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Norton Family is Norton’s stand-alone parental control service for Windows PCs, iOS, and Android. It helps you set screen time limits, block unsuitable websites, view search terms and viewed videos, track device location history, and receive activity reports by email or through a simple parent portal. Mac child devices are not supported. The subscription is often bundled with select Norton 360 plans and can also be purchased separately.
Pricing
Norton Family is listed at $49.99 for the first year on the official product page. Renewals may be higher than the introductory price, and subscriptions auto-renew unless you cancel. Norton notes that Norton 360 Deluxe and Norton 360 Premium include Norton Family, which can be a better overall value if you also want device security and privacy tools. Refund windows and cancellation details are described on the offer page.
How it works
Setup is straightforward. You install the child app on each child’s device, sign in with your Norton account, and apply House Rules from the web parent portal or the mobile parent app. From there, you can:
1. Choose what web categories to block or warn about,
2. Set daily schedules and total screen time,
3. enable Search Supervision,
4. Review YouTube viewing activity in supported browsers,
5. Turn on Location Supervision for Android and iOS, and
Receive weekly or monthly reports by email. Norton’s FAQ and support guides walk through platform-specific permissions for iOS and Android.
Five detailed features
1) Web Supervision with flexible rules
You can block entire categories, allow specific sites, or warn a child first so you can coach through choices. Full functionality on Windows requires a compatible browser extension, and on mobile, the Norton in-app browser helps enforce rules.
2) Time Supervision and Instant Lock
Create time schedules by day and set daily limits for each device. When it is family time, you can use Instant Lock to pause a device, then unlock it with a PIN. Calls between parent and child are still possible during a lockdown.
3) Video and Search Supervision
See the YouTube videos your children watch in supported browsers, along with search terms that show what they are curious about. These views help you spot patterns and start conversations early. Notes on support are clear. Video Supervision covers YouTube in browsers across Windows, Android, and iOS. Some sources like embedded players or certain apps are not covered.
4) Location Supervision with history and alerts
Map recent device locations for up to 30 days and receive arrival or departure alerts for favorite places you set, like school or home. Children can also tap Check In from the app to share their current location with you. Availability can vary by country, and the child’s device must have the app installed and turned on.
5) School Time and easy reports
During study hours, you can allow a list of learning sites while blocking common distractions. You also get weekly or monthly email reports and a clean parent portal that summarizes activity at a glance.
Security and privacy
Norton provides a Product Privacy Notice that explains what Norton Family processes and for how long. Examples include the child’s name, age range, house rules, labels like “home” or “school,” and other settings the parent configures. Norton describes technical and organizational safeguards such as encryption and monitored infrastructure. You can exercise privacy rights through your Norton account and the privacy portal.
For children under 13, Norton presents a consent notice that explains what is collected to deliver features like web filters, video history, app usage, and location. Norton states it will not sell or rent your child’s data for marketing, and that you can revoke consent as described in the privacy documentation, understanding that some features will no longer work.
Pros and cons
Pros
1. Well-rounded controls for families who want web filtering, time scheduling, video and search insights, and basic app supervision in one place.
2. Clean parent experience through the web portal and mobile parent app, with simple weekly and monthly reports.
3. Location history and favorite places alerts help you stay aware without constant check-ins.
4. School Time makes focused study sessions easier by allowing only approved sites.
5. Often included with specific Norton 360 plans, which can save money if you also need security and VPN.
Cons
1. No Mac child device support. Parents can manage from a Mac, but you cannot install Child Mode on macOS.
2. Feature coverage varies by platform. Some functions rely on browser extensions on Windows or the Norton in-app browser on mobile. Video coverage focuses on YouTube in supported browsers.
3. Location features are not available in all countries. Be sure to check availability for your region.
What to expect from the app
Expect a balanced approach that combines safety and learning. Norton Family is strong for everyday guidance: healthier screen time, age-appropriate browsing, basic visibility into YouTube and search habits, and location awareness that fits normal family routines. It is not a message or social media monitoring service. It is designed to set boundaries, teach digital habits, and give you useful context so you can talk to your kids with confidence.
Alternatives to Norton
1. Qustodio
Qustodio offers plans with content filtering, time limits, location, and premium tiers that add AI alerts, social monitoring, and call or message tracking on supported platforms. It markets unlimited devices on the highest tier and has a wide platform list.
Where Norton is stronger: if you want a simpler setup tied to Norton 360 value bundles, a clear first-year price, and a parent portal that prioritizes web, time, video, search, and location, Norton Family covers the core jobs well without learning a more complex rule system.
2. Bark
Bark focuses on content monitoring and alerts across texts, social media, and email. It is built to flag issues like bullying or self-harm signals, then notify the parent to step in.
Where Norton is stronger: for families that prefer clear allow or block rules for web categories, school time controls, and scheduled device use, Norton’s feature set is more about boundaries and day-to-day structure rather than reactive alerts.
3. Kaspersky Safe Kids
Kaspersky highlights GPS locator, screen time limits and schedules, app control, reports, and a simple parent and child mode. It markets unlimited child profiles in plan descriptions.
Where Norton is stronger: Norton’s product page lays out an easy path for School Time, Instant Lock, and weekly or monthly email reports, plus tight integration with the broader Norton ecosystem if you later want to bundle security or VPN.
IBR’s review
If your goal is to guide kids toward safer, healthier screen habits, Norton Family is a good fit. You get the essentials for web safety, practical time limits, school-friendly controls, useful insights into YouTube and search, location history with helpful alerts, and a parent experience that is easy to understand. It is not built to read messages or social feeds, and it does not support Mac as a child device, so set expectations accordingly. For most families that want structure rather than surveillance, Norton Family does the job with less fuss.
Ratings
– Ease of Use: 4.5/5
– Features: 4/5
– Reporting and Controls: 4/5
– Pricing and Flexibility: 4.4 /5
Overall: 4.3/5
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