Parenting & Family · head to head
Google Family Link vs Net Nanny
Google Family Link
Parenting & Family
Google's free family device management and controls
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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 1 Desktop plan is $49.99 USD per year (promotional $39.99), the 5 device Family Protection Pass is $79.99 USD per year (promotional $54.99), and the 20 device pass is $129.99 USD per year (promotional $89.99)
- They diverge on capability: Google Family Link covers App approval system, Net Nanny covers AI-powered content filtering.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Google Family Link and Net Nanny actually diverge.
| Attribute | Google Family Link | Net Nanny |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $39.99/year |
| Pricing model | free | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Android, Web | Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook |
| Founded | 2019 | 1996 |
Identical on both: 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
- 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
- 1 Desktop plan is $49.99 USD per year (promotional $39.99), the 5 device Family Protection Pass is $79.99 USD per year (promotional $54.99), and the 20 device pass is $129.99 USD per year (promotional $89.99)
Pricing, plan by plan
Google Family Link
Free- FreeFree
- Screen time limits
- App approval
- Device locking
Net Nanny
$39.99/year- 1 Device$39.99/year
- Web filtering
- Screen time
- App blocking
- 5 Devices$54.99/year
- All 1 Device features
- 5 device protection
- Family feed
- 20 Devices$89.99/year
- All 5 Device features
- 20 device protection
- Priority support
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.
Choose Net Nanny if
- You need ai-powered content filtering.
- You work on Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook.
- You also want app blocking.
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.