Head-to-head · Parental Control Apps
Screen Time vs Norton Family
Screen Time leads on 1 check, Norton Family on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreScreen Time · 8.0/10
- Free planonly Screen Time
- Free trialboth
Screen Time scores higher on our rubric for parental control apps: 8.0 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #12 and #13.
Screen Time offers free plan; Norton Family doesn't.
Screen Time is the better fit for families balancing monitoring and routines. Norton Family is the better fit for families wanting a long trial and basic controls.
- Screen Time fits best
Families balancing monitoring and routines
- Norton Family fits best
Families wanting a long trial and basic controls
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Side by side
| Feature | Screen Time 8.0/10 Visit ↗ | Norton Family 7.9/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.0 | 7.9 |
| Ranking | #12 in Parental Control Apps | #13 in Parental Control Apps |
| Best for | Families balancing monitoring and routines | Families wanting a long trial and basic controls |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Paid |
| Starting price | — | $49.99/yr |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | 7 days | 30 days |
| Free trial length | 7 days · no card needed | 30 days |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile | Mobile, Browser extension |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, Windows, iOS, Android, Chrome extension |
| Support | Email, Docs · 24/7 | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Screen Time 5/5 · Norton Family 5/5 | ||
| Content filtering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Screen-time schedules | ✓ | ✓ |
| App blocking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Activity reports | ✓ | ✓ |
| Location tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Device platforms | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Device limit | 5 devices | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
| Our verdict | Screen Time is a parental-control app for families that want visibility into children’s mobile-device activity alongside practical daily routines. It combines app-usage monitoring, daily reports and email summaries with screen-time limits,… Read the review → |
Norton Family is parental-control software for parents supervising children’s online activity and device use. It covers Windows, Android, and iOS, with management through the Norton Family website or parent mobile app. The single listed… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Screen Time — where it wins
- Free monitoring tier with app-usage visibility and daily reports
- Schedules, instant pause, limits, and chore-based extra screen time
- Location tracking and geofencing, with support for up to five devices
Where it doesn't
- Per-app monitoring and blocking are not available on iOS
- Web filtering and web history are limited to Android
- The most useful management tools require the Premium subscription
Norton Family — where it wins
- 30-day free trial with website, search, app, and screen-time controls
- School Time, activity reports, email alerts, and instant device lock
- Supports Windows, Android, and iOS, with mobile location supervision
Where it doesn't
- No permanent free plan
- Features vary across Windows, Android, and iOS devices
- Location supervision is unavailable in some countries
- Screen Time8.0/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial
A flexible mix of monitoring, routines, location tools, and earned extra time.
Visit Screen TimeFull verdict → - Norton Family7.9/10 · 30-day trial
A paid parental-control app with a 30-day trial and broad everyday supervision tools.
Visit Norton FamilyFull verdict →
All parental control apps comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update