Qustodio vs. Net Nanny 2024: Parental Control App Duel

Qustodio is the winner of this comparison, as it offers a free plan and can also monitor text messaging. Net Nanny has similar parental control software features, and they can both handle content filtering, app moderation, internet search monitoring, screen time limits, blocking websites and apps, location tracking, and activity reports.

This article compares Qustodio vs. Net Nanny on their pricing, features, security, and more to see which parental control app is best for you.

Qustodio vs. Net Nanny review at a glance

Today’s parents face the challenge of finding parental control software that fits their needs as well as the needs of their children. How can parents protect their children while helping them learn to use the internet safely?

Parental control apps seem to be the answer, allowing parents to filter content, block websites and apps, set screen time limits, monitor online conversations, and check in on social media usage. We’ve compared Qustodio and Net Nanny, which are two of the standout parental control tools in the field:

• Qustodio: Best for extensive features
• Net Nanny: Best for families with older children

Qustodio vs. Net Nanny compared

Star rating	4.5 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	3.9 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Starting price	Starts at $4.58/mo (billed annually)	Starts at $3.33/mo (billed annually)
Free version
Max number of protected devices	Unlimited	20
Web filtering
Conversation monitoring	Yes — Text message only
Screen time limits
Location tracking
Activity reports
Remote lock
Supported devices	Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, iPad, Chromebook, Kindle	Windows, macOS, iOS
Learn more	Read Qustodio Review	Read Net Nanny Review

Qustodio pros and cons

Net Nanny pros and cons

Which parental control app is the better value?

Qustodio offers a free plan that includes web filters and time limits. If you want to try out the premium, it also has a money-back guarantee and a free trial. Net Nanny doesn't have a free plan or any form of trial.

	Our Pick
Price range	Free-$8.33/mo (billed annually)	$3.33-$7.50/mo (billed annually)
Best value plan	Complete for $8.33/mo (billed annually)	Family Protection Pass (20 devices) for $7.50/mo (billed annually)
Free trial	Yes — 31 days
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days	Yes — 14 days
Learn more	Read Qustodio Review	Read Net Nanny Review

Qustodio plans

Qustodio offers a free plan and two paid parental control plans: Qustodio Basic and Qustodio Complete. The paid plans vary in the number of devices covered as well as the amount of features.

The free plan monitors one device, the Basic plan allows monitoring of up to five devices, while the Complete plan offers monitoring on unlimited devices.

• Free: Qustodio Free comes with safe search, web filtering, daily time limits, a pause the internet feature, and seven-day activity reports.
• Basic: Qustodio Basic includes everything in the free plan plus game and app blocking, device blocking routines, 30-day activity reports, location monitoring, and a panic button feature.
• Complete: In addition to the Qustodio Basic features, Qustodio Complete also offers custom routines and alerts, time limits within games and apps, as well as call and message monitoring on unlimited devices.

Qustodio provides a free trial without a credit card and a 30-day money-back guarantee if you aren’t completely satisfied with the product.

Net Nanny plans

Net Nanny offers three protection plans: 1 Desktop, 5 Device Family Protection Pass, and 20 Device Family Protection Pass. The plans vary only in how many devices you can monitor; otherwise, the features are exactly the same.

• 1 Desktop: Net Nanny comes with website filtering, social media filtering, internet search monitoring, screen time management, and location tracking for one device.
• 5 Device Family Protection Pass: This Family Protection Pass includes all the same features as the Desktop plan but covers five devices.
• 20 Device Family Protection Pass: This Family Protection Pass includes all the same features as the other two plans but covers 20 devices.

Unfortunately, Net Nanny doesn’t offer a free trial, which may deter some potential users, but it does offer a 14-day return policy.

Which app has the better monitoring and alerts?

Both services have similar features. Qustodio has text message monitoring, and Net Nanny has social media filtering (though it doesn't monitor conversations on social media apps).

Feature	Our Pick
Website filtering
App filtering
Social media monitoring
Text message monitoring
Email monitoring
Internet search monitoring
Screen time limits
Remote lock
Cyberbullying and online predator alerts
Location tracking
Geo-fencing
Activity reports
Learn more	Read Qustodio Review	Read Net Nanny Review

When determining which parental control software is best for you and your family, you need to consider what features are important to you and what level of surveillance you need.

Both platforms offer website filtering, internet search and app monitoring, location services, screen time management, and activity reports. However, there’s one glaring difference: Qustodio offers text message monitoring, but Net Nanny doesn’t, and this feels like a major miss for us.

Another Qustodio feature that we like is the panic button. The panic button allows kids to send a direct alert from their phone to emergency contacts. When this button is activated, alerts with location information are sent from their device to a trusted contact list. Unfortunately, this feature is only available to Premium users and it’s not available on iOS devices.

Both fail to offer cyberbullying and online predator alerts. While this feature isn’t imperative, mainly because they send regular activity reports, immediate alerts of cyberbullying or online predators would be nice for peace of mind.

It can be dangerous for kids today to be on social media sites like TikTok or Discord. Teaching your kids to stay safe on social media is of the utmost importance. While Net Nanny offers social media filtering, it's limited on iOS.

Which parental control app has the better support and compatibility?

Qustodio offers more compatibility across devices and browser extensions, which is exactly what you need from a parental control app.

Feature	Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Browser extensions	Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Amazon Silk, Safari
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Email, online guides, phone	Contact form, email, live chat
Learn more	Read Qustodio Review	Read Net Nanny Review

Our experience testing Net Nanny was mediocre. The installation on an iPhone was tricky, requiring us to disable Safari first. Then we installed the Net Nanny mobile device management profile.

We eventually got through the installation, but some features didn’t work. For example, we tried to block Facebook and Instagram, but both social media platforms still worked on the iPhone, even after several attempts.

Additionally, the online search monitoring didn’t work correctly. We visited numerous websites on the iPhone monitored by Net Nanny, and none appeared under the profile settings. We received a message saying the device was out of contact but it was still installed.

Our experience with customer service also left a lot to be desired. We contacted customer support twice to ask questions, and while we were met with courteous service, once the rep told us the information on the site was misleading, and the other time, the rep gave instructions that didn’t work.

Qustodio’s setup was easy, and the installation process was straightforward and comprehensive. A critical step in the installation process was activating Device Admin, which prevents your child from uninstalling Qustodio without parental consent.

We received alerts and reports about our child’s device activity quickly after installation, including information on the apps and websites accessed, time spent on various activities, and the option to track location. Screen time limit restrictions, app and website blocking, and location check-ins were effective.

Like with Net Nanny, we were similarly disappointed in Qustodio’s lackluster customer service. There are three ways to receive help: the help center, email, or sending a support ticket. The website discloses that it can take up to 48 hours to receive a response, which is a long time to wait if your parental control apps are acting wonky.

FAQs

Qustodio vs. Net Nanny: Which is better?

Between the two, Qustodio is a better solution for helping keep your child safe online.

Qustodio and Net Nanny are both decent parental control apps. Qustodio offers more features, including a panic button as well as text and email messaging monitoring. However, its lackluster customer service left much to be desired. For families looking for more robust monitoring, Qustodio may be a parental control app worth considering.

Net Nanny, on the other hand, may be better suited for families with older children or families looking for less surveillance into their kids’ online activities. However, Net Nanny lacks basic features that are essential in parental control software, namely text and email message monitoring. Net Nanny’s customer service also didn’t win them any points.

Value
Features
Compatibility and customer support
Learn more	Read Qustodio Review	Read Net Nanny Review

 

Top alternatives

Gone are the days of setting up parental controls on iOS and thinking that was good enough. There’s a reason there are so many players in the parental control software game. If Qustodio or Net Nanny aren’t what you’re looking for, take a look at our other recommendations below:

• Bark: One of the most high-surveillance parental control apps, Bark offers extensive monitoring, including text and email messaging. You can also set screen time limits, review your child’s location and internet activity, and block apps. Bark even sells a phone with the service preinstalled for added security.

  Get Bark | Read Our Bark Review

• Aura Parental Controls: Aura’s parental control software is really identity theft protection with some parental control features added in. Aura’s suite includes website and app blocking, and cyberbullying alerts for online gaming.

  Get Aura Parental Controls | Read Our Aura Parental Controls Review

• Norton Family: This cybersecurity heavy hitter’s parental control software monitors unlimited devices and offers social media, text, and email monitoring, screen time limits, and two-factor authentication for additional security.

  Get Norton Family | Read Our Norton Family Review