Comparison

Screen Time vs Playful Pause

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Screen Time

This free utility helps parents manage their children's screen time. Set timers, and once they expire, the device becomes difficult to use until unlocked by the parent with Touch ID or a passcode.

Highlights
  • Set screen time timers
  • Device lockout after timer expires
  • Unlock with Touch ID
  • Unlock with passcode
  • Free to use
Read full description

Less screen time, more life time! Controlling how much time your kids spend using screens is important. Screen Time is here to help, for free. 1. Setup a timer 2. Once the timer goes off, your device becomes hard to use for anyone else but you 3. Unlock your device with Touch ID or passcode to make it usable again. It's that simple. This app is free and made by a concerned parent.

About

Playful Pause

Features
Read full description

Playful Pause helps parents manage screen time across iPhone, iPad, Windows PCs, and Nintendo Switch. ONE SUBSCRIPTION FOR YOUR FAMILY Both monthly and annual plans include daily screen-time limits, playtime schedules, device pause controls, timed unlocks and bonus time for supported, paired devices. One subscription covers all children and invited co-parents in your Playful Pause family. The plans include the same features; only the billing period differs. Windows PCs require the Playful Pause companion app. Using Playful Pause requires an auto-renewing subscription purchased through Apple. The purchase screen shows the price, billing period and any eligible free trial before you subscribe. Eligible new subscribers can start with a 3-day free trial. After the trial, the subscription renews at the displayed price unless canceled. Existing subscribers can restore purchases. Manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple Account settings. New PlayStation connections are temporarily unavailable while we work on Sony sign-in. Existing connections are unchanged. On iPhone and iPad, Playful Pause uses Apple Family Controls, Device Activity, and Managed Settings. Per-app Screen Time details stay on the child's device; aggregate usage is used to operate shared screen-time limits. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Screen Time3 screens
Playful Pause4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Screen Time at none against Playful Pause's 2. Screen Time also leads on iOS requirement (10.3 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Playful Pause sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Screen Time asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Screen Time versus Playful Pause: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreen TimePlayful Pause
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.4 (12 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews7.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings12 — better—
Update frequency—Every 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS10.3 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCantina SoftwareAaron Edell

In-app purchases

None

Screen Time

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Playful Pause

Subscriptions2
  • Playful Pause Monthly3 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Playful Pause Annual3 Days trial$59.991 Year

Questions

Is Screen Time free?
Screen Time is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Playful Pause free?
Playful Pause is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Screen Time or Playful Pause have ads?
Neither Screen Time nor Playful Pause shows ads.

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