Hoglt vs Apple Screen Time
Apple's Screen Time is built into every iPhone, is free and, from iOS 27, has schedules for before, during and after school. Hoglt is built on Apple's Screen Time framework and adds what Screen Time doesn't: a parent on Android, rules for the feeds inside Instagram, YouTube and Telegram, a school zone, and tasks and coins.
What is the main difference?
To manage Screen Time from your own phone, Apple uses Family Sharing: the child has a Child Account, and a parent or guardian manages it from their own Apple device — Apple's new controls need iOS 27 on every device in the group. Settings can also be changed on the child's iPhone itself. Hoglt needs no Family Sharing: the phone's owner allows access once with Face ID or the passcode, and a parent manages it from Hoglt Parent on iPhone or Android. Screen Time limits whole apps and categories; Hoglt can keep the useful part of an app and close its feed. The child app for iPhone is coming soon.
Hoglt and Screen Time side by side
| Feature | Apple Screen Time (iOS 27) | Hoglt |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, built in | Free to start; PLUS is optional |
| Who manages it | A parent with an Apple device, through Family Sharing | A parent with Hoglt Parent on iPhone or Android |
| School-day schedules | Screen Time Schedules: before, during and after school; weekday and weekend routines | School time and Bedtime templates |
| Rules at a place | — | School zone, with PLUS |
| Daily time | Time Allowances by category | Daily limits per app |
| Contacts | Allowed Contacts; new contacts need approval | — calls always work |
| Websites | Ask to Browse, Limit Adult Websites | Packs or any site, in Safari and in-app browsers |
| Instagram and YouTube without Reels and Shorts | — whole apps or categories only | Hoglt Clean |
| Telegram without channels | — whole apps or categories only | Hoglt Chat |
| Tasks and coins | — | Yes |
| On the child's iPhone | Built in | Child app coming soon |
When is Screen Time enough?
If the whole family uses Apple devices on iOS 27 with Family Sharing, Screen Time's school schedules, Time Allowances and Allowed Contacts cover a lot, for free. Allowed Contacts in particular has no Hoglt equivalent.
When does Hoglt fit better?
- A parent on Android with a child on iPhone.
- No Family Sharing or Child Account to set up.
- Feeds, not whole apps: keep Instagram messages and YouTube long videos, drop Reels and Shorts; keep Telegram chats, drop channels. See Reels, Shorts and Telegram.
- A school zone and rules a school can set — see Hoglt for schools.
- Tasks and coins, and requests a parent answers from their phone.
Can you use both?
Yes. Hoglt works through Apple's Screen Time framework, alongside Apple's own Screen Time settings. See iPhone parental controls for how Hoglt works on iPhone.