Software · head to head
Net Nanny vs Apple Screen Time
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: 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); Apple Screen Time parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone
- They diverge on capability: Net Nanny covers AI-powered content filtering, Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Net Nanny and Apple Screen Time actually diverge.
| Attribute | Net Nanny | Apple Screen Time |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $39.99/year | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook | Ios, Ipados, Macos |
| Founded | 1996 | 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 Net Nanny
- AI-powered content filtering
- Screen time management
- App blocking
- YouTube monitoring
- Profanity masking
- Location tracking
- Social media alerts
- Real-time reporting
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
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Net Nanny
- Content filtering
- Screen time limitsnot Apple Screen Time
- Online safetynot Apple Screen Time
- App controlnot Apple Screen Time
Apple Screen Time
- Screen time managementnot Net Nanny
- Content filtering
- Device controlnot Net Nanny
- Family safetynot Net Nanny
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.
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)
Apple Screen Time
- Parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Apple Screen Time
Free- Included with iOS/macOSFree
- Screen time limits
- App restrictions
- Content filtering
Which should you pick?
Choose Net Nanny if
- You need ai-powered content filtering.
- You work on Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook.
- You also want screen time management.
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 Net Nanny or Apple Screen Time better?
- Neither clearly leads. Net Nanny starts at $39.99/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, Net Nanny or Apple Screen Time?
- Apple Screen Time has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $39.99/year for Net Nanny and Free for Apple Screen Time.
- Does Net Nanny or Apple Screen Time run on more platforms?
- Net Nanny runs on Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook. 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. Net Nanny starts at $39.99/year.
- What is Net Nanny best used for?
- Net Nanny is most often used for content filtering, screen time limits, online safety, app control. Of those, screen time limits and online safety are not what Apple Screen Time is typically brought in for.
- What can Net Nanny do that Apple Screen Time cannot?
- Net Nanny covers AI-powered content filtering, Screen time management, App blocking, YouTube monitoring. Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, App limits, Downtime scheduling, Content filtering. Both handle Cloud deployment, Ios support.
Related pages
More on Apple Screen Time
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