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Parenting · head to head

Apple Screen Time vs OurFamilyWizard

Apple Screen Time logo

Apple Screen Time

Parenting

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OurFamilyWizard logo

OurFamilyWizard

Parenting

Co-parenting made easier

From
$9.17/month
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; OurFamilyWizard each co-parent needs a separate paid subscription, so a two parent household pays twice
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, OurFamilyWizard covers Shared parenting calendar.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apple Screen Time and OurFamilyWizard differ
AttributeApple Screen TimeOurFamilyWizard
Starting priceFree$9.17/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIos, Ipados, MacosIos, Android, Web
Founded20162001

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 OurFamilyWizard

  • Shared parenting calendar
  • Secure messaging
  • Expense tracking
  • Payment requests
  • Info bank
  • Journal entries
  • ToneMeter
  • Court-admissible records

Both cover

  • 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 OurFamilyWizard
  • Content filteringnot OurFamilyWizard
  • Device controlnot OurFamilyWizard
  • Family safetynot OurFamilyWizard

OurFamilyWizard

  • Documenting communication between separated or divorced co-parentsnot Apple Screen Time
  • Sharing a custody schedule, expenses and child information in one recordnot Apple Screen Time
  • Producing court admissible records of messages and parenting timenot 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

OurFamilyWizard

  • Each co-parent needs a separate paid subscription, so a two parent household pays twice
  • Subscriptions are sold in one year and two year terms rather than month to month
  • The Basic plan at $110 a year is receive only for calls and includes just 1 GB of storage
  • Essentials caps calling at 45 minutes a month and expense payments at 24
  • Call recording and transcription require the Max plan at $299.88 a year
  • Unlimited storage and unlimited certified records require the Premium plan or higher

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Screen Time

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

OurFamilyWizard

$9.17/month
  • Basic$9.17/month
    • 1 GB storage
    • Receive-only calls
  • Essentials$12.5/month
    • 45 minutes/month video/audio calls
    • Writing assistant
    • Schedule coordination
  • Premium$18/month
    • Unlimited calls
    • Unlimited storage
    • Unlimited certified records
  • Max$24.99/month
    • Call recordings
    • Transcriptions
    • Secure recording storage

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 OurFamilyWizard if

  • You need shared parenting calendar.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want secure messaging.
OurFamilyWizard review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Screen Time or OurFamilyWizard better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Screen Time starts at Free and OurFamilyWizard at $9.17/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Screen Time or OurFamilyWizard?
Apple Screen Time has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apple Screen Time and $9.17/month for OurFamilyWizard.
Does Apple Screen Time or OurFamilyWizard run on more platforms?
Apple Screen Time runs on Ios, Ipados, Macos. OurFamilyWizard runs on Ios, Android, Web.
Can I use Apple Screen Time for free?
Yes. Apple Screen Time has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OurFamilyWizard starts at $9.17/month.
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 OurFamilyWizard is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Screen Time do that OurFamilyWizard cannot?
Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, App limits, Downtime scheduling, Content filtering. OurFamilyWizard covers Shared parenting calendar, Secure messaging, Expense tracking, Payment requests. Both handle Cloud deployment, Ios support, English language support, Spanish 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
OurFamilyWizard: Is there a free trial for OurFamilyWizard?

OurFamilyWizard offers a 30-day money-back guarantee when subscribing through their website, allowing users to try and request a full refund if unsatisfied.

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
OurFamilyWizard: What is the difference between OurFamilyWizard's Essentials and Premium plans?

Essentials ($12.50/month) includes 45 minutes/month of calls and up to 24 OFWpay reimbursements, while Premium ($18/month) offers unlimited calls, unlimited OFWpay payments, unlimited storage, and unlimited certified records.

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
OurFamilyWizard: Does OurFamilyWizard offer discounts?

Yes, OurFamilyWizard offers fee waiver programs for qualifying families, military family discounts, and allows annual billing with reduced per-month rates compared to monthly subscription.

Source
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