Google Family Link

• Free

Last verified 30 Aug 2026

• Free to download

Last verified 31 Aug 2026

4.7 289159 ratings · App Store

1. 5/5Amazing app to help you keep track of your kids screen time

   I downloaded this app when I set up my toddlers device(after setting up their email account, so it automatically created the family link which is honestly pretty cool) and it’s helped so much in teaching them the rules we have for screen time. Being able to lock the device when it’s time to be done has helped with the time management and has helped create a schedule that works well for us, because once the device is locked my toddler immediately starts working on a different activity outside of the screen. Previously, switching activities was a bit difficult because they’d be locked onto whatever it was they were doing but having a visual sign that it’s time to be done helps them switch that part of their brain off and turn to something else. I honestly dont know how I never heard of this app before now

   Poppyseed1122 · 30 Aug 2026

2. 1/5No

   I see a lot of self centered parents in these reviews. I recommend finding a more proactive way of keeping your kids safe. I see a lot of reasons this app would be helpful. But snooping through messages is not it. Children need privacy to grow. This app allows way too much control. Moderate control is what we need. But complete control over your child is ABSOLUTELY absurd. This just opens a whole other level of parental control, and makes it easy to do. Which just makes the next step easier to do! The next step being? Abuse. Don't be surprised when your child doesn't share important things with you. You may wonder why. But it's a simple answer. YOU forced them to share their personal information. What makes you think they'll want to share it willingly? You forcefully share their phone data to you. But what about the rest of their personal information? The information that isn't on a phone? I would argue that the information NOT on your phone is way more vital to your child's well-being. They're not going to share that with you. Not after you force them to share all the data on their phone 24/7. You can hide your mental health from this app. Just don't text about it. Your child is obviously not sharing their mental issues with you. I mean you downloaded this, they obviously won't trust you. But let's just take away the ability for them to text their friends (the only ones they trust) when their feeling sad! Am i right! This app SCREAMS "i don't trust you". Why would they trust you if you don't trust them? Disgusting, and quite literally vile.

   true facts here · 30 Aug 2026

3. 1/5You don’t need this app, you need better communication.

   Hi parents!!! As somebody who doesn’t have this app on their phone anymore, but used to, I wanna give you some of my perspective on this app. I understand that you care about your children’s safety and that’s amazing! But this is NOT the way to keep them safe. First of all, I’d like you to put yourself in their shoes for a moment, how would THEY feel??? Because from experience I know, this only makes them act out more. They get better at hiding it, but this app does seriously no favors for your child OR their behavior. This literally breaks all trust that your child has in you. If you think you need this app, you don’t. You need to have a conversation with your kids about internet safety, and some OCCASIONAL checks of their device, nothing too invasive, just a simple scan to make sure nothing sketchy is going on. But this app is incredibly invasive and genuinely feels suffocating. Please never get this app, your children's trust in you will be shattered. Plus, it has so many glitches anyway, it’s super slow too. (That might just be my wifi, but you get the point.) This app may turn their phone on and off when you please, but trust is hard to turn back on after turning it off. Please, you don’t need this app. You need to have a conversation with your kids about being safe on the internet. If you are REALLY concerned, like I said, do a general check of their phone. Even then, if you find something sketchy. TALK. TO. THEM. ABOUT. IT!!!! YOU. DONT. NEED. THIS. APP.

   Bobagirl*** · 30 Aug 2026

4. 1/5Family Link is a Trap

   I made a google account many years ago when I was at the age where I needed a guardian account to link with it. I didn’t actually use the account very much then, but now, many years later where I am way beyond the age where I need a supervised account I have it linked with other software accounts. Now family link doesn’t allow me to basically do anything and me and my mom have been trying for the past week to get this wretched curse off of our accounts. We have iPhones so Im not sure if it works better with androids. Google family link is unremovable if you are on iPhone. No tutorial, no link, no tech support can help you remove this binding. I can’t even log in to family link through my “child” account because the page refreshes every time. Can someone PLEASE tell me why this is happening and how to fix it?? DONT USE FAMILY LINK PLEASE!!! P.S. : It may seem pathetic that the review about a restriction app is coming from the person being restricted but the only reason my mom didn’t write this review is because she doesn’t want anything to do with it. We are both so unsatisfied and still can’t lift the lock on both of our accounts. She can’t remove family link because I’m above 13 yet I still have restrictions!!!! Why can’t I change my age? Awful app and software.

   plz read devs 😘 · 30 Aug 2026

5. 1/5⚠️READ THIS⚠️

   This is a terrible app that creates trust issues. As a kid, I could say that this app makes me feel self conscious around my mom and I don’t trust her this made me keep so many secrets. If I were allowed to express myself, I would offer a compromise with my mom but instead, I feel like she controls me like a mindless animal. I would like to explain my point of view to her but instead of us trusting each other, all I can think about is how she wants to spy on my phone and she doesn’t have a shred of trust in me. With this app, I learned that anyone can push me around and I am bullied a lot because of this. I get parents love their kids and want to protect them but the kid would feel so much better instead of feeling like they have to hide everything from you. If you don’t use this app the kid will learn the value of trust and is less likely to hide things from you. And this app also hurts the kid because they can’t socialize at all because they have already been talking too long like who sets a limit for friendship. It’s better to trust your kid to put their phones down when they have to. And this app also gives kids a sense of hopelessness and lack of control and they will most likely lack the ability to make good decisions in adulthood because their decisions have always been made for them. And middle schoolers like me shouldn’t have this. Eventually, the kid has to mature things will go badly if they are suddenly flung into the true nature of life when they are 18 and having their friends talking while their phone is locked and talking about apps that are blocked make them feel very sad and left out. I would rate this 0 if I could. Please don’t get this app because what hurts more than anything is knowing ur parents don’t trust you.

   a kid with something to say · 30 Aug 2026

4.6 5335758 ratings · Google Play

1. 5/5

   I HATE IT

   Carder Hughes · 1 Aug 2026

2. 5/5

   good

   niraj kumar · 1 Aug 2026

3. 3/5

   This app is really great for keeping kids safe online, but as they roll into their teen years, things might get rough. For anyone 13 to until they're 18 years old that's parents are keeping family link on their devices, you guys should really add an option where the minor can access their phones in an emergency. But like, limit it down to apps that only can call and text so that if it's a real emergency, they're not playing games or anything. Just my suggestion that could be really useful.

   Mizeri · 1 Aug 2026

4. 4/5

   so glad they have this app it allows me to control screen/ phone time as well as see where they are! If we can't find the phone or if there ignoring me I push the beeper thing. They hate it unless they want there phone found.

   Jessica Morgan · 1 Aug 2026

5. 1/5

   hate this app

   Muhammad Luthfi · 1 Aug 2026

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