Freedom251 › Parental control apps
Open Screen Time
What Open Screen Time is
Open Screen Time is free, open-source parental-control software for parents, guardians, or other authorized adults supervising children’s iOS devices. A parent uses its Controller to pair supervised devices and configure schedules, while the child’s Enforcer receives policy updates and applies controls locally. On iOS, enforcement uses Apple’s FamilyControls, ManagedSettings, and DeviceActivity APIs. Saved schedules and policies can continue working when the Enforcer is closed or the child device is offline. Family schedules, profiles, pairing records, and synchronization state are stored in a Firebase project controlled by the parent or guardian. Setup can provision Firebase in one click, guide the process, or be completed manually, using Firebase’s free Spark plan. Controller mode runs on Android and iOS. The software is beta, and long periods with the Enforcer closed can delay updates by about 15 minutes.
Who it suits
It suits parents, guardians, and authorized adults managing children’s iOS devices. Controller mode is available on Android and iOS.
What it does well
- Free and open-source parental controls
- Schedules can remain active offline
- Supports one-click Firebase provisioning
- Controller runs on Android and iOS
- Policies apply locally on iOS
What to know first
- Beta software
- iOS background updates can take about 15 minutes
- Child-device supervision currently concerns iOS
- May request broad device permissions
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 100% free · currently runs on iOS child devices; Controller mode on Android and iOS | Free |
As openscreentime.org lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Open Screen Time provides free scheduled controls for supervised iOS devices, with Android and iOS Controller apps. Its beta status, permissions, and possible update delays are important considerations.
Facts from Open Screen Time's own pages
- Beta status
- The app is beta software, with public release work focused on reliability, review readiness, consent, and documentation. · openscreentime.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Data storage
- Family schedules, profiles, pairing records, and sync state are stored in a Firebase project controlled by the parent or guardian. · openscreentime.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Firebase setup
- The app supports one-click Firebase provisioning as well as assisted or fully manual setup, and is designed to work with Firebase’s free Spark plan. · openscreentime.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · openscreentime.org, 20 Sept 2026
- Future platforms
- The FAQ lists Web, macOS, Windows, and a terminal CLI as future Controller applications; it says Android or Amazon device supervision is not currently planned. · openscreentime.org, 12 Oct 2026
- How it works
- A parent Controller configures schedules and pairs supervised devices, while the child Enforcer receives policy updates and applies local controls. · openscreentime.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The app is intended for parents, guardians, or authorized adults supervising devices they are legally permitted to manage. · openscreentime.org, 12 Oct 2026
- iOS enforcement
- The app uses Apple’s FamilyControls, ManagedSettings, and DeviceActivity APIs to apply Screen Time controls on the child device. · openscreentime.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Permissions
- The app may request Screen Time capabilities, camera, notifications, background refresh, significant-location-change access, and device authentication for parental-control functions. · openscreentime.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Open Screen Time is open-source parental-control software for supervising children’s iOS devices. · openscreentime.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Schedules
- Schedules and policies saved on the child device can remain active when the app is closed or the device is offline. · openscreentime.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Screen-time schedules
- Yes · openscreentime.org, 20 Sept 2026
- Third-party services
- The privacy policy names Apple frameworks, Firebase, Google Sign-In, Firestore, Firebase Cloud Messaging, and Cloud Functions as services that may process technical data. · openscreentime.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Update delays
- When the Enforcer app has been closed for a longer period, iOS background delivery can delay parent updates, sometimes up to about 15 minutes. · openscreentime.org, 12 Oct 2026
Where Open Screen Time stands on Freedom251
- Parental control apps#48 of 107