SafeCircle vs Net Nanny
Net Nanny is built mainly around web filtering and screen time, on Windows, Mac and iOS. SafeCircle detects risks in conversations on the phone. Here is how they differ, including where Net Nanny is ahead.
Note
At a glance
Net Nanny is strongest at blocking websites and setting screen time on Windows, Mac and iOS. SafeCircle is for knowing when a child may be at risk in their chats, and it runs on Android today. Many families will find the two solve different problems.
SafeCircle and Net Nanny side by side
| Feature | SafeCircle | Net Nanny |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Detect grooming, bullying and other risks in conversations | Web filtering, screen time and activity reports |
| Where analysis happens | On the child’s phone | Not stated on their site |
| What parents receive | Category, severity and a short written reason for each alert | Activity and search reports, and usage summaries |
| Platforms | Android child app today, iOS on the waitlist, plus a web dashboard | Windows, macOS and iOS, per their site |
| Price | Free for one child and one device. Family plan €4.99 a month or €39.99 a year | Paid plans. Check their site |
| Open models | Model weights published on Hugging Face | Not open source |
| Schools | Invoiced school plans, priced by number of students | Check their site |
Last reviewed: November 2026. Based on each company’s public website. Check their site for current features and prices.
Where Net Nanny is ahead
- 01
Web filtering
Its core strength is blocking unwanted sites. Reviewers often name web filtering as its strongest area.
- 02
Screen time
Set daily limits and choose the hours a child can be online, on Windows, Mac and iOS.
- 03
Computers
It runs on Windows and Mac computers, where SafeCircle does not run today.
- 04
Activity reports
Its Family Feed reports on online searches and on certain content categories.
Where SafeCircle differs
- 01
Risks, not only rules
SafeCircle looks for signs of grooming, bullying, threats and other risks. Each alert gives a category and a short reason.
- 02
Text stays on the phone
The child app reads on-screen text on the child’s phone, and Horizon, our model, classifies it there. Only a short alert leaves the device, and message text is never sent.
- 03
Open models
Horizon’s model weights are published on Hugging Face, so anyone can inspect them.
- 04
What we do not do yet
SafeCircle does not filter websites or set time limits yet. Time limits are coming soon. iOS is on the waitlist.
- 05
Detection is not perfect
Our published tests show Horizon catches about 94% of risky chats similar to its training data, and about 63 to 68% of text from models it never saw. Treat an alert as a reason to talk, not as proof.
Which should you choose
If your main worry is what your child can browse, and how long they are online on a Windows or Mac computer, Net Nanny is built for that. If your main worry is what happens in your child’s chats on an Android phone, SafeCircle is designed for that.
Many families want both kinds of protection. Using a filter alongside SafeCircle is a reasonable choice, as long as you know what each tool does. You can see all our comparisons.
Whichever you choose, talk with your child about what to do when something feels wrong.
Questions about SafeCircle and Net Nanny
Does SafeCircle block websites?
Not today. SafeCircle does not filter websites or block apps. It focuses on risks in conversations, and time limits are coming soon.
Can I use Net Nanny and SafeCircle together?
Yes. They cover different things, so some families run both. Check that the two apps do not conflict on the child’s device, and keep to the number of tools you can manage.
Does SafeCircle work on Windows or Mac?
Not yet. The child app runs on Android today, and iOS is on the waitlist. Parents manage alerts in the web dashboard, which works in a browser.
Try SafeCircle with your family
Setup takes a few minutes on an Android phone. iOS is on the waitlist.
If your child is in dangerGet help now