Best Circle Parental Controls Alternatives in 2026
The top Circle Parental Controls alternatives are Bark, Qustodio and OurPact: 15 parental control apps our editors would look at instead of Circle Parental Controls, in our ranking order.
Circle Parental Controls: Detailed schedules, filtering, monitoring, rewards, and location tracking across major platforms. Where it falls short: requires a paid subscription after the 14-day trial.
Switching from Circle Parental Controls? For most parental control apps buyers the best Circle Parental Controls alternative is Bark, built for families needing cross-platform content monitoring. On a budget, FamilyTime starts at $2.41/device/mo. Qustodio has a free plan, which Circle Parental Controls does not. Bitdefender Parental Control offers the most device limit (25 devices).
Why People Look for a Circle Parental Controls Alternative
- Requires a paid subscription after the 14-day trial
- Monthly pricing starts at $9.99
- Some household network controls require Circle Home Plus
- No free plan — 9 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallBark9.2
Families needing cross-platform content monitoring
Visit Bark - Lowest priceFamilyTime8.1
Paid plans from $2.41/device/mo
Visit FamilyTime - Best free optionQustodio9.0
Has a free plan (Circle Parental Controls has none)
Visit Qustodio - Most device limitBitdefender Parental Control7.7
25 devices
Visit Bitdefender Parental Control
All 15 Circle Parental Controls Alternatives, Ranked
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.
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Best forFamilies needing cross-platform content monitoring
- Better than Circle Parental Controls:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 3.0
A broad cross-platform monitor with schedules, blocking, alerts, and location tools.
- Location tracking
- Content filtering
- App blocking
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Bark -
Best forFamilies wanting AI safety alerts
- Better than Circle Parental Controls:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.0 vs 3.0
A broad parental-control suite with AI safety alerts and five-platform coverage.
- Location tracking
- Content filtering
- App blocking
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Qustodio -
Best forLarge families needing many device licenses
- Better than Circle Parental Controls:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.9 vs 3.0
A broad parental-control toolkit for families managing up to 20 child devices.
- Location tracking
- Content filtering
- App blocking
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit OurPact -
Best forFamilies wanting broad free Google controls
- Better than Circle Parental Controls:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.8 vs 3.0
A free Google-centered toolkit for screen time, content, apps, activity, and location.
- Location tracking
- Content filtering
- App blocking
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forMicrosoft households using Edge and Xbox
- Better than Circle Parental Controls:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.7 vs 3.0
A capable free option for families using Windows, Edge, Xbox, and Microsoft accounts.
- Location tracking
- Content filtering
- App blocking
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Microsoft -
Best forApple-only households
- Better than Circle Parental Controls:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.6 vs 3.0
A free, Apple-integrated control layer for managing apps, content, schedules, and communication.
- Location tracking
- Content filtering
- App blocking
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Apple -
Best forFamilies wanting established cross-platform basics
- Better than Circle Parental Controls:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.5 vs 3.0
A cross-platform parental-control app covering filtering, schedules, reports, and GPS alerts.
- Location tracking
- Content filtering
- App blocking
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Kaspersky -
Best forBudget-conscious multi-device families
- Better than Circle Parental Controls:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.4 vs 3.0
A value-focused parental control app for families managing up to 20 devices.
- Location tracking
- Content filtering
- App blocking
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Mobicip -
Best forFamilies needing rich monitoring integrations
- Better than Circle Parental Controls:
- Editor score 8.3 vs 3.0
A broad parental-control suite for families that need monitoring, location tools, and app coverage.
- Location tracking
- Content filtering
- App blocking
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit FamiSafe -
Best forParents prioritizing safety-risk detection
- Better than Circle Parental Controls:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 3.0
A broad parental-control suite with detailed monitoring and AI-powered safety alerts.
- Location tracking
- Content filtering
- App blocking
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit MMGuardian -
Best forFamilies seeking maximum features per dollar
- Better than Circle Parental Controls:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.1 vs 3.0
A feature-rich parental control app with low annual-billing entry pricing.
- Location tracking
- Content filtering
- App blocking
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit FamilyTime -
Best forFamilies balancing monitoring and routines
- Better than Circle Parental Controls:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.0 vs 3.0
A flexible mix of monitoring, routines, location tools, and earned extra time.
- Location tracking
- Content filtering
- App blocking
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Screen Time -
Best forFamilies wanting a long trial and basic controls
- Better than Circle Parental Controls:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 3.0
A paid parental-control app with a 30-day trial and broad everyday supervision tools.
- Location tracking
- Content filtering
- App blocking
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Norton Family -
Best forFamilies wanting established web filtering
- Better than Circle Parental Controls:
- Editor score 7.8 vs 3.0
A feature-rich parental control app for families prioritizing established web filtering.
- Location tracking
- Content filtering
- App blocking
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Net Nanny -
Best forFamilies wanting large device coverage
- Better than Circle Parental Controls:
- Editor score 7.7 vs 3.0
A family subscription with broad device coverage, scheduling, filtering, reporting, and location tools.
- Location tracking
- Content filtering
- App blocking
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Bitdefender
Circle Parental Controls Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Circle Parental Controls?
Bark: #1 in our Parental Control Apps ranking, with an editor score of 9.2 out of 10. A broad cross-platform monitor with schedules, blocking, alerts, and location tools.
Is there a free alternative to Circle Parental Controls?
Yes. Qustodio, OurPact, Google Family Link, Microsoft Family Safety and Apple Screen Time have a free plan or a free tier (9 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Circle Parental Controls alternatives?
Requires a paid subscription after the 14-day trial; Monthly pricing starts at $9.99; Some household network controls require Circle Home Plus.
Which Circle Parental Controls alternative has the most device limit?
Bitdefender Parental Control, with 25 devices.
How do I switch from Circle Parental Controls?
Export your data from Circle Parental Controls (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Circle Parental Controls.
How to Switch from Circle Parental Controls
- Export your data from Circle Parental Controls (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Circle Parental Controls.
Circle Parental Controls vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Content filtering | Screen-time schedules | App blocking | Activity reports | Device limit | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Circle Parental Controls | No | $89.99/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 3.0 | |
| 1 | Bark | No | $49/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.2 | |
| 2 | Qustodio | Yes | $72.94/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5 devices | 9.0 |
| 3 | OurPact | Yes | $69.99/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 20 devices | 8.9 |
| 4 | Google Family Link | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 5 | Microsoft Family Safety | Yes | $129.99/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 6 | Apple Screen Time | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 7 | Kaspersky Safe Kids | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | ||
| 8 | Mobicip | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5 devices | 8.4 | |
| 9 | Wondershare FamiSafe | $59.99/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 devices | 8.3 | |
| 10 | MMGuardian | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 devices | 8.2 | |
| 11 | FamilyTime | Yes | $2.41/device/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 devices | 8.1 |
| 12 | Screen Time | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5 devices | 8.0 | |
| 13 | Norton Family | No | $49.99/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 14 | Net Nanny | No | $49.99/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 devices | 7.8 |
| 15 | Bitdefender Parental Control | No | $79.99/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 25 devices | 7.7 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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