Google Family Link vs Kaspersky Safe Kids
Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Google Family Link
Google's free parental control app for supervising a child's Android phone, Chromebook and Google account.
Kaspersky Safe Kids
Parental control app from Kaspersky with web filtering, screen time rules and GPS tracking across devices.
The short answer
Google Family Link is free and works well when the child uses an Android phone or Chromebook. Kaspersky Safe Kids is a paid subscription that applies one set of rules across Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with age-based presets. The biggest difference is device coverage: Family Link is tied to Google's platforms, while Safe Kids suits mixed-device households willing to pay.
Google Family Link or Kaspersky Safe Kids: our take
Google Family Link supervises a child's Google account and their Android 7.0+ phone or Chromebook. Parents get daily limits and downtime, per-app extra time, approval for new Google Play installs, filters in Chrome, YouTube and Google Search, and location with arrive and leave notifications. Kaspersky Safe Kids, from the security company Kaspersky, offers website filtering, YouTube safe search, app controls, screen time budgets and schedules, and a GPS locator, with presets by age group to speed up setup.
Coverage is where they split. Family Link's full supervision only works on Android and ChromeOS; a child on an iPhone gets only account-level settings, and web filtering mainly applies in Chrome and Google services. Safe Kids runs on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, so a family with a Mac laptop, an iPhone and an Android tablet can manage all of them from one app, though Kaspersky notes that features vary between Android and iOS.
On cost, Family Link is free with no subscription. Safe Kids needs a paid subscription for the full feature set, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, and is included for 1 year with Kaspersky Premium. Kaspersky also says availability is limited in some countries, so check before buying.
Families whose children are on Android or Chromebooks should start with Family Link: it costs nothing and covers the essentials, including location alerts. Families with a mix of Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android devices, or who already pay for Kaspersky Premium, will get more from Safe Kids because one set of rules follows the child across platforms.
Which should you pick?
Choose Google Family Link if…
- Families whose children use Android phones or Chromebooks with Google accounts
- You want a free option (Kaspersky Safe Kids is paid only)
- You need Web, which Kaspersky Safe Kids doesn't list
- Free with no subscription
- Screen time limits, app approvals and per-app time limits
Choose Kaspersky Safe Kids if…
- Families with a mix of Android, iPhone, Windows and Mac devices who want one set of rules
- You need Windows and macOS, which Google Family Link doesn't list
- Works on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS
- Age-based presets for content and app rules
About each app
What is 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.
What is Kaspersky Safe Kids?
Kaspersky Safe Kids is a parental control app from the security company Kaspersky. Parents can filter websites, turn on safe search for YouTube, control which apps a child can use, set screen time budgets and schedules, and see a child's location on a map. Settings come with presets by age group, and parents manage everything from their own phone. It runs on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, and AV-TEST has given it its parental control approval several years running. It is sold as a subscription with a 30-day money-back guarantee and is also included for a year with the Kaspersky Premium security suite. Availability depends on country: Kaspersky notes that some plans are limited in certain regions, so check before buying.
Side by side
| Attribute | Google Family Link | Kaspersky Safe Kids |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Android, iOS, Web | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Best for | Families whose children use Android phones or Chromebooks with Google accounts | Families with a mix of Android, iPhone, Windows and Mac devices who want one set of rules |
| Status | Active | Active |
Google Family Link vs Kaspersky Safe Kids pricing
Google Family Link: free
We couldn't verify Google Family Link's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.
Kaspersky Safe Kids: paid
We couldn't verify Kaspersky Safe Kids's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.
Platforms
| Platform | Google Family Link | Kaspersky Safe Kids |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
Google Family Link facts
4 of 4 verified- Parent platforms
- Android, iOS and web
- Checked Nov 8, 2026families.google(opens source in a new tab)
- “Parents can run Family Link on iPhones running iOS 11 and higher.”
- Child devices
- Android 7.0+ and Chromebooks
- Checked Nov 8, 2026families.google(opens source in a new tab)
- “Family Link supervision can run on Android devices with version 7.0 (Nougat) and higher.”
- App approvals
- Yes
- Checked Nov 8, 2026families.google(opens source in a new tab)
- “Family Link allows you to block inappropriate sites, require approval for new apps, and manage permissions.”
- Location alerts
- Arrive and leave notifications
- Checked Nov 8, 2026families.google(opens source in a new tab)
- “when your child arrives or leaves a certain location.”
Kaspersky Safe Kids facts
4 of 4 verified- Included with Kaspersky Premium
- 1 year
- Checked Nov 8, 2026kaspersky.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Kaspersky Safe Kids 1 YEAR FREE Premium Plan Kaspersky Premium Total Security Customer rating 4.7306666 out of 5 stars.”
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
- Checked Nov 8, 2026kaspersky.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Compatible with: Windows® macOS® Android™ iOS”
- Users
- 1 million+
- Checked Nov 8, 2026kaspersky.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “1 million users Over 1 million app users worldwide.”
- Refund policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Checked Nov 8, 2026kaspersky.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Find the perfect plan for your family Try Kaspersky Safe Kids on one of the plans below with our 30-day money-back guarantee .”
Pros and cons of Google Family Link
- 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
- 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
Pros and cons of Kaspersky Safe Kids
- 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
- Not available in every country
- Paid subscription for the full feature set
- Features vary between Android and iOS
Other apps to consider
Microsoft Family SafetyInstead of Google Family Link
Also free, and better if your kids mostly use Windows PCs or Xbox.
Net NannyInstead of Google Family Link
Paid, with stronger real-time web filtering that also covers Windows PCs and Macs.
Apple Screen TimeInstead of Google Family Link
Built into iPhone, iPad and Mac with Family Sharing, so families on Apple devices get limits and Ask to Buy free.
Norton FamilyInstead of Kaspersky Safe Kids
Similar paid web filtering and location tracking from a US-owned security company, covering Windows, Android and iOS.
AuraInstead of Kaspersky Safe Kids
Parental controls come bundled with antivirus, VPN and identity monitoring on Aura's family plans.
Google Family Link vs Kaspersky Safe Kids: common questions
Is Google Family Link better than Kaspersky Safe Kids?
Google Family Link is free and works well when the child uses an Android phone or Chromebook. Kaspersky Safe Kids is a paid subscription that applies one set of rules across Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with age-based presets. The biggest difference is device coverage: Family Link is tied to Google's platforms, while Safe Kids suits mixed-device households willing to pay.
Is Google Family Link free?
Yes, Google Family Link is free.
Is Kaspersky Safe Kids free?
No. Kaspersky Safe Kids is paid, though it may offer a trial.
Is Google Family Link or Kaspersky Safe Kids open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Google Family Link and Kaspersky Safe Kids support?
Google Family Link: Android, iOS and Web. Kaspersky Safe Kids: Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.