The Internet can be immensely beneficial, but it can also pose a risk to anyone, including employees and children. This is because the internet is also a place for inappropriate content. Cyberbullies can also use the platform to spread negativity.
Fortunately, you do have ways to monitor your employees’ and children’s online activities to ensure they are on track. One such option is WebWatcher. But is it good and safe? You will get all the answers you seek in this detailed and unbiased WebWatcher review.
Webwatcher review at a glance
Founded | 2002 |
Web & app filtering | No |
Location tracking | Yes |
Pricing | $10.83/month |
Customer support | Tickets and FAQs |
Free trial | No |
Money-back guarantee | No |
WebWatcher pros and cons
- Users will monitor all activities on a computer
- There’s no point in using a spy app if it is traceable
- Sends out instant mail anytime your target phone sends or receives pictures
- The app allows you to access videos, call logs, and recorded pictures remotely
- Lets you see whatever your ward types on the keyboard
- Allows you to block unwanted apps
- Enables you to see website searches across various browsers
- It is not as intuitive as other alternatives
- Installation can be a bit overwhelming
- Its antivirus program and other features need disabling
- Target phones may lose their functionality after installation
- There are additional hidden charges after the initial subscription
- Doesn’t allow users to listen to live calls
- App lacks the geofencing feature
- Software autodeletes details of previous records
- Service has no free version
What is WebWatcher all about?
WebWatcher is a cross-platform monitoring app created to retrieve information from a selected device. Once you create an account, you can access any target information from anywhere.
The platform functions on various devices. However, it focuses solely on disclosing a specific individual’s online activities. The tool also enables you to view call logs and messages.
With this tracking app, users can view the target user’s web seamlessly, track real-time location via GPS, and so on. Also, with this, you never have to fret anytime your kids use the internet.
Are you curious to know more about this parental control app? Let’s delve into the details with this WebWatcher extensive review.
Features of WebWatcher monitoring platform
WebWatcher has steadily become more popular. Business owners, leaders, and parents rely on the platform because of its incredible features. Emerged as an excellent monitoring solution, it has the following features.
Records everything
Once you install WebWatcher, it takes screenshots of everything on the device and sends them to the guidance dashboard for review. However, this feature doesn’t work on iOS devices.
The app can also access your ward’s SMS messages, call log, GPS location, browser history, and picture gallery. It’s worth mentioning that the program also has a keylogger. With all this information, you can always monitor your children’s activities and be sure they aren’t being bugged by a predator, doing drugs, taking inappropriate pictures, or involved in any other mischievous activity.
Monitors social media chat
When it comes to monitoring chat logs from essential social media apps, WebWatcher has distinguished itself as one of the best. Here is how it performs in some significant social media networks:
- WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, KIK, Facebook Messenger, and Viber: Webwatcher enables you to access incoming messages only.
- YouTube: Although it’s incompatible with YouTube, it will still show you all the viewing data and search from YouTube.com.
- Tinder, Snapchat: When used on this app, Webwatcher allows you to view only the name of the person sending messages.
Time management
Most monitoring tools do not offer web filters or time management as part of their features. However, you will be pleasantly surprised to know that Webwatcher does. With just a click, you can block all the apps, although you won’t be able to disable calls and messages.
While this tool doesn’t let you set a schedule, its app-blocking feature suffices for the times you don’t want your kids engrossed in their phones. For example, you can block all the apps when it’s time for your kids to have dinner or do their assignments. When they try accessing their phones during this time, they get a message saying the apps have been blocked. Note, though, that this doesn’t affect the device’s app.
Although no filter prevents children from visiting specific sites, it offers a Word Alert feature, which alerts you when browsing or viewing inappropriate content. There are more than 150 words, phrases, and slang in its library; you can delete or add to it as you see fit. While this won’t stop the page from opening, it will trigger an alert on your dashboard.
What the app does is it detects some activities as ‘risky behavior’ and then develops an alert that parents can view from their end.
Track location
The ability to track location is a vital feature for any parental control software. Fortunately, Webwatcher has it for you.
Instead of worrying about your children when they are not home or not picking up calls, you can track their location. Within a minute or two, you can get details of your ward’s whereabouts and safety. It features a mapping interface that appears as dots. This lets you know where your child has been throughout the day. You can also monitor this in real time.
However, this location tracking feature lacks a key factor that gives its rivals an edge over Webwatcher, and that needs mentioning in this WebWatcher review – geofencing. This means that users cannot receive an alert when their ward enters a location they specify.
SMS text messaging
With the WebWatcher app, you can track an individual’s online activities. That includes viewing the text messages a specific device sends and receives. This feature increases your child’s safety, security, comfort, and protection. And if you own a business, it will help you keep your staff in check and ensure they are doing their job only. It will also help them stay focused and competitive.
Call log history
Besides accessing private text messages, you can also use WebWatcher to track calls a targeted person misses or receives. That’s not all; you can also view the call time, phone numbers, and call duration. With this, you can know whether your kids are receiving unapproved calls.
Requires no jailbreak
Jailbreaks can damage a device, cause your apps to function below the optimal level, and could also cause your phone to crash. Moreover, the battery won’t be as long-lasting as it used to be, and the Visual Voicemail, voice, iCloud, Apple Push, and data won’t function optimally.
Fortunately, WebWatcher is among those monitoring platforms that do not require jailbreaks. Hence, it’s your go-to solution for online monitoring whilst avoiding the risks associated with jailbreaking.
Web-based monitoring interface
With WebWatcher, users can keep track of a person’s online activities. Once it completes tracking a specific activity, it sends the recorded data to the user’s online account. It’s that easy and convenient. All you need to do is surf through your account to get high-quality and real-time monitoring.
Photo recording
Smartphones can achieve anything these days. They enable you to send texts to family and friends, take pictures and videos, and save them. Also, they allow you to download songs and documents and do a lot more. On the other hand, these smartphones can also be used for negative things, such as downloading inappropriate content, especially by kids.
As parents, imagining your children doing this can be alarming. But you can monitor what they record and save on a phone, thanks to tools like WebWatcher. Even if the pictures get deleted, there’s a backup record to view.
Skype messages
Skype is an excellent tool for making calls, sending documents, or texting friends and family. Unfortunately, people often use it for inappropriate purposes. As an employer or a parent, you can take advantage of the WebWatcher monitoring tool, as it allows you to track the messages sent and received on iOS devices.
WhatsApp messages
WhatsApp, just like Skype, is an instant messaging tool. Thus, you can send messages instantly to anyone anywhere. It’s also a platform that enables you to share files, documents, pictures, videos, and more. While the app is pretty safe, to ensure the safety of your kids, you need to monitor the usage of the app. Again, WebWatcher helps you keep track of what your kids are doing on the app as it logs their Whatsapp usage activities.
KIK messages
KIK is another social media app common among teenagers. It is well accepted because it makes communication easy, has excellent blocking features, offers a vast community of users, and is a free download. However, the app does have some downsides. For instance, it compromises privacy, leads to cyberbullying and identity theft, and enables the streaming of inappropriate content.
WebWatcher can also come in handy here. Unlike other monitoring solutions, it is designed to monitor KIK messages, including messages sent and received.
Installed app list
WebWatcher goes further to enable you to view the list of applications on a specific device. So, whether it’s a camera app or a social media platform, the tool lets you know what your child has installed on the device without requiring any physical access.
WebWatcher user experience
Now that you know all the features the WebWatcher monitoring tool offers, you may wonder if these features make the app difficult to use. So, proceeding further with this WebWatcher review, we now quickly elaborate on what impacts your experience with this app.
Compatibility
WebWatcher offers impressive platform compatibility. It supports most operating systems and devices, including Android Tablets (Android 4-10), iPads, iPhones (iPhone X), Windows PCs (Windows 7, 8 & 8.1), Mac systems (macOS 10.8-10.15), Chromebooks (Asus, Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Google, and Samsung), iOS (iOS 12) and other devices.
Download and installation
Installation of WebWatcher isn’t automatic. Users will need to create an account first and, after that, subscribe to it for a fee. Yet, as a parent, you can avail yourself of the WebWatcher parental control app free download trial before deciding about the subscription.
The installation process is easy, taking less than five minutes to complete. Although it has no app in the Play Store, the monitoring platform will send you a link after installing it. WebWatcher download page features a step-by-step guide (along with pictures) on downloading and installing the app on your kid’s phone.
To get the WebWatcher working, users will need to permit it to access the device’s pictures, apps, and contacts. On the other hand, Android users will also need to grant Admin Device rights. This will allow the tool to take screenshots, enable it to track your kid’s app usage and prevent them from uninstalling the program.
Ease of use
Upon completion of the installation process, logging in and usage becomes easy. You can log into your dashboard from anywhere you are and still view the phone’s location, receive alerts, and even ring a 60-second alarm on the device, which will come in handy when your kid misplaces their phone.
The tool’s dashboard is easy to navigate. It has several sections, making it easy to go through all the information collected. The main page shows all the alerts, which you can click on to get more details.
Support
You will only be able to access WebWatcher’s Customer Support team after creating an account. This can be a bit of a put-off, as some users may want to ask a series of questions before committing to the program.
That said, WebWatcher has a 24/7 live chat option. So, each time you ask a question, you are sure to get an answer within a few minutes. This assures you that you are dealing with an actual human and not merely a chat help bot. If you are having issues connecting your phone, you can reach out to them, and they will offer you the services of a technician.
They have a limited online knowledge base, focusing mainly on creating an exception with your antivirus software before installing the WebWatcher on your PC or Mac.
Pricing plans
Not only is the WebWatcher monitoring tool one of the most expensive parental control apps in the market, but its subscription only applies to a single device. This can pose a problem for parents with more than one child. When customer service was contacted and asked about the cost-prohibitive cost per child, they said they were working on a new price structure. We hope that happens soon.
Currently, the service has two pricing plans that typically cost the same. The only difference between them is that you will pay less for more extended subscription plans.
Our verdict
WebWatcher is useful if you want to monitor your children’s or employees’ online activities. Its excellent monitoring features show you exactly what sites they are visiting and what messages they are receiving.
The tool also comes in handy for monitoring teenagers’ social media activities and determining whether your children are searching for drugs, weapons, or alcohol. However, the tool does have some downsides, including a lack of geofencing features and expensive premium plans.
Yet, it’s still a good option if you need a dedicated online tracking software. After reading this unbiased review of WebWatcher, if you find this utility a good fit for your requirements, feel free to make a purchase.
FAQs
No, WebWatcher does not offer a free version. Users must subscribe to its one, three, or twelve-month subscription.
WebWatcher claims its services are 100% risk-free. However, after thoroughly reviewing its refund policy, we find that a bit hard to believe. You only get a refund if the services don’t function as advertised. The customer service support team cannot solve any problem you may have with the monitoring tool.
Although the program is available for iPhone, Android, Windows, Chromebook, and Mac, each subscription is limited to a device. Thus, you will require multiple subscriptions if you want to monitor more than one device.
Yes, it is safe to use. However, many users will prefer it offers a risk-free guarantee and also a free trial.
No, it can’t. WebWatcher is strictly a monitoring tool. Hence, it does not restrict device time. Other parental control apps enforce daily time limits.