What it catches
- Free trials that turn into paid plans
- Recurring charges hidden in fine print
- Known scam sites
- With Pro: lookalike sites, crypto scams and brand-new websites
Set it up in 4 steps
- Add ChargeGuardian to Chrome on your child's computer.
- Open Settings and choose a parent PIN.
- Set the amount above which a purchase needs your PIN (0 means every purchase).
- Optional: make it hard to remove (see the guide below).
Choose a PIN you don't use anywhere else. The parent types it on the shopping page, so a 4-digit PIN protects against a child clicking through, not a determined one. For stronger protection, use a managed install.
How you get told
Free: your child taps "Message a parent" and a ready-made message opens in WhatsApp or email on their device.
Pro: you get an alert with the site and amount without your child doing anything.
If a child taps "Message a parent," a pre-filled message with the amount and the site name opens in their own WhatsApp, SMS or email app. No card data is included and nothing passes through ChargeGuardian servers.
What it does not do
- It is a warning and approval step, not a spending limit on the card. For a hard cap, add a virtual card or a prepaid card.
- It works only in the Chrome profile where it is installed. Other browsers are not covered.
- It does not see purchases in apps or game launchers such as Steam, Epic or Roblox.
- A child with an administrator account can remove it unless you install it by policy.
Make it hard to remove
If you want the extension to stay put, give the child a standard, non-administrator account on the computer and keep the admin account for yourself. Then force-install the extension with Chrome's managed policy.
- Extension ID:
kkbkjceljokgdbkiphjkmpiogdgodjhp - Update URL:
https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx
Windows
Set the registry value under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallForcelist to:
kkbkjceljokgdbkiphjkmpiogdgodjhp;https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx
Mac
Use a configuration profile, or the com.google.Chrome managed preference, with the same value.
Chrome will show "Managed by your organization" once the policy is applied. That is expected. This covers Chrome on that account only — not other browsers, and not game launchers or apps.
Privacy
ChargeGuardian does not collect card numbers, and the page text it analyzes never leaves the browser. Pro alerts send the site name and amount to the contact you choose. Read the full policy.