7 Best Parental Control Apps That Can’t Be Deleted (Tested & Reviewed)

Kids these days are genius and tech-savvy, with a pinch of curiosity to discover new features in their phones. There is a chance they might know how to get around parental controls on phones and delete them. Imagine spending hours setting up a parental control app on your kid's phone to keep track of their whereabouts, and your child ends up catching/deleting them almost immediately. That would be so frustrating, right?

So, what should you do? To keep your kids from bypassing parental controls on their phones, you must use apps that won't delete. We tried and reviewed various apps to find a parental control app that cannot be deleted by children without you knowing. Remember, the best parental control apps always stay hidden and work in stealth mode to save you from getting caught red-handed.

Read through our reviews of the seven best parental control apps to ensure your efforts turn out to be fruitful.

Part 1. Quick Summary of the 7 Best Parental Control Apps That Can’t be Deleted

Part 2. 7 Best Parental Control Apps That Can’t be Deleted: Our Tested Reviews

1. Msafely

If your kids know how to delete apps with parental controls, sit back and relax because they can't do that with Msafely. Msafely is a parental control app that cannot be detected or deleted because it works in 100% stealth mode, and your kids won't ever find it keeping track of their activities.

Msafely offers a simple 3-step Google Cloud (for Androids) or iCloud (for iPhones) connection, with an additional option to install the app on Android phones. However, the installation is not essential on either of the phones, which means it doesn't require physical access to the target phone. Plus, you don't have to jailbreak or root any device.

With its unparalleled features, you can keep an eye on your kid's SMS, calls, browsers, photos, videos, 16 social media apps (Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, etc.), installed apps, real-time location, and more. In addition, Msafely is a website/app blocker parental control app with a Wi-Fi logger, keylogger, screenrecorder, and powerful geofencing features.

2. SpyX

Do you think your kids can get around parental controls? Then SpyX is another of the best options to help you keep track of your kids while staying hidden from their eyes. All it asks for is your kid's iCloud or Google Cloud credentials to connect SpyX to their phone. With no jailbreaking/rooting and physical access requirements for installation, it is undoubtedly a popular option among parents.

SpyX helps you track SMS, calls, locations, videos, browser history, installed apps, WhatsApp, and Instagram on iPhones. However, in Androids, you can track more apps, including Skype, TikTok, Kik, YouTube, WeChat, Snapchat, Messenger, Facebook, etc. Like Msafely, SpyX also lets you set up a free account and take a free demo to look inside the software before subscription.

3. KidsGuard Pro

Constantly worrying about your kids bypassing parental controls can be tiring at times. You can try using KidsGuard Pro, a parental control app that cannot be deleted by children on iPhones. The app provides three connection methods for iPhones, including iCloud, USB, and jailbreak methods, where you can choose whichever option is feasible for you. However, you must have Android access to install the app.

KidsGuard Pro's Android monitoring features include SMS, calls, locations, social media apps, photos, videos, screenrecorder, and keylogger. At the same time, each iPhone connection method offers a mix of different features including SMS, calls, photos, locations, browsers, contacts, and screenshots. One thing you must know is that social media tracking in iPhones requires USB connection method.

4. Qustodio

Qustodio is an app for parents who want to keep an eye on their children's phone activities and set up specific parental controls. The app doesn't require jailbreaking or rooting any device and allows simple connection. Remember that you have to be careful not to get caught while installing the app on your target phone and connecting it to the app on your phone.

The app helps you track location, app usage, games apps, calls, messages, YouTube, and other social media apps. You can also set screen time limits and routines on their phones.

In addition, Qustodio also provides app/web filtering and panic button features for enhanced safety. With a free 3-day app trial, you can take a closer look at its monitoring features before subscription.

Overall, it is a fine parental control app, but we can’t deny the fact that it can be detected and uninstalled by children.

5. mSpy

Finding parental control apps that won't delete can be difficult for parents. Although such apps are rare, mSpy is a considerable option for iPhones, where it works pretty discreetly. It offers three connection methods for iPhones (iCloud, USB, and jailbreak), with each of them providing different monitoring features. While jailbreak and USB connections allow installed apps, browsers, notes, and Wi-Fi tracking, the iCloud method offers access to contacts, photos, and videos. Plus, the jailbreak method helps you record keystrokes with a strong keylogger feature.

In contrast to iPhones, mSpy requires physical access to Androids for app installation. Once you sneakily install and set up the app on an Android phone, the app starts taking screenshots every 60 seconds during social media activity. In addition to monitoring extensive social media apps (WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, Skype, and Telegram), you can track locations, SMS, and contacts on your target phone. All in all, mSpy is an amazing parental control app unless the kids catch it working for you on their Android phones.

6. uMobix

Here comes another app, uMobix, which can help you keep your kids to get around parental controls easily. It doesn't demand complicated jailbreaking or rooting on any device, which eventually helps in easy setup. However, there is no doubt that you have to physically access your target phones to install the app, but that's only a one-time case. Once the app is installed and set up, your job is done.

With uMobix, you can track your target phone's locations, browser history, applications, SMS, calls, and social media (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Tinder, Line, TikTok, WeChat, YouTube, and Skype). Unlike iPhones, where you have to log in to specific social media accounts for monitoring, the app offers better and more extensive access to social media apps on Androids. Plus, some of the tracking features in iPhones require iCloud log-in as well.

Even though the app is somewhat hidden, you have to find a way to completely hide it if your kids know how to get around parental controls on phones.

7. Hoverwatch

Kids bypassing parental controls is nothing new, and so it can happen with your parental control settings, too. This is why installing apps like Hoverwatch is a safer option that cannot be detected instantly. It is a parental control app for monitoring your children's online activities on phones. However, the app is only compatible with Androids and Windows and does not support iOS devices.

With Hoverwatch, you can track SMS, calls, locations, contacts, web history, Viber, Line, Facebook, Messenger, installed apps, and even SIM card changes on your kid's phone. These tracking features will help you ensure your kid's safety at all times of the day. Even though you need physical access to the target phone to install the app, it doesn't require any extra effort to root devices. Last but not least, Hoverwatch offers a 3-day free trial to help you go through all the monitoring features for a better user experience.

Part 3. Key Factors When Choosing the Best Parental Control Apps That Can’t be Deleted in 2025

Choosing a parental control app is hard, and finding a free parental control app that cannot be deleted is even tough. You need to consider various factors, including the apps connectivity and accessibility to keep it away from your children’s reach. Here are the key factors to consider when choosing the best parental control apps.

• Stealth mode

If there’s one feature that ensures that your kid cannot get around parental controls or delete an app on their phone, it’s the stealth mode. Parental control apps with stealth mode can be connected via cloud and do not appear on your child’s phone screen; they can’t delete what they don’t see!

• App lock

Other than stealth mode, parental control apps with app lock are also perfect apps that won't delete unless your child knows the passcode. Set up a unique PIN or password to lock the app and monitor your child’s activity remotely.

• App compatibility

You can find numerous apps with an app lock or those working in stealth mode, but all are not compatible with every device. Some parental control apps might be well-suited for Android phones and require jailbreaking for iPhone. Similarly, some apps may not work efficiently on Android devices compared to iOS. Choose one that’s best suited to your child’s device to ensure hassle-free tracking.

• Control options

Parental control apps come in all shapes and sizes, meeting the different needs of parents around the world. Some apps might be good with real-time tracking and geofencing, while others might offer more features than their competitors. When selecting a parental control app that cannot be deleted by child, pick one that suits your control needs.

• Customer support

Besides the technical elements of choosing a parental control app that cannot be deleted, customer service plays a crucial role. Did they respond to your pre-purchase query when you wanted to know if you can monitor multiple devices with one account? Are you sure that they would help you when you have problems with navigating the app. Go through existing customer reviews to see which apps offer the best customer service.

After evaluating all the features of the best parental control apps that cannot be deleted, we rank Msafely as the best choice for both iPhones and Android devices.

Part 4. Steps to Use the Best Parental Control Apps That Can’t be Deleted

While some parental control apps can be complicated, the best parental control app that cannot be deleted for iPhone and Android are incredibly simple to navigate. Here’s how you can use of the most popular parental control apps, Msafely, to monitor your child’s phone activity remotely:

Step 1. Register a FREE online Msafely account by visiting the Msafely website.

Step 2. Select the target device, iPhone or Android. If your child's phone is a Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, Motorola, or similar, select 'Android.' If it's an iPhone, select 'iPhone.

Step 3. Please select a subscription plan and connect your Msafely account to your child’s phone.

Step 4. Open the Msafely Control Panel and tap the app you wish to monitor.

Part 5. FAQs

Q1. Is there a completely free parental control app?

Yes, you can use the built-in parental control apps in iPhone and Android to monitor your child’s phone activity. Google Family Link is a good option if you wish to go for a free app, but it offers limited tracking. On the other hand, you can opt for the free trial offered by parental control apps like Msafely.

Q2. How to stop kids from deleting apps?

If you want to stop kids from deleting parental control apps, it is best to opt for those working in stealth mode. For apps installed on the phone, set Deleting Apps to Don’t allow in iTunes & App Store Purchases under Content & Privacy Restrictions when you go to Screen Time.

Q3. Do parental controls turn off at 18 Apple?

Yes, Apple users can turn off and manage parental controls when they are 18. These apps are offered by manufacturers for children’s safety when using a phone.

Q4. How do I hide an app?

Depending on the device, you can hide an app by pressing on it and selecting ‘hide’ from the given options. Make sure to check the phone’s setting as your child’s device might have a different ‘hide app’ setting.

Q5. Can I hide an app on my phone without deleting it?

Whether you want to hide an app on your phone or your child’s device, look for home screen setting and select ‘Hide apps.’ Here you can select all the apps you wish to hide.

Part 6. Conclusion

Finding the parental control app that cannot be deleted by child can be tough, but not with this article. We’ve shared the details of the 7 best parental control apps that won't delete to ensure your child’s safety even when you’re not around. While Msafely and SpyX are among the top choices, you can also consider KidsGuard Pro, Qustodio, mSpy, uMobix, and Hoverwatch to see which suits your needs and budget the best. While you can use your child’s phone’s built0in parental controls as a free parental control app that cannot be deleted, they might not offer comprehensive remote monitoring. So, make a checklist and select an app that checks out most of your requirements.