Software · head to head
Apple Screen Time vs Qustodio
Apple Screen Time
Software
Apple's built-in parental controls for iOS and Mac
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Apple Screen Time parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone; Qustodio monitoring requires installing a separate Kids App on each child device in addition to the parent app
- They diverge on capability: Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, Qustodio covers Web filtering & blocking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Apple Screen Time and Qustodio actually diverge.
| Attribute | Apple Screen Time | Qustodio |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | subscription |
| Platforms | Ios, Ipados, Macos | Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Kindle |
| Founded | 2016 | 2012 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Apple Screen Time
- Screen time tracking
- App limits
- Downtime scheduling
- Content filtering
- App restrictions
- Communication limits
- Purchase controls
- Family Sharing management
Only in Qustodio
- Web filtering & blocking
- Screen time limits
- App blocking & control
- Location tracking
- Calls & SMS monitoring
- Social media monitoring
- YouTube monitoring
- Panic button
Both cover
- Cloud deployment
- Ios support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Apple Screen Time
- Screen time managementnot Qustodio
- Content filteringnot Qustodio
- Device controlnot Qustodio
- Family safetynot Qustodio
Qustodio
- Blocking apps and inappropriate web content on a child's devicenot Apple Screen Time
- Setting screen time limits and screen-free periods for childrennot Apple Screen Time
- Tracking a child's location and getting arrival and departure alertsnot Apple Screen Time
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Apple Screen Time
- Parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone
Qustodio
- Monitoring requires installing a separate Kids App on each child device in addition to the parent app
- The Android kids app requires Device Administrator, Accessibility and VPN permissions to filter content and prevent uninstall
- Web content filtering works by running a VPN service on the child's device
- On Huawei devices battery-saving mode must be disabled for Qustodio to work
- The product is available in only eight languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Japanese and Chinese
- Coverage is limited to Windows, Mac, iOS, Kindle and Android devices
Pricing, plan by plan
Apple Screen Time
Free- Included with iOS/macOSFree
- Screen time limits
- App restrictions
- Content filtering
Qustodio
Free- FreeFree
- 1 device
- Basic web filtering
- Daily activity reports
- Small Plan$54.95/year
- 5 devices
- Advanced web filtering
- App controls
- Medium Plan$96.95/year
- 10 devices
- All Small features
- Family locator
- Large Plan$137.95/year
- 15 devices
- All Medium features
- Priority support
Which should you pick?
Choose Apple Screen Time if
- You need screen time tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Ios, Ipados, Macos.
- You also want app limits.
Choose Qustodio if
- You need web filtering & blocking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Kindle.
- You also want screen time limits.
Questions people ask
- Is Apple Screen Time or Qustodio better?
- Neither clearly leads. Apple Screen Time starts at Free and Qustodio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Apple Screen Time or Qustodio?
- Apple Screen Time starts at Free and Qustodio at Free.
- Does Apple Screen Time or Qustodio run on more platforms?
- Apple Screen Time runs on Ios, Ipados, Macos. Qustodio runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Kindle.
- Can I use Apple Screen Time for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Apple Screen Time best used for?
- Apple Screen Time is most often used for screen time management, content filtering, device control, family safety. Of those, screen time management and content filtering are not what Qustodio is typically brought in for.
- What can Apple Screen Time do that Qustodio cannot?
- Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, App limits, Downtime scheduling, Content filtering. Qustodio covers Web filtering & blocking, Screen time limits, App blocking & control, Location tracking. Both handle Cloud deployment, Ios support.