Softwr

Parenting · head to head

Circle vs Net Nanny

Circle logo

Circle

Parenting

The all-in-one community platform

From
$49/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Net Nanny logo

Net Nanny

Parenting

Protect your family online

From
$39.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Circle location tracking is basic and less granular than some competitors; Net Nanny no free trial available
  • They diverge on capability: Circle covers Spaces, Net Nanny covers AI-powered content filtering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Circle and Net Nanny actually diverge.

Attributes where Circle and Net Nanny differ
AttributeCircleNet Nanny
Starting price$49/month$39.99/year
PlatformsIos, Android, WebIos, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook
Founded20201996

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 Net Nanny

  • AI-powered content filtering
  • Screen time management
  • App blocking
  • YouTube monitoring
  • Profanity masking
  • Location tracking
  • Social media alerts
  • Real-time reporting

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android 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 Net Nanny
  • Selling and delivering courses to an audiencenot Net Nanny
  • Hosting events and live streams for membersnot Net Nanny
  • Operating paid memberships with checkout and paymentsnot Net Nanny
  • Shipping a branded iOS and Android community appnot Net Nanny

Net Nanny

  • Content filteringnot Circle
  • Screen time limitsnot Circle
  • Online safetynot Circle
  • App controlnot 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

Net Nanny

  • No free trial available

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

Net Nanny

$39.99/year
  • 1 Desktop Plan$39.99/year
    • Covers one PC or Mac device
    • All Net Nanny features including monitoring, screen time management, internet filtering, app blocking
  • 5 Devices Family Protection Pass$54.99/year
    • Works on Windows, macOS, and iOS
    • Approximately 11 dollars per device annually
  • 20 Devices Family Protection Pass$89.99/year
    • Compatible with Windows, macOS, and iOS
    • Less than 5 dollars per device per year

Which should you pick?

Choose Circle if

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

Choose Net Nanny if

  • You need ai-powered content filtering.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook.
  • You also want screen time management.
Net Nanny review

Questions people ask

Is Circle or Net Nanny better?
Neither clearly leads. Circle starts at $49/month and Net Nanny at $39.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Circle or Net Nanny?
Circle starts at $49/month and Net Nanny at $39.99/year.
Does Circle or Net Nanny run on more platforms?
Circle runs on Ios, Android, Web. Net Nanny runs on Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook.
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 Net Nanny is typically brought in for.
What can Circle do that Net Nanny cannot?
Circle covers Spaces, Events, Courses, Member Directory. Net Nanny covers AI-powered content filtering, Screen time management, App blocking, YouTube monitoring. Both handle Ios support, Android 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
Net Nanny: How much does Net Nanny cost?

Net Nanny offers three subscription plans. The 1 Desktop Plan costs 39.99 dollars per year. The 5 Devices Family Protection Pass costs 54.99 dollars per year, or about 11 dollars per device annually. The 20 Devices Family Protection Pass costs 89.99 dollars per year, or less than 5 dollars per device per year.

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
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
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
Share

Related pages

More on Circle

More on Net Nanny

Keep looking

Other head to heads