Google Family Link vs Kid Security
Google Family Link
families.google.comKid Security
kidsecurity.orgSide by side
| Figure | Google Family Link | Kid Security |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $3.33/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Spec score · Parental control apps | 8.7 (#10) | 8.2 (#33) |
| Activity reports | Yes | Yes |
| App blocking | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Headquarters | Mountain View, California, United States | Astana, Kazakhstan |
| Location | Parents can see a child’s location on a map when the child is carrying a powered-on, recently active device connected to the internet. | The app shows the child’s location on a map and supports safe zones and arrival or departure alerts. |
| Location tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Privacy | Google says personalized advertising is prohibited for minors, though children may see contextual ads and ads from non-Google providers. | The privacy policy says the company does not sell, transfer, or exchange user personal data with third parties for their independent use, except when required by law or court decision. |
| Screen time | Parents can set daily screen time limits and School Time or Downtime schedules. | App and game limits and screen-time schedules are available on Android with Premium; on a child’s iPhone, limits run through Apple Screen Time. |
| Support | Google directs parents to its Help Center and offers feedback through the Family Link app, email, or phone. | The site lists [email protected] as its support contact and offers priority support with the Subscription plan. |
Plans
In their own words
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 and School Time or Downtime schedules, set individual app limits, allow unlimited time for selected apps, or block apps. Controls cover Chrome, Google Play, YouTube, and Search, including site blocking and app approval. Activity reports and location tools add visibility: a child’s location appears when the device is powered on, recently active, and connected to the internet. Family Link can alert parents when a child arrives at or leaves a location, ring devices, and show remaining battery life. Parents can install the app on Android or iOS, and some settings are 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, and it cannot manage Google Workspace for Education accounts. Purchase approvals apply only to purchases through Google Play billing. The service is free; some features require a compatible device.
Kid Security
Kid Security has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.