🛡️ Parental controls and family safety
Apple Screen Time
By Apple. Visit Apple Screen Time
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
Parental controls built into iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Vision Pro, run through Family Sharing. A parent sets up a Child Account, then manages it from their own device: time allowances by app category, schedules for school and bedtime, approved contacts in Messages, FaceTime and Phone, website limits, age ratings, and Ask to Buy. With iOS 27, a child must ask before visiting a new website (Ask to Browse) or talking to a new contact.
Our take: The first stop for any family whose child uses an iPhone or iPad; it does nothing on Android or Windows.
| Ages it suits | any age under 18 |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | A child under 13 (age varies by country) needs a Child Account that a parent creates in Family Sharing after giving consent. The child cannot leave the family group until 13. Ask to Buy and Ask to Browse are on by default under 13; Limit Adult Websites is on by default under 18. (terms) |
| Price | Free. Free with Apple devices (Oct 2026); everyone in the family needs their own Apple Account. |
| Works on | iPhone and iPad, Mac |
| Account | A parent's account |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | No AI. |
What's good
- Free and built in, no extra app
- Strong ad and tracking limits for child accounts
- New-contact and new-website approval
- Settings follow the child across devices
Watch for
- Only covers Apple devices
- New controls need every family device on iOS 27-era software
- Third-party apps keep their own data rules
- Re-downloads and redemption codes can skip Ask to Buy
Data and privacy
Apple's children's disclosure says Personalized Ads are off and cannot be turned on for a Child Account, contextual ads from Apple are off, and apps cannot ask to track. Apple collects device identifiers, IP address, location and activity in Apple services, and parents can see and delete the child's data at privacy.apple.com. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
The maker's own claims only; no independent study found.
In the Big Index
- On the list Top 10 setups for a child who wants an AI to answer their questions
- On the list Parental controls for 12 AI chatbots, step by step
- On the list 8 smart speaker and voice assistant setups for kids (pre-readers especially)
- On the list The family AI station: 9 steps to a shared AI setup in a common room
- On the list 9 tablet and phone setups for kids in the AI era
- On the list 10 AI privacy settings to change on day one
- On the list 10 browser setups for kids: kid browsers, safe search, extensions and kid modes
- On the list 12 signs your child's AI setup needs a rethink
- On the list 12 questions to ask before you download a learning app
- Use Screen Time to Manage Your Child's iPhone or iPad
- Set up Apple Watch for a family member
- Set up parental controls to manage your child's iPhone or iPad
- The maker in the who's who: Apple
Alternatives to Apple Screen Time
Desk researchPaid
Amazon Kids Tablets (and Fire Kids tablets)
Amazon · ages 3+ and 6+ versions
A reasonable first tablet if you want Amazon's controls plus real Android apps; families who want a tightly closed device may prefer a device without the Play Store.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Amazon Kids+ and Parent Dashboard
Amazon · ages 3-12
A good-value bundle for families already on Amazon devices with kids 3-12; skip it if your child mostly uses an iPad or a phone.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Apple Messages and FaceTime (Communication Safety)
Apple · ages any age with a parent-made child account; teens 13-17
Worth turning on for any child with an iPhone or iPad; pair it with contact limits for younger kids.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Apple Watch For Your Kids
Apple · ages kids who don't have their own iPhone; no set age
Good for iPhone families who want a phone alternative with strong contact controls; cheaper kids' watches exist if you only need calls and location.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Aura Parental Controls
Aura · ages kids and teens
Makes sense for families who already want Aura's identity protection; those who only need screen time limits can use free built-in tools.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Bark (app, Bark Phone, Bark Watch)
Bark Technologies · ages kids and teens
For parents who want alerts about serious risks on a teen's phone and will talk openly about it; families wanting simple limits can start with free built-in tools.
Where these facts come from
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/108806
- https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/parent-disclosure/
- https://www.apple.com/family-sharing/
- https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.