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Parenting · head to head

Apple Screen Time vs Kidslox

Apple Screen Time logo

Apple Screen Time

Parenting

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kidslox logo

Kidslox

Parenting

Simple parental controls for all devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Apple Screen Time parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone; Kidslox one paid account controls up to 10 devices
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, Kidslox covers Screen time management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apple Screen Time and Kidslox differ
AttributeApple Screen TimeKidslox
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsIos, Ipados, MacosWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac
Founded20162013

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
  • App restrictions
  • Communication limits
  • Purchase controls
  • Family Sharing management
  • iCloud

Only in Kidslox

  • Screen time management
  • App blocking
  • Location tracking
  • Website blocking
  • Schedule management
  • Usage reports
  • Multiple device support
  • Device manufacturers

Both cover

  • Content filtering
  • 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 Kidslox
  • Content filteringnot Kidslox
  • Device controlnot Kidslox
  • Family safetynot Kidslox

Kidslox

  • Parental monitoring and screen time managementnot Apple Screen Time
  • Child device managementnot Apple Screen Time
  • Family safety featuresnot 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

Kidslox

  • One paid account controls up to 10 devices
  • The free trial lasts only 3 days
  • Kidslox must be installed on every device you want to control
  • Kidslox requires an internet connection to operate at all
  • The Android app requires Device Administrator, VPN, Accessibility and Location permissions to filter content, take screenshots and show location

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Screen Time

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

Kidslox

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Screen time limits
    • Basic app blocking
    • Content filtering
  • Premium$9.99/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Location tracking
    • Advanced filtering

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 Kidslox if

  • You need screen time management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac.
  • You also want app blocking.
Kidslox review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Screen Time or Kidslox better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Screen Time starts at Free and Kidslox at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Screen Time or Kidslox?
Apple Screen Time starts at Free and Kidslox at Free.
Does Apple Screen Time or Kidslox run on more platforms?
Apple Screen Time runs on Ios, Ipados, Macos. Kidslox runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac.
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 Kidslox is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Screen Time do that Kidslox cannot?
Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, App limits, Downtime scheduling, App restrictions. Kidslox covers Screen time management, App blocking, Location tracking, Website blocking. Both handle Content filtering, Cloud deployment, Ios support, English 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
Kidslox: Does Kidslox offer a free version?

Yes, Kidslox offers free plans. A 3-day free trial is available to test Premium features.

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
Kidslox: What is the cost of Kidslox Premium?

Specific pricing for Kidslox Premium features is not published on the website. Pricing details are available in the mobile app or by contacting Kidslox support.

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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Related pages

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