Circle 1st generation vs Gryphon Connect
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Circle 1st generation
Manage your family's online time and filter content with this app, designed to work with the Circle 1st gen device and select NETGEAR routers. It helps balance internet usage for connected devices on your home network.
- Content filtering
- Online time management
- Device management
- Customizable settings
- Works with Circle 1st gen
- Supports NETGEAR routers
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Works with the Circle with Disney device and supported NETGEAR routers (Nighthawk and Orbi). Not compatible with the 2nd generation Circle Home Plus device. ABOUT CIRCLE: Circle products help families better manage time spent online. Filtering content and balancing online usage has never been easier. From devices on your home network, both wireless and wired to connected devices, Circle has you covered. Customizing Circle for your unique family is quick and easy. Circle’s mission is to improve families’ lives, online and off. Don’t have a Circle with Disney device or a supported NETGEAR router? Please visit www.meetcircle.com to learn more about our products. NEED HELP? If you have any questions, need help with Circle, or want to provide feedback, you can contact our Support Team at help@meetcircle.com or go to support.meetcircle.com NETGEAR OPTIONAL IN APP SUBSCRIPTION - Pricing & Terms Circle Premium (for supported NETGEAR routers) is an optional automatic renewing subscription. Your subscription will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew unless auto-renewing is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of your current period. Current subscribers can manage subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal by visiting iTunes Account Settings after purchase. Privacy policy: https://meetcircle.com/privacy/ Terms of use: https://meetcircle.com/license/
Gryphon Connect
This app provides families with digital security and control over their online experiences. It offers advanced network protection against threats and comprehensive parental controls for monitoring children's online safety and managing screen time.
- Advanced internet protection
- Comprehensive parental controls
- Content filtering
- Screen time management
- Individual app control
- Visual browsing history
- Network-level malware protection
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Gryphon Online Safety is on a mission to provide families with the digital security they need to feel safe and in control of their online experiences, without compromising on the speed and power necessary for a household full of devices. Gryphon routers are equipped with Advanced Internet Protection to protect home networks from hackers, malware, and other vulnerabilities. Comprehensive and intuitive parental controls, which can be operated via the Gryphon mobile app, make Gryphon routers one of the most effective options for monitoring children’s online safety and providing healthy limits on screen time. Benefits - Easy install (Less than 10 minutes) - Super-fast connection - Comprehensive network protection - Extensive parental control capabilities - Content filtering - Set individual profiles for each child - Secure real-time request and approval - Screen time management - Individual control for popular Apps like Snapchat, YouTube, and Instagram - Visual browsing history even if your child deletes their history in their browser - Network-level malware and ransomware protection - Device management - Traffic prioritization Terms of Service: https://gryphonconnect.com/terms-of-service/ Privacy Policy: https://gryphonconnect.com/privacy-web/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Circle 1st generation at 4.6 against Gryphon Connect's 2.9. Circle 1st generation also leads on ratings volume (28K vs 555) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.6). Gryphon Connect's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (34% vs 25%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Circle 1st generation sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Gryphon Connect sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Circle 1st generation holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Circle 1st generation has 28K ratings behind it against 555, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 25% of Circle 1st generation's written reviews are positive against 34% of Gryphon Connect's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Circle 1st generation ships an update every 3 months, Gryphon Connect weekly. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.
| Parameter | Circle 1st generation | Gryphon Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (28K ratings) — better | 2.9 (555 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 25.2% of reviews | 34.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 28K — better | 555 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 56 MB | 92 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Circle Media Incorporated | Gryphon Online Safety, Inc. |
Customer experience
Circle 1st generation
Gryphon Connect
User reviews
Circle 1st generation
From 28K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Works great
- 🔒 Helpful for internet safety
- 👍 Customizable and flexible
- 💡 Allows controlling devices
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
- 🔍 Difficult to set up and use
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔍 Lacks important features
- 🔽 Slows down internet speed
Gryphon Connect
From 555 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Great coverage and speed
- 🔒 Reliable and secure
- 👍 User-friendly app
- 🚀 Fantastic hardware
- 🔒 Excellent parental controls
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy app with constant issues
- ⏱️ Slow and unresponsive app
- 🔁 Inconsistent and unreliable
- 💸 Overpriced for the experience
- 🤯 Poor customer support
Bugs and requests
Circle 1st generation
Reported bugs
4 issues- Incompatible with certain routers
- Devices not detected properly
- Time limits not working as expected
- App crashes after iOS updates
Requested features
4 requests- Better device identification
- Easier profile management
- More granular time controls
- Remote access from anywhere
Gryphon Connect
Reported bugs
5 issues- App constantly crashes and freezes
- Parental controls not working as expected
- Devices not showing up correctly
- Schedules and settings not saving properly
- Frequent disconnections and network issues
Requested features
5 requests- Dark mode option
- More granular parental controls
- Improved app stability and performance
- Better device management and monitoring
- Compatibility with more VPNs
In-app purchases
Circle 1st generation
- Circle Premium NETGEAR monthly1 Month trial$4.991 Month
- Circle Premium NETGEAR yearly1 Month trial$49.991 Year
- Circle Premium NETGEAR yearly$49.991 Year
Gryphon Connect
- Gryphon Guardian Premium$5.991 Month
- Gryphon Tower Premium$5.991 Month
- Gryphon AX Premium3 Months trial$7.991 Month
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- Gryphon AX Premium$7.991 Month
- Gryphon Guardian Premium6 Months trial$7.991 Month
- Gryphon Tower Premium1 Year trial$7.991 Month
- Gryphon Tower Premium3 Months trial$7.991 Month
- Gryphon Tower Premium$7.991 Month
- Gryphon Tower Premium$69.991 Year
- Gryphon AX Premium3 Months trial$89.991 Year
- Gryphon Tower Premium1 Year trial2 variants$89.991 Year
Questions
Is Circle 1st generation free?
Is Gryphon Connect free?
Which has better reviews, Circle 1st generation or Gryphon Connect?
Do Circle 1st generation or Gryphon Connect have ads?
Which is updated more often, Circle 1st generation or Gryphon Connect?
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