Finding the right screen time app for your family feels like searching for a needle in an app store haystack. Every developer promises the world, but after testing the most popular options ourselves, we know the reality is messier.

This guide cuts through the marketing. We tested Qustodio, Bark, Google Family Link, Apple Screen Time, and ScreenBudget with real kids in real homes. Here's what actually works — and what doesn't.

Quick Comparison: Which App Does What?

App Free Version Per-Site Limits Bedtime Mode Best For
ScreenBudget Yes (full features) ✓ ✓ Budget-focused families
Qustodio Limited (1 device) ✓ ✓ Multi-device households
Bark Yes (basic) — ✓ Social media monitoring
Google Family Link Yes (full features) — ✓ Android-only families
Apple Screen Time Yes (full features) — ✓ Apple-only households
OurPact Limited trial — ✓ iOS-focused families

ScreenBudget: Per-Site Budgets That Actually Make Sense

ScreenBudget Free

ScreenBudget takes a different approach: instead of a total daily time limit, it sets per-site budgets. Your kid gets 30 minutes for YouTube, 45 minutes for Roblox, and unlimited time for educational sites.

Pros

  • Free version includes all core features
  • Per-site budgets let you encourage learning (unlimited Khan Academy) while limiting entertainment
  • Bedtime mode blocks sites after hours
  • Chrome extension — no installation needed on kid's device
  • Simple setup: under 5 minutes

Cons

  • Chrome-only (no mobile app)
  • Works on supervised accounts only
  • Newer app — fewer third-party reviews

Qustodio: The Feature-Rich Option

Qustodio $9.99/mo

Qustodio is the most full-featured option on this list. It covers time limits, content filtering, app blocking, and even location tracking on mobile devices.

Pros

  • Cross-platform: works on iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Kindle
  • Detailed activity reports
  • Per-site limits on desktop
  • Good customer support

Cons

  • Expensive: $9.99/mo for Premium
  • Free version limited to 1 device
  • Interface can feel overwhelming
  • Some features require router-level installation

Bark: The Monitoring Leader

Bark $4.99/mo

Bark positions itself as a "phone safety" solution rather than just a screen time app. Its standout feature is scanning messages, social media, and emails for potential issues.

Pros

  • Excellent social media monitoring
  • Alerts for potential bullying, depression signals, etc.
  • Bedtime schedules
  • YouTube and streaming filters

Cons

  • No per-site time limits
  • Focuses on detection, not prevention
  • Monthly cost adds up
  • Requires significant permissions on kid's device

Google Family Link: The Free Android Option

Google Family Link Free

Google's official solution for Android parents is completely free and deeply integrated into Android. If your family lives in the Google ecosystem, it's a no-brainer.

Pros

  • Completely free
  • Deep Android integration
  • Remote app blocking
  • Bedtime mode and daily limits
  • No extra hardware needed

Cons

  • No per-site limits (only time totals)
  • Only works on Android/Chromebooks
  • Can't filter web on desktop
  • As kids age out of "child account," controls disappear

Apple Screen Time: Built-In and Capable

Apple Screen Time Free

Apple includes Screen Time in every iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It's the most frictionless option if everyone in your house uses Apple devices.

Pros

  • Completely free (comes with Apple devices)
  • Excellent integration with iOS/macOS
  • App-specific limits
  • Family Sharing makes setup easy

Cons

  • No per-site limits on web browsing
  • Only works within Apple ecosystem
  • Kids can often bypass with "ignore limit"
  • Limited reporting compared to paid apps

OurPact: The Fallen Star

OurPact $8.99/mo

OurPact was once one of the top-rated parental control apps. After Apple tightened its App Store policies, OurPact lost core functionality and has struggled to recover.

Pros

  • Easy iOS interface
  • Basic time limits
  • Bedtime scheduling

Cons

  • Limited functionality after Apple changes
  • Monthly cost
  • No per-site limits
  • Ratings have dropped significantly

Which One Is Right for You?

Here's our honest recommendation based on your situation:

On a budget

Google Family Link (Android) or ScreenBudget (Chrome). Both are free with solid features.

Want per-site limits

ScreenBudget or Qustodio. These are the only options that let you set different budgets per website.

All Apple household

Apple Screen Time. It's built in, free, and works great for iOS/macOS.

Worried about social media

Bark. Its monitoring goes deeper than any other app — but expect to pay monthly.

Need cross-platform

Qustodio. It works on everything, but the price adds up.

Simple Chrome setup

ScreenBudget. Takes 5 minutes, no installation on kid's device.

Our honest take: If you want per-site budgets (so you can allow unlimited Khan Academy while limiting YouTube), ScreenBudget is the only free option that delivers. If you need full mobile monitoring and have budget for a subscription, Qustodio offers the most comprehensive feature set.