Tool profile
Google Family Link: cost, fit and limits
Google Family Link is a free parental supervision service from Google that lets parents manage a child's Google Account, set screen time, approve apps, share location and supervise Chrome and YouTube on Android and Chrome devices.
What to know first
Google Family Link has no paid tier on the pages we read; the service is described as free to use. It centers on a supervised Google Account for a child, with screen time schedules, downtime, app limits, Google Play approvals, location sharing and Chrome and YouTube tools. It does not block inappropriate content by itself, and the pages read name no AI feature.
Google Family Link at a glance
| Maker | Google, Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Parental Control Software in 2026, rank 7 of 10 |
| Website | families.google/familylink/ |
Who Google Family Link is best for
Families already using Android
Screen time, app approvals and location sharing run through the child's Google Account and Google Play, so no extra subscription is needed.
Parents of younger children
A supervised Google Account is available for a child under the applicable age, while children above that age can manage their own account.
Households wanting location notices
Location sharing sends notifications when a child arrives at or leaves a place, and parents can ring a device or check its battery level.
Google Family Link plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Family Link | Free | Parent app for a child's Google Account, screen time, app approvals and location, with no paid tier listed. |
Checked November 2026.
What Google Family Link does
- Screen time controls
- Schedules, downtime and app limits can be set per child, so a parent can keep bedtime clear and cap a single game without blocking the device.
- Location sharing
- Shows a child's location and sends notifications when the child arrives at or leaves a place, which spares a parent from opening a map to check on arrival.
- Google Play approvals
- Parents approve or restrict app installs from Google Play, so each new download needs a decision before it reaches the child's device and a restricted app stays off.
- Chrome restrictions
- Website and browser restrictions apply in Google Chrome, which is where filtering options for inappropriate sites sit, since Family Link does not filter on its own.
- YouTube supervision
- YouTube tools let parents supervise what a child watches, and remote functions include ringing a device and checking its battery level from the parent's app.
How Google Family Link handles your data
The child disclosure page describes how Google handles data for accounts of children under 13, and the FAQ explains account rules. The pages read do not state whether customer data trains AI models, how long data is retained, where it is hosted or which certifications apply to Family Link, so the vendor's policy was not checked for those points. The disclosure page is the document to read before creating a supervised account, because it sets out what the child's account collects and how a parent can review it.
Where Google Family Link falls short in practice
- No content blocking by itself. Family Link does not block inappropriate content on its own; filtering options sit inside Google Search, Chrome and YouTube, so each has to be set up.
- Work and school accounts excluded. Accounts provided through work or school cannot manage a family group, which can block a parent who only has a managed Google account from setting it up.
- Tied to Android and Chrome. Children and teens can run Family Link on certain Android and Chrome devices, so households with other device types need a second tool to cover them.
Works with
Alternatives to Google Family Link
Google Family Link: common questions
Is Google Family Link free?
Yes. The pages we read describe Family Link as free to use and show no paid tier. The supervised Google Account for a child is also free. A parent pays only for any separate apps or subscriptions bought outside the service.
Does Family Link block inappropriate websites?
Not by itself. The FAQ says Family Link does not block inappropriate content, and filtering options sit in Google Search, Chrome and YouTube. A parent sets those separately, so a child on another browser or app may not be covered.
What devices does Family Link work on?
The pages describe Android and Chrome. Children and teens can run Family Link on certain Android and Chrome devices, with Google Play approvals and Chrome website restrictions. The pages read do not list iPhone support as part of the child's setup.
Does Family Link use AI?
The pages we read name no AI capability for Family Link. They describe screen time controls, location sharing, Google Play approvals, Chrome and YouTube supervision and remote functions. Parents wanting AI alerts should compare the other tools in this category.
Can a school or work Google account run a family group?
No. The pages say accounts provided through work or school cannot manage a family group. A parent would need a personal Google Account to create the group and supervise a child's account through Family Link, which is worth settling first.