Mobile apps with parental controls certainly exist but for parents with multiple kids, the best investment is a router with built-in parental controls. One piece of equipment controls the browsing activities on all devices connected to it. This begs the question what are the best routers for parental controls?
You’re not alone if you are feeling it’s impossible to keep your kids away from their mobile devices. When the first wave of COVID-19 hit the world, experts advised parents not to worry about screen time. At that time, our mobile devices and the internet rescued so many of us during quarantine. But this doesn’t mean it’s ok to leave your kids unsupervised out in the world of the internet.
The variety out there is huge since parental control is every other household’s concern. To narrow down your options and minimize the time spent in research, we bring you all the information you need to choose the right router with parental controls. Follow along.
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Best Routers for Parental Controls That Deserve Your Attention
The routers shared under this list are the ones that let you block certain websites on the Cox gigablast plan or any internet connection you’re using. You can also use filters for blocking content by the maturity level as well as the content type. These routers also let you limit and schedule the number of hours your kids use the internet.
Without further ado, let’s check the options:
Synology RT2600ac Dual-Band Router
This router is suitable for most average-sized homes and its security features are impeccable. Its parental control features are easily accessible via a FREE app. No subscription is required to ensure your kids stay safe while browsing online.
Apart from the mobile app, it also has a web dashboard where you can arrange the options in tiles and enable the parental controls you like. You can also create individual profiles for each child, schedule online hours, set limits, block certain sites based, etc. the router’s parental controls let you set general filtering rules on the entire home network.
TP-Link Archer AX50 AX3000
Not only does this router offers impressive wireless performance, but it also features the WIFI 6 technology. Moving on, its parental controls are quite sophisticated.
The top reason why it’s among the best routers for parental controls is that it comes with a lifetime subscription to Homecare parental controls by Trend Micro. You can create profiles for family members, set filters, time limits, and even assign devices to each profile. It’s possible to block your child from using an iPad in the evening while still allowing them to use the family computer to complete homework. The HomeCare app lets you block websites based on age and type too.
Besides parental control, HomeCare also offers antivirus protection to protect your home network against viruses and malware. The HomeCare features are available to manage via the Tp-Link app.
Asus RT-ACRH12
This router offers parental controls on a budget. You can count on it to provide robust wireless performance for homes up to 3,000 square ft. It’s fast enough that you won’t have any trouble enjoying high-demand online activities like 4K Hulu streaming, video chatting on Zoom or FaceTime, HD gaming, and other heavy bandwidth-consuming activities.
RT-ACRH12’s parental controls let you ban specific websites, monitor your children’s online activities, and set time limits. It’s one of the Cox compatible modems that support VPNs which means that if you use or plan to use one, it can help you hide your location and keep your internet activities private.
Synology MR2200ac Router
This route comes packed with features that let you manage your home network efficiently. All Synology routers have a Synology Router Manager, which allows you to personalize your home network by downloading free software packages. Safe Access is one of these packages, and it includes tools for time management and content filtering.
While this customizable system involves some steps to set everything up but, once it’s up and running, the parental controls may be accessed via a mobile app. It’s one of the best routers for parental controls for both basic and advanced home network management.
Conclusion
Even if you’re using a router purchased by your internet provider, it’s likely to have some level of parental control. For instance, the Cox Panoramic router lets you set limits on when and for how long your child goes online. All this and more can be done remotely from your Panoramic WiFi app. At the time of renting equipment, it’s a good idea to ask your ISP if their routers have built-in parental controls if that’s a priority for you. In case you’re a Cox customer, simply get in touch with someone in support. Their friendly agents are always eager to answer questions whether they are specific to Cox TV packages, pricing, or a technical query.
Hopefully, when you invest in one of these routers, you will be able to create a healthy digital environment for your kids.
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