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Daily screen-time limits
Set a daily cap that fits your child's age and routine, and adjust it any time from the parent side.
Screen time · Android
A screen time app for kids that builds better habits.
Kubo lets you set daily limits and focus schedules, then block the apps that eat the most time. It is a full Android parental control app, so healthy screen time comes with app blocking, website protection, and location in one place. Free to start.
Free to download
Daily limits
Focus schedules
App blocking built in
Screen-time tools that actually stick
A timer alone is easy to ignore. Kubo pairs limits with app blocking and focus schedules, so screen time is guided by real routines, not a number your child learns to dismiss.
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Focus schedules
Create screen-free windows for homework, dinner, and bedtime so the phone steps back at the moments that matter.
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Block distracting apps
Block the apps that eat the most time and allow-list the essentials like calls, maps, and school apps.
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Website protection
Filter adult and risky sites with safe search on, so the time they do spend online stays age appropriate.
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Location in the same app
See your child's latest shared location and open it in Maps, so you are not adding a second app just for pickups.
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Healthy-habit focus
Kubo is built to encourage good habits rather than surveil, so screen-time rules feel like guidance, not punishment.
Kubo vs. standalone screen-time apps
An honest comparison. If you only ever want a bare timer, the built-in Android tools work. If you want screen time plus the controls that make limits stick, in one free app, Kubo fits better.
| What you get | Kubo | Google Family Link | Android Digital Wellbeing | Qustodio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily screen-time limit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Focus schedules | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes |
| App blocking | Yes | Yes | Self-set only | Yes |
| Website filtering | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Location sharing | Latest shared location | Basic location | No | Location history |
| Free for core controls | Yes | Yes | Yes | One device |
| Platform | Android | Android | Android | Android & iOS |
Comparison reflects typical free-tier capabilities and may change as each app updates. Digital Wellbeing is designed for self-managed limits rather than parent-managed rules.
Set screen-time limits in 3 steps
Under five minutes, no technical setup.
1
Install Kubo on the child's phone
Download Kubo free from Google Play and choose the child profile during setup.
2
Set daily limits and schedules
Choose a daily screen-time limit and add focus schedules for homework, dinner, and bedtime.
3
Block distracting apps
Block the apps that eat the most time and allow-list the essentials like calls, maps, and school apps.
What makes a good screen-time app for kids
A quick guide before you install anything.
1. Limits your child can't just ignore
A soft timer that pops a notification is easy to dismiss. Look for real enforcement: when the limit is reached, distracting apps should actually pause. Kubo enforces limits rather than politely suggesting them.
2. Schedules, not just a single number
One daily cap is a blunt tool. Focus schedules for homework, dinner, and bedtime shape screen time around your family's real routine, which is what actually builds habits.
3. More than a timer
Kids reach for whatever is open. A screen-time app that also blocks distracting apps and filters unsafe sites, like Kubo, closes the gaps a bare timer leaves open. That is why Kubo is a full parental control app, not only a stopwatch.
4. Honest, healthy framing
The goal is a better relationship with the phone, not constant conflict. Tools that focus on healthy habits, and that your child knows are there, tend to create less friction than covert monitoring.
5. Free where it counts
Plenty of apps lock basic limits behind a subscription. Kubo is free for its core screen-time controls. Check our pricing page to see exactly what is included.
Want the research behind the rules? Read how much screen time is healthy by age and our screen-time guidelines for kids. You can also see Kubo as a full parental control app for Android.
Screen time app FAQ
The questions parents ask most.
What is the best screen time app for kids on Android?
It depends on how much control you want. Google Family Link is a free baseline for limits and bedtime. Kubo is a strong free choice that adds app blocking, focus schedules, website protection, and location in one Android app, so screen time is part of a complete set of parental controls rather than a standalone timer.
Is Kubo just a screen-time timer?
No. Kubo includes screen-time limits and focus schedules, but it is a full parental control app. It also blocks distracting apps, filters unsafe websites, and shows your child's latest shared location. If you only want a timer it still works, but you get more in the same free app.
How do I set a daily screen-time limit on Android?
Install Kubo on your child's Android phone, choose the child profile, then set a daily screen-time limit and add focus schedules for homework, dinner, and bedtime. You can adjust the limits any time from the parent side.
Is Kubo free to manage screen time?
Yes. Kubo is free to download and use for core controls including screen-time limits and app blocking. Some advanced features are part of Kubo Pro, but you can set healthy limits without paying. See the pricing page for details.
How much screen time is healthy for a child?
It varies by age and by what the time is used for. Experts suggest consistent limits, screen-free routines around meals and sleep, and prioritizing active or educational use over passive scrolling. Our blog covers age-by-age screen-time guidelines in detail.
Can my child get around screen-time limits?
No system is perfect, but combining screen-time limits with app blocking and safe browsing in one app, as Kubo does, is harder to work around than a standalone timer. Keeping the app visible and talking with your child about the rules also helps limits stick.
Healthier screen time starts today.
Set daily limits, focus schedules, and app blocking in one free Android app.
Get Kubo for Android