Updated October 16, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Google Family Link vs Norton Family
Norton Family
Higher score in this comparison
Google Family Link
What sets them apart
| Compare | Google Family LinkReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Norton FamilyReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Screen time | Screen time, Web filter, LocationCovers more |
| Yearly price | Not confirmed | $49.99 |
| Devices | Not confirmed | 5 to 10 |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Windows, Android, iOS |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Features: only Norton Family offers Web filter, Location.
- Support channels: only Norton Family offers Phone, Community.
Our verdict on each
Google Family Link
Google says Family Link supports daily device time limits and School Time and Downtime schedules.
Norton Family
Norton Family suits families who want screen time limits, web filtering and location checks under the same subscription. It costs $49.99 a year for 5 to 10 devices across Windows, Android and iOS, which puts it mid table among the brands compared here.
Score breakdown
| Area | Google Family Link | Norton Family |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.1Yearly price $49.99 sits mid table at position 16 of 32, above free built in tools. |
| Offer | Not confirmed | 9.2 |
| Privacy | Not confirmed | 10.0 |
How they place
| Ranking | Google Family Link | Norton Family |
|---|---|---|
| Parental control apps | 53 of 59 | 11 of 59 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Google Family Link | Norton Family |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Budget |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Gen Digital Inc. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1982 |
| Support channels | Help centre | Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Google Family Link | Norton Family | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | Not confirmed | $49.99below the median | $71.88 |
| Devices | Not confirmed | 5 to 10at the median | 10 |
Median across 33 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Google Family Link
Pros
- Google’s description names daily limits and two schedule controls.
Cons
- The captured statement does not establish device or country availability.
Norton Family
Pros
- Covers 5 to 10 devices across Windows, Android and iOS for $49.99 a year.
- Bundles screen time, web filter and location into the same subscription.
- Comes from Gen Digital Inc., a vendor founded in 1982.
Cons
- Platforms stop at Windows, Android and iOS, while Control D covers Windows, macOS and Linux.
- It is a paid plan at $49.99 a year where Apple built in controls cost $0 a year.
- The feature set is screen time, web filter and location, focused on the core jobs and little else.
Who each suits
Google Family Link
Who it suits
- Readers checking the controls described on Google’s Family Link page.
Norton Family
Who it suits
- Households on Windows, Android and iOS who want screen time, web filtering and location in the same place.
- Parents who check location and screen time together rather than in separate apps.
- Buyers who want a vendor founded in 1982 behind a budget tier product.
Who should look elsewhere
- Mac and Linux households, since Control D covers Windows, macOS and Linux while Norton Family stays on Windows, Android and iOS.
- Apple Inc. users content with the built in controls that cost $0 a year.
- Buyers comparing in BRL, since ESET Brasil charges BRL 64.22 to BRL 278.32 in another currency.
Current offers
Norton Family
Current offer
First period offer
Norton 360 Deluxe at a great price: EUR 39.99 for the first year: 63% OFF, EUR 39.99 first year (EUR 109.99/year renewal)
Terms and Conditions Apply; savings compared to the renewal price of EUR 109.99/year
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Free trials
A payment method is required at sign-up and is charged at the end of the trial period unless cancelled first
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Google Family Link | Norton Family |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | No | Yes |
| Australia | No | Yes |
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Brazil | No | Yes |
| Canada | No | Yes |
| Chile | No | Yes |
| Colombia | No | Yes |
8 of 46 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Norton Family
What does Norton Family cost a year?+
The plan is $49.99 a year for the whole household. That yearly figure covers screen time, web filtering and location across the covered devices, so families can weigh it against the built in tools that cost $0 a year. It sits in the budget tier of this market.
How many devices can a Norton Family plan cover?+
Coverage runs to 5 to 10 devices. That fits a household with several phones and a shared computer, and the typical ceiling across parental control brands in this comparison is 10 devices.
Which platforms does Norton Family run on?+
It runs on Windows, Android and iOS. That covers the main phone platforms and Windows computers, but not macOS or Linux. A mixed household with an Apple or Linux machine needs something else, and Control D covers Windows, macOS and Linux.
What does Norton Family actually control?+
The plan covers screen time, web filter and location. Screen time limits, web filtering and location reporting come in the same subscription, so a parent does not need a separate app for each job. The feature set stays focused on those core jobs rather than extras.
Other options to compare
Norton Family
Google Family Link