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Parenting & Family · head to head

FamCal vs Norton Family

F

FamCal

Parenting & Family

Shared family calendar for coordinating activities

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Norton Family logo

Norton Family

Parenting & Family

Comprehensive parental control from Norton Security

From
$49.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only FamCal has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: FamCal the whole family shares one account, logging in with individual email addresses but a single shared password; Norton Family norton Family can only be installed on a child's Windows PC, iOS or Android device, with no macOS support
  • They diverge on capability: FamCal covers Shared calendar, Norton Family covers Antivirus protection.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FamCal and Norton Family actually diverge.

Attributes where FamCal and Norton Family differ
AttributeFamCalNorton Family
Starting priceFree$49.99/year
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac
Founded20151991

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Parenting & Family).

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 FamCal

  • Shared calendar
  • Color-coded events
  • Event notifications
  • Multiple family members
  • Calendar syncing
  • Event reminders
  • Location tagging
  • Notes and details

Only in Norton Family

  • Antivirus protection
  • Web monitoring
  • App blocking
  • Screen time management
  • Location tracking
  • Activity reports
  • Social media monitoring
  • Custom alerts

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • English language support

What people use each for

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

FamCal

  • Running a shared colour-coded family calendar across membersnot Norton Family
  • Sharing grocery lists, chores and task assignments in a householdnot Norton Family
  • Tracking and exporting shared trip expenses as PDF or CSVnot Norton Family

Norton Family

  • Blocking unsuitable websites and reporting which sites a child visitsnot FamCal
  • Scheduling screen time limits and a School Time focus modenot FamCal
  • Tracking a child's device location with arrival and departure alertsnot FamCal

Where each one falls short

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

FamCal

  • The whole family shares one account, logging in with individual email addresses but a single shared password
  • Subscriptions are sold only as weekly or annual terms
  • Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period
  • The account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the current period
  • The iOS app requires iOS 15.0 or later

Norton Family

  • Norton Family can only be installed on a child's Windows PC, iOS or Android device, with no macOS support
  • Windows 10 in S mode is explicitly excluded
  • Not all features are available on all supported platforms
  • Location Supervision is not available in all countries and must be activated before use
  • Video Supervision covers only videos watched on YouTube.com and does not track YouTube videos embedded in other sites or blogs
  • Mobile App Supervision shows and controls apps only on Android devices
  • The Android app relies on the AccessibilityService API to see websites viewed and to stop the child removing permissions
  • Features require the child's device to have an internet or data plan and to be turned on

Pricing, plan by plan

FamCal

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Shared calendar
    • Basic notifications
    • Up to 6 members
  • Premium$2.99/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Unlimited members
    • Advanced notifications

Norton Family

$49.99/year
  • Norton 360 Deluxe$49.99/year
    • Antivirus protection
    • Parental controls
    • Screen time limits
  • Norton 360 Premium$99.99/year
    • Everything in Deluxe
    • Location tracking
    • Advanced monitoring

Which should you pick?

Choose FamCal if

  • You need shared calendar.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want color-coded events.
FamCal review

Choose Norton Family if

  • You need antivirus protection.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac.
  • You also want web monitoring.
Norton Family review

Questions people ask

Is FamCal or Norton Family better?
Neither clearly leads. FamCal starts at Free and Norton Family at $49.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FamCal or Norton Family?
FamCal has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for FamCal and $49.99/year for Norton Family.
Does FamCal or Norton Family run on more platforms?
FamCal runs on Web, Ios, Android. Norton Family runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac.
Can I use FamCal for free?
Yes. FamCal has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Norton Family starts at $49.99/year.
What is FamCal best used for?
FamCal is most often used for running a shared colour-coded family calendar across members, sharing grocery lists, chores and task assignments in a household, tracking and exporting shared trip expenses as pdf or csv. Of those, running a shared colour-coded family calendar across members and sharing grocery lists, chores and task assignments in a household are not what Norton Family is typically brought in for.
What can FamCal do that Norton Family cannot?
FamCal covers Shared calendar, Color-coded events, Event notifications, Multiple family members. Norton Family covers Antivirus protection, Web monitoring, App blocking, Screen time management. Both handle Cloud deployment, Web support, Ios support, Android support.
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