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Parenting · head to head

Apple Screen Time vs Google Family Link

Apple Screen Time logo

Apple Screen Time

Parenting

Apple's built-in parental controls for iOS and Mac

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Google Family Link logo

Google Family Link

Parenting

Google's free family device management and controls

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Apple Screen Time parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone; Google Family Link google documents that iPhones, iPads and computers other than Chromebooks cannot be supervised with Family Link
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, Google Family Link covers Screen time management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link actually diverge.

Attributes where Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link differ
AttributeApple Screen TimeGoogle Family Link
PlatformsIos, Ipados, MacosAndroid, Web
Founded20162019

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Parenting).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apple Screen Time

  • Screen time tracking
  • App limits
  • Downtime scheduling
  • Content filtering
  • App restrictions
  • Communication limits
  • Purchase controls
  • Family Sharing management

Only in Google Family Link

  • Screen time management
  • App approval system
  • Device locking
  • Location tracking
  • Settings management
  • Password controls
  • Google Play filtering
  • Account monitoring

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment
  • English language support
  • Spanish language support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apple Screen Time

  • Screen time managementnot Google Family Link
  • Content filteringnot Google Family Link
  • Device controlnot Google Family Link
  • Family safetynot Google Family Link

Google Family Link

  • Setting screen time limits and app approvals on a child's Android devicenot Apple Screen Time
  • Creating and managing a Google Account for a child under 13not Apple Screen Time
  • Seeing which apps a child uses and where their device isnot Apple Screen Time

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apple Screen Time

  • Parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone

Google Family Link

  • Google documents that iPhones, iPads and computers other than Chromebooks cannot be supervised with Family Link
  • Supervision is built around a Google Account, so activity outside Google accounts and Android devices is not covered
  • Parent controlled account creation applies to children under 13 or the applicable age in the country

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Screen Time

Free
  • Included with iOS/macOSFree
    • Screen time limits
    • App restrictions
    • Content filtering

Google Family Link

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Screen time limits
    • App approval
    • Device locking

Which should you pick?

Choose Apple Screen Time if

  • You need screen time tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Ipados, Macos.
  • You also want app limits.
Apple Screen Time review

Choose Google Family Link if

  • You need screen time management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Android, Web.
  • You also want app approval system.
Google Family Link review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Screen Time or Google Family Link better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Screen Time starts at Free and Google Family Link at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Screen Time or Google Family Link?
Apple Screen Time starts at Free and Google Family Link at Free.
Does Apple Screen Time or Google Family Link run on more platforms?
Apple Screen Time runs on Ios, Ipados, Macos. Google Family Link runs on Android, Web.
Can I use Apple Screen Time for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Apple Screen Time best used for?
Apple Screen Time is most often used for screen time management, content filtering, device control, family safety. Of those, screen time management and content filtering are not what Google Family Link is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Screen Time do that Google Family Link cannot?
Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, App limits, Downtime scheduling, Content filtering. Google Family Link covers Screen time management, App approval system, Device locking, Location tracking. Both handle Cloud deployment, English language support, Spanish language support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Apple Screen Time: Is Screen Time included with iOS at no additional cost?

Screen Time is included with iOS as a built-in parental control feature. There is no additional cost beyond the iOS operating system.

Source
Google Family Link: Is Google Family Link free?

Yes, Google Family Link is completely free. Creating or joining a family group does not require any paid membership or subscription.

Source
Apple Screen Time: What parental control features does Screen Time provide?

Screen Time allows parents to set time allowances across app categories like Entertainment, Games, and Social Media, create schedules to control which apps are available at specific times or days, and check how children are using their devices.

Source
Google Family Link: Do any Family Link features require payment?

Family Link itself is free, but some Google products that integrate with it like YouTube Premium for families or Google One require separate paid subscriptions if you want premium features.

Source
Apple Screen Time: Which iOS devices support Screen Time?

Screen Time is available on iOS-compatible devices. Based on current iOS, this includes iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later, as well as current-generation models including iPhone 17.

Source
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Related pages

More on Apple Screen Time

More on Google Family Link

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