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 Recent additions include an unfiltered mode (monitoring without blocking, ideal for older teens), always-blocked items that persist even during filter suspensions, batch unlock requests, dramatically faster filter decisions, and an optional daily email nudge to review your kids' screenshots only on days they're actually active.^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 connect their child's iOS device to a Gertrude account for remote control of blocking rules.^4 And Gertrude Podcasts (formerly 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
