on the computer, an hour on the tablet, and an hour on the laptop. Instead of limiting Netflix usage to an hour, you’ve given them an hour for every device that has Netflix installed on it, since each device needs a separate app.

When I took all the factors into consideration, Qustodio proved to be the best choice. Setup and installation are simple, I could set three different types of custom screen time rules, the rules can’t easily be bypassed and there’s uninstallation protection, it can generate reports for up to 30 days, and it can be installed on up to 25 devices with a single account.

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How I Tested & Ranked the Best Apps for Setting Parental Control Rules on Netflix

This was a project that took me several months. I started with free parental control apps, and once I saw that I couldn’t enforce any parental control rules, I moved on to premium apps.

I purchased the apps, or used the free trials, and installed them on my kid’s phones, tablets, and the family computer. I let the kids know what I was doing, and challenged them to try and bypass the rules, so I could see if I got the alerts and had a way to blog their tactics.

Since Netflix has integrated tools for restricted content and monitoring what shows and movies have been watched, I needed the apps to be able to set the following rules:

• Daily screen time limits for the device.
• Screen time limits for specific apps and browsers.
• Tracks how much time my child spends on Netflix.
• Block the Netflix app and website.
• Remote dashboard for managing or adjusting the rules.
• Compatible with Android, iOS, PC, Mac, and Kindle.

I also looked at the price compared with its overall features to determine if I was getting good value for my money. I often found that cheaper is not necessarily better, because they lack the best features. I was willing to pay more, knowing that I was getting better value for my dollar.

Lastly, I tested the money back guarantees to make sure they were legitimate. I always canceled my account a day before the money back guarantee expired, and checked my bank records to ensure that I received a full refund.

FAQ

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Only a Premium Parental Control App Allows you to Set Parental Control Rules on Netflix

With the Netflix parental control only doing half the job, I had to find a tool that let me set comprehensive rules. After trying, and failing, with free apps, I saw that my only option was to purchase a premium parental control app.

I tested over 15 apps and found 4 that had the features I needed, my kids couldn’t disable, and gave me good value for my money. Among them all, Qustodio proved to be the best, with multiple screen time tools, the option to block Netflix, and generate a report detailing when and for how long my kids are watching Netflix. Best of all, if you use this special link, you’ll get an extended 30-day free trial with no credit card needed, so you can test the Netflix parental control rules for yourself.

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