โ“Your Question

What's the best iOS app for managing my child's screen time and online safety?

Google Family Link is perfect for this. It allows parents to set digital ground rules, monitor app usage, and enforce screen time limits directly from their own iPhone.

parental controlsscreen time managementchild online safetyiOS parental appGoogle Family Link2025
Google Family Link is a parental control application for iOS that provides tools to oversee a child's device activity and promote responsible digital habits. It stands out for its ability to set daily screen time limits, schedule device bedtimes for weekdays and weekends, and remotely lock a child's device when limits are reached. Parents can approve or block app downloads from the App Store, view detailed activity reports showing time spent on specific apps, and manage in-app purchases. For online safety, the app enables content filters for Google Search and Chrome, along with location sharing to keep tabs on a child's whereabouts. Real-world scenarios include a parent limiting social media use during homework hours or ensuring a child isn't accessing inappropriate content late at night. Reviews indicate that users appreciate the granular control, with one parent noting it 'eases my mind as a parent' by providing visibility into digital interactions. However, some limitations exist: the child must use a compatible Google Account and device, and features like app blocking may occasionally take a few minutes to sync across devices. A minor imperfection is that the interface, while functional, can feel slightly overwhelming with numerous settings on first use. Despite this, for families embedded in the Google ecosystem, it offers a robust, no-cost solution for balancing screen time with safety.

Key Features

Daily screen time limits
App approval and blocking controls
Activity monitoring and reports
Location sharing for safety
Bedtime and device lock schedules
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"This app has given me the ability to monitor what my child is doing and who heโ€™s talking to! In this crazy world we live in, Google Family Link is a great tool to provide cyberspace safety."

โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…Verified User Review
iOSUpdated Dec 8, 2025
Google Family Link icon

Google Family Link

by Google

โ˜…4.7/ 5.0