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Parenting · head to head

Apple Screen Time vs Qustodio

Apple Screen Time logo

Apple Screen Time

Parenting

Apple's built-in parental controls for iOS and Mac

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Qustodio logo

Qustodio

Parenting

The best parental control app for families

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Apple Screen Time parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone; Qustodio monitoring requires installing a separate Kids App on each child device in addition to the parent app
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, Qustodio covers Web filtering & blocking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apple Screen Time and Qustodio actually diverge.

Attributes where Apple Screen Time and Qustodio differ
AttributeApple Screen TimeQustodio
Pricing modelfreesubscription
PlatformsIos, Ipados, MacosWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Kindle
Founded20162012

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Apple Screen Time

  • Screen time tracking
  • App limits
  • Downtime scheduling
  • Content filtering
  • App restrictions
  • Communication limits
  • Purchase controls
  • Family Sharing management

Only in Qustodio

  • Web filtering & blocking
  • Screen time limits
  • App blocking & control
  • Location tracking
  • Calls & SMS monitoring
  • Social media monitoring
  • YouTube monitoring
  • Panic button

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment
  • Ios support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apple Screen Time

  • Screen time managementnot Qustodio
  • Content filteringnot Qustodio
  • Device controlnot Qustodio
  • Family safetynot Qustodio

Qustodio

  • Blocking apps and inappropriate web content on a child's devicenot Apple Screen Time
  • Setting screen time limits and screen-free periods for childrennot Apple Screen Time
  • Tracking a child's location and getting arrival and departure alertsnot Apple Screen Time

Where each one falls short

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

Apple Screen Time

  • Parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone

Qustodio

  • Monitoring requires installing a separate Kids App on each child device in addition to the parent app
  • The Android kids app requires Device Administrator, Accessibility and VPN permissions to filter content and prevent uninstall
  • Web content filtering works by running a VPN service on the child's device
  • On Huawei devices battery-saving mode must be disabled for Qustodio to work
  • The product is available in only eight languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Japanese and Chinese
  • Coverage is limited to Windows, Mac, iOS, Kindle and Android devices

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Screen Time

Free
  • Included with iOS/macOSFree
    • Screen time limits
    • App restrictions
    • Content filtering

Qustodio

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 device
    • Basic web filtering
    • Daily activity reports
  • Small Plan$54.95/year
    • 5 devices
    • Advanced web filtering
    • App controls
  • Medium Plan$96.95/year
    • 10 devices
    • All Small features
    • Family locator
  • Large Plan$137.95/year
    • 15 devices
    • All Medium features
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose Apple Screen Time if

  • You need screen time tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Ipados, Macos.
  • You also want app limits.
Apple Screen Time review

Choose Qustodio if

  • You need web filtering & blocking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Kindle.
  • You also want screen time limits.
Qustodio review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Screen Time or Qustodio better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Screen Time starts at Free and Qustodio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Screen Time or Qustodio?
Apple Screen Time starts at Free and Qustodio at Free.
Does Apple Screen Time or Qustodio run on more platforms?
Apple Screen Time runs on Ios, Ipados, Macos. Qustodio runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Kindle.
Can I use Apple Screen Time for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Apple Screen Time best used for?
Apple Screen Time is most often used for screen time management, content filtering, device control, family safety. Of those, screen time management and content filtering are not what Qustodio is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Screen Time do that Qustodio cannot?
Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, App limits, Downtime scheduling, Content filtering. Qustodio covers Web filtering & blocking, Screen time limits, App blocking & control, Location tracking. Both handle Cloud deployment, Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Apple Screen Time: Is Screen Time included with iOS at no additional cost?

Screen Time is included with iOS as a built-in parental control feature. There is no additional cost beyond the iOS operating system.

Source
Qustodio: How much does Qustodio cost?

Qustodio Basic Plan costs $59.95/year (approximately $5/month) for up to 5 devices. Complete Plan costs $104.95/year (approximately $8.75/month) for unlimited devices.

Source
Apple Screen Time: What parental control features does Screen Time provide?

Screen Time allows parents to set time allowances across app categories like Entertainment, Games, and Social Media, create schedules to control which apps are available at specific times or days, and check how children are using their devices.

Source
Qustodio: Does Qustodio offer a free version?

Yes, Qustodio offers a free version that protects a single device with basic protection features. A free trial of premium features is also available with no credit card required.

Source
Apple Screen Time: Which iOS devices support Screen Time?

Screen Time is available on iOS-compatible devices. Based on current iOS, this includes iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later, as well as current-generation models including iPhone 17.

Source
Qustodio: What is the difference between Qustodio Basic and Complete plans?

Basic plan ($59.95/year) protects up to 5 devices with core features like blocking, time limits, and monitoring. Complete plan ($104.95/year) adds unlimited devices, YouTube monitoring, and custom rules. Both include 30-day money-back guarantee.

Source
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