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Parenting · head to head

Google Family Link vs Net Nanny

Google Family Link logo

Google Family Link

Parenting

Google's free family device management and controls

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Net Nanny logo

Net Nanny

Parenting

Protect your family online

From
$39.99/year
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: Google Family Link google documents that iPhones, iPads and computers other than Chromebooks cannot be supervised with Family Link; Net Nanny no free trial available
  • They diverge on capability: Google Family Link covers App approval system, Net Nanny covers AI-powered content filtering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Google Family Link and Net Nanny differ
AttributeGoogle Family LinkNet Nanny
Starting priceFree$39.99/year
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsAndroid, WebIos, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook
Founded20191996

Identical on both: 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 Google Family Link

  • App approval system
  • Device locking
  • Settings management
  • Password controls
  • Google Play filtering
  • Account monitoring
  • Google services
  • Google Play

Only in Net Nanny

  • AI-powered content filtering
  • App blocking
  • YouTube monitoring
  • Profanity masking
  • Social media alerts
  • Real-time reporting
  • All browsers
  • Social platforms

Both cover

  • Screen time management
  • Location tracking
  • YouTube
  • Cloud deployment
  • Android 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 Net Nanny
  • Creating and managing a Google Account for a child under 13not Net Nanny
  • Seeing which apps a child uses and where their device isnot Net Nanny

Net Nanny

  • Content filteringnot Google Family Link
  • Screen time limitsnot Google Family Link
  • Online safetynot Google Family Link
  • App controlnot 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

Net Nanny

  • No free trial available

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Family Link

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

Net Nanny

$39.99/year
  • 1 Desktop Plan$39.99/year
    • Covers one PC or Mac device
    • All Net Nanny features including monitoring, screen time management, internet filtering, app blocking
  • 5 Devices Family Protection Pass$54.99/year
    • Works on Windows, macOS, and iOS
    • Approximately 11 dollars per device annually
  • 20 Devices Family Protection Pass$89.99/year
    • Compatible with Windows, macOS, and iOS
    • Less than 5 dollars per device per year

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Family Link if

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

Choose Net Nanny if

  • You need ai-powered content filtering.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook.
  • You also want app blocking.
Net Nanny review

Questions people ask

Is Google Family Link or Net Nanny better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Family Link starts at Free and Net Nanny at $39.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Family Link or Net Nanny?
Google Family Link has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Family Link and $39.99/year for Net Nanny.
Does Google Family Link or Net Nanny run on more platforms?
Google Family Link runs on Android, Web. Net Nanny runs on Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook.
Can I use Google Family Link for free?
Yes. Google Family Link has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Net Nanny starts at $39.99/year.
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 Net Nanny is typically brought in for.
What can Google Family Link do that Net Nanny cannot?
Google Family Link covers App approval system, Device locking, Settings management, Password controls. Net Nanny covers AI-powered content filtering, App blocking, YouTube monitoring, Profanity masking. Both handle Screen time management, Location tracking, YouTube, Cloud deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Net Nanny: How much does Net Nanny cost?

Net Nanny offers three subscription plans. The 1 Desktop Plan costs 39.99 dollars per year. The 5 Devices Family Protection Pass costs 54.99 dollars per year, or about 11 dollars per device annually. The 20 Devices Family Protection Pass costs 89.99 dollars per year, or less than 5 dollars per device per year.

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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