Qustodio Reviews in 2024: Pros, Cons and More

If you are a parent, safeguarding your children from online dangers should be a top priority. While various apps offer protection, one of the most widely used is the Qustodio parental control app. Boasting over 6 million users worldwide, Qustodio has been a critical player since its launch in 2012.

This Qustodio review will expose you to everything you need to know before getting started. From detailed insights into its parental control features to step-by-step setup guides, we won't leave any stone unturned in this review of Qustodio.

Verdict

Qustodio parental control ranks among the top choices in its category. Its impressive features, particularly the web and app filtering, sets it apart. Apart from that, you can monitor your child's online activity, set screen time limits, and track location, SMS, and calls tracking seamlessly.

Nevertheless, the app's limitations in monitoring social media content, vulnerability to VPN evasion, and visible parental control mode tarnish its stellar reputation.

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Features of Qustodio Parental Control

Qustodio offers a wide array of features to enhance kids' safety online. Some of these features include:

Online Activity Report

Almost every parental control app provides a detailed online activity report, and Qustodio is no exception. It enables you to monitor your kids' app and web activity from anywhere seamlessly for free. This app also sends real-time updates on your child's online behavior, including YouTube views, browsing history, social media, and more, to your email address.

However, it's important to note that this function isn't flawless. For example, I visited amazon.com, but Qustodio wrongly categorized this web activity into app activity.

See What Users Said about This Feature:

"This app works pretty well. Tracks all internet use and location. Also tracks app use." -from Play Store

Web and App Filtering

Qustodio offers a robust web and app filter function. And the best part is, it's accessible for free on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, and Kindle.

Notably, its web and app filtering function proved to be exceptionally effective during my use when compared to its alternatives like FamiSafe, Kidslox, and Kaspersky Safe Kids. FamiSafe sometimes only sends alerts to parents instead of blocking the blocked websites. For Kidslox, although my child never visits the blocked specific URL, he can still access it from its front page. Only Qustodio restricts the entire domain with the highest success rate.

The range of website categories that Qustodio allows you to block is extensive, up to 29. From gambling, and violence to porn, drugs, and alcohol, the options are virtually limitless.

Moreover, if you identify any website as a potential threat to your child, you can easily add it to your customizable blocklist. If you don't want to block the app or site, you can select the "Alert me" option. This way, you'll be notified anytime your child visits inappropriate websites.

Note that your child has the option to make requests for the websites you marked as "Block" or "Alert me". However, in my test, I can't receive the request and alert notifications on the Qustodio Parental Control app.

See What Users Said about This Feature:

"The main reason I installed it was to block specific Windows apps from starting, and it failed to do it. And then it refused to uninstall itself." - from Play Store

Internet Disabling

The Qustodio parental control app allows you to disable internet access for the allotted time on your children's phones at your discretion. That is to say, after you pause the internet, your child cannot use apps that need the network to run, such as settings, browsers, social media apps, games, etc. Surely, necessary apps like maps, photos, messages, calls, calendar, and files are still accessible on your child's phone.

See What Users Said about This Feature:

"Overall, the app works great. Beautiful design. Easy to use. I really like the daily breakdown. What I've noticed is that when the device is locked, Skype can still be used." - from Play Store

Routines

The routines function is one of the Qustodio premium features, and it allows you to block your kids' access to specific sites, apps, and screen time during a specific activity, such as studying, gaming, or sleeping. This can be achieved by setting a time limit. On the app, you can set a time limit for these particular activities:

• Bedtime: All apps will be completely blocked for the duration you specify.
• Focus: Internet connection will be disabled for a specific time.
• Entertainment: Access is limited to entertainment apps and websites for a set period.
• Study: Access is limited to educational content for a set period.

See What Users Said about This Feature:

""We have used this app for over 2 years. For the most part, it has been a very helpful tool when it comes to keeping our kiddos accountable for their screen usage and for blocking unwanted temptations and trolling." - from App Store" - from Play Store

YouTube Monitoring

Qustodio has made YouTube content monitoring a breeze, even when you're far away from your kid. With Qustodio's YouTube monitoring function, you can easily see what your child searched and watched on YouTube; and block access to youtube.com and the YouTube app.

This function runs on Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows devices. However, if your child is using an iPhone, Windows, or Mac, you are not able to track the YouTube app activity. What's more, the feature is not available on the free version.

See What Users Said about This Feature:

"Being able to see more of the details of YouTube searches, monitor social media that isn't Facebook, choose restricted times more carefully than in hour chunks, and navigating the app more easily would also be nice." - from Play Store

Location Tracking With Geofencing

If you're always on the go and concerned about your children's whereabouts, Qustodio's location tracking with geofencing is a tailored solution.

This feature lets you quickly pinpoint your children's location on a map whenever their phone is with them and know a timeline of the child's location history with up to 30 days of past data.

Its geofencing tool, also called "Your Places", helps you set pre-defined geofencing zones from 0.12 miles to 200 meters to keep your child safe offline. So, you can count on optimum safety with this app.

See What Users Said about This Feature:

"The GPS location reports are often wrong. The phone has been home all day (I can verify) and it shows that it was many miles away at some point in the day." - from Play Store

Call and SMS Tracking

For those parents who are curious about their children's calls and texts, Qustodio's call and SMS tracker offers insight and control. This feature not only enables you to monitor but also block contacts or messages that may harm your child's mental well-being.

However, the setup of the call & SMS monitoring function is a little complex. For a kid's Android device, you will need to download the full version of Qustodio Kids from its website as the Qustodio Kids app from Play Store does not include this feature. For a kid's iOS device, an additional app - Qustodio Calls & Messages is required to download onto your Mac.

See What Users Said about This Feature:

"The interface is easy to use, but does not actually work as advertised. It does not capture many of the calls or texts. It captures some texts, but it definately misses a lot." - from Play Store

How Much Does Qustodio Cost

Qustodio has a free version, but this plan provides minimal access to most of the app's parental control features. With the free version, you can only have access to the web filtering and daily time limit options.

To unlock its full features, Qustodio offers yearly pricing plans. Its basic plan costs $54.95 per year while the complete plan, also called the premium plan costs $99.95 per annum. If you're a newcomer to Qustodio, it even has a 3-day free trial so that you can have a taste of its functionalities before spending.

Opting for the top premium plan grants you access to more Qustodio parental control features than its basic plan, such as calls and messages tracking, YouTube monitoring, and instant alerts.

How to Set up and Use Qustodio

After deciding on the best plan for your needs, the next step is to set up Qustodio parental control on both your phone and your child's phone. Follow the steps below to proceed.

After that, you can set time limits, block inappropriate content, monitor social media, track location, and more.

Best Alternative to Qustodio

While Qustodio is recognized as one of the top parental control apps available, it's essential to acknowledge its imperfections. Given these considerations, we suggest you consider AirDroid Parental Control as a viable alternative.

AirDroid offers a powerful social media monitoring feature allowing you to keep track of your child's Facebook, X, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and other 6 apps. Moreover, AirDroid works in a 100% stealth mode on your child's phone as its app will be hidden after downloading.