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Open Screen Time

Free#90 of 106 in Parental Control Apps

Open Screen Time: A free, technical option for iOS scheduling and device supervision. Ranked #90 of 106 in Parental Control Apps by our editors (3.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for technical families wanting open-source iOS controls.

3.0/10Editor score

Try Open Screen Time

Open Screen Time3.0 Try Open Screen Time

At a glance

Editor score
3.0 / 10
Pricing
Free plan
Best for
Technical families wanting open-source iOS controls
Free plan
Yes
Paid from
Free
Facts checked
20 Sep 2026

Where it wins
- Free and open source with native iOS enforcement
- Recurring downtime and screen-time schedules
- Parent-child pairing with Firebase storage options
Where it doesn't
- Child-device supervision is focused on iOS
- Does not include content filtering or location tracking
- Beta software requires Firebase setup and Apple frameworks

Our verdict on Open Screen Time

Open Screen Time is a free, open-source parental-control app for parents and guardians supervising child iOS devices. A parent device acts as the Controller, with Controller mode supported on Android and iOS. Parents pair supervised devices, configure recurring downtime and screen-time schedules, and apply app limits through Apple's Screen Time settings. Child-device supervision is focused on iOS, while the project relies on Apple's FamilyControls, ManagedSettings, and DeviceActivity frameworks.

Its standout feature is native iOS enforcement rather than a broad monitoring dashboard. Policies persist locally on the supervised device, and the app provides basic sync-status reporting for supervised devices. Parent-child pairing gives families a defined control model, while Firebase supports family-data storage through Firestore and Firebase Cloud Messaging. Families can choose automated, assisted, or manual Firebase provisioning, and Google Sign-In, APNs, and Apple Screen Time form part of the surrounding platform fit. This makes Open Screen Time relevant for technically comfortable households that want control over their data setup and are prepared to work within Apple's platform rules.

The trade-off is a narrow scope. Open Screen Time focuses on schedules, app limits, pairing, and enforcement; it does not extend to content filtering, location tracking, or activity reports. The product is beta software, and its Bring Your Own Firebase approach adds configuration responsibility compared with a fully managed service. Choose it when open-source code, free access, iOS-native controls, and configurable Firebase storage matter most. Families seeking broader supervision across child devices, location features, content filtering, or detailed activity reporting should consider a product centered on those capabilities instead.

Your product? Our editors can test Open Screen Time in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

Open Screen Time pricing

Plans Free planFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.

See plans on openscreentime.org

Open Screen Time fact sheet

Free plan	Yes
Paid from	Free
Device platforms	Not verified
Content filtering	Not verified
Screen-time schedules	Yes
App blocking	Not verified
Activity reports	Not verified
Location tracking	Not verified
Device limit	Not verified
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	iOS, Android
Support	Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business (editorial estimate)
Integrations	6 integrations: Firebase, Apple Screen Time APIs, Google Sign-In, Firebase Cloud Messaging, Firestore, Cloud Functions
Pricing	Free plan
Website	openscreentime.org
Facts checked	20 Sep 2026

Open Screen Time integrations

Open Screen Time lists 6 integrations on its own site.

Firebase
Apple Screen Time APIs
Google Sign-In
Firebase Cloud Messaging
Firestore
Cloud Functions

Alternatives to Open Screen Time

See all Open Screen Time alternatives →

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Featured on iTechGuides

Open Screen Time is listed in our Parental Control Apps directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update