Apple Screen Time review

Apple Screen Time is the place to start for an all-Apple family because it costs nothing and runs at the system level. Apple's support pages describe Ask to Buy and Ask to Browse, which send a request to a parent before a child can download an app or open a new website in Safari and other supported browsers. Both are on by default for children under 13, and Limit Adult Websites is on by default for children under 18. Parents can choose who the child talks to in Messages, FaceTime and Phone, and require approval before a new contact can reach them. Communication Safety blurs photos and videos with detected nudity, gore or violence, and Screen Time Schedules allow different apps before, during and after school. It needs Family Sharing and a separate Child Account, it does nothing for Android or Windows devices, and Apple notes that not every control is available on every Apple device.

Who it is for

families where every child uses an iPhone or iPad

Price

Included with iPhone, iPad and Mac at no extra cost.

with the parental controls built directly into iPhone, iPad, and Mac
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• Ask to Buy and Ask to Browse send app and website requests to a parent for approval
• Limit Adult Websites filter, on by default for children under 18
• Allowed Contacts and contact approval for Messages, FaceTime and Phone
• Communication Safety for photos and videos with detected nudity, gore or violence
• Screen Time Schedules for different apps before, during and after school

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: No cost and nothing extra to install
• Strength: Ask to Browse is on by default for children under 13
• Strength: Parents approve new contacts before a child can see their messages
• Weakness: Works only on Apple devices
• Weakness: Needs Family Sharing and a Child Account for each child
• Weakness: Not all parental controls are available on every Apple device

Key facts

• Price: Free, built in
• Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro
• Setup: Family Sharing plus a Child Account
• Web filter: Limit Adult Websites or approved websites only

Where it ranks

Apple Screen Time is No. 3 in our Best Parental Control Apps verdict.