SkieSkie or Google Family Link: what is the difference?
Family Link is a free Google app that works through a child's Google account. Skie is paid software that runs as the Android device owner. The main difference is where the control sits: Family Link uses app-level permissions, while Skie is enforced by Android itself, so removing it or resetting around it is blocked.
Both aim at the same job, helping a parent shape how a child uses a phone. They get there differently, and a fair comparison starts with what Family Link does well.
Family Link is free, from Google, and familiar. It supervises a child's Google account, can approve app installs, set time limits and show location. Google also publishes screen time information in the app. If your child is young, cooperative and has a Google account, that may be all you need.
Skie does not depend on a Google account for the child, and it runs as the device owner. The child cannot uninstall it, factory reset from Settings, use safe mode, enable developer options, or install from unknown sources. The adult-site filter and Chrome safe search are locked on the device. Skie also works on tablets with the same rules, and the whole family can be managed from one dashboard.
Where Family Link is ahead today: it offers screen time limits and usage reports, and Skie does not yet. Skie is paid, pricing on request, and needs a one-time reset at setup.
Skie has not been tested with a Google child account on the same device, so we recommend using a parent's account if the device needs one. Many families choose by one question: will my child try to get around it? If the answer is probably, device-level control is the safer pick.