Family Link or TaskBlue: which suits your child?
It mostly comes down to your child's phone: on Android devices and Chromebooks, Google Family Link is free and thorough, but according to Google its parental supervision doesn't work on an iPhone. TaskBlue is iPhone only. It hides the apps you pick at set times or at places like school, and only the BlueTag or your parent PIN can end that early.
As of: October 2026
What is Google Family Link?
Google Family Link is Google's free parental control app. It lets you manage your child's Google account and their Android phone or Chromebook: daily limits, limits for single apps, downtime, school time, approvals for new apps and settings for Chrome, YouTube and Google Search. The parent app also runs on an iPhone, but your child's device has to be Android or a Chromebook.
Where Google Family Link is strong
- Free and made by Google, with no subscription and no in-app purchases.
- Very fine-grained: daily limit, limits per app, downtime and a school time mode in which only chosen apps work and notifications stay silent.
- You control everything remotely, can grant bonus time and can unlock the device with the parent access code, even offline.
- You can see where your child's Android phone is and get notified when it arrives at or leaves a place.
Side by side
| Topic | TaskBlue | Google Family Link |
|---|---|---|
| Child's device | iPhone with iOS 16 or later | Android 6.0 or later and Chromebooks. Supervision doesn't work on iPhone or iPad. |
| What parents need | Neither an app nor an iPhone of their own. Setup happens on the child's iPhone. | The Family Link app on Android or iPhone (iOS 17 or later) or the website |
| How apps are blocked | Chosen apps disappear from the home screen. Categories and websites show Apple's block screen. | Block apps entirely, time limits per app, a daily limit, new apps only with your approval |
| Automatic by place | Yes, at up to 20 places with a 100 to 500 m radius | No. You get a notification when your child arrives at or leaves a place. |
| Schedules | Weekly schedule, chosen calendar events or by hand | Downtime and school time with a weekly plan (Android 7 or later) |
| Ending early | With the BlueTag or the 6-digit parent PIN. Without a PIN, the child has three emergency exits. | You grant bonus time remotely or unlock on the device with the parent access code. |
| What parents see | No location, no messages, no browsing history | Location of the Android device, app activity, battery level |
| Price | €49.99 for 12 months or €9.99 a month, BlueTag included | Free |
| Also | Every focus hour funds the recovery of about 100 g of ocean plastic. | Settings for Chrome, YouTube, Google Play and Google Search |
When Google Family Link is the better fit
Your child has an Android phone or a Chromebook, and you want to manage limits, approvals and location from your own phone. Then Family Link is the obvious choice, and it costs nothing.
When TaskBlue is the better fit
Your child has an iPhone, and what matters to you is set times to concentrate, at school or over homework for example. The apps are simply gone then, and only the BlueTag or your PIN brings them back early.
Frequently asked
Does Family Link work on my child's iPhone?
Only to a very limited extent. According to Google, time limits, app blocking, location and Chrome website settings don't work on a child's iPhone or iPad. You can, however, use the parent app on your own iPhone.
Is TaskBlue available for Android?
No. TaskBlue runs on iPhone with iOS 16 or later. If your child has an Android phone, Family Link is the better choice.
What does TaskBlue cost by comparison?
Family Link is free. TaskBlue costs €49.99 a year or €9.99 a month, and the BlueTag is included in both plans. You'll find all the details on the pricing page.
Can I see where my child is with TaskBlue?
No. TaskBlue only uses location on your child's iPhone to start focus at a place. The places stay on the device and are never sent to us.
Sources
As of October 2026. All information without guarantee.
- Family Link: Geräte und Voraussetzungen, Google Family Link-Hilfe, 2026
- Family Link auf iPhone und iPad, Google Family Link-Hilfe, 2026
- Ruhezeit und Schulmodus festlegen, Google Family Link-Hilfe, 2026
- Tageslimit, Bonuszeit und Eltern-Zugangscode, Google Family Link-Hilfe, 2026
- Google Family Link im App Store, Apple App Store, 2026
- Family Link: Häufige Fragen, Google, 2026
Read on
Fewer distractions for your child. Less plastic in the sea.
A year costs €49.99 once, a month €9.99. The BlueTag comes with both plans.