# Bitdefender Parental Control vs Circle Parental Controls App

The clearest difference is rating: Circle Parental Controls App at 4.2 against Bitdefender Parental Control's 2.1. Circle Parental Controls App also leads on ratings volume (13K vs 7) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15). Bitdefender Parental Control's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Circle Parental Controls App sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Bitdefender Parental Control asks for nothing beyond the download.

Circle Parental Controls App holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Circle Parental Controls App has 13K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 3% of Bitdefender Parental Control's written reviews are positive against 10% of Circle Parental Controls App's.

Bitdefender Parental Control ships an update monthly, Circle Parental Controls App every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bitdefender Parental Control | Circle Parental Controls App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.1 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bitdefender-parental-control/id1255210149/reviews) | **[4.2 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circle-parental-controls-app/id1440668949/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **13K** |
| Positive reviews | 3.3% of reviews | **10.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 106 MB | 144 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bitdefender SRL](https://appshunter.io/developer/384899757) | [Circle Media Incorporated](https://appshunter.io/developer/950202222) |

## What reviewers say

### Bitdefender Parental Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bitdefender-parental-control/id1255210149)

This app helps parents manage and monitor their children's online activities across devices. It offers features like content filtering, time management, and location tracking to promote a balanced digital lifestyle and prevent exposure to inappropriate content.

**Highlights:** Content filtering, Internet time management, Location tracking, Customizable routines, Safe Search and YouTube restricted mode, Rewards for screen time

**In-app purchases:** none


### Circle Parental Controls App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circle-parental-controls-app/id1440668949)

This app helps parents manage their children's online activity and screen time. It allows for content filtering, setting time limits, pausing internet access, and monitoring usage across devices. Parents can also set bedtimes, reward good behavior, and schedule focus time for schoolwork.

**Highlights:** Content filtering by age, Set daily screen time limits, Pause internet access, Monitor browsing history and usage, Set device bedtimes, Reward extra online time, Schedule focus time

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $89.99 | per year |
| Annual | $89.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Effective at blocking content
- ⏱️ Helpful for setting time limits
- 👍 Allows monitoring of device usage

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐢 Slows down internet speed
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with monitoring
- 🔍 Lack of control/customization
- 🤬 Causes family conflict
- 💔 Damages parent-child relationship

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent behavior
- Connectivity issues
- Difficulty setting up and managing

**Requested features**

- More flexible time/content controls
- Ability to whitelist/blacklist apps/sites
- Better notification system
- Improved performance and reliability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bitdefender Parental Control free?

Bitdefender Parental Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Circle Parental Controls App free?

Circle Parental Controls App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Bitdefender Parental Control or Circle Parental Controls App?

Circle Parental Controls App is rated higher. Bitdefender Parental Control averages 2.1 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Circle Parental Controls App averages 4.2 from 13K ratings.

### Do Bitdefender Parental Control or Circle Parental Controls App have ads?

Neither Bitdefender Parental Control nor Circle Parental Controls App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bitdefender Parental Control or Circle Parental Controls App?

Bitdefender Parental Control ships an update monthly, and Circle Parental Controls App every 6 weeks. Most recently, Bitdefender Parental Control was updated on September 22, 2026 and Circle Parental Controls App on September 24, 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.*