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Norton Family vs FamCal

Norton Family logo

Norton Family

Software

Comprehensive parental control from Norton Security

From
$49.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
F

FamCal

Software

Shared family calendar for coordinating activities

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only FamCal has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; FamCal the whole family shares one account, logging in with individual email addresses but a single shared password
  • They diverge on capability: Norton Family covers Antivirus protection, FamCal covers Shared calendar.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Norton Family and FamCal differ
AttributeNorton FamilyFamCal
Starting price$49.99/yearFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, MacWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19912015

Identical on both: 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 FamCal

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

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 FamCal
  • Scheduling screen time limits and a School Time focus modenot FamCal
  • Tracking a child's device location with arrival and departure alertsnot FamCal

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

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

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

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

FamCal

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

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 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

Questions people ask

Is Norton Family or FamCal better?
Neither clearly leads. Norton Family starts at $49.99/year and FamCal at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Norton Family or FamCal?
FamCal has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $49.99/year for Norton Family and Free for FamCal.
Does Norton Family or FamCal run on more platforms?
Norton Family runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac. FamCal runs on Web, Ios, Android.
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 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 FamCal is typically brought in for.
What can Norton Family do that FamCal cannot?
Norton Family covers Antivirus protection, Web monitoring, App blocking, Screen time management. FamCal covers Shared calendar, Color-coded events, Event notifications, Multiple family members. Both handle Cloud deployment, Web support, Ios support, Android support.
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