Software · head to head
FamilyWall vs Apple Screen Time
Apple Screen Time
Software
Apple's built-in parental controls for iOS and Mac
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: FamilyWall budget tracking, meal planning, family document storage and schedule management are Premium only; Apple Screen Time parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone
- They diverge on capability: FamilyWall covers Private family network, Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which FamilyWall and Apple Screen Time actually diverge.
| Attribute | FamilyWall | Apple Screen Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | free |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Ios, Ipados, Macos |
| Founded | 2012 | 2016 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 FamilyWall
- Private family network
- Shared calendar
- Real-time location sharing
- Location history
- Family messaging
- Photo sharing
- Shopping lists
- Chore assignment
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.
FamilyWall
- Running a shared colour-coded family calendar across phones and the webnot Apple Screen Time
- Keeping shared shopping, chore and to-do lists for a householdnot Apple Screen Time
- Planning meals and tracking family expenses on the Premium plannot Apple Screen Time
Apple Screen Time
- Screen time managementnot FamilyWall
- Content filteringnot FamilyWall
- Device controlnot FamilyWall
- Family safetynot FamilyWall
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
FamilyWall
- Budget tracking, meal planning, family document storage and schedule management are Premium only
- Google and Outlook calendar sync and subscribing to a calendar by URL are Premium only
- Locating family members and arrival or departure notifications are Premium only
- Premium storage is capped at 25 GB
- Premium costs 4.99 USD per month or 44.99 USD per year in the US and Canada, with other countries priced only in-app
- Premium features apply only to the first 5 circles created
- The Premium subscription renews automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the period ends
- Any unused part of the 30-day free trial is forfeited when a subscription is purchased
Apple Screen Time
- Parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone
Pricing, plan by plan
FamilyWall
Free- FreeFree
- Shared calendar
- Location sharing
- Family messaging
- Premium$4.99/month
- Everything in Free
- Unlimited members
- Location history
Apple Screen Time
Free- Included with iOS/macOSFree
- Screen time limits
- App restrictions
- Content filtering
Which should you pick?
Choose FamilyWall if
- You need private family network.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want shared calendar.
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 FamilyWall or Apple Screen Time better?
- Neither clearly leads. FamilyWall starts at Free and Apple Screen Time at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, FamilyWall or Apple Screen Time?
- FamilyWall starts at Free and Apple Screen Time at Free.
- Does FamilyWall or Apple Screen Time run on more platforms?
- FamilyWall runs on Web, Ios, Android. Apple Screen Time runs on Ios, Ipados, Macos.
- Can I use FamilyWall for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is FamilyWall best used for?
- FamilyWall is most often used for running a shared colour-coded family calendar across phones and the web, keeping shared shopping, chore and to-do lists for a household, planning meals and tracking family expenses on the premium plan. Of those, running a shared colour-coded family calendar across phones and the web and keeping shared shopping, chore and to-do lists for a household are not what Apple Screen Time is typically brought in for.
- What can FamilyWall do that Apple Screen Time cannot?
- FamilyWall covers Private family network, Shared calendar, Real-time location sharing, Location history. Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, App limits, Downtime scheduling, Content filtering. Both handle Cloud deployment, Ios support, English language support.