🎮 Learning games and sites · 🛡️ Parental controls and family safety
Roblox Parental Controls
By Roblox Corporation. Visit Roblox Parental Controls
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
The built-in controls parents use to manage a child's Roblox account, either from a linked parent account or with Parent mode on the child's device. Parents set which game maturity levels the child can join, allow or block single games, choose who the child can chat with, cap monthly Robux spending, set daily screen time and see top games and friends. Roblox now gives kids 5 to 8 a curated 'Roblox Kids' catalog and kids 9 to 12 'Roblox Select'.
Our take: Every Roblox parent should link an account and set these up; they reduce risk but do not make Roblox safe for young kids on their own.
| Ages it suits | for parents of kids about 5-17 |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | Anyone under the age of majority needs a parent to read and accept the terms, and the parent is responsible for the child's activity. Many settings move from parent to child at 13, and accounts unlink at 18. (terms) |
| Price | Free. Controls are free; Roblox itself is free with Robux purchases (Oct 2026). |
| Works on | Web, iPhone and iPad, Android, Windows, Mac |
| Account | A parent's account |
| Ads | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes |
| The AI in it | Roblox uses facial age estimation (a selfie check) to age-check users before chat and some games. |
What's good
- Detailed controls for chat, content, spending and time
- Parent can manage from their own phone
- Chat off by default for age-checked young kids
Watch for
- At 13 the child takes over screen time, blocking and voice chat (after an age check)
- Spending limits stop applying at 13
- Roblox faces state lawsuits over child safety
- Controls only work if the child's birthday is honest
Data and privacy
Under-13 accounts get stricter privacy settings with personalized ads switched off. Roblox may take a selfie for age checks and says those images are deleted when the check is done. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
No independent study of how well the controls work. Several US states, including Iowa (Dec 2025) and Nebraska (Mar 2026), have sued Roblox, saying it fails to protect children from exploitation; Roblox disputes the claims.
In the Big Index
Alternatives to Roblox Parental Controls
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 researchFreeNo ads
Apple Screen Time
Apple · ages any age under 18
The first stop for any family whose child uses an iPhone or iPad; it does nothing on Android or Windows.
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.
Where these facts come from
- https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/30428310121620-Parental-Controls-Overview
- https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/30428367965460-What-happens-as-my-child-or-teen-gets-older-on-Roblox
- https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004647846-Roblox-Terms-of-Use
- https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004630823-Roblox-Privacy-and-Cookie-Policy-
- https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/newsroom/attorney-general-brenna-bird-sues-roblox-for-endangering-iowa-children
- https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/attorney-general-sues-gaming-platform-roblox-over-child-safety-issues/
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.