moss vs Google Family Link
Google's parental controls for a child's Android phone or Chromebook.
Checked 11 November 2026 against Google's own pages. We make moss, so we have linked every source below.
What Google Family Link is
Family Link lets a parent supervise a child's Android device or Chromebook from their own phone, Android or iPhone, or from the web. It does not control a child's iPhone. Google's FAQ says children signed in on iOS "can only be partially supervised", which in practice means some YouTube and Google Search settings.
What moss is
moss is an iPhone app that comes with a small physical stone. You choose the apps that distract you, tap your phone on the stone, and those apps stay locked until you tap the stone again. People who live together can link their phones to share schedules and put their phones down at the same time, while each person keeps control of their own phone. Locking is free in the app, the stone is a one-time purchase, and the household features are a paid add-on.
Side by side
| Feature | moss | Google Family Link |
|---|---|---|
| Price | US$49 stone, free app | No price is listed |
| Subscription | None to lock your own phone. Household features are a paid add-on | None listed |
| Works on | iPhone only, iOS 17 or later | Supervises Android and Chromebook. The parent app runs on Android and iPhone |
| How you lock | Tap the stone, or start from the app, a Shortcut, the lock screen or the Action Button. Schedules by day of week | The parent sets limits and bedtimes |
| How you unlock | Tap the stone, in the app | The parent |
| If you need back in | 3 emergency unlocks a month, refilled automatically | Up to the parent |
| Locking together as a household | Yes, as a paid add-on. Shared schedules, sessions others join in one tap, a view of whose phone is down, a streak. Nobody controls anyone else | One-way: the parent supervises the child |
| Whose key opens your phone | Only your household's own stone, card and sprigs unlock your phones | The parent's account |
Where Google Family Link is better
- Full parental control of an Android phone or Chromebook.
- Built by the maker of Android.
- No listed cost.
Where moss is better
- It works on iPhone, which Family Link does not supervise.
- Nobody supervises anybody.
Who should pick which
Pick Google Family Link if
Your child has an Android phone.
Pick moss if
Your household uses iPhones and wants to lock together as equals.
Sources
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.
moss is a stone that locks the apps you choose.
Tap to lock, tap to unlock. One price, and locking needs no subscription.
