If you've ever wished Apple's Screen Time did more to actually protect your kids online, Gertrude is the answer you've been looking for. Built by Jared Henderson — a Christian, homeschool dad, former pastor, and programmer — Gertrude takes a "default deny" approach to internet safety: everything is blocked unless you specifically approve it.^1
The flagship Mac app gives parents comprehensive web filtering, screenshot capture, and keystroke logging, all managed remotely from any device. Need to approve a website your child just requested? You'll get a notification and can handle it from your phone.^1 Version 2.9 introduced unfiltered mode (monitoring without blocking, ideal for older teens), always-blocked items that persist even during filter suspensions, batch unlock requests, and dramatically improved performance.^2 The free iOS app (Gertrude Blocker) plugs the gaps Apple left in Screen Time — blocking GIF searches in iMessage, image previews in Spotlight, album artwork and music videos in Apple Music, and thumbnails in Maps.^3 Parents can now connect their child's iOS device to a Gertrude account for remote control of blocking rules.^4 And Gertrude AM, their safe podcast app, lets kids listen only to parent-approved shows behind a PIN code.^1
Gertrude is fully open source and collects no user data on iOS.^5
Why Christians Love It"Saved my young son from looking at porn through the maps app. You are a lifesaver." — GratefulMom55^6
"Likely the greatest blessing an app has had on our lives." — Austin944^6
"This app is meeting a great need since Apple has not allowed parents to properly protect their children." — Apple280^6
Notable- Featured as the #1 filtering software in Exodus Cry's comprehensive review of parental control tools^7
- Tech Lockdown called Gertrude Blocker essential for closing iOS content filtering loopholes^3
- Jared speaks at Great Homeschool Conventions on internet safety for families^8
- Interviewed on The Changelog podcast about building Gertrude and protecting kids online^9
- Also the creator of Friends Library, a digital archive of early Quaker writings^5
