--- title: Google Family Link canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/google-family-link/ category: Parental Control Apps points: 81 rank: 4 of 10 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Google Family Link Free Google app for screen time, app and location controls on children's Android devices and Chromebooks. 81 points out of 100. #4 of 10 parental control apps. Vendor: Google. Website: https://families.google/familylink/ - The app is free on Google Play, with a listed price of 0 [6]. - A child's device must be Android or a Chromebook; Windows, Mac and iPhone cannot be supervised [2][4]. - Parents set daily limits, a bedtime and per-app limits, and can lock a supervised device remotely [1][4][6]. - Parents can locate the child's Android device in the app and get alerts when the child arrives at or leaves a family place [1][4][8]. Verdict: Family Link suits families whose children use Android phones or Chromebooks and want free limits, app approvals and location [1][2][6]. It also lets parents restrict YouTube and Chrome [1][5]. The catch: a Windows PC, Mac or iPhone cannot be supervised, and site filtering runs only in Chrome [4][5]. Best for: Families whose children use Android phones or Chromebooks. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Windows PC | No | 0/6 | Google's help page says computers other than Chromebooks cannot be supervised with Family Link [4]. Chrome settings can be bypassed on computers [5]. | | Systems | Other systems | Android, ChromeOS | 6/12 | Supervision runs on Android 7.0 or higher and Chrome OS 71 or higher; iPhones and iPads cannot be supervised [2][4]. | | Controls | Website filtering by category | Yes | 8/8 | Chrome can try to block explicit sites, and parents add approved or blocked sites. Counted as one adult category plus custom entries [5]. | | Controls | Block apps and games | Yes | 6/6 | Parents block or allow apps on a child's Android devices and Chromebooks, and approve new downloads [4]. | | Controls | Daily limits and schedules | Yes | 8/8 | Parents set a daily limit per weekday and a bedtime on supervised devices [4]. | | Controls | Time limits per app | Yes | 3/3 | The overview lists individual app time limits, including unlimited time for chosen apps [1]. | | Controls | Pause or lock from the parent app | Yes | 3/3 | The Google Play listing says a parent can remotely lock a supervised device [6]. | | Controls | Removal protection | Yes | 3/3 | Teens need parental approval to stop supervision; changing limits on the child's device needs parent sign-in or a Parent Access Code [3][4]. | | Controls | YouTube controls | Yes | 2/2 | The overview lists YouTube among Google services with parental controls, under tools for parents, kids and teens [1]. | | Monitoring | Live location | Yes | 6/6 | Google says parents can locate children on one map, and find the child's Android device in the Family Link app [1][4]. | | Monitoring | Place alerts | Yes | 2/2 | Parents can turn on Arrives and Leaves alerts for each family place [8]; the overview also lists arrival and leave notifications [1]. | | Monitoring | Social media and message alerts | Not published | 0/5 | Not published on the vendor's overview, FAQ or help page [1][3][4]. | | Monitoring | Activity reports | Yes | 3/3 | Activity reports show time on apps, in daily, weekly or monthly views [6]. | | Monitoring | Child requests | Yes | 3/3 | A child can ask to visit a blocked site, and the parent approves or denies it in the Family Link app [5]. | | Terms | Money-back period | Not published | 0/2 | Not published; the app is listed at a price of 0 [6]. | | Price and plan | Free plan | Yes | 8/8 | No plan page exists. Google Play lists the app at a price of 0, with screen time, app and site controls [6][4]. | | Price and plan | Cheapest paid family plan | $0 | 12/12 | Google Play lists the app at a price of 0; no paid plan found. Counted as a fully free product [6]. | | Price and plan | Devices on the priced plan | 100 | 8/8 | No device cap appears on Google's pages; counted as a free product with no stated cap [1][6]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Free | Free [6] | $0 | Google lists no device cap and no paid tier. The $0 price and the 100-device value rest on the free Google Play listing [6]. ## Strengths - Free on Google Play, with a listed price of 0 [6]. - Daily limits, bedtime and per-app limits for supervised devices [1][4]. - Parents can remotely lock a supervised device [6]. - Children can ask to visit a blocked site, and parents answer in the Family Link app [5]. - Teens need parental approval to stop supervision [3]. ## Limits - Windows, Mac and iPhone cannot be supervised; only Android and Chromebook [2][4]. - Website filtering applies only in Chrome, and other browsers are not covered [5]. - Google says the filters are not perfect and some explicit content gets through [3]. - Google's pages do not list scanning of social media or text messages for risky content [1][3]. ## Concerns - Privacy Guides reported on 2026-05-29 that a researcher described attackers using Family Link to lock account owners out after a password theft; the article does not report a Google statement [7]. ## Sources 1. [Family Link from Google](https://families.google/familylink/), Google, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Check your device compatibility](https://families.google/familylink/device-compatibility/), Google, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Frequently Asked Questions and Answers](https://families.google/familylink/faq/), Google, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Get started with Family Link](https://support.google.com/families/answer/7101025), Google For Families Help, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Chrome & your child's Google Account](https://support.google.com/families/answer/7087030), Google For Families Help, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Family Link parental controls](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.kids.familylinkhelper), Google Play, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [Google Family Link Exploit Enables Account Lockout and Surveillance](https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/05/29/google-family-link-exploit-enables-account-lockout-and-surveillance/), Privacy Guides, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [Find & manage your child's location](https://support.google.com/families/answer/7103413), Google For Families Help, accessed 2026-10-08