FamilyAtlasThe most complete network toolbox here
Per-User time limits, app blocks, ad blocking, intrusion detection and country blocking all come with the box, documented in Firewalla's help centre.
FamilyAtlas HomeControl vs
Firewalla
A one-time-purchase firewall box with deep network controls and no monthly fee.
Checked October 11, 2026 · Written by FamilyAtlas, a competing product, not an independent review. FamilyAtlas is not publicly available yet; HomeControl statuses come from its published capability data.
At a glance.
A dedicated home firewall and network-security appliance with parental controls. Source ↗
FamilyAtlas sells software, not a modem or Wi-Fi router. Its current HomeControl installation is Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in, not Firewalla firmware.
| FamilyAtlas HomeControl | Firewalla | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware | GL.iNet Brume 2, about $80 on Amazon, bought separately | Purple SE $289 (no Wi-Fi, 500 Mbps). Orange $399 (Wi-Fi 7, 2 Gbps). Gold SE $519 (no Wi-Fi, 2 Gbps). Gold Plus $779 and Gold Pro $939 on the home page. Source ↗ |
| Subscription | Family + Home $12.99/month or $119.99/year; includes the FamilyAtlas phone app | None for standard features. Firewalla says there is no monthly fee; future pro or business add-ons may carry one. Source ↗ |
| Wi-Fi built in | No built-in Wi-Fi. The Brume 2 sits behind, or in front of, the Wi-Fi router you already have. | Purple SE and Gold SE: no. Orange: dual-band Wi-Fi 7 built in. |
| Keeps your current router | Yes. Your current router stays; it is set to access-point or bridge mode so traffic passes through the Brume 2. | Yes. Purple SE runs in router mode or as a transparent bridge behind your current router. |
| Throughput | FamilyAtlas has not published a throughput benchmark for the Brume 2; GL.iNet sells it as a 2.5G-port VPN security gateway. | Purple SE 500 Mbps; Orange and Gold SE 2 Gbps software packet processing, per Firewalla. |
Why parents compare the two.
No subscription, but no phone app for kids
Everything is network-level. A child's phone on mobile data, or on a friend's Wi-Fi, is outside Firewalla's rules unless you run its VPN.
Three to six times the hardware price
Purple SE is $289 and Gold SE $519 against a Brume 2 at about $80 on Amazon, before FamilyAtlas's plan.
What Firewalla already offers.
These are shared controls where both products support them. The presence of a FamilyAtlas checkbox is not an exclusive addition.
FamilyAtlas cells are Available or Preview from its capability data. Firewalla cells summarise its published documentation; Not listed means we did not find it, not that it is absent.
| Control | FamilyAtlas HomeControl | Firewalla |
|---|---|---|
| Pause one device or everyone | AvailableOnly traffic routed through the Brume 2. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | YesOne-tap block/unblock internet per device, group or network, with a timer. Source ↗ |
| Bedtime and homework schedules | AvailableNeeds the Brume 2. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | YesScheduled block rules per device, group, User or network (for example no internet 7 PM to 8 AM on weekdays). Source ↗ |
| Block YouTube, TikTok, games on TVs and consoles | AvailableBlocks whole services, not single videos; phones on mobile data are outside it. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | YesNetwork-level app and category blocks (YouTube, TikTok, Roblox, Snapchat) on any device, consoles and TVs included. Source ↗ |
| Content filtering and SafeSearch | AvailableNeeds the Brume 2. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | YesContent Filtering categories and Safe Search enforcement. Source ↗ |
| Per-child profiles with daily time limits | PreviewNeeds the Brume 2. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | YesUsers group devices; daily internet and per-app time limits apply per User, and a parent can pause a rule for extra time. Source ↗ |
| Usage reports per device | PreviewSite names for children's and shared devices, kept 7 days. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | YesPer-device and per-User activity, flows and bandwidth monitoring. Source ↗ |
| Malware, phishing and ad blocking for every device | AvailableEvery device at home; your internet keeps working if the filter stops. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | YesIDS/IPS, Active Protect, ad block and regional (country) blocking. Source ↗ |
| Encrypted DNS upstream | AvailableDNS over TLS to Cloudflare, Quad9 or Google. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | YesDNS over HTTPS with Cloudflare, Google, Quad9 or custom resolvers, plus Unbound. Source ↗ |
| Rules that follow the child's phone away from home | AvailableThe FamilyAtlas Android app carries screen-time, app and location rules off the home network; iPhone is Preview. | PartialFirewalla's VPN server can route a phone's traffic back home; there is no child app with screen-time rules. Source ↗ |
What FamilyAtlas adds to the family workflow.
This compares two setups; FamilyAtlas does not upgrade Firewalla firmware. Its Android child app works on supported enrolled phones; HomeControl requires a separately paired Brume 2. Device compatibility does not follow from a vendor offering parental controls.
| Family need | Existing Firewalla offer | FamilyAtlas | What changes for the family |
|---|---|---|---|
| App limits on an existing Android phone | PartialVPN can carry a remote phone's traffic through Firewalla; that is network filtering, not local Android app-use limits. Source ↗ | AvailableAndroid child app. | The child app enforces supported app-use limits on the phone; a network service block controls internet access, not offline app use. |
| Separate parent accounts | PartialFirewalla already allows another phone to be paired for a spouse or other administrator. This is shared box administration, not evidence of separate family-account roles. Source ↗ | AvailableAndroid child app. | Parents use their own FamilyAtlas accounts. Shared vendor administration may also be available; missing documentation is not a unique-feature claim. |
| Child requests extra phone time | PartialA parent can pause a network rule for extra access; a child phone request-and-answer workflow is not established. Source ↗ | AvailableAndroid child app. | The child sends a request and a parent decides. Android phone requests do not establish home-gateway extra-time support. |
| Daily home internet budgets | YesUsers group devices; daily internet and per-app time limits apply per User, and a parent can pause a rule for extra time. Source ↗ | PreviewHomeControl on Brume 2. Needs the Brume 2. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | Check the Preview badge. Scheduled access windows are different from daily usage budgets; network activity is not active screen time. |
| Home usage reports | YesPer-device and per-User activity, flows and bandwidth monitoring. Source ↗ | PreviewHomeControl on Brume 2. Site names for children's and shared devices, kept 7 days. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | Check the Preview badge. A vendor may already offer richer or released reports; no reporting advantage is promised. |
Choose Firewalla if…
- You want one purchase and no plan, and you are comfortable with a networking app.
- You need intrusion detection, VLANs or per-User bandwidth monitoring.
- You want built-in Wi-Fi 7 in the same box (Orange).
Choose FamilyAtlas HomeControl if…
- You want the TVs and consoles under the same routine as the child's Android phone, with extra-time requests and location in one app.
- You would rather pay about $80 on Amazon for the gateway and a family plan than $289 to $519 up front.
- You want pause, schedules, service blocking and malware filtering today, and are fine with time limits and reports being Preview.
What it costs over three years.
| Product | First year | Three years | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| FamilyAtlas HomeControl | $199.99 | $439.97 | Brume 2 $80.00 + $119.99/year, phones included |
| Firewalla | $289.00 | $289.00 | Purple SE Source ↗, no subscription for built-in features |
As an Amazon Associate, FamilyAtlas earns from qualifying purchases.
If you move from Firewalla to HomeControl.
- Firewalla Purple SE can sit behind your router in bridge mode; the Brume 2 needs your router in access-point or bridge mode instead. Check which your router supports before buying either.
- List the rules you use on Firewalla (Users, schedules, app blocks) so you can rebuild them as FamilyAtlas routines.
- Run both for a week on a test device before moving the household.
FamilyAtlas is in early access. Check device support and the HomeControl feature page before you plan a move.
Before you decide.
Does Firewalla have a monthly fee?
No. Firewalla's help centre says standard features have no monthly fee; it reserves the right to charge for future pro or business add-ons.
Can Firewalla limit a child's phone away from home?
Only by routing the phone through Firewalla's VPN server. It has no child app with screen-time rules; FamilyAtlas's Android app does.
Which is cheaper over three years?
Firewalla Purple SE is $289 once. HomeControl is about $80 on Amazon for the Brume 2 plus the Family + Home plan each year, so Firewalla is cheaper over three years if you do not need the phone app side.
Sources & comparison notes
- Firewalla Purple SE product page (price, modes, no monthly fee) ↗
- Firewalla Orange product page (price, Wi-Fi 7) ↗
- Firewalla Gold SE product page (price, ports) ↗
- Firewalla help: Device Management (block/unblock) ↗
- Firewalla help: Activity and Content Control (rules, schedules, app blocks) ↗
- Firewalla help: Content Filtering and Safe Search ↗
- Firewalla help: Users (time limits, activity) ↗
- Firewalla help: Controls Center (Active Protect, IDS/IPS) ↗
- Firewalla help: DNS over HTTPS ↗
- Firewalla help: VPN Server ↗
- Firewalla home page (Gold Plus and Gold Pro prices) ↗
- Firewalla phone pairing (shared administration, including a spouse) ↗
- FamilyAtlas pricing (plan and Brume 2 estimate)
US-dollar prices where shown, as published on October 11, 2026. Offers, taxes, shipping, renewal terms and availability may change. We do not claim to be the cheapest option or the right fit for every family. HomeControl statuses marked Preview still need validation.
Keep exploring.
FamilyAtlas vs Firewalla: the full app comparison → All home controllers compared →
Other home controllers: Gryphon AX, Guardian and Atlas Max, Bark Home, CleanRouter, pcWRT.
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