Qustodio is a parental control application that comes in two major versions: one for your desktop and one for your mobile devices.
The desktop version of Qustodio has all the features you would expect from a parental control program. It can track your child’s computer activities, as well as block any websites or programs it needs to. The mobile app can do all that, too, but it also adds extra features like location tracking, app blocking and monitoring incoming calls and messages.
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The great thing about Qustodio is that it can be used both on personal computers and work computers, which makes it a versatile tool to have in your hands.
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If you are looking for an application to block both the websites and apps on your work computer, Qustodio could very well be the solution you need. You can also try Qustodio Premium, which allows you to set up time schedules when certain apps are allowed to be used.
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If you want to easily monitor your child’s smart phone or tablet use during school hours, this application can help you keep track of how much time they spend with their phone each day, which apps they use the most and even what kind of content they are accessing online.
Qustodio is a parental control app that works on both desktop and mobile devices. It’s available in English, Spanish, French and German, and it’s compatible with Windows, Mac OS, iOS and Android systems. Its main features are:
To get started with Qustodio you’ll need to register for an account. You can choose between a free plan with basic features and a premium account that comes with extra benefits such as multiple user accounts and support for up to 15 devices. As soon as you’ve created the account, install the app on your child’s device or computer (the installation instructions are included on the download page) and log into your account to access Qustodio from any device. After you’ve logged into your account you can configure one of the three modes depending on your child’s needs
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A quick look at the settings will let you know if there has been any suspicious activity on your child’s device. The reports include a list of websites accessed and apps used during the specified date range, along with helpful details such as screenshots of pages viewed in Safari or Chrome (if they were viewed in incognito mode). You can also set up profiles for your children or anyone else who uses one of your devices.
The tool allows you to create a tailored online environment for your children, where you can block certain websites, set time limits for when they can use their devices, monitor their web and app usage in real time, and more.
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You’ll need to download the parental control software on all devices (both Android and iOS) that you want to track, but once it’s installed, it’s incredibly easy to use. The app allows you to manage various features from your dashboard, so there’s no need to keep logging into different accounts.
The dashboard is simple and intuitive: the main page shows a list of all the devices that you have under your account with some basic information about each one—the device name, its location and time zone, as well as status icons that show whether the child is actively using their device or if they’re being monitored via the Qustodio dashboard. From here, you can also easily share a link to this page with other people.
The web console is the central place from which parents can configure Qustodio’s numerous features, including web filtering, blacklisting specific sites or entire categories, monitoring the activity of all devices in the household, content filtering for individual users on a per app basis, time management for individual users and groups (including the ability to schedule when the internet is available), remote location tracking should the device go missing or be stolen, and more.
Features can also be disabled so that children can use Qustodio’s anti-phishing tools without having to worry about their computer being hijacked by a hacker or their phone being used as an eavesdropping device by third parties.
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I found that Qustodio is quite intuitive to use. The app gives you access to all the features you need with just one click. There are several ways to set rules for your child’s Internet use: by individual websites or by categories (social media, games, etc.) and by time limits and day limits. Many features are available with just one click; however, there are several advanced settings where you can customize the behavior of the application if needed.
Qustodio features
Qustodio is a great Internet filtering and parental control software that allows you to restrict access to certain websites and set time limits for your child’s computer use.
Qustodio’s features include:
- Unlimited number of devices that can be protected by Qustodio, including PCs, Macs, Android and iOS devices.
- Apps for smartphones and tablets (iPhone, iPad, Android) with the ability to monitor text messages from these devices as well. It also allows you to block incoming calls from people in your Contacts list or those that are not in your contacts list. It can also send an alert if someone tries to unlock the device.
- Filtering unwanted content: pornography, violence, drugs, etc. It allows customizing the categories of filtering with adult sites and keywords searching.
- Time limits: It allows setting different time limits for weekdays and weekends. In addition it features a “Curfew” mode which blocks access to the Internet during specific hours of the day. An alert is sent when time limits are exceeded. Parents can also lock their children’s computer when they are not at home to prevent them from using the computer while they are away from home or asleep.
- Text monitoring to keep an eye on all inbound and outbound text messages on your child’s mobile device. In addition, you can set time restrictions for when they can send or receive texts, as well as create a list of acceptable contacts. Busy parents can also choose to receive an alert when a message is sent or received, so you don’t have to keep checking the app in order to be notified when your child reaches out.
- Call monitoring so you can get the facts about any phone calls made or received by your child. This feature also makes it easy to verify their safety by allowing you to listen in on the call, if necessary.
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The Qustodio online dashboard has a lot to offer users, with a number of advanced features. The controls are easy to use and you can set time limits for specific activities, like browsing the internet, chatting or playing games. Apart from that, you can also set time limits for specific websites, apps, or even devices. This way, if your child wants to play Fortnite all day, you can set a limit on that specific game only. What’s more, you get reports on screen time allotment and web usage. The reports are very detailed and show you exactly what your child did during the times they were being monitored.
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In case you think your child is using their phone too much, but it’s not really affecting them negatively (or negatively enough to justify taking away their phone), there’s an option called “Quiet Time”, which means that Qustodio will simply shut down all the devices for a certain period of time. It is great for when you want your kids to read or do homework instead of wasting their precious childhood away in front of a screen.
Filter Content
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Like other web filtering programs, Qustodio blocks pornographic material and other explicit content. However, unlike other software products such as Net Nanny or K9 Web Protection, Qustodio doesn’t just look at specific keywords in the URL or page title to determine whether it should block content. Instead, it uses a combination of an algorithm that looks at the content of the page as well as its metadata (among other factors) to determine whether there is any inappropriate material on a given site. In addition, the application also blocks non-English sites and most malicious sites.
App blocker
Helpful for parents who want to keep their kids safe online, the app blocker prevents access to any app on the device that is not included on the allowed list. This way, you won’t have to worry about them accidentally stumbling upon or using an app that could harm their security or mental health. The app blocker allows you to create your own list of approved apps, meaning that you can have total control over what content is available to your children on their devices. Once an app has been blocked by Qustodio, it isn’t possible for your child to open it at all; this ensures that they aren’t able to circumvent the restrictions in place.
Web Filter:
It lets you block browsing to undesirable sites and encourages good behavior by rewarding children for staying away from them. This can be achieved either by blocking access to specific sites or giving them rewards based on the time they spend online. You can also set maximum time limits for each day and each week.
Monitoring Social Media:
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Qustodio gives its users the ability to keep track of their children’s online activity. It provides real-time alerts on each post or comment made by your kids on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram so that you can monitor them accordingly. You can even block inappropriate posts and comments by using this program. The app also allows you to view all your child’s social media contacts so that you do not need to ask them who they talk to online every time a new friend joins their friend list. The program also has a “Find My Friends” feature that makes it easy for you to locate where your child is at any given time.
The Verdict
Qustodio is a family-friendly application for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS that allows parents to keep their children safe online. It includes an Internet filter, a digital time manager, a webcam protection and a remote access from any location through an Internet connection. Qustodio enables you to control your child’s computer usage and internet activity through a website or a mobile app.
Qustodio is a powerful but user-friendly web and mobile app monitoring tool that allows you to manage every device in your house. With several features that come free with your basic package, you can keep an eye on both your children and employees. Their premium version upgrades these features, including the ability to block specific content from reaching your children, such as access to Websites and applications. This option is ideal for parents concerned about online safety. Besides being a reliable parental control tool, Qustodio puts its users first, providing live chat support 24/7 so that you can always get help when you need it.
Overall, Qustodio is an effective app that helps parents monitor their children’s activity online without being too invasive. It comes with plenty of features and is easy to use – both features that are highly valued by users looking for family-friendly apps like this one. However, it may not be the best option for you if you’re
Parvinder Singh is a seasoned IT developer and network engineer with over 5 years of experience. He is also a skilled tech columnist, offering insights on the latest trends and developments in the tech industry.