Tool profile
Canopy: cost, fit and limits
Canopy is a parental control service operated by Netspark Inc. that filters explicit images, video and text on websites, social media and AI chatbots through a Shield app on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Chromebook devices.
What to know first
Canopy prices three plans by device count, billed annually: Essential at $8.33 a month for one device, Plus at $9.99 for up to 3 and Premium at $12.50 for up to 10, with a one-week free trial. Its distinguishing feature is filtering inside AI chatbots, and it also offers an accountability partner feature and focus tools. The policy says the service is intended for adults.
Canopy at a glance
| Maker | Netspark Inc., doing business in the United States as Canopy, United States |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Free trial only |
| Entry price | $8.33 per month billed annually for Essential |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Parental Control Software in 2026, rank 2 of 10 |
| Website | canopy.us |
Who Canopy is best for
Parents of teens using chatbots
The AI chatbot content filter removes explicit text and generated images inside chatbots such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude, or blocks the chatbot category outright.
Families who want filtering without site bans
Canopy describes filtering explicit content on websites and social media without blocking whole sites, which suits children who need a platform for school or friends.
Households needing an accountability partner
The accountability partner feature is listed on all plans, so a parent can add a second adult who is told about attempts to reach blocked content.
Canopy plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | $8.33 per month, billed annually | Protects 1 device, with the explicit-content filtering, accountability partner and focus tools shared by all plans. |
| Plus | $9.99 per month, billed annually | Protects up to 3 devices, with the same explicit-content filtering, accountability partner and focus tools as Essential. |
| Premium | $12.50 per month, billed annually | Unlimited devices, up to 10, covering a larger household with the same feature set as the two cheaper plans. |
Checked November 2026.
What Canopy does
- AI chatbot content filter
- Filters explicit text and generated images inside chatbots such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude, and can block all AI chatbots as one category when a parent prefers no access.
- Explicit content filtering
- Explicit images, video and text are filtered on websites and social media, a design Canopy contrasts with blocking entire sites, so ordinary pages on a platform stay usable.
- Porn blocking and swimwear filter
- All plans include porn blocking and filtering, together with a filter for lingerie and swimwear, so the same setting covers images that fall short of explicit.
- Accountability partner
- A named second person can be involved when protection is bypassed or content is attempted, which gives older teens another adult to answer to besides a parent.
- Productivity and focus tools
- Productivity and focus tools are listed on all plans, giving a parent a way to limit distraction apps during study hours alongside the content filters.
- Shield app
- A Shield app is installed on each device and is listed for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Chrome, with Chromebook coverage described on the pricing page.
How Canopy handles your data
The privacy policy says Canopy follows generally accepted industry standards and encrypts data when appropriate. It also says the Services are intended for adults and not for children under 13, although a minor may use a device at a parent's discretion, and that anonymous information may be disclosed to third parties including advertisers and partners. The pages read do not state whether customer data trains AI models, how long it is retained, where it is hosted or which certifications apply, so the vendor's policy was not checked for those points.
Where Canopy falls short in practice
- One device on the cheapest plan. Essential protects a single device at $8.33 a month, so a household with two children and several devices lands on Plus or Premium before the price looks competitive.
- No free plan. Only a one-week trial is offered, and the pricing page asks the buyer to cancel before the trial ends, so testing across a full school week is not possible.
- Policy aimed at adults. The privacy policy describes the service as intended for adults, which is an unusual stance for a product that parents install on a child's device.
Works with
Alternatives to Canopy
Canopy: common questions
Can Canopy filter AI chatbots?
Yes. Canopy describes an AI chatbot content filter that removes explicit text and generated images inside chatbots such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude. A parent can also block all AI chatbots as one category, which suits families who prefer no chatbot access at all.
How much does Canopy cost?
As of November 2026 the pricing page shows Essential at $8.33 a month for one device, Plus at $9.99 for up to 3 devices and Premium at $12.50 for up to 10 devices, each billed annually. A one-week free trial applies, and the trial must be cancelled before it ends.
Which devices does Canopy support?
The Shield app is listed for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Chrome, and the site also names Chromebooks. Android devices need Android 12 or higher. Premium covers unlimited devices up to 10, so a very large household may exceed that cap.
Does Canopy block whole websites?
Canopy describes filtering explicit images, video and text on websites and social media without blocking whole sites. It also lists porn blocking, a filter for lingerie and swimwear, and the option to block AI chatbots as a category, which is the one place whole services can be shut.
Is Canopy meant for children's data?
The privacy policy says the Services are intended for adults and not for children under 13, while allowing a minor to use a device at a parent's discretion. It also says anonymous information may be shared with third parties, so read the policy before enrolling a young child.