An OurPact alternative for iPhone that’s simple to set up
SteadyBounds is a parental control app for iPhone and iPad where kids earn extra screen time through learning lessons and chores their parents approve. You set it up on your phone and your child’s device. No computer, no cable, no profile.
1. What parents say about OurPact
These are real reviews from OurPact’s U.S. App Store page. Some parents report these problems; they aren’t every family’s experience. Under each one is how SteadyBounds handles it.
Setup needs a computer
“there should be no reason in this day and age that I should have to pair the phone with a computer to get all of the benefits.”
A parent on the App Store, September 2025
How SteadyBounds handles it: you set up SteadyBounds on your phone and your child’s iPhone or iPad, and every feature works without a computer. There’s no cable and no desktop program. Your child needs their own Apple Account in your Family Sharing group, and you approve Apple’s Screen Time permission on their device.
The wallpaper and apps changed
“after you download the profile it deletes your child’s wallpaper and rearranges all the apps.”
A parent on the App Store, July 2026
How SteadyBounds handles it: SteadyBounds doesn’t install a profile. It uses Apple’s own Screen Time, so your child’s wallpaper and Home Screen stay just as they are. When time is up, apps stay in place and show a lock screen that names the rule holding them.
A start and stop button for every use
“requires pushing a start/stop button even to access allowed apps and sites”
A parent on the App Store, June 2026
How SteadyBounds handles it: Apple’s Screen Time counts your child’s minutes on its own. There’s no timer for your child to start, pause or forget. You can also pick apps that stay open when time runs out, like school apps.
Hard to remove
“One year later, it still has my son’s phone locked up and I cannot get it off.”
A parent on the App Store, August 2026
How SteadyBounds handles it: you can remove SteadyBounds whenever you like, with or without a subscription. On your phone, tap your profile picture on Home to open Settings, tap Remove a child or device, then Devices & Removal, then Disconnect Device. SteadyBounds takes its limits off that device. If the device can’t get online, tap Parent Help on its disconnecting screen and enter your parent PIN. A parent or guardian in your Family Sharing group can also turn off SteadyBounds’s access in Apple’s Screen Time settings. See the steps.
A change that didn’t stick
“it says it works but then after about 10 minutes the app will show the old schedule.”
A parent on the App Store, July 2025
How SteadyBounds handles it: when you change a limit or give extra time, SteadyBounds shows “Applied” only after your child’s device confirms the change. Until then, it tells you the change is waiting for the device.
2. What you get with SteadyBounds
Each row is something SteadyBounds gives you, next to what OurPact’s own pages say.
| Feature | SteadyBounds | OurPact |
|---|---|---|
| Every feature without a computer | Yes. Set up on your phone and your child’s device | OurPact says Full Pair, which gives all features, needs a computer, a cable and its OurPact Connect program |
| No profile to install | Yes. Uses Apple’s Screen Time permission | OurPact’s Quick Pair installs a profile on your child’s device |
| Time counts on its own | Yes | OurPact says its Allowance is paused by hand in OurPact Jr. and doesn’t pause when the device locks |
| Every Screen Time control free, for every child and device | Yes | OurPact’s free tier covers one child device, five manual blocks a month and one block schedule |
| Each parent has their own sign-in | Yes. Invite another parent or guardian | OurPact says parents share one login |
| Kids earn time with learning lessons | Yes. Coding, math, science and building | Not in OurPact’s feature list |
| Chores with rewards you approve | Yes. Screen time or a real-world reward | Not in OurPact’s feature list |
| Family chat between parents and kids | Yes, with Premium. Kids can’t message each other | Not in OurPact’s feature list |
“Not in OurPact’s feature list” means we didn’t find it on OurPact’s pricing page or its Features & Pricing help article on October 19, 2026.
3. Price
SteadyBounds: every Screen Time control is free, for every child and device. That includes limits, bedtimes, school hours, breaks, app and website rules, pausing apps, requests, extra time, Time Bank and reports.
SteadyBounds Premium is optional: $5.99 a month or $49.99 a year, with a 14-day free trial on the yearly plan for eligible new subscribers. It adds the full lesson library, Learn first, family chat and groups, chore routines, bedtime activity alerts, places and arrival alerts, widgets, animated scenes and learning progress reports. If Premium ends, your Screen Time controls keep working.
OurPact, on October 19, 2026: Premium is $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year. Premium+ is $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year. OurPact’s free tier covers one child device, five manual blocks a month, one automated block schedule and web browser blocking. Prices are in U.S. dollars.
4. Get started free
Download SteadyBounds, connect your child’s iPhone or iPad from your phone, and set your first limit. Every Screen Time control is free, and you can remove it anytime.
Get SteadyBounds on the App Store
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5. Questions parents ask
Is SteadyBounds a good OurPact alternative for iPhone?
Yes, if your children use iPhones and iPads. SteadyBounds sets daily limits, bedtimes, school hours and app rules. You set it up on your phone and your child’s device, with no computer and no profile. Time counts on its own, and kids can earn extra time with learning lessons and chores you approve.
Do I need a computer to set up SteadyBounds?
No. You set up SteadyBounds on your phone and your child’s iPhone or iPad, and every feature works without a computer. Your child needs their own Apple Account in your Family Sharing group, on iOS or iPadOS 17.4 or later. During setup, you approve Apple’s Screen Time permission on their device.
What is free in SteadyBounds?
Every Screen Time control is free, for every child and device: limits, bedtimes, school hours, breaks, app and website rules, pausing apps, requests, extra time, Time Bank and reports. Premium is optional. It costs $5.99 a month or $49.99 a year and adds the full lesson library, Learn first, family chat, widgets and more.
6. Sources
Everything we say about OurPact comes from OurPact’s own website, help center or App Store page. If something has changed, please tell us at hello@steadybounds.com and we will fix it.
- OurPact pricing: ourpact.com/pricing
- OurPact features, prices and free tier (help center): Features & Pricing
- OurPact Full Pair and Quick Pair: What is Full Pair, What is Quick Pair
- OurPact Allowance: My child forgot to pause Allowance
- OurPact shared login: Can two or more parents share management?
- Parent reviews: OurPact on the U.S. App Store
OurPact is a trademark of its owner. SteadyBounds is not made by, connected to or endorsed by OurPact.