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Norton Family alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

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

Top picks

Common reasons people leave Norton Family: macs and Windows in S mode can't be supervised as child devices, and search and video supervision on phones needs Norton's in-app browser. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Norton Family, 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
3Apple Screen Time logoApple Screen TimeFree—NoiOS, macOS5 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 Norton Family

    Free with a Microsoft account and covers Windows, Xbox and Edge, including the Xbox consoles Norton Family can't manage.

    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 Norton Family 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. Apple Screen Time logo

    3. Apple Screen Time

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

    FreeiOS, macOS

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Norton Family

    Built into iPhone, iPad and Mac at no cost, and it can supervise the Macs that Norton Family doesn't support.

    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 ×0.377
    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 Apple Screen Time a good Norton Family 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)
  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 Norton Family

    Similar web filtering, screen time and GPS tracking, and it also installs on a child's Mac.

    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 Norton Family 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 Norton Family

    Bundles parental controls with identity theft protection and child SSN monitoring under 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 ×0.338
    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 Norton Family 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 Norton Family alternative for…

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

Google Family Link logo

Best Norton Family alternative for most people

Google Family Link

Free from Google and built into Android, so there is no subscription to renew once a Norton Family plan lapses.

Microsoft Family Safety logo

Best Norton Family alternative for a free option

Microsoft Family Safety

Free with a Microsoft account and covers Windows, Xbox and Edge, including the Xbox consoles Norton Family can't manage.

Apple Screen Time logo

Best Norton Family alternative for Mac

Apple Screen Time

Built into iPhone, iPad and Mac at no cost, and it can supervise the Macs that Norton Family doesn't support.

Ka

Best Norton Family alternative for Windows

Kaspersky Safe Kids

Similar web filtering, screen time and GPS tracking, and it also installs on a child's Mac.

Aura logo

Best Norton Family alternative for iPhone and Android

Aura

Bundles parental controls with identity theft protection and child SSN monitoring under one family plan.

Google Family Link logo

Best Norton Family alternative for working in the browser

Google Family Link

Free from Google and built into Android, so there is no subscription to renew once a Norton Family plan lapses.

Norton Family alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Norton Family?

Google Family Link ranks first right now. Free from Google and built into Android, so there is no subscription to renew once a Norton Family plan lapses. Microsoft Family Safety and Apple Screen Time follow it in our ranking.

Norton Family vs Google Family Link: what's the difference?

Norton Family is a paid product; Google Family Link is free to use. Only Norton Family runs on Windows.

Is Norton Family free?

Norton Family is a paid product. Free trial: 30 days. Checked on Norton Family's own site, November 2026.

Is there a free alternative to Norton Family?

Yes. Google Family Link (free), 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 Norton Family?

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

Why do people switch from Norton Family?

The complaints we hear most: 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.

How is this list ranked?

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