# Google Family Link

15 Hacker News commenters recommended Google Family Link and 8 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 9 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Free Android app letting parents limit apps, websites and screen time, seen as easier than Apple's options. Critics say it cannot block YouTube Shorts.

## Why people recommend it

- Strong controls on Android (4 comments): "Apple isn't very good in proper parental controls compared to family link on Android." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48460795)) "Google's implementation of parental controls is way superior to Apple's." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49258954)) "Google Family Link seems much more powerful and easy to manage to me" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48854535))
- Restricts apps, websites and adult content (2 comments): "You can also use Googles family link to enable a restricted mode that hides adult content for specific accounts." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46255130)) "which allows me to limit any apps/websites my child could view. Works really well." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49683958))
- Works reliably for families (2 comments): "which allows me to limit any apps/websites my child could view. Works really well." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49683958)) "Contrast this to google’s system which, well, works." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49716203))
- Manages several family accounts (2 comments): "I do that using Family Link. I have there my child and also my in-laws" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49840935)) "Google Family Link seems much more powerful and easy to manage to me" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48854535))

## What people warn about

- Cannot limit YouTube Shorts (3 comments): "family link is not enough, try disabling gemini and news access with it, and you cannot block shorts" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46842344)) "they would add an option in the Family Link app to set time limit for shorts for children" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47787355)) "not as good as blocking them entirely from even being seen .. but at least it's something" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47787535))
- Gaps on school and other devices (2 comments): "It worked really well up until she got a school managed chromebook for homework with no access controls." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47125626)) "Cross-platform support is very poor" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49116169))
- Setup needs extra accounts and permissions (2 comments): "you have to allow the Google app. And you have to allow it unrestricted time" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46465627)) "Had to setup MS accounts, Minecraft accounts and MS family link setup." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49177144))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Apple Screen Time](https://hackerapproved.com/p/apple-screen-time.md): 17 recommend
- [Apple parental controls](https://hackerapproved.com/p/apple-parental-controls.md): 8 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Google Family Link", https://hackerapproved.com/p/google-family-link/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).