Software · head to head
Google Family Link vs Qustodio
Google Family Link
Software
Google's free family device management and controls
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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; Qustodio monitoring requires installing a separate Kids App on each child device in addition to the parent app
- They diverge on capability: Google Family Link covers Screen time management, Qustodio covers Web filtering & blocking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Google Family Link and Qustodio actually diverge.
| Attribute | Google Family Link | Qustodio |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | subscription |
| Platforms | Android, Web | Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Kindle |
| Founded | 2019 | 2012 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Google Family Link
- Screen time management
- App approval system
- Device locking
- Settings management
- Password controls
- Google Play filtering
- Account monitoring
- Google services
Only in Qustodio
- Web filtering & blocking
- Screen time limits
- App blocking & control
- Calls & SMS monitoring
- Social media monitoring
- YouTube monitoring
- Panic button
- All major browsers
Both cover
- Location tracking
- YouTube
- Cloud deployment
- Android support
- Web 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 Qustodio
- Creating and managing a Google Account for a child under 13not Qustodio
- Seeing which apps a child uses and where their device isnot Qustodio
Qustodio
- Blocking apps and inappropriate web content on a child's devicenot Google Family Link
- Setting screen time limits and screen-free periods for childrennot Google Family Link
- Tracking a child's location and getting arrival and departure alertsnot 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
Qustodio
- Monitoring requires installing a separate Kids App on each child device in addition to the parent app
- The Android kids app requires Device Administrator, Accessibility and VPN permissions to filter content and prevent uninstall
- Web content filtering works by running a VPN service on the child's device
- On Huawei devices battery-saving mode must be disabled for Qustodio to work
- The product is available in only eight languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Japanese and Chinese
- Coverage is limited to Windows, Mac, iOS, Kindle and Android devices
Pricing, plan by plan
Google Family Link
Free- FreeFree
- Screen time limits
- App approval
- Device locking
Qustodio
Free- FreeFree
- 1 device
- Basic web filtering
- Daily activity reports
- Small Plan$54.95/year
- 5 devices
- Advanced web filtering
- App controls
- Medium Plan$96.95/year
- 10 devices
- All Small features
- Family locator
- Large Plan$137.95/year
- 15 devices
- All Medium features
- Priority support
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.
Choose Qustodio if
- You need web filtering & blocking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Kindle.
- You also want screen time limits.
Questions people ask
- Is Google Family Link or Qustodio better?
- Neither clearly leads. Google Family Link starts at Free and Qustodio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Google Family Link or Qustodio?
- Google Family Link starts at Free and Qustodio at Free.
- Does Google Family Link or Qustodio run on more platforms?
- Google Family Link runs on Android, Web. Qustodio runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Kindle.
- 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 Qustodio is typically brought in for.
- What can Google Family Link do that Qustodio cannot?
- Google Family Link covers Screen time management, App approval system, Device locking, Settings management. Qustodio covers Web filtering & blocking, Screen time limits, App blocking & control, Calls & SMS monitoring. Both handle Location tracking, YouTube, Cloud deployment, Android support.