Google Family Link vs Apple Screen Time: Which Parental System
Compare the two main parental control systems on Android and iOS so families can pick the one that fits their devices, their child's age and their household rules.
Google Family Link
Google's parental control system for Android phones, tablets and Chromebooks, linked to a child Google account.
Best for: Households on Android and Chromebooks, especially for children under 13 on a supervised Google account.
Apple Screen Time with Family Sharing
Built-in iOS, iPadOS and macOS controls tied to a child Apple ID inside a Family Sharing group.
Best for: Households already on iPhone, iPad or Mac who want controls baked into the operating system.
Side-by-side
| Dimension | Google Family Link | Apple Screen Time with Family Sharing |
|---|---|---|
| Supported operating systems | Android and ChromeOS, limited iOS visibility | iOS, iPadOS and macOS only |
| Account requirement | Child Google account created by the parent | Child Apple ID inside Family Sharing |
| App install controls | Approve or block every Play Store install | Ask to Buy approval for App Store installs |
| Time limits | Daily limits, bedtime, per-app limits | Downtime, App Limits, Communication Limits |
| Web and content filtering | SafeSearch and Chrome site blocking | Safari content restrictions and adult-content filter |
| Location sharing | Live location of the supervised device | Find My family sharing of device location |
| Transparency to the child | Child sees that the device is supervised | Child sees Screen Time and request prompts |
| Behaviour around the 13 cutoff | At 13 the child can remove supervision unless extended | Family Sharing continues but in-app autonomy expands |
| Common escape routes | Factory reset, second non-supervised account, sideloaded apps | Second Apple ID, removing device from Family Sharing, screen recording bypass |
| Cost | Free with a Google account | Free with an Apple ID and Family Sharing |
UK context
Under the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, 13 is the age at which a child can consent to most online services in their own right, and both Family Link and Apple's child accounts shift behaviour around that birthday. Ofcom's Children's Code expectations apply to the services children use through these devices, not to the parental control systems themselves. If a parental control system is bypassed and a child is approached or harmed online, save evidence, report in-app, and contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or Childline on 0800 1111. Use 999 for immediate danger and 101 for non-emergency police.
How to decide
Pick the system that matches the devices you already own, then commit to it. Family Link is the natural choice if your child uses an Android phone or a school Chromebook; Apple Screen Time is the natural choice on iPhone or iPad. Both are reasonable; neither replaces ongoing conversation, and both weaken at the 13 cutoff so plan a transition to coached, not controlled, use before that birthday.
Related reading
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.