iPhone parental controls
A screen time app for kids that rewards responsibility — not just restricts
Updated · For parents
The short answer
Sprigtime is a free iPhone app where parents set the rules, children earn screen-time minutes by completing chores, homework and routines, and the apps a parent chooses are paused automatically by Apple's Screen Time system when the balance reaches zero. It needs no account and has no ads or tracking.
What to look for in a screen time app
Most parental control apps are built around restriction: block this, limit that. Restriction is necessary, but on its own it tends to leave kids waiting for the limit to end and parents fielding requests for more. Before choosing an app, ask:
- Does it use Apple's official Screen Time frameworks? On iPhone, apps that limit other apps should use Apple's Family Controls, Managed Settings and Device Activity APIs.
- Can I choose exactly which apps are limited? School tools, maps and messaging family should be able to stay open.
- Can my child see what's going on? A visible balance teaches self-management; a mystery timer teaches frustration.
- Is there a way to earn more time? Tying extra minutes to responsibilities replaces nagging with a clear path.
- What does it collect? Look for on-device data, no ads and no trackers.
How Apple Screen Time fits in
Apple's built-in Screen Time lets parents in a Family Sharing group set time allowances, schedules, content restrictions and communication limits for a child's device (Apple Support). It's a strong foundation, and we recommend setting it up — our walkthrough shows how.
What built-in Screen Time doesn't do is connect time to responsibilities. That's the gap an earn-based app fills.
The earn-based model
In an earn-based app, time is a balance your child manages:
- You choose which apps count against the balance.
- Your child gets a daily allowance and earns more by completing tasks you set.
- Starting play spends from the balance; at zero, the chosen apps pause.
- Everything is recorded in a ledger both of you can read.
The idea is that children practice deciding when to use their time — a skill they'll need long after parental controls are gone. Read more about how earning works.
How Sprigtime helps
Sprigtime is an iPhone app built on Apple's Screen Time frameworks (Family Controls, Managed Settings and Device Activity):
- Parents set the rules: tasks and their minute values, daily allowance, daily max and schedules.
- Kids earn and spend: a time bank with a big, simple balance and a Start play button.
- Apps pause at zero: only the apps and categories you choose.
- Ledger history: every minute earned, spent, borrowed or deducted.
- Parent PIN protects parent controls; approvals let you check tasks first.
- Borrowing and behavior deductions with earn-back, both optional.
- Private: no account, no ads, no tracking; data stays on your family's devices.
Sprigtime is free and currently in public beta on Apple's TestFlight. It requires iOS 17 or later.
Free iPhone beta · No account · No ads · No tracking
Frequently asked questions
Is Sprigtime free?
Yes. Sprigtime is free to use during the public TestFlight beta, with no ads.
Does Sprigtime work with Apple Screen Time?
Yes. It uses Apple's Screen Time frameworks (Family Controls, Managed Settings and Device Activity) to pause the apps you choose. When set up through Family Sharing, a parent's approval is required to remove the Screen Time permission.
Can Sprigtime see my child's messages or browsing?
No. Apple's Screen Time system gives apps like Sprigtime private, on-device tokens for the apps you select. Sprigtime can't read messages, browsing or what's on screen, and has no account or servers holding your family's data.
Is there an Android version?
Not at launch. Sprigtime is built for iPhone.
Sources
- Apple Support — “Use Screen Time to manage your child’s iPhone or iPad.”
- Apple Support — “Set up parental controls to manage your child’s iPhone or iPad.”
This page is general information for parents, not medical advice. Talk with your child’s pediatrician about your family’s situation.