Software · head to head
Qustodio vs Apple Screen Time
Apple Screen Time
Software
Apple's built-in parental controls for iOS and Mac
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Qustodio monitoring requires installing a separate Kids App on each child device in addition to the parent app; Apple Screen Time parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone
- They diverge on capability: Qustodio covers Web filtering & blocking, Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Qustodio and Apple Screen Time actually diverge.
| Attribute | Qustodio | Apple Screen Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | free |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Kindle | Ios, Ipados, Macos |
| Founded | 2012 | 2016 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Qustodio
- Web filtering & blocking
- Screen time limits
- App blocking & control
- Location tracking
- Calls & SMS monitoring
- Social media monitoring
- YouTube monitoring
- Panic button
Only in Apple Screen Time
- Screen time tracking
- App limits
- Downtime scheduling
- Content filtering
- App restrictions
- Communication limits
- Purchase controls
- Family Sharing management
Both cover
- Cloud deployment
- Ios support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
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
Apple Screen Time
- Screen time managementnot Qustodio
- Content filteringnot Qustodio
- Device controlnot Qustodio
- Family safetynot Qustodio
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Apple Screen Time
- Parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Apple Screen Time
Free- Included with iOS/macOSFree
- Screen time limits
- App restrictions
- Content filtering
Which should you pick?
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.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Qustodio or Apple Screen Time better?
- Neither clearly leads. Qustodio starts at Free and Apple Screen Time at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Qustodio or Apple Screen Time?
- Qustodio starts at Free and Apple Screen Time at Free.
- Does Qustodio or Apple Screen Time run on more platforms?
- Qustodio runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Kindle. Apple Screen Time runs on Ios, Ipados, Macos.
- Can I use Qustodio for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Qustodio best used for?
- Qustodio is most often used for blocking apps and inappropriate web content on a child's device, setting screen time limits and screen-free periods for children, tracking a child's location and getting arrival and departure alerts. Of those, blocking apps and inappropriate web content on a child's device and setting screen time limits and screen-free periods for children are not what Apple Screen Time is typically brought in for.
- What can Qustodio do that Apple Screen Time cannot?
- Qustodio covers Web filtering & blocking, Screen time limits, App blocking & control, Location tracking. Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, App limits, Downtime scheduling, Content filtering. Both handle Cloud deployment, Ios support.