The 7 Best Qustodio Alternatives in 2026
For parents managing a child's devices, and adults blocking on their own PC · Updated
The best Qustodio alternatives for parents are Bark for message and social media monitoring, Net Nanny for cheaper web filtering, and Google Family Link or Microsoft Family Safety for free controls. Adults who used Qustodio on themselves to block porn or distractions on a Windows PC are better served by Ascension, a blocker built for the person using the computer.
Key takeaways
- Qustodio's price: free for one device, $59.95 a year for up to five, or $104.95 a year for unlimited devices.
- Closest for monitoring a child's phone: Bark, at $14 a month or $99 a year.
- Cheapest paid filter: Net Nanny, from $39.99 a year for one computer.
- Free options: Google Family Link and Microsoft Family Safety, and Microsoft's web filter works only in Edge.
- For adults on their own PC: Ascension, which is not built for parents managing a child's devices.
Feature comparison
Details reflect each app as of September 2026. Notice something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.
Qustodio compared with seven alternatives on filtering, time limits, location, platforms and price, September 2026
| Tool | Built for | Web filtering | Time limits | Location | Platforms | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qustodio | Parents | Yes | Yes | Yes | Win, Mac, iOS, Android, Chromebook, Kindle | Free (1 device), $59.95/yr, $104.95/yr |
| Bark | Parents | Yes on phones, alerts on computers | Schedules | Yes | iOS, Android, Chromebook, Chrome and Edge extensions | $14/mo or $99/yr |
| Net Nanny | Parents | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Win, Mac, iOS | $39.99 to $89.99/yr |
| Norton Family | Parents | Yes | Yes | Android and iOS | Win, iOS, Android | $49.99/yr first year |
| Canopy | Parents and adults | Yes, AI filter | Yes | Alerts | Win, Mac, iOS, Android, ChromeOS | $8.33 to $12.50/mo annually |
| Google Family Link | Parents | Chrome, YouTube, Search | Yes | Yes | Android, ChromeOS | Free |
| Microsoft Family Safety | Parents | Edge only | Yes | Removed | Windows, Xbox, Android | Free |
| Ascension | Adults on their own PC | Yes | Daily website limits | No | Windows | $12.99/mo or $50 once |
1. Bark
Platforms: iOS, Android, Chromebook, and Chrome and Edge extensions on Windows and Mac
Price: 7-day free trial, then $14/month or $99/year. Bark Home costs $6/month or $79 once
Bark is a parental control app that alerts parents to risks in a child's messages, social media and browsing. It monitors texts, email and connected apps and sends alerts about concerning content. On phones it also blocks websites and apps, sets screen time schedules and shows location.
Key features
- Alerts about concerning content.
- Text, email and social media monitoring.
- Bark Home blocks sites on home Wi-Fi devices.
Limitations: On Windows and Mac it monitors browsing in Chrome and Edge rather than blocking, and full blocking on computers needs Bark Home.
Best for: parents whose main concern is a child's messages and social media.
2. Net Nanny
Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS
Price: $39.99/year for one computer, $54.99/year for 5 devices, or $89.99/year for 20 devices
Net Nanny is parental control software that filters the internet on a child's computer or phone. It blocks pornography and other unsuitable content. It adds screen time limits, app blocking and reports of what a child searched for.
Key features
- Internet filtering by category.
- Real-time alerts.
- Search reports.
Limitations: No Android app is listed, and location is not listed as a feature.
Best for: parents who want web filtering on a family computer at the lowest paid price.
3. Norton Family
Platforms: Windows 7 SP1 through Windows 11, Android, iOS; not Mac
Price: $49.99/year for the first year, and included in Norton 360 Deluxe and Premium
Norton Family is parental control software that supervises a child's web use, screen time and location. It covers Windows PCs and phones from one parent account. Parents get reports of sites visited, searches and videos watched.
Key features
- Web supervision by category.
- Schedules and daily time limits.
- Instant Lock for a child's device.
Limitations: No Mac support, location works on Android and iOS only, and the price rises after the first year.
Best for: families with Windows PCs and phones, especially those who already pay for Norton 360.
4. Canopy
Platforms: Windows 10 and later except ARM, macOS, iOS, Android, ChromeOS
Price: One-week free trial, then $8.33/month for 1 device, $9.99 for 3, or $12.50 for up to 10, billed annually
Canopy is a content filter that removes explicit images and pages as they load. It uses AI to filter sites that are not on any blocklist. It adds app and website blocking, screen time and location alerts.
Key features
- AI image filtering.
- Sexting prevention.
- Accountability partner for adults.
Limitations: Subscription only, with no free plan.
Best for: families whose main concern is explicit content.
5. Google Family Link
Platforms: Children on Android and Chromebook, with the parent app on Android or iPhone
Price: Free
Google Family Link is a free parental control service for children with a Google account on Android phones and Chromebooks. Parents approve apps, set screen time limits and bedtimes, and see the child's location. It also has content settings for Chrome, YouTube, the Play Store and Google Search.
Key features
- App approval.
- Daily limits and a device bedtime.
- Location with arrival and departure alerts.
Limitations: No Windows PC or iPhone supervision, and it is designed for children under 13 or the local age of digital consent.
Best for: parents of younger children with Android phones or Chromebooks.
6. Microsoft Family Safety
Platforms: Windows 10 and 11, Xbox, Android
Price: Free
Microsoft Family Safety is a free parental control service for children using a Microsoft account on Windows, Xbox and Android. Parents set screen time limits, filter content and see activity summaries.
Key features
- Screen time limits for devices, apps and games.
- Web and search filters in Edge.
- Activity summaries.
Limitations: Web filtering works only in Edge and other common browsers are blocked, and location features have been removed.
Best for: families on Windows and Xbox who want free controls.
7. Ascension
Platforms: Windows 10 and 11
Price: 15-day free trial, then $12.99/month or $50 one-time
Ascension is a hard-to-bypass Windows application that blocks harmful and distracting content on the web. It is intended for people who struggle with addiction, and it tracks digital usage automatically to show how habits can improve.
Key features
- Block variety: block whole sites, sections of a site, keywords and search terms, always or on a schedule, with daily time limits and entry delays for whole sites.
- Block tampering: a locked block cannot be edited or deleted.
- Uninstall protection: Ascension cannot be uninstalled while a block is locked.
- Extension tampering: removing or disabling the browser extension does not lift a block, and a browser running without it is closed while a block is active.
- Premade block lists: adult content, gambling and social media lists are ready to block in one step.
Limitations: Windows only, with no parental remote management and no location tracking.
Best for: people who want a simple and effective way to block harmful content on the web.
Read our guide to the porn blocker that cannot be uninstalled →
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Qustodio?
For parents, Bark is the closest alternative for monitoring a child's phone and Net Nanny is the closest for filtering a family computer. Google Family Link and Microsoft Family Safety are the best free alternatives. For an adult blocking on their own Windows PC, Ascension.
Is there a free alternative to Qustodio?
Yes. Google Family Link is free for Android phones and Chromebooks, and Microsoft Family Safety is free for Windows, Xbox and Android. Qustodio also has a free plan that protects one device.
Can I use Qustodio on myself?
Yes. Qustodio can be installed on a Windows or Mac computer and applied to one user account. It is designed for a parent to control a child's device, so an adult using it on themselves controls the parent account and can change or remove the rules at any time.
Is there a Qustodio alternative for adults?
Yes. Ascension blocks websites and tracks screen time for an adult on their own Windows PC, with blocks that cannot be edited or removed. Canopy filters explicit content on an adult's own devices and can alert an accountability partner.
How much does Qustodio cost?
Qustodio Basic costs $59.95 a year for up to five devices. Complete costs $104.95 a year for unlimited devices and adds YouTube monitoring, calls and messages monitoring and custom rules. The free plan covers one device.
What is the best way to block websites on your own computer?
On a computer, use Ascension. Browser extensions and parental settings are easy to remove when you know the password yourself, while an Ascension block can be set so it cannot be edited or removed.
Available on Windows 10 & 11