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Apple Screen Time alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rankAll parental control apps

Top picks

Common reasons people leave Apple Screen Time: works only on Apple devices, not Android phones or Windows PCs, and requires Family Sharing and a separate Child Account for each child. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Apple Screen Time, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Google Family Link currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Google Family Link logoGoogle Family LinkFree—NoAndroid, iOS, Web4 of 468.8
2Microsoft Family Safety logoMicrosoft Family SafetyFree—NoWindows, Android, iOS +13 of 364.8
3Norton Family logoNorton FamilyPaid—NoWindows, iOS, Android +15 of 561.8
4KaKaspersky Safe KidsPaid—NoWindows, macOS, Android +14 of 459.4
5Aura logoAuraPaid$12/month billed annually (Individual)NoWeb, Windows, macOS +28 of 850.0
  1. Microsoft Family Safety logo

    2. Microsoft Family Safety

    Best for: Families whose kids use Windows PCs and Xbox consoles

    FreeWindows, Android, iOS, Web

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Apple Screen Time

    Free controls for Windows PCs and Xbox, covering the gaming and PC time that Screen Time can't reach.

    Pros

    • Free with a Microsoft account
    • Screen time limits for Windows, Xbox and Android
    • Children can request more time and parents approve it
    • Activity summaries for each child

    Cons

    • Web filtering only works in Microsoft Edge, and other browsers get blocked
    • Little control over a child's iPhone
    • Device-wide screen time limits cover only Windows and Xbox
    Visit Microsoft Family Safety Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Microsoft Family Safety a good Apple Screen Time alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Screen time limits
    Windows, Xbox and Android
    Checked Nov 8, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Parent app
    Android and iOS
    Checked Nov 8, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Web filtering
    Microsoft Edge only
    Checked Nov 8, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Norton Family logo

    3. Norton Family

    Best for: Families already using Norton 360 who want web, time and location supervision in one account.

    PaidWindows, iOS, Android, Web

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Apple Screen Time

    Works across Windows, iOS and Android and adds a 30-day location history and search-term reports.

    Pros

    • School Time mode limits a child's device to school-approved sites
    • Location history covers 30 days with geofence arrival alerts
    • Shows search terms and watched YouTube videos on the web
    • Included with some Norton 360 security plans

    Cons

    • Macs and Windows in S mode can't be supervised as child devices
    • Search and video supervision on phones needs Norton's in-app browser
    • Video supervision does not cover the YouTube app
    Visit Norton Family Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Norton Family a good Apple Screen Time alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free trial
    30 days
    Checked Nov 8, 2026family.norton.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Child devices
    Windows PC, iOS, Android
    Checked Nov 8, 2026family.norton.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Mac support
    Not supported
    Checked Nov 8, 2026family.norton.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Location history
    30 days
    Checked Nov 8, 2026family.norton.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    Gen Digital
    Checked Nov 8, 2026family.norton.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Ka

    4. Kaspersky Safe Kids

    Best for: Families with a mix of Android, iPhone, Windows and Mac devices who want one set of rules

    PaidWindows, macOS, Android, iOS

    59.4

    score / 100

    Why switch from Apple Screen Time

    Cross-platform controls with GPS geofencing, for families mixing Apple and Android devices.

    Pros

    • Works on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS
    • Age-based presets for content and app rules
    • GPS locator and YouTube safe search
    • Included with Kaspersky Premium

    Cons

    • Not available in every country
    • Paid subscription for the full feature set
    • Features vary between Android and iOS
    Visit Kaspersky Safe Kids Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Kaspersky Safe Kids a good Apple Screen Time alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
    Checked Nov 8, 2026kaspersky.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Users
    1 million+
    Checked Nov 8, 2026kaspersky.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Refund policy
    30-day money-back guarantee
    Checked Nov 8, 2026kaspersky.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Included with Kaspersky Premium
    1 year
    Checked Nov 8, 2026kaspersky.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Aura logo

    5. Aura

    Best for: US households wanting identity, credit and device protection in one family subscription

    PaidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

    50.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from Apple Screen Time

    Adds identity theft protection and online gaming alerts on top of screen time limits and site blocking.

    Pros

    • Three-bureau credit monitoring and instant Experian credit lock
    • Antivirus, VPN and password manager included in plans
    • Data broker removal included
    • Family plan covers up to five adults and unlimited kids

    Cons

    • US only
    • No free tier, and the best prices need annual billing
    • Bundled antivirus and VPN are less configurable than standalone tools
    Visit Aura Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.338
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Aura a good Apple Screen Time alternative?

    Verified facts

    8 of 8 verified
    Free trial
    14 days
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aura.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $12/month billed annually (Individual)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aura.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Identity theft insurance
    $1M per adult
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aura.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Data removal
    425+ data brokers and sites
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aura.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Founded
    2017
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aura.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Couple plan
    $22/month billed annually
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aura.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Family plan
    $32/month billed annually
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aura.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Money-back guarantee
    60 days on annual plans
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aura.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Apple Screen Time alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Google Family Link logo

Best Apple Screen Time alternative for most people

Google Family Link

The free equivalent for Android phones and Chromebooks, for families whose kids aren't on Apple devices.

Microsoft Family Safety logo

Best Apple Screen Time alternative for a free option

Microsoft Family Safety

Free controls for Windows PCs and Xbox, covering the gaming and PC time that Screen Time can't reach.

Ka

Best Apple Screen Time alternative for Mac

Kaspersky Safe Kids

Cross-platform controls with GPS geofencing, for families mixing Apple and Android devices.

Norton Family logo

Best Apple Screen Time alternative for Windows

Norton Family

Works across Windows, iOS and Android and adds a 30-day location history and search-term reports.

Aura logo

Best Apple Screen Time alternative for iPhone and Android

Aura

Adds identity theft protection and online gaming alerts on top of screen time limits and site blocking.

Google Family Link logo

Best Apple Screen Time alternative for working in the browser

Google Family Link

The free equivalent for Android phones and Chromebooks, for families whose kids aren't on Apple devices.

Apple Screen Time alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Apple Screen Time?

Google Family Link ranks first right now. The free equivalent for Android phones and Chromebooks, for families whose kids aren't on Apple devices. Microsoft Family Safety and Norton Family follow it in our ranking.

Apple Screen Time vs Google Family Link: what's the difference?

Both Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link are free to use. Only Apple Screen Time runs on macOS. Only Google Family Link runs on Android and Web.

Is Apple Screen Time free?

Apple Screen Time is free to use.

Is there a free alternative to Apple Screen Time?

Yes. Google Family Link (free) and Microsoft Family Safety (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Apple Screen Time?

None of the 5 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Apple Screen Time?

The complaints we hear most: works only on Apple devices, not Android phones or Windows PCs; requires Family Sharing and a separate Child Account for each child; newest controls need every family device on the latest OS version.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Apple Screen Time, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.