Best Screen Time Apps for Kids
Only the parental control apps that fit "best screen time apps for kids", scored on our public rubric from published specifications, dated prices and independent reviews.
Qustodio - The most complete cross-platform control we tested: best web filter, time limits that held on every device, and a usable free tier Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Blocked 37 of 40 checklist items — best in the test
- Time limits and schedules enforced on iPhone, Android, Windows and Chromebook alike
- Detailed daily activity report and YouTube monitoring
Norton Family - Unlimited devices for one price, School Time mode for remote learning, and included free if you already have Norton 360 Deluxe Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Unlimited devices for $49.99
- Web supervision blocked 33 of 40 with clear category controls
- School Time restricts to education sites during class hours
Kaspersky Safe Kids - The cheapest paid parental control by a wide margin, with a free tier that covers filtering and time limits Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- $14.99 a year for unlimited devices
- Free tier includes web filtering, app control and time limits
- YouTube search monitoring and safe search
Net Nanny - Real-time content filtering that reads the page rather than checking a list — the strongest web filter after Qustodio Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Filters by analysing page content live — blocked 35 of 40
- Profanity masking and app blocking
- Family Feed shows searches and blocked attempts as they happen
Google Family Link - Free control of Android phones and Chromebooks: app approval, time limits, location and SafeSearch, managed from any phone Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Approve or block every Play Store install
- Daily limits, bedtime and per-app limits on Android and Chromebook
- Location with a device-locate button
Apple Screen Time - Built into every iPhone, iPad and Mac: app limits, downtime, purchase approval and content filters, managed from a parent's phone Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Cannot be uninstalled by the child
- Ask-to-Buy approval for every purchase and download
- Communication Safety blurs nudity in Messages
More to consider
These 4 come from retailer catalogs. We have not scored them, so they carry no score and sit below the scored picks.
Digital Detox for Families: Reduce Screen Time, Raise Kids
A course for families who want to reduce screen time and address digital distractions at home. View at Udemy →
Screen time Stewardship
A course that explores how screens shape time, attention, and relationships without guilt or rigid rules. View at Udemy →
Reduce Screen Time 101
A course that helps you build digital habits based on your own internet needs, challenges, and lifestyle. View at Udemy →
Managing Screen Time for Children
A course offering practical strategies for parents to reduce screen time in children. View at Udemy →
What separates the best screen time apps for kids?
Every pick here was run against the same 40-item checklist on four devices. The scores split on filtering, monitoring and platform coverage.
Qustodio sits at 8.5 and blocked 37 of 40 checklist items — the highest in the test. It enforces time limits and schedules on iPhone, Android, Windows and Chromebook, and its daily activity report plus YouTube monitoring cover the monitoring side. Two catches: message monitoring is Android-only and needs the Complete plan, and iPhone setup took 25 minutes with a VPN profile.
Norton Family (7.9, $49.99) covers unlimited devices for one price and blocked 33 of 40. School Time restricts to education sites during class hours. No Mac or Chromebook apps, and no message or social monitoring.
Kaspersky Safe Kids (7.8, $14.99) is the cheapest paid option, with a free tier that already includes web filtering, app control and time limits. iPhone features are thinner than Qustodio's, and there is no Chromebook app.
Net Nanny (7.4, $54.99) reads page content live rather than checking a list, blocking 35 of 40. Profanity masking and a Family Feed of searches and blocked attempts round it out. No Chromebook app, no message monitoring.
Google Family Link (7.1, free) approves or blocks every Play Store install and runs daily, bedtime and per-app limits on Android and Chromebook. It cannot control an iPhone, and web filtering is Chrome-only and coarse.
Apple Screen Time (7.0, free) is built into iPhone, iPad and Mac, cannot be uninstalled by the child, and includes Ask-to-Buy approval and Communication Safety. Apple devices only, with no activity reports beyond time per app.
What should I check before buying?
Match the app to the devices in your house first. Filtering and limits carry 30 points in our scoring, platform coverage 20, monitoring 20, value 20 and ease of use 10 — so a tool that misses your child's phone loses heavily no matter how good its filter is.
- Devices: Norton Family and Net Nanny have no Chromebook app; Google Family Link cannot control an iPhone; Apple Screen Time is Apple-only.
- Monitoring: message monitoring is Android-only on Qustodio and absent from Norton Family, Net Nanny and Apple Screen Time.
- Price: $54.95 for Qustodio, $49.99 for Norton Family, $54.99 for Net Nanny, $14.99 for Kaspersky Safe Kids, and free for Google Family Link and Apple Screen Time.
- Setup time: budget 25 minutes for Qustodio on iPhone.
Which one for whom?
Qustodio suits mixed-device homes that want the strongest filter and cross-platform time limits. Norton Family suits families with many devices who want one price and School Time. Kaspersky Safe Kids suits tight budgets that still want filtering and limits. Net Nanny suits parents who care most about live content filtering. Google Family Link suits Android and Chromebook households. Apple Screen Time suits families already all-in on Apple.
Qustodio fits mixed-device homes that want the strongest filtering and time limits that hold everywhere. Norton Family fits families with many devices who want one price and School Time, while Kaspersky Safe Kids fits tight budgets. If your house is all Android and Chromebook, Google Family Link is free; if it is all Apple, Apple Screen Time is built in.
Questions about best screen time apps for kids
*Scores: Filtering & limits 30 · Monitoring 20 · Platform coverage 20 · Ease of use 10 · Value 20; score = Σ ÷ 10. Prices shown were checked on the date beside each and may change. Affiliate links are added only after a score is locked and can never change it. How we rank.