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Parenting · head to head

Apple Screen Time vs Norton Family

Apple Screen Time logo

Apple Screen Time

Parenting

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Norton Family logo

Norton Family

Parenting

Comprehensive parental control from Norton Security

From
$49.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Apple Screen Time has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Apple Screen Time parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone; Norton Family norton Family can only be installed on a child's Windows PC, iOS or Android device, with no macOS support
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, Norton Family covers Antivirus protection.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apple Screen Time and Norton Family differ
AttributeApple Screen TimeNorton Family
Starting priceFree$49.99/year
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIos, Ipados, MacosWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac
Founded20161991

Identical on both: 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 Norton Family

  • Antivirus protection
  • Web monitoring
  • App blocking
  • Screen time management
  • Location tracking
  • Activity reports
  • Social media monitoring
  • Custom alerts

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.

Apple Screen Time

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

Norton Family

  • Parental monitoring and child device managementnot Apple Screen Time
  • Web content filtering and screen time controlsnot Apple Screen Time
  • Location tracking and device lock capabilities for Android/iOSnot 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

Norton Family

  • Norton Family can only be installed on a child's Windows PC, iOS or Android device, with no macOS support
  • Windows 10 in S mode is explicitly excluded
  • Not all features are available on all supported platforms
  • Location Supervision is not available in all countries and must be activated before use
  • Video Supervision covers only videos watched on YouTube.com and does not track YouTube videos embedded in other sites or blogs
  • Mobile App Supervision shows and controls apps only on Android devices
  • The Android app relies on the AccessibilityService API to see websites viewed and to stop the child removing permissions
  • Features require the child's device to have an internet or data plan and to be turned on

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Screen Time

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

Norton Family

$49.99/year
  • Norton 360 Deluxe$49.99/year
    • Antivirus protection
    • Parental controls
    • Screen time limits
  • Norton 360 Premium$99.99/year
    • Everything in Deluxe
    • Location tracking
    • Advanced monitoring

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 Norton Family if

  • You need antivirus protection.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac.
  • You also want web monitoring.
Norton Family review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Screen Time or Norton Family better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Screen Time starts at Free and Norton Family at $49.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Screen Time or Norton Family?
Apple Screen Time has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apple Screen Time and $49.99/year for Norton Family.
Does Apple Screen Time or Norton Family run on more platforms?
Apple Screen Time runs on Ios, Ipados, Macos. Norton Family runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac.
Can I use Apple Screen Time for free?
Yes. Apple Screen Time has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Norton Family starts at $49.99/year.
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 Norton Family is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Screen Time do that Norton Family cannot?
Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, App limits, Downtime scheduling, Content filtering. Norton Family covers Antivirus protection, Web monitoring, App blocking, Screen time management. Both handle 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
Norton Family: How much does Norton Family cost?

Norton Family costs $49.99 per year for a single annual subscription. This is the only plan offered; there are no monthly billing or tiered options available.

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
Norton Family: Is there a free trial for Norton Family?

Yes, Norton Family offers a free 30-day trial. A payment method is required at sign-up and will be charged at the end of the trial unless you cancel before the trial period ends.

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
Norton Family: What devices does Norton Family support?

Norton Family supports Windows, Android, and iOS devices. Mac is not supported for parental control features. Features include web filtering, time limits, app monitoring, location tracking, and instant device lock.

Source
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