SkieWhat are the alternatives to Google Family Link?
The main alternatives are Qustodio, Norton Family and Net Nanny, which are apps, kids' phones such as Gabb or Pinwheel, and device-owner software such as Skie. Choose by what you need most: time limits and reports, hardware and plan together, or controls a child cannot remove.
Families leave Family Link for different reasons. Some want features it lacks, some find that older children work around it, and some want to use a device that Family Link does not suit.
The first group is parental control apps. Qustodio, Norton Family and Net Nanny offer web filtering, screen time limits, activity reports and location, in different mixes and at different prices. They run as apps on the child's device, and their paid plans differ by country.
The second group is kids' phones and tablets sold as a bundle. Gabb, Pinwheel, Bark Phone and Troomi sell phones with plans, and Amazon Fire Kids sells a children's tablet with a case and a subscription. You get the device and the controls together and pay for both.
The third group is device-owner software, which is where Skie sits. It works on any Android 12 or newer phone or tablet you already own, enforces rules through Android itself, and covers apps, websites, schedules, location, SOS and lost mode. It does not yet have time limits or usage reports, and includes no hardware or plan.
Tip: try the alternative on one device before moving the family, and keep your reasons for leaving Family Link written down so you can check them.