Google Family Link is a free parental control app for Android and iOS that covers the basics of child protection, but not much else. It provides easy access to content filtering settings in Google apps like Search, Chrome, and YouTube (via its restricted mode), for example, but Family Link doesn't attempt to block inappropriate web content. App management is a bit more streamlined, with options to manually disable unapproved apps, block new installations until you've approved them, and (probably the highlight) manage in-app purchases. But there's no customizable app lock based on rating or category, and you can't limit the usage time of specific apps like you would anywhere else. Scheduling screen time is also basic and mainly involves setting daily time limits and a bedtime. A remote lock option lets you turn off your child's device from your own, which can be useful, but there's no built-in way for your child to ask for more time. There is also a device locator, but it is just as limited. You'll see the most recently saved location on a map, but there's no geolocation support, no option to set zones, and get alerts when your child arrives or leaves. However, it seems unfair to complain when Family Link is completely free and Google is at least refreshingly honest about what you can expect. There are none of the usual claims of overselling and hype, and even Family Link's Google Play page warns that “It doesn't make the internet safe. Rather, it is intended to give parents a choice in how their children use the Internet and to encourage conversations about Internet use.
(Image credit: Google)
Contac us
Setting up parental controls can be a nightmare with some apps, but Google Family Link does a good job of simplifying the process. You don't have to decide whether to install the parent or child app first, for example, and then go through a lengthy setup process on one, before moving on to the other. With the initial setup of Family Link, you install the parent's app on your device, the child's app on theirs, and a wizard guides you through the setup process. We were immediately impressed by detecting two accounts on our Android device and demanding that we remove one. Most parental control apps don't, giving your child the option to log into the other account and bypass your restrictions entirely. We removed old accounts and added our test profile. The app then automatically installed the Family Link kids app, and a few taps later we were good to go.
(Image credit: Google)
Parent app
The Family Link parent app offers several ways to monitor and manage your child's activities. Screen time options let you set a hard limit for each day of the week, and you can set a bedtime (9pm to 7am for our nine-year test) when accessing the internet and using computers. The applications are blocked. It is not as flexible as ESET Parental Controls, where you can allow or block access to individual 30-minute blocks of time, for example, to prevent the app from being used at lunchtime. But it covers the basics and is easy to use. App management tools include the ability to limit specific apps for a period of time ("you can only use Facebook for 30 minutes a day") or block them entirely. Set apps to "Always Allowed" and they won't count toward your child's screen time, which is useful for educational apps or anything else you want your child to use more often.
(Image credit: Google) Google Play rules restrict the content your kids can explore, and you can set the system to require your approval before your child installs new apps or makes in-app purchases (a big advantage for themselves). Web content filtering is, well, basic. The good news is that you can apply Google Safe Search, filtering out the most inappropriate results in Google Search. The bad news is that Family Link only lets you block "adult sites" (Google defines them as "sexually explicit" and "violent"), or restrict web access to only the sites you define, giving you much less precise control than you. It will go with the competition. There's also a handy bonus feature in an option to ask for permission if your child is using their Google account to sign in to iPhones, browsers, or other apps or platforms, where they might be able to bypass Family Link's protection.
(Image credit: Google)
What do you not get?
We normally go through parental control reviews talking about the different features you get, but with Family Link having so few, it's worth taking the time to point out what you'll be missing. Family Link can show a device's current location, for example, but that's where it stops. Competitors like Kidslox can show you a location history, and almost all support geolocation, the ability to set key areas (home, school, etc.), and get alerts when your child arrives and leaves. Family Link does not block websites by category in the same way as the best competitors. Bark allows you, for example, to block all streaming sites with a single click, and you can then adjust that, perhaps only allowing access to Disney+. There's very little activity monitoring here, beyond app usage and browsing history. Qustodio can also record text messages, give you access to call history, and allow you to view and block specific contacts. Family Link only works with Android and iOS, a problem if you have a laptop or two that you want to protect. Kaspersky Safe Kids, Net Nanny and a few others protect both mobile and desktop devices.
(Image credit: Google)
Final verdict
Family Link is basic, but Google does not claim otherwise. It's an effective way to enforce Google's restrictions on your own products (Search, Play Store, Chrome, YouTube) and might be sufficient for some users, but if power is a priority, you'll want to look elsewhere.