Parenting & Family · head to head
Apple Screen Time vs Net Nanny
Apple Screen Time
Parenting & Family
Apple's built-in parental controls for iOS and Mac
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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 1 Desktop plan is $49.99 USD per year (promotional $39.99), the 5 device Family Protection Pass is $79.99 USD per year (promotional $54.99), and the 20 device pass is $129.99 USD per year (promotional $89.99)
- They diverge on capability: Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, Net Nanny covers AI-powered content filtering.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Apple Screen Time and Net Nanny actually diverge.
| Attribute | Apple Screen Time | Net Nanny |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $39.99/year |
| Pricing model | free | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Ios, Ipados, Macos | Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook |
| Founded | 2016 | 1996 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Parenting & Family).
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
- 1 Desktop plan is $49.99 USD per year (promotional $39.99), the 5 device Family Protection Pass is $79.99 USD per year (promotional $54.99), and the 20 device pass is $129.99 USD per year (promotional $89.99)
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 Device$39.99/year
- Web filtering
- Screen time
- App blocking
- 5 Devices$54.99/year
- All 1 Device features
- 5 device protection
- Family feed
- 20 Devices$89.99/year
- All 5 Device features
- 20 device protection
- Priority support
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.
Choose Net Nanny if
- You need ai-powered content filtering.
- You work on Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook.
- You also want screen time management.
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.