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Parenting & Family · head to head

Norton Family vs FamiSafe

Norton Family logo

Norton Family

Parenting & Family

Comprehensive parental control from Norton Security

From
$49.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
FamiSafe logo

FamiSafe

Parenting & Family

Comprehensive family monitoring and control app

From
$9.99/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; FamiSafe device coverage is tied to billing period rather than sold separately: 5 devices monthly, 8 quarterly and 10 annually
  • They diverge on capability: Norton Family covers Antivirus protection, FamiSafe covers GPS location tracking.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Norton Family and FamiSafe differ
AttributeNorton FamilyFamiSafe
Starting price$49.99/year$9.99/month
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, MacWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19912016

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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
  • Location tracking
  • Activity reports
  • Social media monitoring
  • Custom alerts
  • Norton antivirus
  • Military-grade encryption

Only in FamiSafe

  • GPS location tracking
  • Activity monitoring
  • Call tracking
  • Message monitoring
  • Real-time alerts
  • Usage reports
  • Cloud services
  • Data encryption

Both cover

  • App blocking
  • Screen time management
  • Device manufacturers
  • 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 FamiSafe
  • Scheduling screen time limits and a School Time focus modenot FamiSafe
  • Tracking a child's device location with arrival and departure alertsnot FamiSafe

FamiSafe

  • Parental controls and screen time limits across a family's phones and tabletsnot Norton Family
  • Location tracking and content filtering for children's devicesnot 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

FamiSafe

  • Device coverage is tied to billing period rather than sold separately: 5 devices monthly, 8 quarterly and 10 annually
  • A family needing more than five devices has to buy at least a quarterly plan
  • Auto renewal is on by default on every subscription
  • The monthly plan at $9.99 costs double the annual rate of $4.99 a month

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

FamiSafe

$9.99/month
  • Basic$9.99/month
    • Location tracking
    • App blocking
    • Screen time limits
  • Premium$19.99/month
    • Everything in Basic
    • Call tracking
    • Message monitoring

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 FamiSafe if

  • You need gps location tracking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want activity monitoring.
FamiSafe review

Questions people ask

Is Norton Family or FamiSafe better?
Neither clearly leads. Norton Family starts at $49.99/year and FamiSafe at $9.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Norton Family or FamiSafe?
Norton Family starts at $49.99/year and FamiSafe at $9.99/month.
Does Norton Family or FamiSafe run on more platforms?
Norton Family runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac. FamiSafe runs on Web, Ios, Android.
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 FamiSafe is typically brought in for.
What can Norton Family do that FamiSafe cannot?
Norton Family covers Antivirus protection, Web monitoring, Location tracking, Activity reports. FamiSafe covers GPS location tracking, Activity monitoring, Call tracking, Message monitoring. Both handle App blocking, Screen time management, Device manufacturers, Cloud deployment.
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