FamilyAtlasMany network controls already exist
pcWRT documents profiles, site-specific schedules, pause, SafeSearch, YouTube Restricted Mode, ad blocking and encrypted DNS. These are shared capabilities, not exclusive FamilyAtlas additions.
FamilyAtlas HomeControl vs
pcWRT PW-AX1800
A specialist security router with built-in parental access controls and no monthly fee for its built-in features.
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 security and access-control router marketed with built-in parental controls, VPN, network isolation and ad blocking, rather than an optional parental add-on to ordinary Wi-Fi. Source ↗
FamilyAtlas sells software, not a modem or Wi-Fi router. Its current HomeControl installation is Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in, not pcWRT PW-AX1800 firmware.
| FamilyAtlas HomeControl | pcWRT PW-AX1800 | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware | GL.iNet Brume 2, about $80 on Amazon, bought separately | PW-AX1800 $149 sale price, with $249 crossed out on the current product page; listed in stock when checked. Source ↗ |
| Subscription | Family + Home $12.99/month or $119.99/year; includes the FamilyAtlas phone app | No monthly fee for built-in features. Optional third-party VPN or DNS filter services can have their own plans; those are not included in this hardware-only cost. 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. | Yes. Wi-Fi 6 with mesh options. |
| 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. | It is a router. Retaining existing Wi-Fi needs a compatible access-point setup; the checked sources do not promise all controls in bridge mode. |
| Throughput | FamilyAtlas has not published a throughput benchmark for the Brume 2; GL.iNet sells it as a 2.5G-port VPN security gateway. | Gigabit Ethernet ports are documented, but an independently measured filtering throughput is not established by these sources. |
Why parents compare the two.
Network access versus phone app use
A site calendar governs access through the router. FamilyAtlas adds supported Android app-use limits through a separately installed child app, including when the phone leaves home.
Released router controls versus Preview
FamilyAtlas offers a family workspace for phone requests and parent accounts, but its home daily budgets and home reports remain Preview. A broader phone workflow does not establish stronger router filtering.
What pcWRT PW-AX1800 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. pcWRT PW-AX1800 cells summarise its published documentation; Not listed means we did not find it, not that it is absent.
| Control | FamilyAtlas HomeControl | pcWRT PW-AX1800 |
|---|---|---|
| Pause one device or everyone | AvailableOnly traffic routed through the Brume 2. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | YesInternet pause and profile-based access control are documented. Source ↗ |
| Bedtime and homework schedules | AvailableNeeds the Brume 2. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | YesAccess calendars can vary by profile and domain, including separate windows for social sites and school sites. 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. | PartialDomain, protocol, port and IP rules can restrict services; a maintained named-app catalogue for TVs and consoles is not established. Source ↗ |
| Content filtering and SafeSearch | AvailableNeeds the Brume 2. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | YesDNS provider selection, local allow/block lists, SafeSearch and YouTube Restricted Mode are documented. Effectiveness depends on the chosen provider and setup. Source ↗ |
| Per-child profiles with daily time limits | PreviewNeeds the Brume 2. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | PartialProfiles group devices and use access calendars; a measured daily usage quota is not established by the checked pages. 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. | PartialOfficial support includes network-monitoring guides, but does not establish an active-screen-time report or retention policy. 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. | PartialBuilt-in ad blocking and network isolation are advertised; malware/phishing category coverage depends on the chosen DNS service. No equivalent IDS/IPS claim is made. 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 is documented with provider selection and custom resolver URLs. 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. | PartialVPN server functionality can route traffic through the home router. A child phone app with local app-use limits is not established by the checked sources. Source ↗ |
What FamilyAtlas adds to the family workflow.
This compares two setups; FamilyAtlas does not upgrade pcWRT PW-AX1800 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 pcWRT PW-AX1800 offer | FamilyAtlas | What changes for the family |
|---|---|---|---|
| App limits on an existing Android phone | PartialA remote VPN connection can use network rules. A local child app with per-app usage budgets is not established. 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 | Not listedSeparate parent-account roles are not established by the checked pages. Verify shared administration with the vendor; this is not a claim that it is absent. | 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 | Not listedA child-initiated phone extra-time request workflow is not established by the linked product pages. | 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 | PartialProfiles group devices and use access calendars; a measured daily usage quota is not established by the checked pages. 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 | PartialOfficial support includes network-monitoring guides, but does not establish an active-screen-time report or retention policy. 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 pcWRT PW-AX1800 if…
- You want a security router with included access controls, VPN and ad blocking without a recurring router-feature plan.
- You are comfortable configuring profiles, domain calendars and DNS providers through router administration.
Choose FamilyAtlas HomeControl if…
- You want supported Android phone app limits, child requests and separate parent accounts alongside a paired Brume 2 home gateway.
- You value the family workflow and accept that home daily budgets and reports are still 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 |
| pcWRT PW-AX1800 | $149.00 | $149.00 | PW-AX1800 sale listing Source ↗, no subscription for built-in featuresUses the current $149 sale listing, not the crossed-out $249 price. Optional paid DNS or VPN providers are excluded; confirm the purchase price. |
As an Amazon Associate, FamilyAtlas earns from qualifying purchases.
If you move from pcWRT PW-AX1800 to HomeControl.
- Record pcWRT profiles, domain calendars, DNS providers and any paid provider plans before changing the setup.
- FamilyAtlas does not support installing its plug-in on pcWRT. Use a supported Brume 2 for HomeControl and enroll Android phones separately.
- Verify the routing and access-point arrangement before keeping old Wi-Fi hardware. Do not assume parental controls remain active in bridge mode.
FamilyAtlas is in early access. Check device support and the HomeControl feature page before you plan a move.
Before you decide.
Is pcWRT just another Wi-Fi router?
Its product and support pages put parental access controls, security, VPN, isolation and ad blocking at the centre of the offer. That specialist purpose qualifies it here; ordinary Wi-Fi routers with optional parental controls are excluded.
Does pcWRT need a monthly subscription?
The PW-AX1800 page advertises no monthly fee for built-in features. A VPN or DNS provider you choose can charge separately. The cost table uses the current sale hardware price and excludes optional provider plans.
What does FamilyAtlas add beyond pcWRT?
FamilyAtlas connects supported Android app-use limits, phone extra-time requests and separate parent accounts with its own Brume 2 home workspace. It does not install on pcWRT or promise stronger filtering. Home usage budgets and reports remain Preview.
Sources & comparison notes
- pcWRT PW-AX1800 product (sale/list prices, stock, specialist controls and no monthly fee) ↗
- pcWRT official feature overview (profiles, calendars, pause, SafeSearch, VPN and DoH) ↗
- pcWRT official support index (access controls and network-monitoring guides) ↗
- 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.
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