Circle Review: Great Features But What’s the Catch?
Reading time: 13 min
Updated on Sep 8, 2024
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Written By Shauli Zacks Tech Writer
Circle Overview
Protecting my five children, aged 3 to 17, from the dangers of the internet feels like a full-time job. The three older children have phones and laptops, and the younger children have access to our tablet and the computer. With so many different types of devices and different operating systems, it’s a challenge to find one parental control app that is compatible with them all and doesn’t cost too much money.
I’ve tested over 30 parental control apps, and while some of them did a great job, I started looking for a monitoring tool that works at the router level. I had tried Circle by Disney a few years ago and wasn’t impressed. However, after doing some research, I saw that Circle has made significant upgrades and improvements, both from a security standpoint and with improved parental control features.
I decided to give it a second chance and ordered a new Circle device. After connecting the box (it’s not actually a circle) to my router, and downloading the parent control app, I was able to set up the monitoring features quickly.
With Circle, I could track which websites the kids visit, manage their screen time, and even check in on their real-time location. I am very happy with the convenience; it even lets me make changes to the rules or check in on the kids remotely.
I ordered my router directly from the official Circle website. It came with free two-day shipping (in the US and Canada) and a 30-day money-back guarantee. The router has a nice modern design, although I was a bit surprised, it’s shaped more like a cube than a circle. But regardless of the shape, it looks good, and I don’t feel the need to hide it behind flowers or books on my bookcase.
Features
I was excited to test out the combination of router restrictions and the app that I installed on my kids’ phones. Circle claims that this combination allows me to manage their device usage, check in on their real-time location, create custom filters, and reward the kids when they do their chores and homework. I tested these features and challenged my kids to see if they could get around the restrictions and limitations. They discovered that with a VPN they could bypass all restrictions, but I quickly shut that down with Circle’s VPN blocker.
Customizable Rules for Each Device
My biggest concern with using a Wi-Fi router is applying the same rules to all connected devices. With Circle, I was able to create user profiles for each device, including Smart TVs and game consoles, and set rules for each. When my kids’ friends come over, Circle recognizes the devices as an Unmanaged Guest Device. All I need to do is assign it to a profile, and any time that friend comes over, Circle will recognize their device and enforce my rules. 
Default Web Filters or Create Your Own
Once a device is assigned a profile, I am able to set up a web filter. Circle gives three pre-made filters based on the child’s age: Kid, Teen, or Adult.
- Kid: This option was designed for kids 6 – 12 years old. It allows educational websites and restricts websites and apps that are geared for teens, like social media sites.
- Teen: Perfect for 13-17 year old kids, this setting allows most websites and apps, provided they aren’t rated 18+. It automatically blocks porn, content related to drugs, alcohol, suicide, and other inappropriate sites.
- Adult: This allows unrestricted access to most apps and websites, although it still blocks porn and other “mature” content.
- None: This option removes any type of filter but still allows you to set pause internet access to the device.
I liked that I was able to customize the filters:
Circle gives parents the control to allow or deny access to any website, regardless of the filter settings. From the app, open the user profile and go to the Filter Settings. Then, simply click on the Custom Sites, and you can add the URL and assign it a permission.
One cool feature is that in addition to setting a website or web category to Allowed or Blocked, you can also set it to “Unmanaged.” This means that category or site won’t have any restrictions or time limits applied to it.
Manage App Use
Circle gives me complete control over the apps that are installed on the tablets and smartphones. This feature works together with the web filter. For example, if I block the YouTube website, it will block the app as well, and vice versa.
I get to see the entire list of downloaded apps on the parental dashboard, and then I can either complete or set time limits for each one. If that’s tedious, there’s the option of putting general restrictions based on the app category.
Create Custom Screen Time Limits for Each Profile
There are three types of screen time limits:
- Per app
- Per category
- Overall daily time usage
These all work together, meaning even if I allow my child to be on YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok for up to an hour a day, I can still place a total screen time limit of 2 hours per day. I found that this teaches my kids how to budget their time, so they can maximize the time spent on each of the apps. Similar to the web filter, if I set an app as Unmanaged, it can get unlimited usage time, regardless of how many hours the kids are on the phone or tablet.
Pause the Internet or Turn on Focus Mode
Even with filters and screen time limits, I find that there are still times when I need to parent and either tell them to get off their phones or focus on what they should be doing.
The Pause button is located on the home screen for easy access. This will pause all managed devices from accessing the internet. If I only need to force one or two kids off their phones, I am able to go to their personal profiles and press the Pause button.
Circle has a Focus Mode. It allows me to schedule certain times when I don’t want them to use certain websites or apps. This is helpful if I want my kids doing homework from 7:00 – 8:00 pm – I block distracting apps like YouTube, Netflix, and Twitter – so they have free access to the phone but without the easy procrastination apps.
Get an Inside Look at Your Child’s Interest
I can get a complete report on the Circle dashboard with all the statistics about how much time each Profile is spending online, what apps are being used, and the web browsing history. With this information, I can see if there are any worrying trends I should be aware of or spend all day on a specific app.
Reward Good Behavior
Circle has a system where you can add screen time or app time as a one-time or weekly reward. I’m not sure how I feel about that – bribing the kids to do their homework or clean their room for the promise of extra screen time – it puts it on a pedestal, and at least in my house, the kids are tired of everything coming down to screen time. But, if it works for your children, the reward system is a nice touch.
Find Your Kids 24/7 with Real-Time Location Tracking
With Circle, you not only get a router but a phone app as well. Among the many benefits is access to real-time device tracking. When you install the child app, you must give it permission to access the phone’s GPS. Now, I can log in to my dashboard at any time and see exactly where the kids are whenever I want. This can also be useful if they lose their phone and can’t remember the last place they had it.
The one interesting feature Circle has that I haven’t seen with other parental control apps is that when I click on a child’s location, it sends the child a message that I’m checking in on them. I’m not sure how I feel about that yet since it gives them a chance to make up a story of why they are in a place they shouldn’t have been.
Installation
There are three parts to the installation process.
After creating an account, the first thing to do is download the Circle app to your Android or iPhone device. There are no special permissions to give; it’s a straightforward installation.
Next, purchase the router from the official Circle website, plug it in, and pair it with your router via Wi-Fi or a direct connection with a cable.
Circle will take a minute or two to boot up, and then you’ll need to scan the QR code to pair the router with your phone. Once paired, you’ll see a list of all the Wi-Fi enabled devices connected to your network.
Lastly, download the child app and install it on your children’s phones and tablets. The process is similar to other parental control devices. You will need to grant the app access to the device’s GPS, contacts, photos, allow it to display over other apps, allow accessibility, and some other standard permissions. Circle also requires that you give it Device Admin Rights – this will prevent your child from deleting the app without permission.
Ease of Use
It took some time to create each kid’s profile and then assign the unmanaged devices to the correct profile. Devices that have the mobile app are easier to figure out because you can just scan a QR code, but if you have multiple computers, smart TVs, and game consoles, you’ll only see a generic name for the device.
Once a device is assigned to a profile, you can start setting rules and limits for each one. The one issue I ran into during the setup was trying to figure out what to do about the family computer since Circle can’t assign multiple profiles to a single device. This meant that whatever rules or time restrictions I placed on the computer would apply to everyone.
There are a few options that can help solve this issue.
- Assign the computer to the youngest family member’s profile: This guarantees that the computer will have the strictest rules. However, it didn’t really work for my family since the age gap between my oldest and youngest is so wide.
- If one family member uses the computer the most, assign it to their profile.
- Create a separate profile for the computer, and set the general rules that work for all family members. This is the option we went with, and I only activated the web filters, since the time restrictions would be too confusing.
There is no desktop dashboard or application to manage Circle. Everything must be set through the mobile app. I didn’t have an issue with this, as it is well designed, and I can make changes to permissions and view the data from anywhere.
Support
I was very happy to see that Circle has a responsive customer support team. There are three different ways to reach out to a real person and get tech support or answers to any questions that you might have (All times are in Pacific Time).
- Live Chat: Available Monday – Friday from 7 am to 7 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 8 am – 4 pm.
- Phone: Available Monday – Friday
- from 10 am – 7 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 8 am – 4 pm.
- Email: Expect a response within two business days.
There is also an extensive FAQ section that has answers regarding compatibility, device setup, setting filters, time limits, and more.
FAQ
What is the difference between Circle and Circle with Disney?
Circle with Disney is the original (first generation) version of the Circle app. Circle (second generation) has many important upgrades that patched weaknesses and vulnerabilities. These improvements include:
- Working while the device is connected to mobile data
- Real-time location tracking
- Better and faster hardware
- Added flexibility
If you’re still using Disney with Circle, I strongly recommend that you upgrade your system to the latest Circle router and app
Do the Circle parental controls work?
I challenged my kids to find ways to bypass the filters and time limits, and for the most part, they were not successful. The one thing they tried that worked was using a VPN. However, I was able to fix that by going to the filter categories section and blocking VPNs and Proxies. This worked, and the kids haven’t found other weaknesses.
What is the Circle return policy?
As long as you buy the Circle router from the official website, it comes with a no-questions-asked 30-day refund. To make a return, contact the Circle customer support team with proof of purchase, your address, and the reason you wish to return the router.
Is Circle secure?
Circle collects a lot of data which can be concerning, especially since it includes everything your children do online and their GPS location. I read through their privacy policy, and I was happy to see that the data is secured in a secure data center, with advanced encryption and a powerful firewall, to protect user privacy.
Pricing
Circle is a little more expensive than a traditional parental control app. Still, it’s important to remember that you’re also getting a stylish and powerful Wi-Fi router as part of the package.
We offer three subscription options, each encompassing the app subscription and granting you access to all the premium features. The sole distinction lies in the duration of the subscription: you can opt for a three-month, annual, or lifetime subscription, depending on your preference.
All three packages include free two-day shipping (in the US and Canada), a 30-day money-back guarantee, and a one-year warranty on the router hardware.
Bottom Line
Circle has shown drastic improvements over its original Circle with Disney device. When I unboxed the router, I was happy to see how good it looked. But more importantly, I was thrilled with how easy it was to install and manage. The parental control features worked really well, and my kids haven’t figured out how to bypass the restrictions.
If you’re looking for an easy way to monitor what your children are doing online and set up limits to protect them from screen time addiction and viewing inappropriate content, Circle is an excellent choice. If you’re still unsure if this is the solution for you, you can order it today and get free two-day shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
