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Circle vs Google Family Link

Circle logo

Circle

Software

The all-in-one community platform

From
$49/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Google Family Link logo

Google Family Link

Software

Google's free family device management and controls

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Google Family Link has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Circle location tracking is basic and less granular than some competitors; Google Family Link google documents that iPhones, iPads and computers other than Chromebooks cannot be supervised with Family Link
  • They diverge on capability: Circle covers Spaces, Google Family Link covers Screen time management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Circle and Google Family Link actually diverge.

Attributes where Circle and Google Family Link differ
AttributeCircleGoogle Family Link
Starting price$49/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIos, Android, WebAndroid, Web
Founded20202019

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Circle

  • Spaces
  • Events
  • Courses
  • Member Directory
  • Live Streams
  • Workflows
  • Zapier
  • Stripe

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

  • Android support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Circle

  • Running a branded online community with discussion spacesnot Google Family Link
  • Selling and delivering courses to an audiencenot Google Family Link
  • Hosting events and live streams for membersnot Google Family Link
  • Operating paid memberships with checkout and paymentsnot Google Family Link
  • Shipping a branded iOS and Android community appnot Google Family Link

Google Family Link

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

Where each one falls short

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

Circle

  • Location tracking is basic and less granular than some competitors
  • Does not monitor social media interactions or private messages
  • Requires Circle Home Plus hardware purchase for full home network control
  • Activity reports are limited and less comprehensive than competing platforms

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

Circle

$49/month
  • Basic$49/month
    • Community
    • Members
    • Spaces
  • Professional$89/month
    • Courses
    • Workflows
    • Analytics
  • Business$199/month
    • White Label
    • API Access
    • Custom Domain

Google Family Link

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Circle if

  • You need spaces.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want events.
Circle 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 Circle or Google Family Link better?
Neither clearly leads. Circle starts at $49/month and Google Family Link at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Circle or Google Family Link?
Google Family Link has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $49/month for Circle and Free for Google Family Link.
Does Circle or Google Family Link run on more platforms?
Circle runs on Ios, Android, Web. Google Family Link runs on Android, Web.
Can I use Google Family Link for free?
Yes. Google Family Link has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Circle starts at $49/month.
What is Circle best used for?
Circle is most often used for running a branded online community with discussion spaces, selling and delivering courses to an audience, hosting events and live streams for members, operating paid memberships with checkout and payments. Of those, running a branded online community with discussion spaces and selling and delivering courses to an audience are not what Google Family Link is typically brought in for.
What can Circle do that Google Family Link cannot?
Circle covers Spaces, Events, Courses, Member Directory. Google Family Link covers Screen time management, App approval system, Device locking, Location tracking. Both handle Android support, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Circle: How much does Circle cost?

Circle offers a 14-day free trial of the app with all premium features included. After the trial, subscriptions are 9.99 USD per month or 89.99 USD per year. The Circle Home Plus device costs 129 USD upfront and includes one year of free app access, after which the app subscription costs approximately 10 USD per month.

Source
Circle: What devices does Circle support?

Circle works on Android, Apple iOS, Mac, Windows, Chromebook, Xbox, PlayStation, Kindle, smart speakers, IoT devices, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and iPhones. An unlimited number of devices can be managed from a single Circle account.

Source
Circle: How does Circle Home Plus work?

Circle Home Plus is a router-adjacent device that connects to your home network via Ethernet (with Wi-Fi backup) and manages all connected devices on that network. The Circle app then connects to this device to enforce parental controls across web browsing, app usage, and screen time across all family members' devices.

Source
Circle: Does Circle monitor social media?

Circle does not directly monitor social media content, conversations, or private messages. However, it can restrict access to social media apps and websites, and manage time spent on those platforms through screen time controls.

Source
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Related pages

More on Circle

More on Google Family Link

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