As a parent in the digital age, keeping your kids safe online is a top priority. With so many threats on the internet, from cyberbullying to explicit content, having the right parental control software is crucial.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare two of the top options—FamilyTime and Qustodio. We’ll break down their features, pricing, and ease of use to help you decide which is the better fit for your family.
Key Features Faceoff
Let’s start by looking at some of the core features of FamilyTime and Qustodio side-by-side:
| Feature | FamilyTime | Qustodio |
|---|---|---|
| App Blocking | Yes | Yes |
| Time Limits | Yes | Yes |
| Filter Website Content | Yes | Yes |
| Social Media Monitoring | Limited | Yes |
| Location Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-Platform Support | Android, iOS, Kindle | Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Kindle |
From this high-level comparison, you can see both options provide robust parental controls like app and website blocking. However, Qustodio pulls ahead with more advanced social media monitoring and support across more device types.
Let’s dive into the details…
Managing Screen Time
A key use case for parental control apps is limiting how much time your kids spend staring at screens. Both FamilyTime and Qustodio allow you to:
- Set daily or weekly time limits for device usage
- Establish specific schedules for when devices can or cannot be used
- Get reporting on how your child spends their time on apps and websites
FamilyTime has a unique “Screen Time Rewards” system. If your child finishes their allowed screen time early, that leftover time gets banked. It can then be used for bonus device time on future days when they’ve run out of their daily limit.
Qustodio takes a more hands-on approach to scheduling. Parents can customize different time slots for weekdays, weekends, even bedtime. You can make exceptions for specific apps you always want available like educational programs.
Winner: Tie – Both provide robust screen time management suitable for most families. FamilyTime offers a unique incentive system while Qustodio has more flexible scheduling.
Blocking Inappropriate Content
No parent wants their young child exposed to pornography, violence, or other inappropriate content online. FamilyTime and Qustodio both provide powerful tools to filter the websites and apps your kids can access.
With FamilyTime, you can block content in certain categories like alcohol, tobacco, pornography, etc. It leverages crowdsourced ratings from other parents to assess if a site is family-friendly.
Qustodio also uses category blocking but takes things further. It integrates Web of Trust scores to judge safety of individual sites. An intelligent algorithm warns you if a site promote drugs, racism, or other concerning topics. Filters automatically update as new threats emerge.
Social media brings its own challenges. FamilyTime can block apps like Facebook or Twitter entirely. But it lacks more nuanced monitoring of social media activity.
Qustodio delivers robust social media supervision. It tracks who your child interacts with, what they post, and more. This works across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat.
Winner: Qustodio – With smarter category blocking and unrivaled social media oversight, Qustodio is the safer choice.
Location Tracking
Knowing your child’s location offers peace of mind, especially for younger kids. FamilyTime and Qustodio both use GPS to let parents view their location on a map in real-time.
You can also establish “geofences” – virtual boundaries that trigger alerts when crossed. If your child wanders too far from home, you’ll get an instant notification.
One advantage for Qustodio is its “Panic Alert” feature. If your kid feels unsafe, they can manually trigger an alert of their location to your device. FamilyTime lacks an equivalent option.
Winner: Tie – Both provide robust location tracking and geofencing. Qustodio’s panic alert adds an extra layer of protection.
Ease of Use
At the end of the day, you need parental control software that’s intuitive and easy to manage.
FamilyTime offers apps for both parents and kids. The child app shows their current limits and time allowances in a simple interface. Parents access a centralized dashboard to monitor activity and manage all child profiles.
Qustodio also uses linked parent/child apps. Their well-designed dashboard makes adjusting settings quick and straightforward. Detailed activity reporting provides unprecedented oversight into your kids’ behavior.
FamlyTime’s design is dated by comparison and lacks some polish. However, for basic time management, it remains user-friendly. Qustodio feels more modern and its advanced features don’t overwhelm.
Winner: Qustodio – With a slicker interface and thoughtful design, managing your family is frictionless on Qustodio.
Supported Platforms
To be effective, parental control software needs to work across the variety of devices your kids use.
FamilyTime has apps for Android, iOS, and Kindle Fire. This covers phones, tablets, and e-readers from the major mobile platforms.
Qustodio supports those same mobile operating systems. But it also works on Windows and Mac computers. This allows you to monitor and manage desktop usage as well.
Winner: Qustodio – By supporting Macs and PCs in addition to mobile, Qustodio provides more complete cross-device visibility and control.
Pricing and Plans
As you evaluate these two options, cost will likely play a role in your decision. Here is an overview of the pricing structure of FamilyTime and Qustodio.
FamilyTime Pricing
FamilyTime uses a per-device model for their pricing:
- $27/year or $2.25/month per device for 1 device
- $35/year or $1.46/month per device for 2 devices
- $45/year or $1.25/month per device for 3 devices
- $69/year or $1.15/month per device for 5 devices
So for a family with 2 kids, covering 3 devices would cost $3.75/month.
They also offer a free 3-day trial so you can test it out.
Qustodio Pricing
Qustodio bases its pricing on the number of child accounts you need to manage rather than devices:
- Basic: Free but limited to 1 child account
- Small: Up to 5 child accounts for $49.95/year
- Medium: Up to 10 child accounts for $87.26/year
- Large: Up to 15 child accounts for $124.16/year
The paid plans enable all advanced features and do not limit number of parent users or devices.
A 30-day free trial is available as well.
Winner: Tie – The two use different pricing models. FamilyTime can be cheaper for fewer devices while Qustodio scales better for larger families.
Alternative: Bark
A third parental control option worth considering is Bark. It offers a middle ground between the two in terms of features and pricing. You can also see how Qustodio and Bark compare in our Qustodio vs Bark review.
Bark costs a flat $9 per month regardless of devices. It covers social media activity, text monitoring, web filtering, screen time limits, and more.
While not as full-featured as Qustodio, it provides robust protection for an affordable price. Read our full Bark review for more details.
FAQ
Does FamilyTime work on iPads and iPhones?
Yes, FamilyTime offers full support for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch devices running iOS. The app can be downloaded from the App Store.
Can I try FamilyTime or Qustodio for free?
Both FamilyTime and Qustodio offer a free trial so you can test the software at no cost. The FamilyTime trial lasts for 3 days. Qustodio’s free trial extends for 30 days.
Do these apps work without internet?
No, an active internet connection is required for FamilyTime and Qustodio to monitor activity across devices. Without internet, time limits, filters, and other features will not work properly.
What devices does Qustodio support?
Qustodio has apps for Android, iOS, Kindle, Windows PCs, and Mac computers. This allows you to manage kids across all their smart phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops from one unified interface.
Can I block YouTube with FamilyTime?
Yes, FamilyTime allows you to block access to the YouTube app completely on your child’s device if you want to restrict access. However, it does not offer the ability to filter our block specific YouTube content or channels.
Key Takeaways
- Both FamilyTime and Qustodio provide effective parental controls like time limits, content filtering, location tracking, and app blocking tailored for kids.
- Qustodio pulls ahead on social media oversight and platform support, while costing a bit more.
- FamilyTime keeps it simple with an easy-to-use system focused on device schedules and rewards.
- Try out free trials of both to see which seems the best solution for your family’s needs.
- Look at alternative options like Bark that offer a solid middle-ground feature set at an affordable price.
- For another perspective, read our Qustodio vs Famisafe comparison of two leading parental control apps.
Whichever you choose – having proper parental supervision software in place is a must to keep your kids safe in today’s digital world!
