In an era where kids are constantly glued to their phones, Family Orbit steps in as a comprehensive parental control app that offers peace of mind to parents. It goes beyond basic GPS tracking, giving you detailed insights into your child’s digital behavior—whether they use an iPhone or an Android device. But does it live up to its promises? In this review, we’ll dive deep into how Family Orbit works, its key features, pricing, usability, and more.
What Is Family Orbit, and How Does It Work?
Family Orbit is an all-in-one parental monitoring solution designed to keep your children safe both online and offline. Once installed on a child’s phone (or synced with iCloud for iPhones), it collects a wide range of data such as location history, texts, photos, call logs, and app usage. Parents can view all this information from a secure web dashboard or the Parent App, available on both Android and iOS.
For Android, the app runs as a background service with full access (including SMS and call log tracking). For iPhones, no jailbreak is needed—it works via iCloud sync, meaning parents just need the child’s iCloud credentials and backup enabled.
Family Orbit Review – Main Features
Call Logs & Contacts
View detailed call history, including names, timestamps, durations, and contact details. This gives insight into who your child communicates with most frequently.
Text Message Monitoring
Monitor incoming and outgoing SMS and iMessages. You can read full message threads even if messages are deleted from the child’s device—especially helpful in spotting red flags.
GPS Location Tracking
Track your child’s real-time GPS location and see their complete location history. You can also create geofences to get alerts when they arrive at or leave specific places like school or home.
Social Media Surveillance
Family Orbit can monitor WhatsApp chats, app usage times, and sometimes notifications from apps like Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook—especially on Android, where it can read notification content directly.
Audio and Video Streaming
While Family Orbit doesn’t stream live audio/video, it does collect photos and videos stored on the device or backed up to iCloud, allowing you to review your child’s media library.
Web Browsing History and Media
Get full access to Safari or Chrome history, bookmarks, and even deleted browsing entries (for iOS via iCloud backup). You can also view downloaded media, including inappropriate images.
App Monitoring and Control
Check which apps your child installs or uses most. For Android, you can even block specific apps or set time limits. App install alerts ensure you’re notified when a new app appears.
User Interface and Ease-of-Use
Family Orbit’s interface is clean, intuitive, and beginner-friendly. The Parent Dashboard is accessible from a browser or mobile app, where you can view organized reports, alerts, and device data. Setting up monitoring takes just a few minutes, and everything syncs automatically afterward.
For parents who aren’t tech-savvy, Family Orbit offers guided setup videos and clear instructions to help them get started quickly.
Customer Support
Customer support is responsive and genuinely helpful. They offer email-based support, live chat during business hours, and a comprehensive Help Center with setup tutorials. Users report fast responses, especially for urgent installation issues or permission troubleshooting on Android.
Pricing
Family Orbit is fairly priced considering its wide feature set:
- 7-Day Trial: $6.95 (billed once)
- Monthly Plan: $29.95/month after the trial ends
- Annual Plan: $89.95/year (saves 50%)
Unlike some competitors, there are no hidden fees or upsells, and all features are included in every plan.
How to Set Up Family Orbit on Android and iOS
For Android:
- Download the Child App directly from familyorbit.com/download.php.
- Grant the required permissions (SMS, call logs, GPS, etc.).
- Log into your Family Orbit account on the child’s phone.
For iPhone:
- Get the child’s iCloud email and password.
- Enable iCloud Backup on the iPhone.
- Log into the Parent Dashboard, and Family Orbit will sync the data automatically (no need to install anything on the child’s device).
Family Orbit Review – Verdict
If you’re looking for a powerful yet user-friendly parental monitoring solution, Family Orbit is a top contender. Its ability to monitor both Android and iOS without jailbreak or root makes it accessible to most families. From location tracking to message monitoring and app usage stats, it covers nearly everything a modern parent would want to see.
It’s not the cheapest option out there, but the value for money is strong—especially when you consider how reliable the data sync is and how detailed the reports are. Whether you’re concerned about online predators, bullying, or screen time, Family Orbit is a solid investment for parental peace of mind.
FAQ
Is Family Orbit Legit?
Yes, Family Orbit is a legitimate parental control app used by thousands of families globally. It’s developed by AppOBit LLC, a U.S.-based company focused on child safety.
What are the most prominent Family Orbit features?
The most powerful features include GPS tracking, SMS and iMessage monitoring, photo/video access, call logs, app activity reports, and geofencing alerts.
Does Family Orbit allow monitoring multiple devices with one subscription?
No, one subscription covers one child’s device. However, you can add multiple child devices by purchasing additional licenses under the same account.
Can Family Orbit be installed remotely?
For iPhones, yes—you can set it up remotely using the iCloud credentials. For Android, physical access is required to install the child monitoring app and grant permissions.
Is Family Orbit detectable on the target device?
On iPhone, it’s completely invisible since it syncs via iCloud. On Android, it can be hidden from the app drawer and recent apps if configured correctly.