Softwr

Parenting · head to head

Circle vs Qustodio

Circle logo

Circle

Parenting

The all-in-one community platform

From
$49/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Qustodio logo

Qustodio

Parenting

The best parental control app for families

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Qustodio has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Circle location tracking is basic and less granular than some competitors; Qustodio monitoring requires installing a separate Kids App on each child device in addition to the parent app
  • They diverge on capability: Circle covers Spaces, Qustodio covers Web filtering & blocking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Circle and Qustodio actually diverge.

Attributes where Circle and Qustodio differ
AttributeCircleQustodio
Starting price$49/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIos, Android, WebWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Kindle
Founded20202012

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Parenting).

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 Circle

  • Spaces
  • Events
  • Courses
  • Member Directory
  • Live Streams
  • Workflows
  • Zapier
  • Stripe

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

  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Circle

  • Running a branded online community with discussion spacesnot Qustodio
  • Selling and delivering courses to an audiencenot Qustodio
  • Hosting events and live streams for membersnot Qustodio
  • Operating paid memberships with checkout and paymentsnot Qustodio
  • Shipping a branded iOS and Android community appnot Qustodio

Qustodio

  • Blocking apps and inappropriate web content on a child's devicenot Circle
  • Setting screen time limits and screen-free periods for childrennot Circle
  • Tracking a child's location and getting arrival and departure alertsnot Circle

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Circle

  • Location tracking is basic and less granular than some competitors
  • Does not monitor social media interactions or private messages
  • Requires Circle Home Plus hardware purchase for full home network control
  • Activity reports are limited and less comprehensive than competing platforms

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

Circle

$49/month
  • Basic$49/month
    • Community
    • Members
    • Spaces
  • Professional$89/month
    • Courses
    • Workflows
    • Analytics
  • Business$199/month
    • White Label
    • API Access
    • Custom Domain

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 Circle if

  • You need spaces.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want events.
Circle review

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.
Qustodio review

Questions people ask

Is Circle or Qustodio better?
Neither clearly leads. Circle starts at $49/month and Qustodio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Circle or Qustodio?
Qustodio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $49/month for Circle and Free for Qustodio.
Does Circle or Qustodio run on more platforms?
Circle runs on Ios, Android, Web. Qustodio runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Kindle.
Can I use Qustodio for free?
Yes. Qustodio has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Circle starts at $49/month.
What is Circle best used for?
Circle is most often used for running a branded online community with discussion spaces, selling and delivering courses to an audience, hosting events and live streams for members, operating paid memberships with checkout and payments. Of those, running a branded online community with discussion spaces and selling and delivering courses to an audience are not what Qustodio is typically brought in for.
What can Circle do that Qustodio cannot?
Circle covers Spaces, Events, Courses, Member Directory. Qustodio covers Web filtering & blocking, Screen time limits, App blocking & control, Location tracking. Both handle Ios support, Android support, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Circle: How much does Circle cost?

Circle offers a 14-day free trial of the app with all premium features included. After the trial, subscriptions are 9.99 USD per month or 89.99 USD per year. The Circle Home Plus device costs 129 USD upfront and includes one year of free app access, after which the app subscription costs approximately 10 USD per month.

Source
Qustodio: How much does Qustodio cost?

Qustodio Basic Plan costs $59.95/year (approximately $5/month) for up to 5 devices. Complete Plan costs $104.95/year (approximately $8.75/month) for unlimited devices.

Source
Circle: What devices does Circle support?

Circle works on Android, Apple iOS, Mac, Windows, Chromebook, Xbox, PlayStation, Kindle, smart speakers, IoT devices, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and iPhones. An unlimited number of devices can be managed from a single Circle account.

Source
Qustodio: Does Qustodio offer a free version?

Yes, Qustodio offers a free version that protects a single device with basic protection features. A free trial of premium features is also available with no credit card required.

Source
Circle: How does Circle Home Plus work?

Circle Home Plus is a router-adjacent device that connects to your home network via Ethernet (with Wi-Fi backup) and manages all connected devices on that network. The Circle app then connects to this device to enforce parental controls across web browsing, app usage, and screen time across all family members' devices.

Source
Qustodio: What is the difference between Qustodio Basic and Complete plans?

Basic plan ($59.95/year) protects up to 5 devices with core features like blocking, time limits, and monitoring. Complete plan ($104.95/year) adds unlimited devices, YouTube monitoring, and custom rules. Both include 30-day money-back guarantee.

Source
Circle: Does Circle monitor social media?

Circle does not directly monitor social media content, conversations, or private messages. However, it can restrict access to social media apps and websites, and manage time spent on those platforms through screen time controls.

Source
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