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A guide for parents

App Store age ratings explained

What 4+, 9+, 13+, 16+ and 18+ in the App Store really rate, what the age rating doesn’t tell you, and how to use it as a filter on your child’s device.

Every app in the App Store has an age rating, right under its name. Many parents rely on it, and that’s understandable. But the rating only answers one question: what content does the app show? Whether a game pushes your child to buy or collects data is written somewhere else.

The five tiers

Since 2025 the App Store has five age tiers. The rating comes from a questionnaire every developer has to fill in, and can differ slightly by country.

TierRoughly
4+No objectionable content.
9+Occasional mild cartoon or fantasy violence, mild scares or some crude language.
13+More frequent violence, swearing, more mature themes, or features like open chats.
16+Stronger violence, references to sex, alcohol or drugs.
18+Adults only, for example gambling with real money or very graphic content.

What the age rating covers, and what it doesn’t

Part of the ratingNot part of the rating
Violence, horror, scaresWhether the app shows ads
Language and swearingWhether there are in-app purchases, loot boxes or subscriptions
Sexual content, alcohol, drugsWhether data is collected or shared
Simulated gamblingHow strongly the app is designed for endless play
Chat, user content, unrestricted web accessWhether the app works offline

Since 2025 Apple also asks developers whether their app has ads, chat, social features or built-in parental controls. Those answers feed into the calculation of the rating. But you still can’t read a clear “this app has ads” from the rating itself.

Where to find the rest

  1. In-app purchases

    The note sits right next to or below the Get button. Further down the app page, the App Store lists the top purchases.

  2. Privacy

    Right at the bottom of the app page under “App Privacy”. Best is “Data Not Collected”. Be careful with “Data Used to Track You”.

  3. Ads

    Unfortunately there’s no label for this. Honest developers say so in the description. Searching the reviews for “ads” helps too.

You’ll find everything together in our checklist for ad-free kids’ games.

Using the age rating as a filter

You can set the highest rating that shows up on your child’s device. Anything above it can be neither downloaded nor opened.

  1. On your iPhone, open Settings, Family, and tap your child’s name. Without Family Sharing, go to Settings, Screen Time on your child’s device.
  2. Tap Apps & Websites or Content & Privacy Restrictions, then the restrictions for content.
  3. Under Apps, choose the highest allowed tier, for example 9+.

Combined with blocking in-app purchases, that’s good basic protection. How to block in-app purchases.

Our games

Airtime: Ski Jump is rated 4+. On top of that there are no ads, no in-app purchases, no chat, no internet connection and the “Data Not Collected” label. Exactly the things the age rating doesn’t tell you.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 4+ game automatically suitable for kids?

No. 4+ only means Apple found no objectionable content like violence or crude language. A 4+ game can still be full of ads and purchase offers.

Why does a harmless app suddenly have 13+?

Since 2025 the rating also takes into account whether an app offers chat, content from other users or unrestricted web access. An app with an open chat can therefore be rated higher, even if the app itself shows nothing objectionable.

What happened to 12+ and 17+?

Apple reorganised the tiers in 2025. Since then there are 4+, 9+, 13+, 16+ and 18+. The old 12+ and 17+ tiers no longer exist, and the affected apps were re-rated.

Does the App Store show ESRB or PEGI ratings?

No, Apple uses its own system. In the Google Play Store, by contrast, you see the regional ratings such as ESRB in the US or PEGI in most of Europe, assigned through a shared process.

What does the “Kids” category in the App Store mean?

Apps in the Kids category must follow stricter rules: as a rule they may not include third-party ads or analytics, and links out of the app or purchases must sit behind a parental gate. That’s a good sign, but in-app purchases aren’t banned there.

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