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Google Family Link alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

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

Top picks

Common reasons people leave Google Family Link: full supervision only on Android and ChromeOS devices, and children on iPhones get only Google account-level settings. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Google Family Link, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Microsoft Family Safety currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Microsoft Family Safety logoMicrosoft Family SafetyFree—NoWindows, Android, iOS +13 of 368.8
2Net Nanny logoNet NannyPaid$39.99 a year for 1 desktop (list $49.99)NoWindows, macOS, iOS +18 of 864.8
3KaKaspersky Safe KidsPaid—NoWindows, macOS, Android +14 of 461.8
4Apple Screen Time logoApple Screen TimeFree—NoiOS, macOS5 of 557.5
5Norton Family logoNorton FamilyPaid—NoWindows, iOS, Android +15 of 555.9
6Aura logoAuraPaid$12/month billed annually (Individual)NoWeb, Windows, macOS +28 of 851.2
  1. Microsoft Family Safety logo

    1. Microsoft Family SafetyTop pick

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

    FreeWindows, Android, iOS, Web

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Family Link

    Also free, and better if your kids mostly use Windows PCs or Xbox.

    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 Compare with Google Family LinkDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    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 Google Family Link 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. Net Nanny logo

    2. Net Nanny

    Best for: Parents who want strong real-time web filtering on family PCs, Macs and iPhones

    PaidWindows, macOS, iOS, Web

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Family Link

    Paid, with stronger real-time web filtering that also covers Windows PCs and Macs.

    Pros

    • Real-time content filtering of each page as it loads
    • Family Feed shows searches and blocked sites at a glance
    • Plans cover up to 20 devices
    • Long track record in parental controls

    Cons

    • No free plan
    • Android isn't listed among supported devices
    • App blocking and location tracking are limited to iOS
    • Yearly subscription only
    Visit Net Nanny 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 Net Nanny a good Google Family Link alternative?

    Verified facts

    8 of 8 verified
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, iOS
    Checked Nov 8, 2026netnanny.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Plans
    1, 5 or 20 devices per year
    Checked Nov 8, 2026netnanny.com(opens source in a new tab)
    In use since
    1994
    Checked Nov 8, 2026netnanny.com(opens source in a new tab)
    App blocking
    100+ apps on iOS
    Checked Nov 8, 2026netnanny.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    SafeToNet
    Checked Nov 8, 2026netnanny.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $39.99 a year for 1 desktop (list $49.99)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026netnanny.com(opens source in a new tab)
    5 Devices plan
    $54.99 a year (list $79.99)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026netnanny.com(opens source in a new tab)
    20 Devices plan
    $89.99 a year (list $129.99)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026netnanny.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Ka

    3. 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

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Family Link

    Works on iPhones, Android, Windows and Mac with one set of rules and stronger web filters.

    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 Compare with Google Family LinkDetails 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 Kaspersky Safe Kids a good Google Family Link 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. Apple Screen Time logo

    4. Apple Screen Time

    Best for: All-Apple families who want free parental controls without installing a third-party app.

    FreeiOS, macOS

    57.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Family Link

    Built into iPhone, iPad and Mac with Family Sharing, so families on Apple devices get limits and Ask to Buy free.

    Pros

    • Free and built into iOS, iPadOS and macOS with nothing to install
    • Parents approve new contacts in Messages, FaceTime and Phone
    • Ask to Buy and Ask to Browse route requests to a parent's device
    • Schedules can differ for school days and weekends

    Cons

    • 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
    • No web dashboard; rules are managed only from an Apple device
    Visit Apple Screen Time Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    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 Apple Screen Time a good Google Family Link alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Requires
    Family Sharing and a Child Account
    Checked Nov 8, 2026support.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS
    Checked Nov 8, 2026support.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Web filter default
    Ask to Browse on for under 13s
    Checked Nov 8, 2026support.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Contact approval
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026support.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Purchase approval
    Ask to Buy
    Checked Nov 8, 2026support.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Norton Family logo

    5. Norton Family

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

    PaidWindows, iOS, Android, Web

    55.9

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Family Link

    Covers Windows PCs as well as Android and iOS, with web filtering and 30 days of location history.

    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 ×0.357
    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 Google Family Link 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)
  6. Aura logo

    6. Aura

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

    PaidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

    51.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Family Link

    Bundles parental controls like screen-time limits and site blocking with identity-theft protection in one family plan.

    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 ×0.341
    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 Google Family Link 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 Google Family Link alternative for…

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

Microsoft Family Safety logo

Best Google Family Link alternative for most people

Microsoft Family Safety

Also free, and better if your kids mostly use Windows PCs or Xbox.

Apple Screen Time logo

Best Google Family Link alternative for a free option

Apple Screen Time

Built into iPhone, iPad and Mac with Family Sharing, so families on Apple devices get limits and Ask to Buy free.

Net Nanny logo

Best Google Family Link alternative for Mac

Net Nanny

Paid, with stronger real-time web filtering that also covers Windows PCs and Macs.

Ka

Best Google Family Link alternative for Windows

Kaspersky Safe Kids

Works on iPhones, Android, Windows and Mac with one set of rules and stronger web filters.

Norton Family logo

Best Google Family Link alternative for iPhone and Android

Norton Family

Covers Windows PCs as well as Android and iOS, with web filtering and 30 days of location history.

Aura logo

Best Google Family Link alternative for working in the browser

Aura

Bundles parental controls like screen-time limits and site blocking with identity-theft protection in one family plan.

Google Family Link alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Google Family Link?

Microsoft Family Safety ranks first right now. Also free, and better if your kids mostly use Windows PCs or Xbox. Net Nanny and Kaspersky Safe Kids follow it in our ranking.

Google Family Link vs Microsoft Family Safety: what's the difference?

Both Google Family Link and Microsoft Family Safety are free to use. Only Microsoft Family Safety runs on Windows.

Is Google Family Link free?

Google Family Link is free to use.

How much do Google Family Link alternatives cost?

Verified prices for the top-ranked Google Family Link alternatives: Net Nanny, $39.99 a year for 1 desktop (list $49.99); Aura, $12/month billed annually (Individual). Each price was checked on the app's own site; see each card below for the date and source.

Is there a free alternative to Google Family Link?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Google Family Link?

None of the 6 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Google Family Link?

The complaints we hear most: full supervision only on Android and ChromeOS devices; children on iPhones get only Google account-level settings; web filtering mainly applies in Chrome and Google services.

How is this list ranked?

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