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Parenting & Family · head to head

Google Family Link vs Apple Screen Time

Google Family Link logo

Google Family Link

Parenting & Family

Google's free family device management and controls

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Apple Screen Time logo

Apple Screen Time

Parenting & Family

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

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

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Google Family Link and Apple Screen Time differ
AttributeGoogle Family LinkApple Screen Time
PlatformsAndroid, WebIos, Ipados, Macos
Founded20192016

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

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 Google Family Link

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

Only in Apple Screen Time

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

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.

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

Apple Screen Time

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

Apple Screen Time

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Family Link

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

Apple Screen Time

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

Which should you pick?

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

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

Questions people ask

Is Google Family Link or Apple Screen Time better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Family Link starts at Free and Apple Screen Time at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Family Link or Apple Screen Time?
Google Family Link starts at Free and Apple Screen Time at Free.
Does Google Family Link or Apple Screen Time run on more platforms?
Google Family Link runs on Android, Web. Apple Screen Time runs on Ios, Ipados, Macos.
Can I use Google Family Link for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Google Family Link best used for?
Google Family Link is most often used for setting screen time limits and app approvals on a child's android device, creating and managing a google account for a child under 13, seeing which apps a child uses and where their device is. Of those, setting screen time limits and app approvals on a child's android device and creating and managing a google account for a child under 13 are not what Apple Screen Time is typically brought in for.
What can Google Family Link do that Apple Screen Time cannot?
Google Family Link covers Screen time management, App approval system, Device locking, Location tracking. Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, App limits, Downtime scheduling, Content filtering. Both handle Cloud deployment, English language support, Spanish language support.
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Related pages

More on Google Family Link

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