ScreenChore vs PapaTime
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ScreenChore
This app helps families manage chores and screen time. Parents can assign tasks and reward completion with extra device access, fostering responsibility and healthy digital habits. It aims to reduce conflict by setting clear expectations and automating screen time limits.
- Assign chores with screen time rewards
- Set screen time allowances per child
- Block or limit specific apps
- Automated screen time monitoring
- Parental control via single account
- Prompts chores to earn extra screen time
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ScreenChore combines a family chore chart with a screen time app, allowing parents to assign chores and reward them with extra screen time. It allows blocking and limiting screen time, while helping kids practice prioritization, delayed gratification, and build healthy relationships with their devices. Instead of constantly reminding, negotiating, or being the “bad guy,” parents can set clear expectations ahead of time. ScreenChore automatically monitors screen time and blocks selected apps when a child reaches their limit. No need to take the device away. The apps simply become unavailable, helping reduce fussing, arguing, and daily power struggles. When kids run out of screen time, they'll be prompted to complete the chores you assign to earn extra screen time, helping them learn that important responsibilities come before entertainment. Features: - Set a screen time allowance for each child in your family - Assign chores based on the day of the week - Choose a screen time reward for each chore - Use one parent account to set up your whole family - Permanently block certain apps or limit them by screen time - Give children a parent-approved device experience - Let kids complete chores to earn extra screen time ScreenChore is designed for families who want less conflict around devices and more structure around daily routines. ScreenChore uses Apples standard EULA terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ ScreenChore's Privacy Policy: https://screenchore.com/Privacy_Policy.pdf
PapaTime
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Tired of your kid spamming you for screen time during meetings? PapaTime gives them a budget they manage themselves. You stay out of the loop. PapaTime is a screen time app for your kid's iPhone or iPad, controlled by you from your phone. Your child earns tokens for doing real-world things — chores, homework, reading, whatever you decide — and spends those tokens on screen time. Each token unlocks one minute. You set the daily ceiling, the schedule, and the rewards. They run the rest. No more "just five more minutes." HOW IT WORKS • Your kid sees their token balance on their device. • They tap "Buy time" — 15, 30, 60, or custom minutes — and the device unlocks the apps you allow. • When time runs out, the device locks the games and the kid goes back to earning. • You manage everything from your phone — no second app to install. WHAT GETS LOCKED Three tiers, set up once: • Time-limited apps (games, YouTube): closed until your kid pays for a session. • Hard-rule apps (everything else by default): closed during bedtime, parent lock, homework, or the daily ceiling. • Always-allowed (FaceTime, Messages): never locked — emergencies and family calls always go through. EARN, NOT BEG Your kid wakes up to a daily token allowance you set — usually enough for a healthy amount of screen time. To go beyond that, they have to do something. You define what counts: homework, dishes, reading 30 pages. They mark it done, you approve it on your phone, tokens land. BUILT ON APPLE'S REAL APIs PapaTime uses Apple's official FamilyControls, ManagedSettings, and DeviceActivity frameworks. The same screen-time mechanics Apple ships, with a budget the kid manages instead of an approval queue you babysit. DESIGNED FOR KIDS UNDER 10 Big touch targets, friendly colors, no shame language. Time is "saved" and "earned," never "wasted." Built to feel like a treasure chest, not a prison. iPHONE & iPAD PapaTime runs on the iPhone or iPad you already gave your kid. Setup takes about three minutes: pick which apps need tokens, pick a daily ceiling, pick a schedule, hand it over. WHO IT'S FOR • Parents whose kid keeps interrupting them at work for screen time. • Families who already use chore charts and want to merge that into screen time. • Anyone tired of Apple Screen Time's request/approve loop. NOT FOR • Tracking your kid's location, messages, or browsing — PapaTime does not do surveillance. • Multi-device fleets — one device per kid is the design. PRIVACY PapaTime stores the minimum it needs to make the app work: device pairing code, your settings, and a transaction log of tokens earned and spent. No browsing history, no app screen recording, no behavioral profiling. Full policy at trypapatime.com/privacy. Built by one parent for his own son. Three years in the making. Now ready for yours.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PapaTime at none against ScreenChore's 1. PapaTime also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs fortnightly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. ScreenChore sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per month. PapaTime asks for nothing beyond the download.
ScreenChore ships an update fortnightly, PapaTime every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ScreenChore | PapaTime |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 6 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 21 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Schlangen Development LLC | Slava Nikitin |
In-app purchases
ScreenChore
- ScreenChore Family Plan7 Days trial$5.991 Month
PapaTime
No in-app purchases









