Software · head to head
Qustodio vs Brightwheel
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; Brightwheel pricing is quote-only, driven by enrolment capacity and number of locations, and requires filling in a multi-step form to obtain
- They diverge on capability: Qustodio covers Web filtering & blocking, Brightwheel covers Daily activity reports.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Qustodio and Brightwheel actually diverge.
| Attribute | Qustodio | Brightwheel |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Kindle | Web, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 2012 | 2015 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), 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 Brightwheel
- Daily activity reports
- Parent messaging
- Photo and video sharing
- Attendance tracking
- Billing & invoicing
- Staff time tracking
- Learning assessments
- Check-in/check-out
Both cover
- Cloud deployment
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android 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 Brightwheel
- Setting screen time limits and screen-free periods for childrennot Brightwheel
- Tracking a child's location and getting arrival and departure alertsnot Brightwheel
Brightwheel
- Childcare centre attendance and check-innot Qustodio
- Parent communication with photos and daily reportsnot Qustodio
- Billing and tuition collection from familiesnot Qustodio
- Staff scheduling and ratio trackingnot Qustodio
- Learning assessments and developmental recordsnot 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
Brightwheel
- Pricing is quote-only, driven by enrolment capacity and number of locations, and requires filling in a multi-step form to obtain
- No transaction or payment processing fees are disclosed anywhere on the pricing page
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
Brightwheel
Free- FreeFree
- Messaging
- Daily reports
- Photo sharing
- Plus$100/month
- All Free features
- Billing & payments
- Staff management
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 Brightwheel if
- You need daily activity reports.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want parent messaging.
Questions people ask
- Is Qustodio or Brightwheel better?
- Neither clearly leads. Qustodio starts at Free and Brightwheel at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Qustodio or Brightwheel?
- Qustodio starts at Free and Brightwheel at Free.
- Does Qustodio or Brightwheel run on more platforms?
- Qustodio runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Kindle. Brightwheel runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- 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 Brightwheel is typically brought in for.
- What can Qustodio do that Brightwheel cannot?
- Qustodio covers Web filtering & blocking, Screen time limits, App blocking & control, Location tracking. Brightwheel covers Daily activity reports, Parent messaging, Photo and video sharing, Attendance tracking. Both handle Cloud deployment, Web support, Ios support, Android support.