Google Family Link
Google's free parental control app for supervising a child's Android phone, Chromebook and Google account.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Android, iOS, Web
Is Google Family Link free?
Yes, free to use
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About Google Family Link
Google Family Link lets parents supervise a child's Google account and their Android or ChromeOS device. Parents can set daily screen time limits and downtime, give extra time to apps like educational ones, block apps or require approval for new installs from Google Play, and apply filters in Chrome, YouTube and Google Search. It also shows the device's location, sends alerts when a child arrives at or leaves a place, and lets parents reset the child's password or manage their account data. Parents can use the app on Android or iPhone, or manage most settings in a web browser. It is free. The main limitation is coverage: full supervision only works on Android and Chromebooks, so a child using an iPhone or another browser only gets Google account-level settings. It is a natural first choice for families already using Android phones and Google accounts.
Best for: Families whose children use Android phones or Chromebooks with Google accounts.
Pros and cons
What works
- Free with no subscription
- Screen time limits, app approvals and per-app time limits
- Location sharing with arrive and leave alerts
- Manage from Android, iPhone or a web browser
Why people leave
- 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
Google Family Link vs Microsoft Family Safety, Net Nanny and Kaspersky Safe Kids
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Google Family Link | Microsoft Family Safety | Net Nanny | Kaspersky Safe Kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free | Paid | Paid |
| Verified price | — | — | $39.99 a year for 1 desktop (list $49.99) | — |
| Free plan | Free app | Free app | No | No |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Android, iOS, Web | Windows, Android, iOS, Web | Windows, macOS, iOS, Web | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
Full Google Family Link vs Microsoft Family Safety comparisonFull Google Family Link vs Kaspersky Safe Kids comparison
Top Google Family Link alternatives
See all 6- 1
Microsoft Family Safety68.8Also free, and better if your kids mostly use Windows PCs or Xbox.
- 2
Net Nanny64.8Paid, with stronger real-time web filtering that also covers Windows PCs and Macs.
- 3KaKaspersky Safe Kids61.8
Works on iPhones, Android, Windows and Mac with one set of rules and stronger web filters.
- 4
Apple Screen Time57.5Built into iPhone, iPad and Mac with Family Sharing, so families on Apple devices get limits and Ask to Buy free.
- 5
Norton Family55.9Covers Windows PCs as well as Android and iOS, with web filtering and 30 days of location history.
Why people left Google Family Link
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Google Family Link: common questions
What is Google Family Link?
Google Family Link: Google's free parental control app for supervising a child's Android phone, Chromebook and Google account. Best for families whose children use Android phones or Chromebooks with Google accounts. Available for Android, iOS and Web.
Is Google Family Link free?
Yes, Google Family Link is free to use.
Is Google Family Link open source?
No, Google Family Link is not open source.
What platforms does Google Family Link run on?
Google Family Link is available for Android, iOS and Web.
What are the best alternatives to Google Family Link?
The highest-ranked Google Family Link alternatives right now are Microsoft Family Safety, Net Nanny and Kaspersky Safe Kids. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
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.