So they can’t just move to a different device when time is up. And if you install Qustodio on everything they use – for example their phone, tablet and the family laptop – then the time limit apples across all three. So while you may have allowed use of their devices from 7am to 9pm, they can only use them for a total of, say, two hours. You can also set an overall screen time limit, which can be different each day. If you want to be able to set more precise time periods, which most people won’t, then you’re out of luck. That means you can be quite specific about when they’re allowed screen time, and that can be different each day of the week. A grid allows you to allow or block use of the device for any given hour during the week. What you’ll likely care most about is the ability to control which apps each child can use on a particular device as well as how long they can use it for, and when they’re allowed to use the device.

In terms of feature differences, only on Android will you get location tracking, phone call and SMS monitoring plus the new panic button, which allows them to phone up to four trusted contacts in an emergency (even if they’ve used up their screen time for the day). Also, Qustodio uses a VPN to monitor activity on iOS and this can cause problems. If your child has an iPhone, then there are fewer features available because of the restrictions Apple puts in place. We focused mainly on the Android and Amazon apps for this review because that’s what kids mainly use in our experience. The medium plan supports 10 devices, but is only better value if you actually have 10 to manage. There are three Premium plans on offer and they differ only by the number of devices they allow to be managed.

Ultimately Qustodio is going to cost you, but there is a three-day trial so you can test if it will work for you or not. Qustodio certainly isn’t perfect, but it does allow you to create an overall time limit across multiple devices with support for Android, iOS, Amazon Fire tablets, Windows and macOS.Īlthough there is a free version it will be too limiting for most families. Many apps lack the fine control you want, or simply don’t work properly – allowing kids to use their device when you don’t want them to, or failing to let them use when you’ve said they can.Įither that, or they have access to more than one device and screen limiting apps are rendered somewhat ineffective if they can’t control all devices and provide an overall limit.

Not all parental control software is the same.

Qustodio parental control review