# Circle 1st generation vs Qustodio Parental Control App

The clearest difference is rating: Circle 1st generation at 4.6 against Qustodio Parental Control App's 4.2. Circle 1st generation also leads on review sentiment (25% vs 15%) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). Qustodio Parental Control App's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months) and chart position (#54 vs unranked). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Circle 1st generation sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Qustodio Parental Control App sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $54.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Circle 1st generation holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28K and 9.5K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Circle 1st generation's written reviews are positive against 15% of Qustodio Parental Control App's.

Circle 1st generation ships an update every 3 months, Qustodio Parental Control App monthly. Both last shipped on October 20, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Circle 1st generation | Qustodio Parental Control App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (28K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circle-1st-generation/id1037062934/reviews)** | [4.2 (9.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qustodio-parental-control-app/id1501720596/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **28K** | 9.5K |
| Positive reviews | **25.2% of reviews** | 15.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#54** |
| Size | 56 MB | 152 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Circle Media Incorporated](https://appshunter.io/developer/950202222) | [Qustodio](https://appshunter.io/developer/654760124) |

## What reviewers say

### Circle 1st generation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circle-1st-generation/id1037062934)

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.

**Highlights:** Content filtering, Online time management, Device management, Customizable settings, Works with Circle 1st gen, Supports NETGEAR routers

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Circle Premium NETGEAR monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Circle Premium NETGEAR yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Circle Premium NETGEAR yearly | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works great
- 🔒 Helpful for internet safety
- 👍 Customizable and flexible
- 💡 Allows controlling devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
- 🔍 Difficult to set up and use
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔍 Lacks important features
- 🔽 Slows down internet speed

**Reported bugs**

- Incompatible with certain routers
- Devices not detected properly
- Time limits not working as expected
- App crashes after iOS updates

**Requested features**

- Better device identification
- Easier profile management
- More granular time controls
- Remote access from anywhere


### Qustodio Parental Control App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qustodio-parental-control-app/id1501720596)

**Currently charting:** #54 Top Grossing · Lifestyle (US App Store)

This app helps parents manage their children's digital lives by setting screen time limits, blocking apps and websites, and monitoring online activity. It also offers location tracking and alerts for searches and messages to ensure online safety and encourage healthy digital habits.

**Highlights:** Screen time limits, App and website blocking, Web content filtering, GPS location tracking, Search and message alerts, Social media monitoring, Co-parenting feature

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Qustodio 5 devices 1-year | $54.99 | per year |
| Qustodio Premium Basic 1y | $59.99 | per year |
| Qustodio Premium Basic ADV | $69.99 | per year |
| Qustodio Premium Basic PLS | $69.99 | per year |
| Qustodio Premium Basic+Care 1y | $72.99 | per year |
| Qustodio Premium Basic PLS + Care | $82.99 | per year |
| Qustodio 10 devices 1-year | $94.99 | per year |
| Qustodio Premium Complete 1y | $99.99 | per year |
| Qustodio Complete+Care 1y | $99.99 | per year |
| Qustodio Premium Complete ADV | $119.99 | per year |
| Qustodio Premium Complete ADV+Care | $119.99 | per year |
| Qustodio Premium Complete PLS | $124.99 | per year |
| Qustodio Premium Complete PLS+Care | $124.99 | per year |
| Qustodio 15 devices 1-year | $159.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helpful for monitoring family
- 🔒 Provides parental control and tracking
- 👍 Comprehensive features
- 👍 Useful for protecting children

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy and unreliable
- 🔒 Easy for kids to bypass
- 🔒 Lacks password protection
- 👎 Difficult to use and set up
- 🔋 Drains device battery

**Reported bugs**

- Settings and restrictions randomly reset
- Inability to block certain apps and websites
- Inconsistent tracking of device usage

**Requested features**

- More customizable time and app restrictions
- Ability to block specific websites/content
- Improved compatibility with iOS and MacOS
- Better monitoring of calls, texts, and location


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Circle 1st generation free?

Circle 1st generation is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Qustodio Parental Control App free?

Qustodio Parental Control App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Circle 1st generation or Qustodio Parental Control App?

Circle 1st generation is rated higher. Circle 1st generation averages 4.6 out of 5 from 28K ratings, while Qustodio Parental Control App averages 4.2 from 9.5K ratings.

### Do Circle 1st generation or Qustodio Parental Control App have ads?

Neither Circle 1st generation nor Qustodio Parental Control App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Circle 1st generation or Qustodio Parental Control App?

Circle 1st generation ships an update every 3 months, and Qustodio Parental Control App monthly. Most recently, Circle 1st generation was updated on October 20, 2026 and Qustodio Parental Control App on October 20, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*