Sunscreen vs Family Link

Comparing Sunscreen: Parental Controls to Google Family Link: Which is the Best for Web Filtering?

Do you still need Family Link if you have Sunscreen? Should you use Family Link on iOS?

Sunscreen has a singular focus: content filtering for the web. Family Link is a broader suite of parental controls for the Android devices and Chromebooks, which include features like screen time and app limits, location sharing and privacy controls. All of which are supported on iOS using the built-in Parental Controls iOS offers. We'll focus this comparison on where Sunscreen and Family Link overlap, which is content filtering.

Supported Platforms:Sunscreen Parental Controls stands out as an ideal option for families with iOS devices, offering seamless integration with Safari on iPhone and iPad. Meanwhile, Google Family Link’s content filtering requires Chrome and not supported on iOS devices. Family Link does support a limited set of it’s features for iOS devices, but this comparison is limited to web content filtering.

Account Requirements:One notable distinction between the two platforms lies in their account requirements. While Google Family Link mandates a Google account for both parent and child, Sunscreen operates independently of any account, providing a hassle-free experience for parents seeking a straightforward solution and one less thing to sign-up for.

Parent Interface:Sunscreen simplifies the parental control process by enabling all actions to occur directly on the child's device (password-protected), eliminating the need for a separate parent app. In contrast, Google Family Link relies on a dedicated parent interface (app or website), which may require additional steps for oversight.

Granular Control: While both Sunscreen and Family Link enforce web content blocking as the default, and require parental approval for access, Sunscreen takes it a step further. Sunscreen is the first content filter of its kind to support blocking content within a website. The first major site supported by this feature is YouTube. Like the rest of the web, Sunscreen makes YouTube opt-in. All channels are blocked by default and are require parent approval. This feature sets Sunscreen apart, especially for parents concerned about the precise nature of online content their children consume. Blocking YouTube Channels is NOT supported on Family Link

Sunscreen, in tandem with iOS's built-in Parental Controls, presents a compelling alternative specifically tailored for iOS users.