Qustodio : Full Review, Testing, and Presentation (2024)

Qustodio Detailed Review

You are resting on our site and are reading this article today. This means that you urgently need a surveillance application and that you are considering Qustodio.

Well let me tell you that you are on the right track. Hundreds ofparental control apps are available on the market, but only a few can meet customer expectations.

Qustodio is one of those applications when it comes to monitoring children and teens. The app offers limited but extremely useful features and should definitely be tried out.

In this Qustodio review, I am going to try to answer all the important questions that people may have about this spy software. For example, what does Qustodio do? How do I install Qustodio on a kid's phone? How much does Qustodio cost? etc. Overall, after going through this Qustodio review, you won't need to check out any more articles.

What is Qustodio?

is an American software company with an additional office in Spain. Its name comes from the Latin word for guardian, “custodia.” A trio of entrepreneurs - Eduardo Cruz, Josh Gabel, and Josep Gasper - built the Qustodio prototype in 2011 and officially launched the app the following year.

Qustodio allows parents to supervise their children's online activities in an intuitive interface. The platform allows you to block websites, games, and apps that are inappropriate for children, set time limits for devices, monitor your children's location, track their calls and messages, and monitor online activity in general. There is also a version for schools to keep students safe.

We tested Qustodio to give you a detailed and unbiased review. We evaluated the app based on specific criteria including features, ease of use, price, customer support, and more.

Compatibility

Qustodio is easy to use with almost any type of operating system. An Android device with 4.4 and all higher versions are compatible with the Qustodio app.

Does your child have an iOS device? No problem, Qustodio will track all the activities on the target iOS device and transmit them to your screen remotely.

The teen must have a device with at least one iOS 11 or later version. Except for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad can also be monitored.

Likewise, Qustodio can track macOS, Kindle, and Windows devices.

How do I install Qustodio on a kid's phone?

Installing and setting up Qustodio is really easy compared to setting up most spy apps out there.

This is because Qustodio doesn't present the flood of permissions like any other spy app.

Second, as soon as the Qustodio app is set up on both the parent and the target device, the data can be tracked. Qustodio does not take time to download and show data from the target device to parents on their device remotely.

NOTE 1: The process of installing the Qustodio app on iOS and Android is almost the same.

NOTE 2: We use an Android cell phone as a device for the child and a PC as a device for the parents.

Configuration on the parent device

1. Go to the official Qustodio website and click Sign Up to create your new Qustodio account. If you already have a Qustodio account, go to Connect instead.

2. Provide details on the next page that appears. This information includes your name, email address, and password. Click on CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT after providing the details.

3. You are half done setting up the parental device and now you need to go ahead and CREATE YOUR child'S PROFILE.

4. The child profile includes the teen's name, age, gender, and avatar. Click on SAVE AND CONTINUE.

5. Select the type of device the child is using, i.e. smartphone, desktop, or tablet.

The parent's device setup is complete and now it's time to work on the child's cell phone.

How to install Qustodio on Android

1. Download the Qustodio app according to your phone - Qustodio for Android.

2. Launch the application and tap I have a parent account.

3. Now it's time to agree to all the terms and conditions of the Qustodio parental control app.

4. Sign in to the Qustodio app on the child's device using the same email and password that you used to sign up on the parent's device.

5. Choose the child's device from the options available, then give the device a name.

6. It's time to enable accessibility now by pressing Activate Now.

7. Qustodio will ask you to give certain permissions so that the application fully monitors the child's smartphone. These permissions include access to photos, media, and phone calls.

8. Finally, it's time to activate the device administrator by pressing Activate Now.

The child's device is also ready and you can use the parent's device to track the child's device from anywhere without physically having the child's cell phone in your hand.

Qustodio Summary/Dashboard

The Qustodio dashboard is a kind of summary that shows a child's various activities on a single screen. The time spent by the child is visible. Unfortunately, the screen time shown is not accurate. In addition, you can also set the screen time for the child.

All applications used by the child are available in the “Top Activity” section and the time spent on each application is shown as a percentage of total use.

The YouTube summary will also be available on the dashboard and you will see all the videos that the child has watched.

Parents can also keep an eye on YouTube searches.

The Questionable Activities section shows everything that is not good for the teenager in one way or another. Whether it's YouTube searches, browsers, or any suspicious activity on Facebook.

But it didn't work as expected and we couldn't see any updates in the Questionable Activity section.

The same goes for calls and texts, which have not been updated.

Calendar of activities

All activities that Qustodio tracks on the target cell phone will be shown here. These activities include updating the location, searches on YouTube and web browsers, and applications used by the child.

To make your search specific, use the dropdown icon and select the option you want.

Features of Qustodio

1. Daily time limits

Cell phone addiction is a poison for children and they use it every day without even thinking about its future consequences.

Excessive attachment to the cell phone can lead to several types of physical and mental problems for a child's health.

But you can protect your children before they have the poison of cell phone addiction in their hands and drink it. To do this, you can rely on the Qustodio application.

The Daily Time Limit function allows you to set a time for which the child can use their mobile phone. After the time has passed, the child will not be able to access any application installed on the device.

The minimum timer limit should be 15 minutes and Qustodio allows you to set the same time for other days as well.

If the set time is longer than the child should spend on the phone, simply click Reset and set the time again.

Has your child already used the smartphone for a long time? Simply click Block and make the phone unusable for the child for as long as you want.

During my tests, this function met my expectations, as it did not take time to block applications on the device after the set amount of time was up.

2. Restricted hours

This feature also allows parents to prevent their children from spending too much time on their smartphones.

Unlike the daily time limit, here you can set the blocking time for different times of the day. You can also set the time for different days.

The time you have chosen will block apps from opening/working on the child's device.

This feature is a great help when you want nothing to get in the way of your child's time studying, sleeping, or eating.

You can change the restriction settings by clicking on the settings icon at the top right.

3. Web filtering

It is absolutely useless to have a parental control application that does not block the appearance of adult content on a child's smartphone.

But luckily, Qustodio does not fall into this category and filters the search made by the child on the Internet.

Adult content can be anything related to gambling, porn, alcohol, alcohol, drugs, guns, etc. And there's no need to think twice before saying that all of this content is dangerous for teens and students to watch.

Under the Web Filtering section, you can see that Qustodio has already selected some categories that are not suitable for children to see.

Each time the child tries to access a website that falls into the selected category, Qustodio automatically blocks it.

I won't say that Qustodio completely blocks adult content if the child has done such browsing. But the app removes unhealthy content to a large extent.

If you want to block certain sites personally and you don't want your child to have access to them, that's also possible. Simply go to the Add Exception section, add these sites to the list, and click SAVE.

4. YouTube monitoring

YouTube is more addictive than alcohol for most teens and preteens and it is the duty of parents to limit the amount of time children can spend on YouTube.

Qustodio makes this possible by setting a timer for using YouTube. The YouTube monitoring feature works in the same way as daily time limits and you can set the same timer for using YouTube on different days.

If YouTube usage is already too much, use the Block option to instantly block the YouTube app.

To get the information about the videos the child has watched on YouTube, simply click on the option here.

It should be remembered that YouTube surveillance only blocks the opening of the YouTube application. The child will still be able to access YouTube using the navigation function.

So, for times when you don't want the child to access YouTube, it's best to be sure to add the YouTube website link except for web filtering.

5. Games and apps

Blocking one or more applications becomes necessary when the child becomes dependent on them and their daily schedule seems to collapse.

Parents have no choice but to block these applications permanently or for a short period of time.

Qustodio makes this possible through its Games and Apps feature. Simply deactivate the button in front of the application you want to block on the child's phone.

As a result, Qustodio will take immediate action and the application will be blocked immediately.

Do you want to set the timer for using this application? Qustodio allows you to do this easily by clicking on the down arrow icon associated with the app and setting the time.

6. Calls and text messages

It is very important to know the people with whom the adolescent speaks and has long telephone conversations.

Tracking calls and texts is an essential part of monitoring children and monitoring will always remain incomplete without access to it. To do this, you need to go to the Calls and SMS section.

But unfortunately, when I used this application, the function failed because I was not able to track the names and numbers of the people who contacted the target cell phone.

Additionally, we weren't able to block incoming and outgoing calls with Qustodio as well.

Specific phone numbers may be included in the Call Exceptions section. You can choose to have the child only receive calls from these numbers or you can block selected numbers. But unfortunately, this function was useless.

This function did not work for me but it might work for you. So you can go for the free 3-day trial with Qustodio's premium features and see if it works or not.

7. Location

The location feature is a boon for parents whose children go to school. Nothing can freak out parents more than the situation where the children haven't come home and the hour is longer than usual.

But getting updates on a child's whereabouts all the time can be a relief and Qustodio is there to provide that relief.

You can check your child's current location in the Activity Timeline area at any time, as the only option you'll find in the Location section is to enable or disable location tracking.

But it is not possible to personally check the location of the child when you feel like it. Qustodio will send you the location every few minutes.

Another thing that I personally didn't like about Qustodio is that the app doesn't provide the geofencing feature which I think is very important for keeping kids safe.

8. Social monitoring

Facebook is like food for students and young people, they can't live without it. But only parents know the consequences they may face if Facebook is misused.

It is therefore necessary for parents to personally monitor their children's activity on Facebook.

Qustodio offers Facebook monitoring to its users under the “Social Monitoring” section, but this feature has major limitations.

You need to know the child's Facebook credentials and personally agree to Qustodio tracking children's Facebook activity, such as new friends, what they share on their wall, status updates, etc.

Or you should ask your child to sign in to their account and agree to Qustodio tracking their activities.

If you think carefully, this makes no sense, because if you know the child's Facebook credentials, why do you need Qustodio to do this work for you?

It would have been better if Qustodio had access to the child's Facebook account activity, even if you don't know the account details.

9. Panic button

Parents never want their child to be in an emergency situation or to have to deal with problems.

But life is not always like the petals of a rose; you also have to deal with the thorns that are attached to them.

Parents need to prepare their children for any emergency and what they need to do to get out of it.

One of these steps is to activate the SOS button provided by the Qustodio app on the child's cell phone.

To set up the panic button, you must first activate the panic button on your device and invite trusted contacts. You can add yourself to the list of trusted contacts, your neighbors, or anyone else you trust.

Now, they need to accept your invitation as a trusted contact. Once done, they will be added to the list of trusted contacts.

Right after activating the panic button, an SOS button will appear on the child's Qustodio app.

When the child presses this button and sends the generated message, all trusted contacts receive a message that the child is in danger and receive the child's live location with the message.

Qustodio for iPhone

How do I install Qustodio on the iPhone?

Once you've set up the parent's device and purchased the Qustodio app, all you need to do is go to the App Store on the kid's iPhone. There, you need to look for the Qustodio Kids app. After you find the app, you need to install it on the child's device and follow the on-screen instructions to install Qustodio on the child's iPhone. For more help, you can refer to this installation guide.

Can Qustodio see iPhone text messages?

With the premium version of Qustodio, you can monitor text messages and iMessages on your child's iPhone. However, if you're using the free version of the app, you can't see their messages on Qustodio.

How does Qustodio work on the iPhone?

Qustodio works on the iPhone in the same way as it does on an Android phone. That means it tracks all of your kid's activities on their iPhone. You have the following features on Qustodio for iPhone.

• Limit screen time
• Location tracking
• Monitoring and blocking web content
• YouTube monitoring
• Message tracking

Qustodio for PC

Besides Android and iPhone, Qustodio is also available for Windows and Mac. This means that you can not only monitor their cell phones but also their activities on their computers.

How do I install Qustodio on Windows and Mac?

After setting up the parent's account, you need to download the software to the child's computer. Then, you need to install the software on their Windows PC or Mac. Then, log into your account on the software you created when setting up the parent's device.

After that, you should follow the on-screen prompts and the software will be installed on the target PC. If you want more help installing Qustodio on Windows 10 and Mac, you can get help hither.

What does Qustodio monitor on PC?

When I tested Qustodio, I noticed that this software can track all the sites that your children visit on their laptop or computer. It allows you to add websites that you don't want your children to visit and block them. But you don't have to do it manually all the time because all the harmful websites are already blocked by Qustodio.

In addition, it allows you to set a daily length of time so that your child cannot use their device beyond the allotted time. This feature works surprisingly well as I've noticed that it locks up the device instantly when the time is up.

All in all, it does a great job of monitoring the target computer without getting tired.

Ease of use - Qustodio

Easy installation and set-up - takes less than 5 minutes

Before downloading and installing the app on your children's devices, you need to register your account and create a child profile. The profile is pretty basic. Just add their name, gender, and year of birth. You can upload a photo or choose an avatar for each child. This is useful when you're looking at the live location map or viewing their data on the dashboard.

Once the profiles are active, you can start defining the rules. You can customize the web filter or choose the default option, create a screen time schedule and daily limit, and manage application usage.

Click on the Rules option to impose your parental control rules

Once the rules are in place, download the app and install it on your child's phone or computer. There are two options for the Kids app on mobile devices:

1. Download the app from the App Store or Play Store. If your child has an iPhone, you'll need to turn off Screentime and set Safari as the default browser.
2. If your child has an Android, you can download the application from the Qustodio site, which has the call and text message monitoring feature. Before downloading the app, you'll need to enable downloads from unknown locations.

Easily manage rules from the dashboard

As soon as you sign in to your account on the child's device, all the rules you created for the profile will be instantly applied. This is the only time you need to access the child's device. All data is instantly synced to the Parental Dashboard, which you can review through the Qustodio Parent or you can log into your account on any computer.

Open the Timeline feature to see exactly what your kids are doing on their phones. It shows you how long they've been using each app, if they've changed a setting on their phone or computer, and where they've been if they're going somewhere.

The downside of this feature is that it combines all child profiles on a single timeline. This can get a bit complicated if you have multiple children who use multiple devices.

The timeline shows exactly how your family uses their phones.

Managing the child's device through the dashboard is very simple and requires no technical knowledge or training.

Click the Web Filtering link to make changes to the filter. You can change the permission level in any of the following categories: Allow, Alert, or Block. When you click Save, the updates are automatically applied to all devices connected to the child's profile.

You can also change the screen time rules by opening the Restricted Hours or Daily Time Limits options. The Restricted Hours option allows you to set or adjust the schedule, while the Daily Hours option allows you to adjust screen time limits for each day. You can also instantly lock all of your children's devices at any time by activating the Family Time option.

Interface and use - Qustodio

Qustodio has an intuitive interface. The software is easy to use, even for parents who are not very tech-savvy. Any parent should have no problem monitoring their children's online activities with this software. They can easily set time limits and block access to inappropriate platforms.

The Qustodio Activity Timeline shows you a bit-by-bit breakdown of your child's online activity, including the websites they visit, social media posts, and apps. It can alert you if your child visits specific websites, like a file sharing site or a public chat room.

You can access Qustodio through the website or native apps on Windows, ChromeOS, macOS, iOS, Android, and Kindle.

Customer Support - Qustodio

Qustodio offers 1:1 support to customers through a package called Care Plus. It requires additional payment for subscribed customers for five devices but none beyond this level. With Care Plus, you can book a call anytime and talk to a Qustodio expert to help resolve any issues you're having using the app.

You don't even need to have a problem before you make a call. You can also ask the experts at Qustodio to guide you through installing and using the platform. Live chat support is also available in English and Spanish.

Qustodio also offers an online help center with solutions to common problems and tutorials on using the platform.

Prices - Qustodio

Qustodio exists in free and premium versions. The free option only covers one device and offers fairly limited activity tracking options.

As mentioned, all new Qustodio accounts are automatically upgraded to a three-day premium subscription regardless of whether you intend to buy or not. If you're opting for a paid plan, here's how the subscription model breaks down.

The first option (the Small plan) costs $54.95 per year and covers five devices. The Medium plan ($96.95 per year) protects up to 10 devices, while the Large plan ($137.95 per year) covers a maximum of 15 devices.

If at some point or another you need to add devices to your plan, Qustodio offers an easy upgrade that will only charge you for the difference between your old subscription and the new one, rather than having you pay for a new subscription upfront.

Qustodio also offers options for schools and businesses. These plans start at €28.95 ($35.04) per month for up to five devices and go up to €173.95 ($210.54) per month for up to 100 devices. For additional devices, you can contact Qustodio for a personalized quote.

Final verdict - Qustodio

If your follow-up is particularly focused on children, then opting for Qustodio is a good option.

This review is presented to you after extensive research and testing of the application. So you can rely entirely on our article.

Even if you have doubts and want to clear them up after personally testing the app, go for the 3-day free trial with all the premium features.

If the only thing you want for your child is to monitor web searches, filter searches, monitor social media, and control how much time is spent on the app, then go for the free version of the app.

FAQ - Qustodio

Is Qustodio free?

Qustodio offers a free version as well as a paid version. The paid service provides access to some premium features like YouTube monitoring and the panic button.

Can Qustodio block YouTube?

Yes, you can block and schedule the child's use of YouTube.

Can Qustodio see text messages?

The Qustodio application has a function to see text messages but this function failed our test because it did not work at all.

Is Qustodio safe to use?

Yes, Qustodio is absolutely safe to use and works under legal standards, which is why the application has made its way into the Play Store and the App Store.

Does Qustodio work in stealth mode?

No, the app icon appears on the screen and you can't hide it.

Can my child delete Qustodio?

Unfortunately yes. Since the app icon is clearly displayed on the screen, kids can get rid of the app whenever they want.

Can Qustodio be bypassed?

I tested over 50 parental control apps and was shocked to see how many of them underperformed and how easily my kids were able to get around the blocks and time restrictions. So far, Qustodio seems to be one step ahead of the kids when it comes to finding a way around blocked apps and time restrictions.

Can Qustodio block YouTube?

Yes, in the rules, you can block or set time limits for any app or website, including YouTube. YouTube's monitoring feature will show you search and viewing history during periods when your child may be on YouTube.

Can I set a daily time limit on Qustodio?

Yes, one of the best features of Qustodio is a time management tool. It allows you to set both specific days and times during the day when the phone will be locked and a general time limit for screen time.

What devices can Qustodio monitor?

Qustodio can work on most major platforms. It works on Windows PC, Mac, Android, Android, Android, iOS, iOS, Chromebook, and even Amazon Kindle and Fire tablets.

Can I read messages that are sent and received on my children's devices?

If you download the application via the Qustodio website and not via the Google Play store, you can activate the function of reading text messages written and sent to your child's phone. For other chat applications, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Snapchat, Qustodio will not be able to show you the content of the messages, only the time spent on the applications.