Smart Screen Time Limits
Set daily limits, bedtimes, and schedules that fit your family's routine.
Calmer days. Brighter tomorrows.
Healthy screen time.
Smarter kids.
Less daily conflict.
SteadyBounds is a parental control app for iPhone and iPad. Set screen time limits and bedtimes, block distractions, and let kids earn extra time through meaningful STEM learning.
Built for busy parents. Designed for iPhone and iPad.
Protected App Blocking
Block distracting apps and websites. Rules stay on, even when SteadyBounds is closed.
STEM Rewards
Kids earn limited extra time by finishing learning challenges and chores you approve.
Parent Approvals
Review time requests and handle exceptions with one-tap decisions.
How SteadyBounds Works
A simple, positive approach to screen time.
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1
Set family rules
Choose daily limits, bedtimes, school hours, breaks, and more, right from your iPhone.
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2
Kids complete STEM challenges
They learn through fun, age-appropriate activities in coding, math, science, and building.
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3
Earn time and stay on track
Kids earn limited extra screen time, within caps you set, while building real skills.
Try it
Tap through real screens from SteadyBounds, shown with a sample family: Emma on her iPad, and you on your iPhone.
Emma asks for more time
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On Emma’s iPad
Emma has 72 minutes left today. She taps Rewards.
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On Emma’s iPad
She taps Ask for more time. Kids can ask even when their apps are locked.
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On Emma’s iPad
She picks a reason and taps Send Request.
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On Emma’s iPad
The request goes to your phone. Her apps stay the same until you answer.
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On your iPhone
It shows up on your Home screen. Tap 1 request needs your review.
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On your iPhone
Tap Approve, or decline. Approvals follow today’s limit and bedtime.
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On your iPhone
SteadyBounds records your decision and sends the time to Emma’s iPad. Tap OK.
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On Emma’s iPad
Emma’s iPad now shows 87 minutes left: her 72 plus the 15 you approved.
You add time
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On your iPhone
No request needed. On your Home screen, tap Emma.
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On your iPhone
Her Controls open. Tap Add time.
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On your iPhone
Pick how much. Tap 15 minutes.
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On your iPhone
The time is for today only. Tap Confirm extra time.
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On your iPhone
Approved. It says waiting until Emma’s iPad confirms the time. Tap Done.
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On Emma’s iPad
Emma’s iPad now shows 87 minutes left: 15 more than before.
Turn screen time
into learning time.
SteadyBounds' STEM library makes screen time something to feel good about. Kids earn extra time by finishing engaging, educational activities, and you decide how much they can earn.
- Coding puzzles and logic games
- Math quests and problem solving, from counting to algebra
- Science activities and discovery
- Engineering and building puzzles, done in the app
- Parent-approved offline tasks like reading and chores
Daily reward caps keep learning healthy.
See what matters. Skip the noise.
Get a clear view of your child's time, limits, and requests. SteadyBounds gives you simple oversight without spying, so you can guide, not hover.
- Emma’s time left today72 min
- Liam’s time left today85 min
- Emma’s limit today3 hours
- Emma’s bedtime tonight8:30 PM
Everything in SteadyBounds
All the tools you need to manage screen time, build healthy habits, and give your child more room to learn, play, and be themselves.
One allowance,
every device
Your child’s iPhone and iPad share one daily allowance, so more devices never means more screen time.
See how to set daily time
Bedtime stays bedtime
Apps rest on schedule, and extra time never pushes bedtime back.
See how to set bedtimeLearning that
earns time
Short STEM activities with hints and read-aloud help. You set how much time they can earn each day.
See how learning earns timeChores build
real-life skills
Create a task and choose the reward, from screen time to a trip to the park. Every reward waits for your OK.
See how chores work
Only a parent
can add time
Kids can ask for more time, even when apps are locked. There’s no “One More Minute” button.
See how requests work
Every child,
every device, both parents
Invite another parent or guardian. No per-child or per-device fees.
A calmer, happier home
Less conflict. More confidence. Tools that help you feel good about their digital habits.
A Home screen that feels like theirs Premium
Emma picks Space Adventure for her Home screen, and an astronaut friend comes along.
Forest is free. More animated scenes with friendly companions come with Premium.
See all 38 features
Limits & schedules 8
- Daily limitsOne allowance shared across your child’s iPhone and iPad.Free
- BedtimeApps rest on schedule, and extra time never moves bedtime.Free
- Bedtime activity alertsGet told if your child’s device is used after bedtime. Bedtime itself stays free.Premium
- School hoursGames stay closed while class is on.Free
- App rulesEvery app counts toward the daily limit. Pick apps that stay open when others lock, like school apps.Free
- Website rulesBlock specific sites with Apple’s built-in web filter.Free
- Pause and resumePause apps with one tap from wherever you are.Free
- Regular breaksA short rest after a stretch of play, for example 15 minutes every hour.Free
Requests & extra time 7
- Time requestsKids ask even when their apps are locked, without iMessage. You answer from your phone.Free
- Extra timeAdd 5, 15 or 30 minutes to today in a couple of taps.Free
- Time BankSave earned minutes for another day, up to the limits you set.Free
- A lock screen that explainsIt names the rule holding the app, and it has no “One More Minute” button.Free
- Confirmed changesYou see “Device confirmed these rules” only after your child’s device confirms the change.Free
- Screen time reportsToday and the last 7 days, with most-used apps and websites.Free
- Home Screen widgetsEach child’s time left and waiting requests on your Home Screen and Lock Screen. Both stay free in the app.Premium
Learning 9
- Fresh MathFour-question sets with hints, from counting up through algebra.Free + Premium
- Code the RobotStep-by-step coding and logic puzzles.Free + Premium
- Science ExplorerMake a prediction, test it on screen, and explain what happened.Free + Premium
- Build It!Building and engineering puzzles, done in the app.Free + Premium
- Daily challengeA fresh challenge on your child’s Home screen every day.Free
- Read-aloud helpLesson questions, hints and answer choices read aloud. It never uses the microphone.Free
- Earn time by learningUp to the daily cap you set. Each eligible lesson can earn time once per day; more repeats are practice.Free
- Learn firstKids finish a lesson before games and videos, with a reminder or a lock. If Premium ends, it turns off.Premium
- Learning progress reportsSets finished, math topics and minutes earned, for each child.Premium
Family & rewards 10
- Chores and family tasksScreen time or a real-world reward. Kids can’t pay themselves; you approve each one.Free
- Chore routinesSave a chore you use often and assign it again whenever you need it.Free
- Repeating routinesA saved routine adds the chore by itself on the days you choose. You still approve each reward.Premium
- Family chat and groupsChat with your kids and the other parents. Kids can’t message each other. Reporting, blocking and muting are always free.Premium
- Both parents, one familyEither of you can approve requests and change rules.Free
- Every child and deviceNo per-child or per-device fees.Free
- Photos and avatarsPhotos are cropped and their location details removed before upload.Free
- Home scenesForest is free. More animated scenes with friendly companions come with Premium.Free + Premium
- Location sharingSee where your child’s device was most recently. Optional, and off until you turn it on.Free
- Places & arrival alertsGet an alert when your child’s device arrives at or leaves places you save, like Home or School. Alerts can be late or missed.Premium
Privacy & control 4
- No ads. No data selling.No ads, no ad tracking, and we don’t sell your family’s information.Always
- We don’t read textsTexts, iMessage and conversations in other apps stay private.Always
- Parent PINA PIN only you know protects SteadyBounds settings on your child’s device.Free
- Remove it anytimeDisconnect a device whenever you choose, with or without a subscription.Free
Built around what parents asked for
We read hundreds of parent reviews of screen time apps. These are the problems that came up most, and how SteadyBounds handles them.
Kids tap “One More Minute” and keep going.
Only a parent can add time.
The SteadyBounds lock screen has no “One More Minute” or “Ignore Limit” button.
Every device gets its own full hour.
One allowance across iPhone and iPad.
An hour means an hour, however many devices your child uses.
Asking for more time needs iMessage.
Requests work even when apps are locked.
Kids ask inside SteadyBounds, and you answer from your phone.
The app said unlocked. It wasn't.
“Confirmed” means confirmed.
You see “Device confirmed these rules” only after your child's device confirms the change.
Kids tick off chores they never did.
Kids can't pay themselves.
Every chore reward waits for a parent's OK.
The basics were stuck behind a paywall.
Screen time controls are free.
Limits, bedtime, approvals, extra time, and reports never need a subscription. If Premium ends, Learn first turns off and your other rules keep working.
Simple, Transparent Pricing
Start free. Upgrade when your family wants more to learn and less to juggle.
Free
$0
Free forever
- Every screen time control
- Requests, approvals, and extra time
- Time Bank and screen time reports
- Starter lessons, daily challenge, and daily Fresh Math
- One-off chores, saved chore routines and location sharing
- Every child, device, and parent
Premium
$49.99/year
$4.17 a month · Save 30% · 14 days free
$5.99/month
Billed monthly · Cancel anytime
- Everything in Free
- Full lesson library and extra practice
- Learn first
- Family chat and groups
- Repeating chore routines
- Bedtime activity alerts
- Places & arrival alerts
- Home Screen widgets
- Animated Home scenes
- Learning progress reports
Premium is an optional auto-renewing subscription billed to your Apple Account. It renews automatically unless you turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the current period ends; manage or cancel anytime in your iPhone's Settings. The 14-day free trial is for eligible new subscribers to the yearly plan; cancel at least 24 hours before it ends and you won't be charged. Sold only on the U.S. App Store, in U.S. dollars; sales tax may apply. Your screen time controls keep working without a subscription. See the Terms of Use and subscription and refund details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child just close the app?
Closing SteadyBounds doesn't turn anything off. Your rules are applied through Apple's Screen Time system and stay in place whether or not the app is open. If SteadyBounds notices that protection on a device has stopped working, the parent app shows that the device needs attention. It can't catch every problem, so check your child's device from time to time.
How do rewards work?
Kids finish lessons, the daily challenge, or chores you create. Each can earn the minutes you allow, up to a daily cap you choose. Chore rewards always need your approval, and each eligible lesson can earn time once per family day; repeats after that are practice.
Can I keep school apps available?
Yes. Every app counts toward the daily limit, so every app locks when time is up. To keep some open, open SteadyBounds on your child's device and use your parent PIN to choose them, like school apps. They stay open when time runs out, at bedtime, and during app-free time, breaks, or a pause. Their minutes still count toward the daily limit.
Does it work for more than one child?
Yes. Add every child and each of their iPhones and iPads at no extra cost. Each child has their own rules, learning level, and rewards, and each child's devices share one daily allowance.
Is SteadyBounds really free?
Yes. Every screen time control is free: limits, bedtimes, school hours, breaks, app and website rules, pausing apps, requests, extra time, Time Bank, and reports. Starter lessons, the daily challenge, each day's Fresh Math set, one-off chores, saved chore routines, and location sharing are free too, and so are the report, block, and mute tools in family chat. Premium is optional and adds the full lesson library and extra practice, Learn first, family chat and groups, repeating chore routines, bedtime activity alerts, places and arrival alerts, Home Screen widgets, animated Home scenes (Forest stays free), and learning progress reports. If Premium ends, Learn first turns off, place alerts pause (your saved places are kept), and your other rules and location sharing keep working.
What does my child's device need?
An iPhone or iPad on iOS or iPadOS 17.4 or later, signed in with your child's own Apple Account in your Family Sharing group. During setup you approve Apple's Screen Time permission on your child's device. No computer, profile, or VPN is needed.
Does SteadyBounds track my child's location?
Only if you turn it on, and only after your child's device agrees. Free location sharing shows the most recent location your child's device reported. With Premium, Places & arrival alerts tell you when the device arrives at or leaves places you save, like Home or School. SteadyBounds doesn't show live movement or keep a route, and alerts can be late or missed, so don't rely on them in an emergency.
Can SteadyBounds read my child's messages?
No. It can't read texts, iMessage, email, or conversations in other apps, and it doesn't collect browsing history. Family chat inside SteadyBounds is separate and optional.
Can I remove SteadyBounds later?
Yes, whenever you like, with or without a subscription. Disconnect your child's device in the parent app and SteadyBounds takes its rules off that device. Premium is cancelled separately in your iPhone's Settings. See the steps on our Support page.
Does SteadyBounds replace supervision?
No. It's a tool that helps you set and keep limits. Kids still need a grown-up's guidance, and no app can promise that every rule can't be worked around. Please read our safety and parent responsibility notes.