Parenting & Family · head to head
Apple Screen Time vs Google Family Link
Apple Screen Time
Parenting & Family
Apple's built-in parental controls for iOS and Mac
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Google Family Link
Parenting & Family
Google's free family device management and controls
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link actually diverge.
| Attribute | Apple Screen Time | Google Family Link |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Ios, Ipados, Macos | Android, Web |
| Category | Unknown | Parenting & Family |
| Founded | 2016 | 2019 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).
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.
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.
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.