Google Family Link vs ParentalEdge
Google Family Link
families.google.comParentalEdge
parentaledge.comSide by side
| Figure | Google Family Link | ParentalEdge |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $4.17/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Parental control apps | 8.7 (#10) | 8.7 (#12) |
| Activity reports | Yes | Yes |
| App blocking | Yes | Yes |
| Content filtering | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Headquarters | Mountain View, California, United States | Tarneit, Victoria, Australia |
| Integrations | Family Link controls settings for Google services including Chrome, Google Play, YouTube, YouTube Kids, and Search. | Google Classroom, Vedantu, Unacademy, and Khan Academy are identified as educational apps allowed by default. |
| 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 pricing page lists a location map with the day's trail and Home/School arrival and 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 maker says it does not read private messages and lets users delete their data at any time. |
| Purpose | Family Link helps parents guide their child’s online experience and build digital habits. | ParentalEdge blocks harmful content, manages screen time, and provides parents with activity insights. |
| Screen time | Parents can set daily screen time limits and School Time or Downtime schedules. | Features include daily limits, bedtime locks, per-app limits, scheduled access windows, and study mode. |
| Screen-time schedules | Yes | Yes |
| 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. |
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.
ParentalEdge
ParentalEdge has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.