Google Family Link Review | It's Free But Does It Work?

Looking for an effective parental control solution? Curious about Google Family Link?

You’re in the right place! To give you the most genuine review possible, I tested the app extensively.

In this blog, I’ll share my insights and experiences with this Google parental control app.

Our Verdict

Google Family Link is a free parental control app available for both iPhone and Android. This app allows parents to remotely monitor their children’s activities on their phones.

Since it’s a free app, there are some trade-offs. While it’s one of the best options among free parental control apps, it doesn't offer all the features you'd find in paid alternatives.

Is that good or bad? It’s hard to say. Compared to other free apps, Family Link stands out, but when stacked against paid options, many provide more comprehensive features.

Pros

• Completely free to use.
• Blocks pre-installed apps like YouTube and Facebook.
• Offers real-time location tracking.
• Sets daily screen time limits.

Cons

• No access to calls or SMS.
• Can be easily bypassed.
• Limited to children aged 13 and under.
• Some features aren’t available for iOS devices.

Starting price

Free

Free trial

Free to use

Standout features

Screen time restriction, App management

How Google Family Link Works

After testing the app, I found several key points to consider. To effectively use Google’s parental control app, there are a few requirements you need to meet.

Create google accounts: Both you and your child need Google accounts. Without these, the app won’t work.

Link your child’s account: During setup, you’ll need to enter your child’s Google account credentials. If they don’t have an account, you can create one for them.

Access requirements: If your child already has an account, you’ll need their password to proceed. For discreet monitoring, find a subtle way to gain access to their account.

Setup process: Expect the setup to take about twenty minutes due to several steps.

Once configured, you can easily view the collected data through the user-friendly Family Link interface.

An In-Depth Look at Google Family Link’s Key Features

While the Google parental control app is free, it offers a range of features. Here’s a summary of its features.

•  Screen time restrictions

With Google’s Family Link, you can manage your children’s screen time effectively. This feature allows you to set limits on how much time they spend on their devices each day. You can customize screen time limits for each day of the week, giving you flexibility in managing their device usage.

•   App management

On Family Link for Android, you can easily view all the apps on your child's phone through the interface. For each app, you can set usage time limits or even block access entirely. However, on iPhone, you’ll only be able to manage Google-related apps.

•   Content restrictions

Family Link also lets you restrict content on Google apps, including Google Play, YouTube, Google Chrome, Google Search, and Google Assistant. This helps ensure that your children only access age-appropriate content.

• On Google Play, you can manage app purchases and filter content based on your child’s age group.
• For YouTube, enabling Restricted Mode allows you to hide videos that are intended for mature audiences.
• In Google Chrome, you can control which websites your children can visit. You can block explicit sites or create a customized list of allowed websites.
• With Google Search, you can filter out explicit images, text, and links to ensure safer browsing.

•   Google assistant restrictions

You can manage the data recorded on your child’s Google account, giving you oversight of their interactions.

•   Real-time location tracking

Family Link’s real-time location feature lets you see where your children are at any moment. Just ensure that the target phone is connected for this feature to work properly.

Since Google Family Link doesn’t provide direct access to various social media platforms, you can’t monitor your children’s social media activities through it. If you want to keep an eye on what your kids are doing online, you’ll need to look for alternative solutions.

Google Family Link Installation & Setup

From my testing experience, I found that installing Google’s parental control app isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. It took me a few minutes to set it up properly. Here are the steps to install and configure the app:

Step 1. Install Family Link on a phone or computer

• Installing on an iPhone or Android

The installation process for both iPhone and Android is fairly easy. If you have an Android phone, just search for it in the Google Play Store.

For iOS, head to the Apple App Store and do the same search. Once you find the app, simply download it.

• Installing on a computer

If you want to use Family Link on a computer, you don’t need to download anything. Just type “Google Family Link” into your web browser and click on the first link. You’ll be redirected to the homepage. In the top right corner, click “Sign In” and enter your credentials.

Once you’re logged in, you can set up the target phone.

Step 2. Set up Family Link

For Android phones

• To set up the target phone, make sure Google services are available on the device.
• Go to Settings and find "Google".
• Once in the Google settings, select "Family and children", then "Parental controls".
• Enter your child’s Google account credentials and follow the on-screen instructions.
• This step will activate the profile manager on the target phone. Only after completing this step will parental controls be fully configured.

For iOS or other phones

• If the target phone is not an Android (like an iPhone or another type), when adding an account, instead of tapping “Next” click on “Get help”. In the help page, look for the hyperlink that redirects you to your web browser to complete the setup. The steps will be quite similar to the previous process.

Once you’ve completed all these steps and finalized the parental controls, you’ll be able to access data from the target phone via the Google app or your computer.

Google Family Link Pricing and Plans

Google's parental control service is completely free, with no subscription fees or usage costs. Unlike some software developers who limit features in their free versions, Google provides full access to all features from the start. If you have multiple children, you can add as many accounts as you need.

 Customer Support for Google Family Link

#1. Customer support

Even though the app is free, Google offers solid customer support. To get help, look at the bottom left of the account options and click on "Help & Feedback."

#2. Help page for Family Link

My opinion on Google Family Link’s help service is mixed. You have access to various help topics, and you can directly contact customer support. However, the contact options are somewhat limited. If you want to communicate with a customer service representative in French, you’ll only be able to do so via email.

If you're comfortable communicating in English, there's a live chat option available from Monday to Sunday during specific hours. Wait times can vary from one minute to several minutes, depending on the volume of inquiries.

What Real Users Say about Google Family Link

Reviews of Google’s parental control service are mixed, but it still receives a strong overall rating that few parental control apps can match.

Positive aspects:

• The app is completely free, allowing you to easily control your children's Android devices.
• The intuitive interface makes it accessible, even for first-time users like myself.

Areas for improvement:

• More precise location tracking would be beneficial.
• Some features could be enhanced; for instance, it would be great to send messages or make calls when locking the device.
• It would be more complete if it included access to social media, SMS, and phone calls.
• The age limit of 13 years should be reconsidered to accommodate older children.

Google Family Link Alternative: Is Msafely the Better Choice

If you're looking for a reliable parental control solution that addresses the shortcomings of Google Family Link, Msafely stands out as the top choice.

Msafely offers a comprehensive set of parental control tools. While it provides essential features like activity monitoring and geolocation, it also grants access to SMS, phone calls, and social media platforms like Snapchat, Facebook, Telegram, and WhatsApp. All the features missing from Google Family Link can be found in Msafely.

Google Family Link vs. Msafely: A comprehensive comparison

Why choose Msafely over Google Family Link

#1. Works on all devices

• Google Family Link is compatible primarily with Android devices and offers limited functionality on iOS. This can be restrictive for families using a mix of devices.
• Msafely, on the other hand, is fully compatible with both Android and iOS, including the latest iPhones. This makes it an excellent choice for families with different types of smartphones, ensuring everyone is covered.

#2. No installation needed

• With Msafely, you don’t have to install anything on the phone you want to monitor. This makes it easier to set up and keeps things discreet.
• Google Family Link requires you to install the app on the target device, which can be a hassle.

#3. Advanced features

• Msafely lets you monitor SMS messages and calls, giving you deeper insights into your child’s communications. Msafely tracks activity on 16 social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok. This gives you a clearer picture of your child’s online activity.
• Google Family Link mainly focuses on screen time and app usage, missing out on these important features.

#4. Good value

• Although Msafely is a paid service, its wide range of features makes it worth the cost, especially since you don’t need to install anything.
• Google Family Link is free, but it might not offer everything you need for thorough monitoring.

#5. Better for families

• Msafely is designed with families in mind, making it easier to monitor different devices and activities.
• Google Family Link is fine for basic use, but it doesn't cover as much ground.

In short, if you want a more flexible, user-friendly, and feature-rich parental control tool, Msafely is the better choice compared to Google Family Link.

FAQ about Google Family Link

Q1. Does Family Link work on iPhone?

Google's parental control app is primarily designed for Android devices. If your kids use an iPhone, not all features will be available. However, you can still manage your children’s Android devices from an iPhone without any issues.

Q2. Is Family Link free? 

Yes, it’s completely free! Family Link is one of Google’s free services, so there’s no subscription required to access all its features. Just download the app and start monitoring your kids’ online activities.

Q3. Does Family Link work abroad? 

Yes, Google’s parental control app works internationally. However, some features may be limited in certain countries due to local laws. Family Link is officially available in 38 countries, including major ones like France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Italy, and the United States. It may work elsewhere, but this depends on local regulations.

Q4. Does Google Family Link stop at 13 years old? 

While 13 is the age limit, the app doesn’t automatically stop functioning. At that age, your child can manage their own Google account. You can still use some features, but your child will have the option to disable parental controls.

Q5. Can Family Link see browsing history? 

Yes, it offers features that let you access browsing information, such as visited websites and search queries. However, this functionality is only available through the Google Chrome browser.

Q6. How do I add a device to Family Link? 

Adding a device is pretty straightforward. Open the app, select your child’s account, go to settings, find the device section, select your child’s device, and look for the option to add or remove a user.

Q7. Can Family Link see deleted text messages? 

Unfortunately, the app does not allow access to text messages, whether they are deleted or not. Family Link focuses more on screen time management, content filtering, and device location.

Q8. How do kids bypass Family Link? 

Children can find various ways to bypass Google’s parental controls, including:

• Resetting the device
• Using third-party browsers
• Private browsing
• Creating secondary accounts
• Using a VPN
• Changing date and time settings

Q9. How do I disable Family Link parental controls without deleting the Google account? 

To disable parental controls without removing the account, open the app, select your child, and turn off supervision in the settings. Look for “Remove supervision” and follow the on-screen instructions.