Comparison
SafeParent vs Qustodio
Qustodio is one of the best-known paid parental control apps, covering phones, tablets and computers. SafeParent focuses only on Android phones, at a lower price. Both set screen time, block apps, filter websites and show where your child is. Here's an honest look at where each one fits.
Qustodio details checked on its own website on . Prices and features change; see the sources below.
The short answer
- Pick Qustodio if your children use iPhones, iPads, computers or a Kindle, or you want YouTube monitoring or to see their calls and messages.
- Pick SafeParent if your family is on Android and you want a lower price for up to 5 children, a one-tap lock for the whole phone, per-app allowed hours, and alerts for new apps and low battery, without reading your child's messages.
Side-by-side
| SafeParent | Qustodio | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $35/year or $4/month for up to 5 children (₹3,000/year or ₹300/month in India) | Basic $59.95/year (up to 5 devices); Complete $104.95/year (unlimited devices) |
| Free option | 7-day free trial, no payment needed to start | Free account for 1 device, with a Premium trial |
| Devices | Android phones (7.0 or newer), for parent and child | Android, iPhone and iPad, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Kindle |
| Setup for the child | Same app on both phones, paired with a 6-character code; no account or email for the child | Qustodio app installed on each device you protect |
| Lock / pause | Locks the whole phone in one tap; re-locks until you tap Unlock; emergency calls still work | Pause the internet at the touch of a button |
| Screen time | Daily limit, bedtime lock, and usage for today, the week and the month | Allowance for each day of the week, restricted times and custom routines; 30-day activity reports |
| Apps | Block any app, or give it a daily limit and allowed hours on chosen days | Block apps and games by category, with time limits; custom rules on Complete |
| More-time requests | Child asks for +15, +30 or +60 minutes; you approve or deny | Not listed on Qustodio's features page |
| Web filter | 6 categories (adult, gambling, violence & weapons, social media, games, shopping) via an on-device VPN, across browsers and apps | Blocks websites by category |
| YouTube | Block the app or limit its time | YouTube monitoring (Complete plan) |
| Calls & messages | Not read, by design | Calls and messages monitoring (on iPhone, needs a Windows or Mac computer) |
| Location | Live location and 7-day history | Where they are and have been |
| Arrive / leave alerts | Yes, for places you save (200 m area) | Yes, for places like home and school |
| Emergencies | Emergency calls plus 3 saved contacts reachable during locks | Panic button (Android only) |
| New or removed apps | Alert as soon as an app is installed or removed | Not listed on Qustodio's features page |
| Low battery | Battery level on your dashboard; alert at 20% and again at 10% | Not listed on Qustodio's features page |
When Qustodio is the better choice
- Your children use more than Android phones. Qustodio covers iPhone, iPad, Windows, Mac, Chromebook and Kindle; SafeParent is Android-only for now.
- You want to see calls and messages. Qustodio offers calls and messages monitoring. SafeParent deliberately doesn't read them.
- You want YouTube monitoring. Qustodio Complete tracks what's watched on YouTube; SafeParent can only block or time-limit the app.
- You have lots of devices. Qustodio Complete covers unlimited devices.
When SafeParent is the better choice
- You want to pay less. $35 a year covers up to 5 children, compared with $59.95 a year for Qustodio Basic (up to 5 devices).
- You want to lock the whole phone, not just the internet. One tap locks it, and it stays locked until you release it, while emergency calls and up to 3 saved contacts stay reachable.
- You want per-app hours. For example, games only between 5 and 7 PM on weekdays, and a separate daily limit for YouTube.
- You want to hear about things as they happen. Alerts for new or removed apps, low battery, arrivals and departures, time requests, and any permission switched off.
- You'd rather not read your child's messages. SafeParent sets limits and alerts you; it doesn't read chats, messages or call logs.
- Setup should be simple. The same app on both phones, a 6-character code, and no account needed for your child.
Questions parents ask
Is SafeParent cheaper than Qustodio?
For Android families, yes: $35 a year (or $4 a month) for up to 5 children after a 7-day free trial. Qustodio lists Basic at $59.95 a year for up to 5 devices and Complete at $104.95 a year for unlimited devices. See SafeParent pricing.
Does SafeParent work on iPhone or computers?
Not yet. SafeParent is built for Android phones. If your children use iPhones, iPads or computers, Qustodio covers more devices.
Can SafeParent read my child's messages?
No. SafeParent doesn't read messages, chats or call logs, or record the screen. It sets limits and sends you alerts instead.
Can I lock my child's phone with either app?
SafeParent locks the whole phone in one tap and re-locks it if your child unlocks it, until you tap Unlock. Qustodio lets you pause the internet at the touch of a button and set restricted times.
Sources
Qustodio details come from Qustodio's own website, checked on 28 September 2026:
- Qustodio Premium (plans, prices, devices, features by plan)
- Qustodio features (screen time, apps, web filter, location, calls and messages, platforms)
- Qustodio home page (free account, panic button on Android)
SafeParent details are in our fact sheet. Spotted something out of date? Email contact@safeparent.app and we'll fix it.
Qustodio is a trademark of its owner. SafeParent is not affiliated with Qustodio. Prices are in US dollars as listed on each company's website and may vary by country.
7-day free trial · no payment needed to start
Set up SafeParent in a few minutes
Install the same app on your phone and your child's Android phone, pair them with a 6-character code, and your rules start working right away.
Scan with your phone camera to install