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Parenting & Family · head to head

Norton Family vs BusyKid

Norton Family logo

Norton Family

Parenting & Family

Comprehensive parental control from Norton Security

From
$49.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
BusyKid logo

BusyKid

Parenting & Family

Teach kids to earn, save, share, and invest

From
$4/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Norton Family norton Family can only be installed on a child's Windows PC, iOS or Android device, with no macOS support; BusyKid card balance capped at USD 2,000 maximum
  • They diverge on capability: Norton Family covers Antivirus protection, BusyKid covers Chore assignment.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Norton Family and BusyKid differ
AttributeNorton FamilyBusyKid
Starting price$49.99/year$4/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, MaciOS, Android, Web
Founded19912010

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Norton Family

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

Only in BusyKid

  • Chore assignment
  • Allowance automation
  • Prepaid Visa card
  • Stock investing
  • Savings jars
  • Charity donations
  • Parent controls
  • Spending reports

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.

Norton Family

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

BusyKid

  • Teaching choresnot Norton Family
  • Allowance managementnot Norton Family
  • Kids investingnot Norton Family
  • Financial educationnot Norton Family

Where each one falls short

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

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

BusyKid

  • Card balance capped at USD 2,000 maximum
  • Chores must be added individually per child, requiring significant setup time for families with multiple children
  • Card replacement fee of USD 5 charged for lost or stolen cards
  • No rewards or cash back on card purchases
  • Deposit limits restrict funding to USD 50 at a time with 24-hour waits between deposits

Pricing, plan by plan

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

BusyKid

$4/month
  • Monthly Subscription$4/month
    • Up to 5 Visa Prepaid Cards
    • Chore tracking and automatic allowance payments
    • Stock and ETF investing with no commissions
  • Annual Subscription$48/year
    • Up to 5 Visa Prepaid Cards
    • Chore tracking and automatic allowance payments
    • Stock and ETF investing with no commissions

Which should you pick?

Choose Norton Family if

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

Choose BusyKid if

  • You need chore assignment.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want allowance automation.
BusyKid review

Questions people ask

Is Norton Family or BusyKid better?
Neither clearly leads. Norton Family starts at $49.99/year and BusyKid at $4/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Norton Family or BusyKid?
Norton Family starts at $49.99/year and BusyKid at $4/month.
Does Norton Family or BusyKid run on more platforms?
Norton Family runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac. BusyKid runs on iOS, Android, Web.
What is Norton Family best used for?
Norton Family is most often used for blocking unsuitable websites and reporting which sites a child visits, scheduling screen time limits and a school time focus mode, tracking a child's device location with arrival and departure alerts. Of those, blocking unsuitable websites and reporting which sites a child visits and scheduling screen time limits and a school time focus mode are not what BusyKid is typically brought in for.
What can Norton Family do that BusyKid cannot?
Norton Family covers Antivirus protection, Web monitoring, App blocking, Screen time management. BusyKid covers Chore assignment, Allowance automation, Prepaid Visa card, Stock investing. Both handle Cloud deployment, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

BusyKid: Does BusyKid offer a free trial?

Yes, BusyKid offers a 30-day free trial with no payment required during the trial period. Full subscription is USD 4/month (USD 48/year) after trial.

Source
BusyKid: Can parents track spending in real-time?

Yes. Parents see every transaction made with the BusyKid Visa Prepaid Card in real-time through the app, and can set spending limits and receive notifications.

Source
BusyKid: Can kids invest in stocks?

Yes. BusyKid's investment feature allows kids to own actual stocks and ETFs with no commission fees. Investment purchases require minimum USD 10 and parental approval.

Source
BusyKid: How long does it take to receive the prepaid card?

BusyKid Visa Prepaid Cards typically arrive within 12 business days of account setup. Cards can be used anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.

Source
BusyKid: What is the maximum card balance?

The BusyKid Visa Prepaid Card has a maximum balance limit of USD 2,000.

Source
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