Software · head to head
Canopy vs Apple Screen Time
Canopy
Software
Router-based parental control for whole home protection
- From
- $99.99/year
- Rated
- -
Apple Screen Time
Software
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: Canopy device counts gate the tiers, at 1 on Essential, 3 on Plus and up to 10 on Premium; Apple Screen Time parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone
- They diverge on capability: Canopy covers WiFi-level filtering, Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Canopy and Apple Screen Time actually diverge.
| Attribute | Canopy | Apple Screen Time |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $99.99/year | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Ios, Ipados, Macos |
| Founded | 2019 | 2016 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Canopy
- WiFi-level filtering
- Content blocking
- Screen time limits
- Real-time notifications
- Usage tracking
- Custom categories
- Schedule management
- Device management
Only in Apple Screen Time
- Screen time tracking
- App limits
- Downtime scheduling
- Content filtering
- App restrictions
- Communication limits
- Purchase controls
- Family Sharing management
Both cover
- Cloud deployment
- Ios support
- English language support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Canopy
- Filtering explicit content across a child's devicesnot Apple Screen Time
- Sexting prevention and image screeningnot Apple Screen Time
- Screen time limits and schedulesnot Apple Screen Time
- Location alerts for a child's phonenot Apple Screen Time
- Accountability partner arrangements for adultsnot Apple Screen Time
Apple Screen Time
- Screen time managementnot Canopy
- Content filteringnot Canopy
- Device controlnot Canopy
- Family safetynot Canopy
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Canopy
- Device counts gate the tiers, at 1 on Essential, 3 on Plus and up to 10 on Premium
- AI chatbot filtering and lingerie or swimwear filtering require the Plus tier
- Phone and chat support are Premium only
- Requires Android 9, iOS 12, macOS 10.13, Windows 10 or ChromeOS, so older devices are unsupported
- The trial is one week
Apple Screen Time
- Parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone
Pricing, plan by plan
Canopy
$99.99/year- Standard$99.99/year
- WiFi filtering
- Content blocking
- Screen time controls
Apple Screen Time
Free- Included with iOS/macOSFree
- Screen time limits
- App restrictions
- Content filtering
Which should you pick?
Choose Canopy if
- You need wifi-level filtering.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want content blocking.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Canopy or Apple Screen Time better?
- Neither clearly leads. Canopy starts at $99.99/year and Apple Screen Time at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Canopy or Apple Screen Time?
- Apple Screen Time has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99.99/year for Canopy and Free for Apple Screen Time.
- Does Canopy or Apple Screen Time run on more platforms?
- Canopy runs on Web, Ios, Android. Apple Screen Time runs on Ios, Ipados, Macos.
- Can I use Apple Screen Time for free?
- Yes. Apple Screen Time has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Canopy starts at $99.99/year.
- What is Canopy best used for?
- Canopy is most often used for filtering explicit content across a child's devices, sexting prevention and image screening, screen time limits and schedules, location alerts for a child's phone. Of those, filtering explicit content across a child's devices and sexting prevention and image screening are not what Apple Screen Time is typically brought in for.
- What can Canopy do that Apple Screen Time cannot?
- Canopy covers WiFi-level filtering, Content blocking, Screen time limits, Real-time notifications. Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, App limits, Downtime scheduling, Content filtering. Both handle Cloud deployment, Ios support, English language support.