SecureTeen Review 2024: Is It Legit? Is It a Scam?

In today‘s digital age, the number of risks facing children online can seem endless. From cyberbullying to explicit content to predators, many parents feel (rightfully so) that they need to closely monitor their kids‘ internet usage and digital communications. This is where a parental monitoring tool like SecureTeen can provide some much-needed visibility and peace of mind.

But how does an app like SecureTeen actually work? And is it a truly useful tool or just an expensive waste? In this in-depth SecureTeen review, I‘ll cover everything parents need to know – from its features and pricing to pros and cons. My goal is to help you make an informed decision about whether SecureTeen is the right parental control software for your family.

What Exactly is SecureTeen?

At a basic level, SecureTeen is a subscription-based monitoring and control app that parents can install on their children‘s smartphones, tablets, and computers. Once installed, it allows parents to view and track their kids‘ digital activities, communications, and behaviors across their devices.

According to parental control software provider Qustodio, over 54% of kids have been contacted by strangers online, and 30% have viewed explicit adult content before age 13. With alarming statistics like these, programs like SecureTeen aim to give parents visibility into their kids‘ digital lives and help keep them safe.

Specifically, SecureTeen offers features like:

Filtering content to block inappropriate, dangerous, or distracting websites and apps
Setting time limits and schedules for when devices can and cannot be used
Tracking phone location via GPS
Monitoring texts, call logs, and social media communications
Alerting parents about concerning digital behaviors like cyberbullying or viewing blocked content

It works across Android, iOS, Mac OS, and Windows devices. Parents can access reporting and configure controls through SecureTeen‘s web-based parent dashboard.

Now that we‘ve covered the basics of what SecureTeen is, let‘s look at how it actually works.

How Does SecureTeen Work?

The setup process for SecureTeen is designed to be quick and simple for parents:

Create a SecureTeen account online and purchase a subscription plan
Download the SecureTeen parental control app onto your child‘s smartphone, tablet, or computer
Complete the installation process and link devices to your new account
Set up any restrictions or monitoring alerts you want configured
Monitor your child‘s activity through the online parent dashboard

Once installed on your child‘s device, SecureTeen works silently in the background to track and record activities including:

Apps used and websites visited
Attempts to access blocked content
Location and geofencing data
Screenshots taken
Texts sent and received
Call logs
Keyword alerts

All of this information feeds into the centralized parent dashboard. As a parent, you simply log into your SecureTeen account on the web to access the following features:

View browsing history and blocked websites
Monitor texts and social media messages
Check location history via interactive map
See app and device usage time
Set time limits and restrictions
Receive push notifications when your child engages in concerning digital behaviors

The dashboard offers both high-level reporting of trends and the ability to drill down into specific events. For example, you can see that your child‘s total device usage spiked on a certain day and then view details of exactly which apps and sites they accessed during that time.

Now that you understand how SecureTeen works, let‘s explore some of the key reasons parents use monitoring software in the first place.

Why Parents Use a Program Like SecureTeen

Some may argue that constant monitoring violates a child‘s privacy. However, most parents make use of tools like SecureTeen in good faith out of a desire to protect their kids.

Here are some of the core reasons parents install programs like SecureTeen:

To Block Inappropriate Content

Unfortunately, kids today have incredibly easy access to adult content, violent media, gambling sites, and other inappropriate material online. SecureTeen lets parents block content in a few ways:

Blacklist specific URLs
Block entire website categories like pornography, weapons, alcohol, etc.
Set keyword filters that block searches containing flagged terms

According to studies, the average age of first exposure to pornography is 11 years old. With tools like SecureTeen, parents can feel reassured inappropriate content won‘t seep through.

To Manage Screen Time

Excessive screen time has been tied to risks like obesity, sleep issues, and attention problems in developing kids. SecureTeen makes it easy for parents to:

Set daily or weekly limits on device usage
Establish specific windows when devices are usable or blocked throughout the day
Limit access to addictive apps and games

Through moderated screen time, parents help kids strike a healthy digital life balance.

To Monitor Communications

Messaging apps, social platforms, and texting open kids up to new avenues of communication – both good and bad. SecureTeen allows parents to:

View texts to watch for cyberbullying or sexting
Monitor major social media platforms for inappropriate content
Get alerts about concerning communications

This provides great insight into who kids are talking to and what they‘re saying online.

To Track Location

Through geofencing features and GPS tracking, SecureTeen helps parents keep tabs on kids‘ physical location. Parents can:

Check location history to see everywhere a device has been
Receive alerts when kids enter or leave designated areas
Quickly locate lost or missing devices

Knowing their child‘s location provides peace of mind for many concerned parents today.

Key Features of SecureTeen

Now let‘s explore some of the specific features SecureTeen offers to achieve those parent monitoring goals:

Content Filtering

Blacklist websites by URL or block entire categories like porn, weapons, drugs, etc.
Set keyword filters to block searches with flagged terms
Receive alerts when kids try to access blocked content

Application Blocking

View all apps installed and restrict or block access to specific apps
Block app categories like social media, games, messaging, etc.
Limit when approved apps can be accessed

Time Limits

Set daily or weekly limits on overall device use
Establish schedules and time windows when devices unlock or lock
Limit app-specific usage, like 1 hour of Facebook per day

Location Tracking

Use GPS to view detailed location history across devices
Set geographic fences so you‘re alerted when your child enters or leaves

Text & Call Monitoring

View all texts sent & received, even if later deleted on the device
See a chronological log of all phone calls with names, numbers, durations

Web Filtering and Blocking

Block access to websites by either blacklist or entire unwanted categories
Enforce safe search filters on popular search engines like Google

Remote Management

SecureTeen can be controlled entirely through the remote parent dashboard
Features like screen time limits can be updated or changed remotely

Stealth Mode

SecureTeen runs silently in the device background with no visible cues to the child
Ensures children aren‘t tempted to work around the controls

While not as advanced as competitors, SecureTeen contains core parental control essentials. Next, let‘s look at the pricing.

How Much Does SecureTeen Cost?

SecureTeen offers two main subscription package options:

SecureTeen Premium:

$39.99 per year
Covers 3 devices – including iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac OS
Limited to basic features like location tracking and content filtering

SecureTeen Premium Plus:

$69.99 per year
Covers 3 Android devices
Adds extras like social media monitoring and SMS screening

There are no multi-child or multi-device discounts. And subscriptions can only be paid annually, not monthly.

When comparing with competitors, SecureTeen delivers decent value at less than $70 annually. However, expanded plans on tools like Qustodio can monitor 15 devices for the entire family for around $100 per year.

Next, let‘s talk about how easy SecureTeen is to set up and use.

Is SecureTeen Easy to Use?

Many parental control apps aim to offer uncomplicated, intuitive interfaces – understanding not all parents are tech whizzes.

Setup

The installation process for SecureTeen is designed to be straightforward for parents:

Download the small SecureTeen app file directly from the website
Open the file and follow the prompts to connect to your account and child‘s device
Option for silent installation in the background without disruption

The setup wizard guides you through granting the necessary permissions and setting basic filters.

Parent Dashboard

Managing SecureTeen on an ongoing basis is done through the online parent dashboard you gain access to upon signup. It offers:

A clean, uncluttered interface design
Easy to interpret graphs and charts conveying activity summaries
User-friendly menu system to update settings and restrictions
Ability to seamlessly switch between monitored child profiles

While the dashboard looks dated in some respects, it provides centralized control without too steep a learning curve.

Room for Improvement

Some parents report frustrating tech issues during first-time installation
Advanced capabilities like custom app restrictions can be overly complex
iOS setup lacks certain prompts and guidance compared to Android
Troubleshooting problems often requires contacting customer support

In general, SecureTeen delivers on ease of use, though the setup and configurations processes have some shortcomings parents should expect.

What Do Parents Like About SecureTeen?

No program is perfect. But reading through customer reviews, a few benefits of SecureTeen stand out to happy parents:

Affordable Pricing – Budget-friendly compared to competitors, especially for basic features
Lightweight App – Small, with little resource impact on kids‘ devices
Easy Blocking – Simple to quickly block apps, sites, content categories, etc.
Text Monitoring – Viewing kids‘ texts provides invaluable communication insight
Helpful Notifications – Push alert updates on concerning behaviors are useful
Minimal Child Disruption – Runs silently in the background without affecting device usage
Web & Mobile Access – Dashboard available from any browser or mobile app

For parents primarily wanting simple content blocking, location tracking, and text monitoring, SecureTeen delivers. Next, let‘s talk limitations.

What Do Parents Dislike?

No service is perfect. And based on feedback, parents seem most frustrated by:

Rigid Pricing – Annual subscription is the only option, no monthly or quarterly billing
iOS Limitations – Many key logging features don‘t work fully on iPhone/iPad
No Social Media Monitoring – Apps like Instagram, Snapchat can‘t be viewed or tracked
Support Difficulties – Long wait times and unhelpful agents when issues arise
App Glitches – Child and parent apps prone to occasional bugs and crashes
No Family Plans – Each child monitored is full price, no group discount
No Free Version – Many competitors offer free starter plans with fewer features

For parents wanting deeper insights into social behaviors across all platforms, SecureTeen leaves something to be desired in its capabilities and flexibility.

What Do Independent Reviewers Say About SecureTeen?

Most expert product reviewers share a similarly mixed view on SecureTeen, recognizing its strengths while still highlighting where it falls short versus the competition:

PCMag – 4/5 stars – Praises inexpensive price and range of tracking abilities but cites weakness around advanced social media protections
Tech Radar – 3.5/5 stars – Applauds web filtering, location monitoring, and app blocking but wants more time management and mobile feature improvements
Common Sense Media – 4/5 stars – Values budget price tag and collection of base features but notes concerns around glitches and performance
CNET – 6.6/10 score – Highlights useful location restrictions and content blocking but criticizes lack of web dashboard and shortcomings on iOS

The consensus view seems to be that SecureTeen delivers worthwhile core monitoring and blocking tools, especially considering the budget price. But most experts conclude it lacks capabilities versus higher-end competitors.

How Does SecureTeen Compare to Alternatives?

SecureTeen competes against a crowded field of parental monitoring apps. Here‘s how it stacks up versus some top alternatives.

Qustodio

More powerful time management, app blocking, and location tracking
Advanced monitoring of popular social platforms kids use
Much broader platform support including Kindle Fire and Nook
Higher pricing but more payment plan and family discount options

Bark

Specializes in detecting concerning keywords in texts and social media
Can identify signs of cyberbullying, depression, online predators, and more
Integrates alerts into existing messaging apps parents use
More expensive at $9-$19 per month depending on features

uMobix

Records and monitors all device activity in stealth mode
-Keyword alert feature flags concerning terms across apps and sites
-Tracks messaging services like WhatsApp and Telegram beyond just SMS
-Very affordable pricing starting at $25 monthly for unlimited devices

Norton Family Premier

Leading time management capabilities by device and activity
School appropriate web filter blocks millions of websites
Monitors popular gaming chat apps and activities
Also on the pricier side at $49.99 per year

Should You Use SecureTeen for Your Family?

So, at the end of the day, is SecureTeen a worthwhile investment for concerned parents? Here are a few factors to consider:

Consider SecureTeen If:

You have a tight budget but still want solid monitoring fundamentals
You just need basic blocking of inappropriate content and apps
Checking your kids‘ texts and locations gives you sufficient peace of mind
You want straightforward, non-confusing parental controls

Look Elsewhere If:

You want deep insights into social media, gaming, or self-harm risks
Your family uses iPhones/iPads as their primary devices
You need flexible subscription plans and multi-child pricing
You value extensive technical support and customer service

In Summary…

A program like SecureTeen can provide a helpful layer of guidance and supervision to protect kids from online dangers. For budget-focused parents primarily interested in the basics – filtering, location tracking, time limits, etc. – SecureTeen gets the job done.

However, recognize it lacks more advanced capabilities to give you total visibility into your kids‘ digital world, especially on iOS. And alternatives often offer more flexible pricing and support plans tailored to larger families.

Still, if you have young children just venturing online via Android phones or laptops, the core protections in SecureTeen are likely all you‘ll need for added peace of mind during the early years. It remains a solid entry-level option for parental controls.