Apple Screen Time vs Google Family Link:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Google Family Link had more branded searches than Apple Screen Time among parental control apps worldwide. Google Family Link had about 301,000 branded searches, while Apple Screen Time had 9,900. Google Family Link made up 64.6% of all parental control app searches we track, and Apple Screen Time accounted for 2.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about parental control apps, both Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link appeared in all five answers. Apple Screen Time was mentioned before Google Family Link in four out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Google Family Link, about 30 searches for every 1 for Apple Screen Time
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
Apple Screen Time, named ahead of Google Family Link in 4 of 5 answers
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Top parental control apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link showed up in all five answers. Apple Screen Time was listed before Google Family Link in four of them.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Qustodio1st
Bark2nd- Apple Screen Time3rd
- Google Family Link4th
Norton5th
Net Nanny6th
Kidslox–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Google Family Link5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Qustodio5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Bark5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Apple Screen Time5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Net Nanny2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Norton1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Kidslox0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about parental control apps
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which parental control app should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best parental control apps?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best parental control app for managing a teenager's phone?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“parental control app”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best parental control app”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 22, 2026.
Is Apple Screen Time or Google Family Link more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven parental control apps we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Google Family Link, Apple Screen Time. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Google Family Link | Qustodio | Bark | Kidslox | Apple Screen Time | Norton | Net Nanny |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 54.2% | 29.7% | 7.1% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 2.7% | 2.2% |
| Nov 2025 | 58.4% | 26.2% | 6.8% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.6% |
| Dec 2025 | 62.5% | 22.9% | 6.3% | 2.5% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% |
| Jan 2026 | 65.9% | 19.7% | 5.4% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 1.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 62.6% | 22.9% | 5.1% | 2.5% | 3.8% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 61.8% | 22.6% | 5.1% | 3% | 4.6% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| Apr 2026 | 62.4% | 22.8% | 4.9% | 2.5% | 4.6% | 1.4% | 1.4% |
| May 2026 | 58.3% | 26.1% | 5.9% | 2.9% | 4.3% | 1.6% | 1% |
| Jun 2026 | 63.1% | 23.2% | 6.7% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 1.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 67.8% | 20.4% | 5.9% | 2.2% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.99% |
| Aug 2026 | 62.3% | 22.8% | 5.5% | 2.5% | 4.6% | 1.4% | 0.91% |
| Sep 2026 | 64.6% | 23.6% | 4.8% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 1.4% | 0.77% |
How has the Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Google Family Link was ahead of Apple Screen Time in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple Screen Time’s share of searches among parental control apps worldwide moved from 1.5% to 2.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.6K to 9.9K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Google Family Link’s share of searches among parental control apps worldwide moved from 54.2% to 64.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 246K to 301K.
How did search popularity change for parental control apps worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Google Family Link gained share of searches among parental control apps worldwide, from 62.3% to 64.6%.
In September 2026, Apple Screen Time lost share of searches among parental control apps worldwide, from 4.6% to 2.1%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apple Screen Time’s and Google Family Link’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Apple Screen Time
1 branded search term
- apple screen time
Google Family Link
1 branded search term
- google family link
Other head-to-heads among parental control apps
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