About Qustodio

A parental monitoring solution limited to your family PC lacks effectiveness in overseeing today’s digitally connected kids. Qustodio offers a comprehensive array of features that address the concerns of vigilant parents, such as web content filtering, strong app blocking, and thorough activity tracking. With Qustodio, you manage all settings and surveillance conveniently through its online dashboard or the parental mode of its mobile apps. This flexibility allows you to establish rules and monitor your child’s activities regardless of your location.

Features

Web Filtering

Qustodio’s web filtering feature allows you to customize the online experience for your children by selecting permitted websites. You have the flexibility to establish filtering rules for individual websites, while also benefiting from over 25 predefined website categories such as Games, Profanity, Gambling, Mature Content, Pornography, and others. It’s important to note that specific website rules override category rules, allowing you to block entire categories while still allowing access to specific sites within those categories.

When setting filtering rules for categories in Qustodio, you have three options to choose from. You can opt to block the entire category, allow it without restrictions, or permit it while receiving alerts whenever your child visits sites within that category. Additionally, for manually added sites, Qustodio offers the option to configure the system to ignore those sites, ensuring they won’t appear in any reports within the Qustodio app.

web filtering y is compatible with several supported browsers, including Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Amazon Silk Browser. Notably, the system automatically blocks access to unsupported browsers like Tor, Brave, or Opera, preventing children from circumventing website restrictions.

Web filtering is highly effective in consistently preventing accidental access to unsafe websites. Moreover, it sends alerts to the parent’s device each time their child accesses chat and social network platforms, ensuring constant awareness and supervision. However, Qustodio could enhance its features by incorporating an in-app option for kids to request access to a blocked website, similar to what Norton Family offers. This functionality would enable children to swiftly request access to a mistakenly blocked safe site without the need to contact their parents via phone or message.

Time Usage Limits

Qustodio organizes its time-restriction tools into distinct sections for ease of use. With Daily Time Limits, you can establish a maximum limit on device usage for each day of the week, or opt to completely block device access for the entire day. Additionally, Qustodio offers flexibility in choosing the action to take when the time limit is reached. You can opt to either lock navigation or lock the device altogether. Furthermore, Qustodio can optionally notify you if your child reaches the specified time limit.

The functionalities of “Lock Navigation” and “Lock Device” settings vary depending on the platform within Qustodio. When you select “Lock Navigation” on Windows and Macs, it blocks internet access and web browsers. However, choosing the “Lock Device” option means your children won’t be able to sign in to the device, providing a more comprehensive restriction on device usage.

On Android devices, activating the “Lock Navigation” feature restricts access to most apps, leaving only the home screen, notification bar, and recent app lists accessible. While the device is locked, children are limited to making outgoing emergency calls only. As for iOS devices, the “Lock Navigation” toggle is greyed out, indicating that this option is not available. However, the “Lock Device” setting on iOS hides all apps on the device, providing a comprehensive restriction on access.

In Qustodio’s Restricted Times section, you have the ability to regulate the times during which your child can use their device. The day is divided into Morning, Afternoon, and Night segments, allowing you to block out extended periods by selecting the hours for each day. Additionally, you can opt to lock navigation and lock the device when the allotted time expires. This feature ensures that your child cannot circumvent the restriction by altering the system time on the device.

Location Tracking

Qustodio’s location-based monitoring features differ depending on the platform. On the web interface, these settings are accessible under the Location tab, while on mobile devices, there is a dedicated Family Locator section. Within the web dashboard, users can view a map displaying the last known locations of their children. Clicking on a profile reveals a timeline showcasing the child’s reported location history, with up to 30 days of past data available.

Qustodio incorporates geofencing capabilities for mobile devices, referred to as “My Places” feature. Geofencing involves setting up a virtual boundary around a specific geographic area, triggering notifications when a child or their device enters or exits that area. With Qustodio, users can select a location on the map, assign it a name, and determine the size of the boundary to create around it, with a minimum of 350 feet.

App Blocking

Qustodio provides the flexibility to set time limits for specific apps or disable access to them entirely. This feature is available across various platforms including Android, Windows, macOS, Kindle, Chromebook, and even iOS. Qustodio boasts the capability to detect, monitor, and restrict over 20,000 compatible iOS apps.

To configure app-blocking settings on Android, Windows, and macOS devices, navigate to the Games & Apps section within Qustodio. Here, you can search for apps that your child has used across any of their supported devices. Unlike pre-populating a list of common apps, Qustodio dynamically updates the list by adding apps as your child starts using them.

For any app listed, Qustodio allows you to toggle between different restriction options. You can choose to apply no restrictions, set a total time limit for each day of the week, or block the app outright. This feature is particularly useful if you want to permit access to certain apps, such as the calculator app for homework, while also limiting time spent on social media. It offers a balanced approach without completely locking your child out. During testing on our Mac and iPhone devices, we encountered no issues with blocking apps.

Qustodio extends its app-blocking feature to iOS devices, although its functionality can be inconsistent. Notably, if a parent blocks an app while the child is actively using it, the app will continue to function as usual. Furthermore, app blocking is limited to certain apps, with most of the basic ones covered, but there may be unsupported entries. For instance, Qustodio’s tools no longer function with games published by EA.

YouTube Monitoring

Qustodio features a dedicated YouTube Monitoring functionality, enabling parents to monitor their children’s activity on the YouTube website and app through comprehensive activity reports. This feature provides insights into YouTube searches and the videos watched. Additionally, YouTube Monitoring allows parents to block both the YouTube site and app or set time limits specifically for the YouTube app. This feature is particularly beneficial considering the popularity of YouTube among kids and teens, especially in comparison to some parental apps, such as Norton Family, which lack a dedicated YouTube monitoring feature.

Safe search enforcement is available within the Web Filtering feature, ensuring that YouTube filters all content flagged as inappropriate. This precautionary measure mitigates the risk of children inadvertently encountering harmful YouTube videos. While YouTube Monitoring is accessible on most platforms (excluding Chromebook and Kindle), its functionality varies across each platform.

Calls & Messages Monitoring

The call and message monitoring feature oversees children’s calls and messages, allowing users to block or whitelist incoming or outgoing calls. It is advisable to utilize this feature only if there are genuine concerns about your child’s interactions and there is a need to promptly detect any troubling communications. Additionally, if feasible, it is recommended to have an open conversation with your child about the use of this feature.

Parents have access to the following information through Qustodio:

• Who the child communicates with through phone calls, WhatsApp calls, and FaceTime calls
• Who the child communicates with through SMS and iMessage
• Contents of SMS and iMessages they send and receive
• Time logs of calls and messages

The feature is accessible on both iOS and Android platforms, but it requires manual setup. Fortunately, Qustodio offers user-friendly guides to assist you through the process. Due to the comprehensive nature of this feature, the setup process entails platform-specific steps and requirements to ensure effectiveness and compatibility.

To monitor Android devices, you must download the Qustodio kids app directly from Qustodio’s website. The feature is not supported by the version of the Qustodio app available on Google Play. Additionally, to monitor your child’s calls and messages on an iPhone, you’ll need to use a Mac device since this feature isn’t included in the App Store version of Qustodio’s parent app.

To adjust the level of information visible, navigate to your child’s profile and select “calls and messages” in the rules menu. From there, you can decide whether to view message content and toggle monitoring on or off. It’s important to note that Qustodio’s monitoring features do not extend to third-party messaging apps like Signal or WhatsApp.

Panic Button

The Panic Button feature enables your child to send immediate alerts to trusted contacts via text or email messages. This feature proves invaluable for ensuring your child’s safety, particularly when walking home from school or spending time with friends outdoors. Notably, many parental control apps, such as Bark, lack access to an SOS feature, making the inclusion of this feature in Qustodio highly appreciated.

Configuring this feature is straightforward. Begin by enabling it in the parental app, then add trusted contacts, specifying email addresses or phone numbers for each. Once added, wait for them to confirm. Lastly, enable the feature on your child’s device. The entire setup process typically takes no more than 3–4 minutes, as experienced with my Android smartphone.

Using the Panic Button on the child’s end is equally simple. Your child only needs to tap the SOS button at the bottom of the app, followed by tapping on another SOS button and confirming activation. To deactivate the feature, the child simply taps the SOS button again and confirms their choice. Upon deactivation, you’ll receive an email notification informing you that your child has turned off Panic Mode, along with a link to their location.

Other Features

Uninstall Protection: Qustodio needs your parental app username and password for uninstalling its kids’ apps, a security measure absent in competing brands like mSpy. This prevents children from clandestinely uninstalling the apps to evade tracking. Notably, this feature is available across all platforms.

Hide Qustodio: This feature allows you to conceal Qustodio on Windows and macOS devices. Once enabled, your child won’t encounter Qustodio’s web page when attempting to access a blocked site; instead, they’ll be redirected to Google’s search page. Additionally, enabling this option hides Qustodio’s icon in the tray and notification bar. If you opt to lock your child’s device when the screen time limit is reached, it will also log them out of the device.

This feature could offer insights into your children’s most frequently used apps and sites. However, it’s important to note that your children will still be able to locate Qustodio’s app on their devices. We don’t recommend utilizing this option much, as we believe it’s more beneficial to openly discuss the use of a parental control app with your child.

Pricing

Qustodio offers three plans: Free, Basic, and Complete. The free plan allows monitoring for a single device and retains activity history for seven days. It includes basic controls such as web filtering and time quotas for specific activities. The Basic and Complete plans are paid options with additional features and support for multiple devices.

Qustodio offers three plans: Free, Basic, and Complete. The free plan allows monitoring for a single device and retains activity history for seven days. It includes basic controls such as web filtering and time quotas for specific activities. The Basic and Complete plans are paid options with additional features and support for multiple devices.

The Complete plan is priced at $99.95 per year and includes all the features discussed in this review. It is the only plan to offer key features such as YouTube Monitoring, Calls & Messages Monitoring, Saved Places Alerts (geofencing), and time limits for games and apps.

Ease of Use

The Android and iOS apps boast an intuitive design, making them effortless to navigate. The main dashboard features a Quick actions box, facilitating instant pausing of the internet on your child’s device. The activity summary is conveniently presented, allowing easy access to your child’s activity for the current day and the previous two days, as well as the last seven days. With premium plans, you can also view activity from the past 15 and 30 days.

Instead of merely providing a list of visited sites, the Activity Timeline offers a detailed minute-by-minute breakdown of all your child’s device activity. This includes the apps they use and the websites they visit, providing comprehensive insights into their digital behavior.

Aside from allowing or blocking specific website categories, the Qustodio app can also notify you if your child accesses particular types of websites, such as file-sharing or chat sites. This approach permits children to access some potentially risky, yet not entirely unsafe, sites. However, you’ll receive alerts whenever they do so, allowing you to monitor their activity closely.

Customer Support

Qustodio’s customer service is commendable, offering a range of support options. Their support library contains thorough FAQs, instructional guides, and troubleshooting tips. The ticketing system provides efficient assistance, and Care Plus offers priority telephone support (available only in the US). The support section is rich with helpful articles, covering everything from FAQs to setup guides complete with screenshots.

While Qustodio could improve its support offerings by incorporating live chat, a feature known for its speed and simplicity in connecting with customer service representatives, this isn’t a major concern. They currently provide a ticketing system that delivers highly responsive and helpful email support, ensuring efficient assistance for users.

Conclusion

Qustodio emerges as a solid choice if you’re seeking more than basic pornography protection and desire software to aid in safeguarding your kids from cyberbullying via text messages. Qustodio empowers parents to monitor their child’s activity across both desktop and mobile devices. Its standout features include robust time restrictions, geofencing tools, and effective app-blocking capabilities across web and mobile platforms. Additionally, its clean web interface and well-designed mobile apps contribute to its appeal.