We're an Android family but considering switching mainly because I hear better things about Apple's parental controls. Can anyone compare these two? Which one actually lets you enforce limits without your kids just workarounding it?
Switched from Android to Apple specifically for Screen Time and I do think it's slightly cleaner interface-wise but real talk both are basically the same in terms of actual effectiveness. Don't switch ecosystems just for this
Don't switch ecosystems for parental controls lol. They're both pretty functional at what they do. Family Link gets the job done, Apple's is polished, but neither is a magic solution
Both have their thing but if you want actual enforcement Family Link is decent. The big difference is Apple basically stops your kid from using the phone, Android limits app access more. Depends what you're trying to do
We use Screen Time and honestly it's one of the better Apple features. But yeah - if you're happy with Android stick with it. The parental control arms race isn't real, they're all pretty similar at this point
Family Link user for 2 years now. Honestly it works but also... kids find workarounds. We use it less for hard limits and more for visibility into what they're actually doing. The real enforcement is parenting, not the app
The thing about Apple is it's harder to bypass BUT your kid has to use Apple products for it to matter. Family Link works across Android and some third party stuff. If you're not fully committed to the Apple ecosystem it's not worth switching
Android Family Link user here - it works but honestly it's kind of clunky to set up and manage. Heard Apple's stuff is more intuitive but obviously that's a huge switch just for parental controls
I switched from Android to Apple specifically for this and honestly... it's slightly better but not enough to warrant the expense if you're happy with Android otherwise. Family Link does what you need
The enforcement thing is tough with both - kids are clever. But Family Link's app blocking is solid, Apple's is slightly more responsive. Honestly pick based on what the family already uses
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Real question - how old are your kids? If they're like teenagers they're gonna find workarounds no matter which system you use. Just FYI