# Parental Control vs Ally

The clearest difference is monetization model: Parental Control at free with in-app purchases against Ally's subscription. Parental Control also leads on ratings volume (5 vs 1) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). Ally's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Parental Control sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Ally sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Ally holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Parental Control has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Parental Control ships an update every 5 months, Ally every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Parental Control | Ally |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parental-control-smartdaddy/id1502380751/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ally-screen-time-and-tasks/id6757992056/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **5** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 68 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SMARTDADDY LLP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1502380750) | [Charles Ogbogu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1853707229) |

## What reviewers say

### Parental Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parental-control-smartdaddy/id1502380751)

This app acts as a virtual bodyguard for children, offering comprehensive screen time management and online safety features. It allows parents to set app limits, monitor online activities, track location, and manage tasks for their children, providing peace of mind.

**Highlights:** Screen time limits and scheduling, App and website blocking, Live location tracking, Screen capture monitoring, To-do list management, Call and SMS monitoring, SOS emergency alerts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock SmartDaddy | $4.99 | per month |
| SMALL FAMILY | $5.99 | per month |
| Unlock SmartDaddy | $9.99 | per month |
| MEDIUM FAMILY | $17.99 | per month |
| LARGE FAMILY | $29.99 | per month |
| Unlock SmartDaddy | $40.99 | per year |
| Unlock SmartDaddy | $59.99 | per year |


### Ally

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ally-screen-time-and-tasks/id6757992056)

This app helps families manage children's screen time by linking it to responsibilities like chores and homework. Parents can set rules and schedules, while children earn rewards for completing tasks, fostering better digital habits.

**Highlights:** Link screen time to chores and homework, Set automatic app lock schedules, Real-time sync between parent and child devices, Children earn XP for task completion, Track daily screen time insights, Emergency unlock feature, Supports multiple children and co-parents

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ally Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Ally Pro Yearly | $69.99 | per year |
| Ally Pro Yearly | $79.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Parental Control free?

Parental Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Ally free?

Ally is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Parental Control or Ally?

Ally is rated higher. Parental Control averages 4.8 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Ally averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Parental Control or Ally have ads?

Neither Parental Control nor Ally shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Parental Control or Ally?

Parental Control ships an update every 5 months, and Ally every 2 weeks. Most recently, Parental Control was updated on October 6, 2026 and Ally on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*