Apple Screen Time vs Family Orbit

Apple Screen Time is a free parental control feature for managing a child's device use on iOS and macOS. Parents can set Downtime to block apps and notifications at selected times, limit time on apps, websites, or categories, and choose app availability schedules for weekdays and weekends. Daily Time Allowances cover categories such as entertainment, games, and social media, with age-tailored guidance. Web controls let parents allow or block specific sites and apps, and Ask to Browse supports website approval requests. Parents can manage a child's contacts in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, including requiring approval for new contacts. Content settings include age ratings and controls over changes to location and Bluetooth sharing. Communication Safety blurs detected nudity in shared photos and videos in supported apps and offers children a way to get help. Managing a child's controls through a family group requires Family Sharing and an Apple Account for each member. Redesigned parental controls require version 27 or later across the family group; some controls are available on watchOS 27.

Family Orbit is a parental control app for monitoring a child’s phone use, location and online activity. Parents can review text messages, call logs, browsing history, photos, videos, contacts and calendar events, and use content filtering, app blocking, screen-time schedules and activity reports. GPS features include real-time location, location history, geofence alerts, check-ins and panic alerts. The maker describes AI-powered alerts for inappropriate photos, profanity, sexting, cyberbullying and harassment. WhatsApp monitoring is listed, and the pricing page also names iMessages. Family Orbit supports Android and iOS devices, with desktop downloads for Windows and macOS; web is also listed as a platform. A desktop app supports Wi-Fi Sync with iTunes or Finder from the parent’s computer. iCloud monitoring uses the child’s iCloud credentials and does not require installing an app on the child’s device. The Monthly plan costs $19.95 a month for up to five devices, and a 3-day trial is offered. The maker says explicit parental authorization is required and the product is for legal parental monitoring.