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Parenting · head to head

Apple Screen Time vs Net Nanny

Apple Screen Time logo

Apple Screen Time

Parenting

Apple's built-in parental controls for iOS and Mac

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Net Nanny logo

Net Nanny

Parenting

Protect your family online

From
$39.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Apple Screen Time has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Apple Screen Time parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone; Net Nanny no free trial available
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, Net Nanny covers AI-powered content filtering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apple Screen Time and Net Nanny actually diverge.

Attributes where Apple Screen Time and Net Nanny differ
AttributeApple Screen TimeNet Nanny
Starting priceFree$39.99/year
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIos, Ipados, MacosIos, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook
Founded20161996

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Parenting).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apple Screen Time

  • Screen time tracking
  • App limits
  • Downtime scheduling
  • Content filtering
  • App restrictions
  • Communication limits
  • Purchase controls
  • Family Sharing management

Only in Net Nanny

  • AI-powered content filtering
  • Screen time management
  • App blocking
  • YouTube monitoring
  • Profanity masking
  • Location tracking
  • Social media alerts
  • Real-time reporting

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment
  • Ios support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apple Screen Time

  • Screen time managementnot Net Nanny
  • Content filtering
  • Device controlnot Net Nanny
  • Family safetynot Net Nanny

Net Nanny

  • Content filtering
  • Screen time limitsnot Apple Screen Time
  • Online safetynot Apple Screen Time
  • App controlnot Apple Screen Time

Both are used for content filtering, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apple Screen Time

  • Parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone

Net Nanny

  • No free trial available

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Screen Time

Free
  • Included with iOS/macOSFree
    • Screen time limits
    • App restrictions
    • Content filtering

Net Nanny

$39.99/year
  • 1 Desktop Plan$39.99/year
    • Covers one PC or Mac device
    • All Net Nanny features including monitoring, screen time management, internet filtering, app blocking
  • 5 Devices Family Protection Pass$54.99/year
    • Works on Windows, macOS, and iOS
    • Approximately 11 dollars per device annually
  • 20 Devices Family Protection Pass$89.99/year
    • Compatible with Windows, macOS, and iOS
    • Less than 5 dollars per device per year

Which should you pick?

Choose Apple Screen Time if

  • You need screen time tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Ipados, Macos.
  • You also want app limits.
Apple Screen Time review

Choose Net Nanny if

  • You need ai-powered content filtering.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook.
  • You also want screen time management.
Net Nanny review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Screen Time or Net Nanny better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Screen Time starts at Free and Net Nanny at $39.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Screen Time or Net Nanny?
Apple Screen Time has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apple Screen Time and $39.99/year for Net Nanny.
Does Apple Screen Time or Net Nanny run on more platforms?
Apple Screen Time runs on Ios, Ipados, Macos. Net Nanny runs on Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook.
Can I use Apple Screen Time for free?
Yes. Apple Screen Time has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Net Nanny starts at $39.99/year.
What is Apple Screen Time best used for?
Apple Screen Time is most often used for screen time management, content filtering, device control, family safety. Of those, screen time management and device control are not what Net Nanny is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Screen Time do that Net Nanny cannot?
Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, App limits, Downtime scheduling, Content filtering. Net Nanny covers AI-powered content filtering, Screen time management, App blocking, YouTube monitoring. Both handle Cloud deployment, Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Apple Screen Time: Is Screen Time included with iOS at no additional cost?

Screen Time is included with iOS as a built-in parental control feature. There is no additional cost beyond the iOS operating system.

Source
Net Nanny: How much does Net Nanny cost?

Net Nanny offers three subscription plans. The 1 Desktop Plan costs 39.99 dollars per year. The 5 Devices Family Protection Pass costs 54.99 dollars per year, or about 11 dollars per device annually. The 20 Devices Family Protection Pass costs 89.99 dollars per year, or less than 5 dollars per device per year.

Source
Apple Screen Time: What parental control features does Screen Time provide?

Screen Time allows parents to set time allowances across app categories like Entertainment, Games, and Social Media, create schedules to control which apps are available at specific times or days, and check how children are using their devices.

Source
Apple Screen Time: Which iOS devices support Screen Time?

Screen Time is available on iOS-compatible devices. Based on current iOS, this includes iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later, as well as current-generation models including iPhone 17.

Source
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