Tool profile
Net Nanny: cost, fit and limits
Net Nanny is a parental control product from Zift Software LLC that scans content on the device in real time, blocks pornography and websites, manages screen time and reports a child's searches to parents on Windows, macOS and iOS.
What to know first
Net Nanny sells three yearly plans: one desktop for $39.99 (shown as 30% off $49.99), a 5-device Family Protection Pass for $54.99 and a 20-device pass for $89.99, as shown on the products page in November 2026. There is no free plan. Real-time on-device scanning and a Family Feed of searches are the headline features, and no AI feature is named.
Net Nanny at a glance
| Maker | Zift Software LLC, United States |
|---|---|
| Free plan | No |
| Entry price | $39.99 per year for 1 desktop |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Parental Control Software in 2026, rank 6 of 10 |
| Website | netnanny.com |
Who Net Nanny is best for
Desktop-heavy households
The one-desktop plan covers a single PC or Mac with every Net Nanny feature, which suits a family computer used by one child.
Parents who want a feed of searches
The Family Feed reports online searches and real-time hits on pornography, suicide, weapons and drug-related content, so a parent sees concerns as they arise.
Larger families counting per-device cost
The 20-device pass works out to under $5 per device per year, and the 5-device pass to $11, according to the products page.
Net Nanny plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Desktop | $39.99 per year (was $49.99) | One PC or Mac desktop with all Net Nanny features, including filtering, screen time hours and the Family Feed. |
| 5 Devices Family Protection Pass | $54.99 per year (was $79.99) | Five devices across PC, Mac and iOS, about $11 per device per year, with the same features as the single-desktop plan. |
| 20 Devices Family Protection Pass | $89.99 per year (was $129.99) | Twenty devices across PC, Mac and iOS, at under $5 per device per year, the cheapest per-device rate on the products page. |
Checked November 2026.
What Net Nanny does
- On-device scanning
- Content is scanned on the device in real time for harmful material, so filtering does not depend on a separate upload to a vendor server.
- Family Feed
- Reports a child's online searches and real-time activity on pornography, suicide, weapons and drug-related content, giving parents a running view instead of a monthly report.
- Screen time management
- Sets the hours of the day a child can be online, with the limit applied across the child's covered devices, so bedtime rules do not depend on one machine.
- Internet filter
- Real-time pornography blocking and a website blocker work together, so the default categories stop explicit pages and a parent can add further blocks beyond those categories.
- iOS app blocking
- Apps can be blocked on iOS devices, which the products page lists alongside the PC and Mac filters, giving iPhone households a way to shut individual apps.
How Net Nanny handles your data
The privacy policy names Zift Software LLC and describes servers and offices in the United States, with data possibly processed there. It says the service runs in a US-based Amazon Web Services cloud environment. The pages read do not state whether customer data trains AI models, how long it is retained or which certifications apply, so the vendor's policy was not checked for those points. The site footer carries a SafeToNet Limited copyright line next to the Zift name.
Where Net Nanny falls short in practice
- Platform list is narrow. The plan rows list PC, Mac and iOS and show no Android coverage, so a child with an Android phone sits outside the plan text we read.
- Single-desktop tier. The $39.99 plan covers one desktop only, so a household with a laptop and a family PC needs the 5-device pass at $54.99 instead of the cheaper tier.
- Discounted prices. The page shows a limited-time 30% off message and struck-through list prices, so the amounts at renewal or later may differ from the figures quoted here.
Works with
Alternatives to Net Nanny
Net Nanny: common questions
How much does Net Nanny cost?
As of November 2026 the products page shows $39.99 per year for one desktop, $54.99 per year for the 5-device Family Protection Pass and $89.99 per year for the 20-device pass. Each is shown as a discount on a higher list price, with a limited-time 30% off message.
Does Net Nanny work on Android?
The plan rows we read list PC, Mac and iOS and show no Android coverage. A household with Android phones should confirm support with the vendor before buying, since the pages read describe filtering on desktops and iOS app blocking only.
What does the Net Nanny Family Feed show?
The Family Feed gives parents instant reporting of a child's online searches and real-time reporting on pornography, suicide, weapons and drug-related content. It is a running view of activity rather than a monthly summary, and it complements screen time hours and website blocking.
Does Net Nanny use AI?
The homepage describes real-time, on-device scanning for harmful content but does not name an AI technique, and the pages read name no AI feature. Buyers who want a named AI function should compare the vendors in this category that describe one.
Where does Net Nanny store data?
The privacy policy says servers and offices are in the United States, so data may be processed there, and it names a US-based Amazon Web Services cloud environment. It does not state a retention period or whether data is used to train AI models.