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Parenting · head to head

Apple Screen Time vs OurHome

Apple Screen Time logo

Apple Screen Time

Parenting

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

From
Free
Rated
-
O

OurHome

Parenting

Chores, rewards, and family organization

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • They diverge on capability: Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, OurHome covers Chore assignment.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apple Screen Time and OurHome differ
AttributeApple Screen TimeOurHome
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsIos, Ipados, MacosIos, Android, Web
Founded20162017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 OurHome

  • Chore assignment
  • Points system
  • Custom rewards
  • Grocery lists
  • Shared calendar
  • Meal planning
  • Recurring tasks
  • Progress tracking

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment
  • Ios support
  • English language support
  • Spanish language support

What people use each for

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

Apple Screen Time

  • Screen time managementnot OurHome
  • Content filteringnot OurHome
  • Device controlnot OurHome
  • Family safetynot OurHome

OurHome

  • Chore managementnot Apple Screen Time
  • Teaching responsibilitynot Apple Screen Time
  • Family organizationnot Apple Screen Time
  • Grocery shoppingnot Apple Screen Time

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

OurHome

Nothing recorded yet. See the OurHome review.

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Screen Time

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

OurHome

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Chore management
    • Points & rewards
    • Grocery lists
  • Premium$4.99/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Unlimited households
    • Custom chore icons

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 OurHome if

  • You need chore assignment.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want points system.

Questions people ask

Is Apple Screen Time or OurHome better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Screen Time starts at Free and OurHome at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Screen Time or OurHome?
Apple Screen Time starts at Free and OurHome at Free.
Does Apple Screen Time or OurHome run on more platforms?
Apple Screen Time runs on Ios, Ipados, Macos. OurHome runs on Ios, Android, Web.
Can I use Apple Screen Time for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 content filtering are not what OurHome is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Screen Time do that OurHome cannot?
Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, App limits, Downtime scheduling, Content filtering. OurHome covers Chore assignment, Points system, Custom rewards, Grocery lists. Both handle Cloud deployment, Ios support, English language support, Spanish language 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
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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