# Parental Control App vs Circle 1st generation

The clearest difference is monetization model: Circle 1st generation at free with in-app purchases against Parental Control App's subscription. Circle 1st generation also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.4) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). Parental Control App's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (38% vs 25%). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Parental Control App sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Circle 1st generation sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 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 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 37K and 28K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 38% of Parental Control App's written reviews are positive against 25% of Circle 1st generation's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Parental Control App ships an update monthly, Circle 1st generation every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 11, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Parental Control App | Circle 1st generation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (37K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parental-control-app-ourpact/id954029412/reviews) | **[4.6 (28K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circle-1st-generation/id1037062934/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **37K** | 28K |
| Positive reviews | **38.1% of reviews** | 25.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#117** | — |
| Size | 39 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Eturi Corp.](https://appshunter.io/developer/661488682) | [Circle Media Incorporated](https://appshunter.io/developer/950202222) |

## What reviewers say

### Parental Control App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parental-control-app-ourpact/id954029412)

**Currently charting:** #117 Top Grossing · Lifestyle (US App Store)

Manage your children's device usage and location with a comprehensive parental control solution. Set screen time limits, block apps and websites, and monitor online activity for peace of mind. Track family members and receive alerts for location changes.

**Highlights:** View online activity, Block internet, texts, and apps, Block/allow specific apps, Block/allow websites, New app alerts, Set screen time allowance, Geofencing with places, Family locator

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| OurPact Plus | $1.99 | per month |
| OurPact Premium | $6.99 | per month |
| OurPact Premium+ | $9.99 | per month |
| OurPact Premium | $69.99 | per year |
| OurPact Premium+ | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Cyber guru
- 🚀 Works great
- 🚀 Game changer
- 👍 Awesome
- 👍 Highly recommended

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't work
- 🐛 Glitchy
- 🐛 Scrambles apps
- 🐛 Unreliable
- 🐛 Permanently damaged device

**Reported bugs**

- Blocks apps even when not scheduled
- Randomly unblocks devices
- Causes device pairing issues
- Incompatible with iOS updates

**Requested features**

- Allow selective app blocking
- Add web filtering
- Provide usage reports
- Improve customer support
- Add ability to override blocks


### 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Parental Control App free?

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

### Is Circle 1st generation free?

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

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

Circle 1st generation is rated higher. Parental Control App averages 4.4 out of 5 from 37K ratings, while Circle 1st generation averages 4.6 from 28K ratings.

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

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

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

Parental Control App ships an update monthly, and Circle 1st generation every 3 months. Most recently, Parental Control App was updated on November 11, 2026 and Circle 1st generation on November 11, 2026.

---

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