Google Family Link

Google Family Link helps parents guide a child’s online experience and build digital habits. Parents can set daily screen-time limits, School Time or Downtime schedules, and individual app limits; they can also allow unlimited time for selected apps or block apps. Controls for Chrome, Google Play, YouTube, and Search include site blocking and app approval. Activity reports provide another view of use. Parents can check a child’s location when the device is powered on, recently active, and connected to the internet; Family Link can also alert them when the child arrives at or leaves a location, ring the device, and show its remaining battery. Parents can use Android or iOS apps, with some settings available on the web. Child supervision supports Android 6.0 or later, Chromebook with Chrome OS 71 or later, and compatible Fitbit devices. It cannot supervise iPhones, iPads, or computers other than Chromebooks, or manage Google Workspace for Education accounts. Family Link is free at no cost, though some features require a compatible device. Purchase approvals apply only to purchases through Google Play’s billing system.

Family Link offers parents several ways to manage a child’s apps, screen time, content, and location at no cost. Check child-device compatibility first, since supervision does not cover iPhones, iPads, or non-Chromebook computers.

Family Link suits parents who want screen-time, app, content, and location controls for a child using a supported device. It may not fit families who need supervision for iPhones, iPads, or non-Chromebook computers.

Overview

Google Family Link is a free parental-supervision service for guiding children’s digital habits and managing their Google account settings. It is best suited to families whose children use supported Android devices or Chromebooks and whose online activity is centered on Google services. Its range of controls is compelling at no cost, but it is not a fit for supervising a child’s iPhone, iPad, or non-Chromebook computer.

Key features

Parents can set daily screen-time limits alongside School Time and Downtime schedules, then tailor rules app by app: set time limits, allow unlimited use for selected apps, or block apps. That flexibility helps families distinguish school or essential apps from recreational ones instead of applying only a blanket device limit.

Content controls reach Chrome, Google Play, YouTube, YouTube Kids, and Search, including site blocking and app approval. This makes Family Link especially useful where a child’s digital life runs through Google services. Purchase approvals are narrower: they apply only to transactions handled through Google Play’s billing system, not purchases through other billing channels.

Activity reports give parents a view of device use. Location tools can show a child on a map when the device is powered on, recently active, and connected to the internet; parents can also get arrival and departure alerts, ring the device, and see its remaining battery. Those tools add practical reassurance, but the location view depends on the child carrying a connected device. Account tools let parents help change or reset a child’s password, edit personal information, or delete the child’s account.

Family Link settings can be managed from a parent app on Android or iOS, with some settings also available on the web. Google says personalized advertising is prohibited for minors, although children may still see contextual ads and ads from non-Google providers. For support, Google points parents to its Help Center and accepts feedback in the app, by email, or by phone.

Pricing

Google Family Link costs nothing. The free plan includes the Family Link app and parental supervision tools, with some features requiring a compatible device. There is no paid tier or free trial to weigh against it, making it an unusually straightforward option for families whose devices meet the requirements.

Platforms

Parents can use Android or iOS apps, and some settings are manageable on the web. Child supervision supports Android 6.0 or later, Chromebooks running Chrome OS 71 or later, and compatible Fitbit devices. Despite the parent app’s iOS availability, Family Link cannot supervise children’s iPhones or iPads; it also cannot supervise computers other than Chromebooks. Google Workspace for Education accounts are outside its scope as well. Check the child’s device and account type before relying on it.

Who it's for

Family Link is a strong match for parents seeking no-cost screen-time schedules, app controls, Google content settings, and basic location visibility for a child on a supported device. It is less suitable for households that need one supervision setup across iPhones, iPads, or non-Chromebook computers, or that expect purchase approvals to cover stores beyond Google Play billing.

Pros and cons

• Pros: The free plan combines daily and scheduled limits with per-app time rules, unlimited-time exceptions, and app blocking.
• Pros: Controls cover several major Google services, including Chrome, Play, YouTube, YouTube Kids, and Search.
• Pros: Location alerts, device ringing, and battery visibility complement map location when a child’s device is connected and active.
• Cons: Child supervision does not extend to iPhones, iPads, or computers other than Chromebooks.
• Cons: Purchase approval settings cover only purchases processed through Google Play’s billing system.
• Cons: Location visibility relies on the device being powered on, recently active, and connected to the internet.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, see Parental control apps.

• Qustodio is worth considering for families who need support across Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. Its Basic plan costs $72.94 a year for 5 devices, while Complete costs $104.95 a year for unlimited family devices.
• OurPact offers a free plan for one child device with five manual blocks per month and one automated block schedule; families wanting more can consider Premium at $69.99 a year.
• Kaspersky Safe Kids has a free plan with basic parental-control features and unlimited use, and supports Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows.
• Apple Screen Time is the more fitting built-in option for Apple-device households. It is free and uses Family Sharing and individual Apple Accounts to manage a child’s controls across a family group.
• Safe Lagoon offers free web filtering and a Premium plan at $6.99 a month with five profiles.
• KidSafe360 has an Android and web free plan at no cost, with one device, the latest 20 records per data type, sync intervals of two hours or more, 10 photos per day, and email support.
• Bark is a paid Android and iOS option, with Bark Jr at $5 a month plus tax for unlimited children and devices.
• Kids Dashboard has an Android free plan for three devices and a Premium plan at £5 a year for 10 devices.

Verdict

Choose Google Family Link if you want a free, Google-centered way to set screen-time routines, manage apps and content, and add location visibility on a supported child device. Its main advantage is the breadth of everyday controls without a subscription; its main reason to look elsewhere is the strict device boundary, especially if your child uses an iPhone, iPad, or a non-Chromebook computer.