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ScreenGuard

Free#80 of 106 in Parental Control Apps

ScreenGuard: A focused open-source option for screen-time rules, without app blocking or location tools. Ranked #80 of 106 in Parental Control Apps by our editors (3.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for technical families wanting free open-source controls.

3.0/10Editor score

Visit ScreenGuard

ScreenGuard3.0 Visit ScreenGuard

At a glance

Editor score
3.0 / 10
Pricing
Free plan
Best for
Technical families wanting free open-source controls
Free plan
Yes
Paid from
Free
Content filtering
Yes
Facts checked
22 Sep 2026

Where it wins
- Free and open-source with self-hosted deployment options
- Daily limits, weekly schedules, locking, and usage history
- Web administration with Android remote management
Where it doesn't
- Focused on screen time rather than full parental controls
- No verified app-blocking or location features
- Linux setup requires a systemd agent on managed computers

Our verdict on ScreenGuard

ScreenGuard is an open-source parental-control system for families and administrators managing screen time on Linux machines. It supports user profiles with daily limits and weekly schedules, then automatically locks sessions when allotted time expires. Parents can manage profiles, devices, schedules, and daily limits through a web administration interface, while the Android companion app provides remote management. Deployment options include self-hosted LAN use, desktop and mobile environments, and a hosted cloud account.

The product’s main strength is its focused screen-time toolkit. Profiles can combine daily limits with weekly schedules, desktop warnings before lockout, usage tracking, and history. Optional domain blocking is available through a local DNS proxy, and mDNS discovery can help identify devices on local networks. This makes ScreenGuard a practical fit for technical households that want open-source controls and direct management of Linux computers. Its free plan also keeps the core system accessible without introducing separate paid tiers into the decision.

Setup is more involved than with a purely consumer-oriented parental-control app. Managed computers require a systemd agent, and families choosing self-hosted LAN deployment must handle the surrounding administration. ScreenGuard also stays narrower than broader parental-control suites: its published feature set centers on screen-time enforcement, scheduling, usage history, and optional domain blocking rather than app blocking or location tools. Choose it when Linux support, open-source licensing, and control over deployment matter most. Families seeking a wider set of monitoring and device-management capabilities should consider an alternative with broader coverage.

Your product? Our editors can test ScreenGuard in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

ScreenGuard pricing

Plans Free planFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.

See plans on github.com

ScreenGuard fact sheet

Free plan	Yes
Paid from	Free
Device platforms	Not verified
Content filtering	Yes
Screen-time schedules	Yes
App blocking	Not verified
Activity reports	Yes
Location tracking	Not verified
Device limit	Not verified
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted, Mobile, Desktop
Platforms	Web, Linux, Android
Support	Docs, Community
Built for	Solo, Small business (editorial estimate)
Pricing	Free plan
Website	github.com
Facts checked	22 Sep 2026

Alternatives to ScreenGuard

See all ScreenGuard alternatives →

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Featured on iTechGuides

ScreenGuard is listed in our Parental Control Apps directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update