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Parenting · head to head

Brightwheel vs Google Family Link

Brightwheel logo

Brightwheel

Parenting

The all-in-one childcare app

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: Brightwheel pricing is quote-only, driven by enrolment capacity and number of locations, and requires filling in a multi-step form to obtain; Google Family Link google documents that iPhones, iPads and computers other than Chromebooks cannot be supervised with Family Link
  • They diverge on capability: Brightwheel covers Daily activity reports, 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 Brightwheel and Google Family Link actually diverge.

Attributes where Brightwheel and Google Family Link differ
AttributeBrightwheelGoogle Family Link
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidAndroid, Web
Founded20152019

Identical on both: starting price (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 Brightwheel

  • Daily activity reports
  • Parent messaging
  • Photo and video sharing
  • Attendance tracking
  • Billing & invoicing
  • Staff time tracking
  • Learning assessments
  • Check-in/check-out

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
  • Web support
  • Android support
  • English language support
  • Spanish language support

What people use each for

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

Brightwheel

  • Childcare centre attendance and check-innot Google Family Link
  • Parent communication with photos and daily reportsnot Google Family Link
  • Billing and tuition collection from familiesnot Google Family Link
  • Staff scheduling and ratio trackingnot Google Family Link
  • Learning assessments and developmental recordsnot Google Family Link

Google Family Link

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

Where each one falls short

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

Brightwheel

  • Pricing is quote-only, driven by enrolment capacity and number of locations, and requires filling in a multi-step form to obtain
  • No transaction or payment processing fees are disclosed anywhere on the pricing page

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

Brightwheel

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Messaging
    • Daily reports
    • Photo sharing
  • Plus$100/month
    • All Free features
    • Billing & payments
    • Staff management

Google Family Link

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Brightwheel if

  • You need daily activity reports.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want parent messaging.
Brightwheel 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 Brightwheel or Google Family Link better?
Neither clearly leads. Brightwheel 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, Brightwheel or Google Family Link?
Brightwheel starts at Free and Google Family Link at Free.
Does Brightwheel or Google Family Link run on more platforms?
Brightwheel runs on Web, Ios, Android. Google Family Link runs on Android, Web.
Can I use Brightwheel for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Brightwheel best used for?
Brightwheel is most often used for childcare centre attendance and check-in, parent communication with photos and daily reports, billing and tuition collection from families, staff scheduling and ratio tracking. Of those, childcare centre attendance and check-in and parent communication with photos and daily reports are not what Google Family Link is typically brought in for.
What can Brightwheel do that Google Family Link cannot?
Brightwheel covers Daily activity reports, Parent messaging, Photo and video sharing, Attendance tracking. Google Family Link covers Screen time management, App approval system, Device locking, Location tracking. Both handle Cloud deployment, Web support, Android support, English language support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Brightwheel: How does Brightwheel determine pricing?

Brightwheel uses a custom pricing model based on your program's enrollment capacity, number of locations, and center status. Customers complete a questionnaire to receive customized pricing quotes.

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
Brightwheel: Is there a trial or special offer for Brightwheel?

Brightwheel promotes a limited-time offer: Get 3 months free of Professional Development with qualifying new accounts. Users must submit pricing request forms for additional details.

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
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Related pages

More on Brightwheel

More on Google Family Link

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