Software · head to head
What to Expect vs Apple Screen Time
What to Expect
Software
Pregnancy and parenting guidance from conception to toddler
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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: What to Expect what to Expect is a free, ad-supported consumer content site with no reader subscription tier, per the 31 Dec 2022 archive capture; Apple Screen Time parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone
- They diverge on capability: What to Expect covers Pregnancy tracking, Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which What to Expect and Apple Screen Time actually diverge.
| Attribute | What to Expect | Apple Screen Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | free |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Ios, Ipados, Macos |
| Founded | 2000 | 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 What to Expect
- Pregnancy tracking
- Weekly updates
- Symptom tracker
- Parenting tips
- Community forums
- Expert articles
- Baby names database
- Milestone tracking
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.
What to Expect
- Pregnancy trackingnot Apple Screen Time
- Parenting guidancenot Apple Screen Time
- Community supportnot Apple Screen Time
- Health informationnot Apple Screen Time
Apple Screen Time
- Screen time managementnot What to Expect
- Content filteringnot What to Expect
- Device controlnot What to Expect
- Family safetynot What to Expect
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
What to Expect
- What to Expect is a free, ad-supported consumer content site with no reader subscription tier, per the 31 Dec 2022 archive capture
Apple Screen Time
- Parental controls require setting up Family Sharing and a Child Account rather than working standalone
Pricing, plan by plan
What to Expect
Free- FreeFree
- Weekly pregnancy updates
- Parenting tips
- Symptom tracker
Apple Screen Time
Free- Included with iOS/macOSFree
- Screen time limits
- App restrictions
- Content filtering
Which should you pick?
Choose What to Expect if
- You need pregnancy tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want weekly updates.
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 What to Expect or Apple Screen Time better?
- Neither clearly leads. What to Expect 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, What to Expect or Apple Screen Time?
- What to Expect starts at Free and Apple Screen Time at Free.
- Does What to Expect or Apple Screen Time run on more platforms?
- What to Expect runs on Web, Ios, Android. Apple Screen Time runs on Ios, Ipados, Macos.
- Can I use What to Expect for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is What to Expect best used for?
- What to Expect is most often used for pregnancy tracking, parenting guidance, community support, health information. Of those, pregnancy tracking and parenting guidance are not what Apple Screen Time is typically brought in for.
- What can What to Expect do that Apple Screen Time cannot?
- What to Expect covers Pregnancy tracking, Weekly updates, Symptom tracker, Parenting tips. Apple Screen Time covers Screen time tracking, App limits, Downtime scheduling, Content filtering. Both handle Cloud deployment, Ios support, English language support.