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Qustodio Review and Guide

Qustodio Review and Guide
Latest posts by Justin Caldwell (see all)

Qustodio is a powerful internet filtering and parental control software that helps you keep your kids safe online. It lets you see what your children are doing online, block inappropriate content, and set limits on screen time.

Qustodio is a great tool for parents who want to monitor their children’s online activity and ensure they are staying safe. The software is easy to use and has a variety of features that make it a great choice for parents.

Bottom Line Up Front

If you don’t have time to read this entire article, here’s what you should know about Qustodio. It only offers a yearly subscription but if you break it down by month, it’s actually much cheaper than many other solutions on the market.

It offers a wider range of features than many other options and it can support up to 15 devices, which is a lot more than many others. It doesn’t offer the most modern design, but it offers one of the best values.

Qustodio Overview

Qustodio

Qustodio has been around for a while and is one of the more well-known parental control software solutions. It’s a cross-platform solution that works on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chromebook, and Kindle.

Getting Started

Installing Qustodio is very simple. For Windows and macOS, you can download the software and install it directly on your computer. For mobile devices, you’ll need to download the app from the App Store or Google Play.

Once you’ve installed Qustodio, you’ll need to create an account and then add your children to the account. You can add up to 15 children to a single account.

Qustodio will then begin monitoring your child’s activity and blocking inappropriate content.

Setup Process

Qustodio’s setup process is very simple. For Windows and macOS, you can download the software and install it directly on your computer. For mobile devices, you’ll need to download the app from the App Store or Google Play.

Once you’ve installed Qustodio, you’ll need to create an account and then add your children to the account. You can add up to 15 children to a single account.

Qustodio will then begin monitoring your child’s activity and blocking inappropriate content.

Features

Qustodio

Qustodio offers a wide range of features to help you keep your children safe online.

Some of the main features include:

Web Filtering

Qustodio uses a powerful web filter to block inappropriate content and keep your children safe online. The web filter is customizable, so you can block categories of websites or specific websites.

Qustodio also blocks unsafe search results, so your children won’t be able to access inappropriate content even if they accidentally stumble upon it.

Time Limits

You can set limits on how much time your children can spend online. This is a great way to ensure they’re not spending too much time glued to screens.

You can set daily or weekly limits, and you can also schedule specific times for the internet to be turned off.

For example, you could turn off the internet at bedtime so your children can get a good night’s sleep.

Activity Reports

Qustodio generates detailed activity reports, so you can see what your children are doing online. The reports include which websites they’re visiting, what they’re searching for, and how much time they’re spending online. You can view the reports by logging into your account or you can have them emailed to you.

App Blocking

Qustodio can block specific apps and games, so you can control what your children are using on their devices. This is a great way to limit their screen time and ensure they’re only using age-appropriate apps.

You can also set limits on how much time they can spend using specific apps. For example, you could allow them to use Snapchat for 30 minutes per day.

You can use the default blocking feature or you can select which apps you want your child to have access to. You can also allow or block apps on-demand when your child requests permission.

Text Monitoring

Qustodio can monitor your child’s text messages and iMessages (on iOS devices). This can be a great way to ensure they’re not being bullied or communicating with strangers.

You can view the full text of each message, and you can also see which contacts your child is communicating with.

This is a great feature for preventing cyberbullying but it can also give you an idea of what your child is talking about with their friends.

Location Tracking

Qustodio can track your child’s location, so you always know where they are. The map feature is available 24/7 so you can look at it anytime. You can also get notifications when they arrive or leave specific locations.

Reports and SOS

The reports feature is very comprehensive, and you can set it up to email you weekly or monthly reports.

You can also view the reports online by logging into your account.

The SOS feature is a great way to get help if your child is in danger. By just pressing a button, they can notify you that they’re in trouble and send you their location.

You can then call or text them to check in and see if they’re okay.

Qustodio Care Plus (US Market Only) – Priority Support

If you feel like you need more help going through each of the steps, this is the priority support option you need.

Multi-parent Management (Only for android)

Not everyone has parents that live in the same household. Families look different and the multi-parent management allows people to manage their family as necessary.

iOS Calls and Management

See is there is suspicious activity going on immediately.

App Design

Qustodio Pricing

Qustodio’s app design is functional but dated. The interface is a bit cluttered and could use a redesign. However, the design is easy to use and all of the features are easy to find.

Once you sign in, you’ll see all of your connected devices on the left. Selecting a device will show you activity reports and allow you to manage settings. You can filter your child’s usage based on a time frame. Select the current day, the past week, the past two weeks, or the past month to see trends.

The web interface is similar to the app interface. It’s functional but dated. Again, all of the features are easy to find and use. It’s similar to the app so your experience won’t vary too much between the two.

It also offers easy access to rules, so you can quickly set up or change the rules based on each particular device.

Pricing

Qustodio offers a few different pricing plans, depending on how many devices you want to protect. Their basic plan starts at $55 per year and covers up to 5 devices. You can also upgrade to the mid-tier plan that covers up to 10 devices or the highest tier that covers up to 15 devices.

The two highest plans also include Care Plus, which offers priority support through all of Qustodio’s available channels. You can get advice from experts on how to keep your children safe online.

Qustodio Pros

  • Offers a wide range of features
  • Web filtering is customizable
  • Generates detailed activity reports
  • Blocks specific apps and games
  • Monitors text messages
  • Tracks location
  • Affordable pricing plans

Qustodio Cons

  • App design is dated and cluttered

Alternatives

Qustodio isn’t the only parental control app on the market. There are a few other options that offer similar features and pricing. Only you can decide which is right for your family, but they are worth looking into before you choose.

Norton Family Premier

Norton Family Premier

Norton’s parental control app offers many of the same features as Qustodio. It also includes a few extra features, such as the ability to set up educational goals and view your child’s social media activity. However, it’s more expensive than Qustodio, starting at $49.99 per year for up to 10 devices.

Check out our complete Norton Family vs Qustodio Comparison.

Kaspersky Safe Kids

KasperskySafe Kids

Kaspersky is another player in the security market, so it only makes sense to adopt their parental control app as well. It offers most of the features that Qustodio does, but it doesn’t include text message monitoring. However, it’s one of the more affordable options.

OurPact

OurPact

OurPact is a bit different from the other parental control apps on this list. It doesn’t offer web filtering or app blocking. However, it does allow you to schedule device usage and set up screen time limits. This can be helpful if you want to make sure your children are spending more time offline.

It’s also one of the more affordable options, starting at $6.99 per month for up to 10 devices.

Here’s our complete OurPact vs Qustodio Comparison.

Mobicip

Mobicip

Mobicip is another parental control app that offers most of the features that Qustodio does. It also includes a few extra features, such as the ability to monitor your child’s social media activity.

One thing to note is that Mobicip doesn’t offer a free trial like Qustodio does. However, it does have a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s our full Mobicip vs Qustodio comparison.

Net Nanny

Net Nanny

Net Nanny is a popular parental control app that has been around for a long time. It offers all of the features that Qustodio does, plus a few extra features, such as the ability to monitor your child’s social media activity.

Net Nanny is one of the best options if you want an internet filter that’s better than many of the other apps on the market.

Wanna know more? Read our Net Nanny vs Qustodio comparison.

KidLogger

KidLogger

This app does pretty much everything that Qustodio can do, but it also tracks the things your child types and any screenshots they take for your review. There’s also a voice-activated sound recorder. The major downside of KidLogger is that it only covers 1 device.

FAQs

If you’re looking for the right parental control app for you, these frequently asked questions may help.

Question: Is Qustodio reliable?

Answer: Yes, Qustodio is a reliable parental control app. It offers a wide range of features and is easy to use. It may be slightly outdated in terms of design, but it’s still user-friendly and worth your time if you want a lot of features for a great value.

Question: What Can Parents See with Qustodio?

Answer: Parents can see everything their children do online with Qustodio. This includes web browsing history, app usage, and text messages. You can also see your child’s location and set up rules to limit their device usage.

Question: Can my Child Disable Qustodio?

Answer: Yes, your child can disable Qustodio if they know how. However, you will be notified if they attempt to do so. You can also set up a PIN code to prevent them from disabling the app without your permission.

Question: What is the Best Alternative to Qustodio? 

Answer: The best alternative to Qustodio depends on your needs. If you’re looking for an app with similar features, Norton Family Premier and Kaspersky Safe Kids are both worth considering. If you want something more affordable, OurPact is a good option.

Question: Can Qustodio See Your Screen? 

Answer: No, Qustodio cannot see your screen. However, it can see what apps you’re using and how much time you’re spending on them. It also has the ability to block specific apps and websites.

Bottom Line

Qustodio is one of the best parental control software solutions on the market. It’s a cross-platform solution that works on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chromebook, and Kindle. It offers a wide range of features to help you keep your children safe online.

It offers a great value in terms of breadth of features and price, and it’s a highly-customizable solution that will work for most families, especially those with a large number of devices.

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