TL;DR
If you’re in a rush between soccer practice and making sure the "healthy" dinner actually gets eaten: Apple Screen Time is the gold standard for seamless integration if everyone is on iOS, but it’s notoriously glitchy. Google Family Link offers much more granular control—especially over YouTube—and works surprisingly well even if you’re a "green bubble" parent managing an iPhone kid.
- Best for YouTube addicts: Google Family Link
- Best for simple "set it and forget it": Apple Screen Time
- Best for mixed-device chaos: Google Family Link
Ask our chatbot which tool is better for your specific device setup
The "digital handshake" we make with our kids usually starts with a hand-me-down iPhone or a budget Android tablet. We tell ourselves it’s for "safety" or "educational games" like Prodigy, but three weeks later, they’re deep in a Skibidi Toilet rabbit hole on YouTube and you’re wondering where it all went wrong.
Choosing between Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link isn't just a tech choice; it's about deciding how you want to police the digital borders of your home. One feels like a polite suggestion, and the other feels like a digital deadbolt.
Apple’s approach is built into the DNA of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It’s elegant, it’s right there in the settings, and it doesn't require downloading an extra app (unless you count the Home app for some smart features).
What it gets right
Apple excels at Communication Limits. You can decide exactly who your child can talk to during "Downtime." If you only want them calling you or their grandparents after 8:00 PM, Apple handles that better than anyone else. It also integrates perfectly with Family Sharing, making it easy to approve or deny requests for Roblox or Brawl Stars right from your own Apple Watch or iPhone notification shade.
The "Apple Tax" (The Frustration)
Here is the no-BS truth: Apple Screen Time is buggy. Parents have been complaining for years about settings randomly resetting or "Ask to Buy" notifications disappearing into the ether. Also, if your kid is even remotely tech-savvy, they’ve already searched "how to bypass Apple Screen Time" on TikTok. (Hint: it often involves changing the system clock or screen recording their parent entering the passcode).
Learn more about common Screen Time bypasses and how to fix them
Google Family Link is an app-based system. You install it on your phone and their device. While it was originally built for Android, the iOS parent app is actually very solid.
Granular Control
Family Link allows you to set "Bonus Time" (a godsend for when they actually finish their chores) and lock the device remotely with a single tap. If your child is using a Chromebook for school, Family Link is the only way to effectively manage their browsing habits and app usage on that device.
The YouTube Factor
Since Google owns YouTube, Family Link has the best integration for managing what they watch. You can toggle between YouTube Kids and "Supervised Experiences" on the main YouTube app with much more precision than Apple’s generic "Web Content" filters.
| Feature | Apple Screen Time | Google Family Link |
|---|---|---|
| App Limits | Daily totals for categories or specific apps | Daily totals + "Always Allowed" apps |
| Remote Lock | No (you have to set "Downtime") | Yes (instant "Lock Now" button) |
| Location Tracking | Yes (via Find My) | Yes (built into the app) |
| Approval System | Notifications on parent device | Notifications + email options |
| Cross-Platform | Apple devices only | Parent can be on iOS; Child must be Android/ChromeOS |
Kids generally prefer Apple Screen Time because it feels less "invasive." It gives them a "One More Minute" warning that actually works. Family Link is more abrupt—when time is up, the screen literally changes to a "Time for a break" image, and that’s it.
If your kid is into "entrepreneurial" gaming like Roblox, they’ll likely find Apple’s "Ask to Buy" system for Robux more seamless, whereas Family Link can sometimes be a bit clunkier with Google Play Store permissions.
Check out our guide on whether Roblox is actually safe for your 8-year-old
If you have an iPhone and your kid has a cheap Android tablet for Minecraft, you must use Family Link. Apple Screen Time cannot see or control non-Apple devices.
Conversely, if you have an Android and your kid has an iPhone, you are in a bit of a "parenting dead zone." You can't use Apple Screen Time at all. You can put Family Link on their iPhone, but it is significantly less powerful on iOS. It can't lock the phone or set hard app limits as effectively because Apple doesn't give Google's app deep system permissions.
In this scenario, we often recommend a third-party tool like Bark or Qustodio.
Ages 5-9: The "Training Wheels" Phase
At this age, Google Family Link is usually superior. The ability to instantly lock a device when it's time for dinner—without having to navigate three sub-menus—is a lifesaver. You should be using these tools to curate a very small garden of apps like Khan Academy Kids or Duolingo.
Ages 10-13: The "Negotiation" Phase
This is where Apple Screen Time shines—if you’re an all-Apple house. The "Communication Limits" are vital here as they start navigating iMessage and group chats. It feels less like "Big Brother" and more like a shared agreement.
Ages 14+: The "Digital Handshake"
By high school, these tools should mostly be used for self-regulation (monitoring their own data) rather than hard-locking. If you’re still "locking" a 16-year-old's phone at 9:00 PM, they will find a way around it—or they just won't learn how to put the phone down themselves when they head to college.
Neither of these tools is a substitute for a conversation. You can have the strictest Family Link settings in the world, but if your kid is at a friend's house watching MrBeast on an unrestricted TV, the tech failed you.
The goal isn't to be a high-tech prison warden; it's to create "friction." We want to make it just a little bit harder for them to spend six hours on TikTok and a little bit easier for them to pick up a book like The Wild Robot.
- Choose Apple Screen Time if your family is fully invested in the Apple ecosystem and you want a built-in, "invisible" way to manage communication and app spending.
- Choose Google Family Link if you need "hard" limits, remote locking, or if your kids are using Android tablets and Chromebooks.
Regardless of which you choose, remember that these apps are just tools. They’re the fence, but you’re still the one who has to teach them how to play in the yard.
- Check your kid's current usage: Open the settings on their device right now and look at the "Last 7 Days" report. It’s usually eye-opening.
- Set a "Digital Sunset": Pick a time (e.g., 8:30 PM) when all devices go to a charging station in the kitchen—not the bedroom. Use Screen Time or Family Link to enforce this automatically.
- Review the "Always Allowed" list: Make sure educational apps like Scratch or SkyView aren't being blocked by your general limits.
Take our Screenwise Survey to see how your family's tech habits compare to your community