Software · head to head
Norton Family vs Circle
Norton Family
Software
Comprehensive parental control from Norton Security
- From
- $49.99/year
- Rated
- -
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; Circle location tracking is basic and less granular than some competitors
- They diverge on capability: Norton Family covers Antivirus protection, Circle covers Spaces.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Norton Family and Circle actually diverge.
| Attribute | Norton Family | Circle |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49.99/year | $49/month |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac | Ios, Android, Web |
| Founded | 1991 | 2020 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 Norton Family
- Antivirus protection
- Web monitoring
- App blocking
- Screen time management
- Location tracking
- Activity reports
- Social media monitoring
- Custom alerts
Only in Circle
- Spaces
- Events
- Courses
- Member Directory
- Live Streams
- Workflows
- Zapier
- Stripe
Both cover
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android 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 Circle
- Scheduling screen time limits and a School Time focus modenot Circle
- Tracking a child's device location with arrival and departure alertsnot Circle
Circle
- Running a branded online community with discussion spacesnot Norton Family
- Selling and delivering courses to an audiencenot Norton Family
- Hosting events and live streams for membersnot Norton Family
- Operating paid memberships with checkout and paymentsnot Norton Family
- Shipping a branded iOS and Android community appnot 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
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
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
Circle
$49/month- Basic$49/month
- Community
- Members
- Spaces
- Professional$89/month
- Courses
- Workflows
- Analytics
- Business$199/month
- White Label
- API Access
- Custom Domain
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Norton Family or Circle better?
- Neither clearly leads. Norton Family starts at $49.99/year and Circle at $49/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Norton Family or Circle?
- Norton Family starts at $49.99/year and Circle at $49/month.
- Does Norton Family or Circle run on more platforms?
- Norton Family runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac. Circle 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 Circle is typically brought in for.
- What can Norton Family do that Circle cannot?
- Norton Family covers Antivirus protection, Web monitoring, App blocking, Screen time management. Circle covers Spaces, Events, Courses, Member Directory. Both handle Web support, 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.
SourceCircle: 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.
SourceCircle: 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.
SourceCircle: 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