Mobile software content rating system#Comparison

A comparison of current mobile software rating systems, showing age on the horizontal axis. Note however that the specific criteria used in assigning a classification can vary widely from one country/system to another. Thus a color code or age range cannot be directly compared from one country to another.

Key:

•  White  – No restrictions: Suitable for all ages / Aimed at young audiences / Exempt / Not rated / No applicable rating.
•  Yellow  – Advisory: Parental guidance is suggested for designated age range.
•  Purple  – Strong advisory: Not recommended for a younger audience but not restricted.
•  Red  – Restricted: Parental accompaniment required for younger audiences.
•  Black  – Prohibitive: Exclusively for older audience / Restricted to licensed premises / Purchase age-restricted / Banned.

{{small|Explanations of specific ratings are available in corresponding articles.}}

{{Main|App Store (iOS/iPadOS)#Application ratings}}

Apple's rating system for the App Store follows the following rubric:{{cite web |title=Age ratings |publisher=Apple Inc. |url=https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/reference/age-ratings/ |accessdate=28 February 2025}}

{{multiple image

| perrow = 4

| caption_align = center

| header_align = center

| width = 50

| image1 = Apple rating 4+.svg

| alt1 = 4+

| image2 = Apple rating 9+.svg

| alt2 = 9+

| image3 = Apple rating 12+.svg

| alt3 = 12+

| image4 = Apple rating 17+.svg

| alt4 = 17+

| footer = Apple App Store (iOS/iPadOS) rating logos

}}

• Rated 4+: Contains no objectionable material.
• Rated 9+: May contain content unsuitable for children under the age of 9.
• Rated 12+: May contain content unsuitable for children under the age of 12.
• Rated 17+: May contain content unsuitable for children under the age of 17.

Apps rated 17+ are prohibited from purchase by younger users.{{cite web |first=Aulia |last=Masna |title=App Store rating system raises questions |date=17 July 2009 |work=Macworld |url=http://www.macworld.com/article/1141756/appstore_ratings.html |accessdate=19 May 2017}}

Up until March 17, 2015 Google Play used the following rubric:{{cite web|url = https://support.google.com/googleplay/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1075738|title = Application Content Ratings|publisher = Google Inc.}}{{cite web |title=Creating Better User Experiences on Google Play |work=Android Developers Blog |url=https://android-developers.blogspot.ca/2015/03/creating-better-user-experiences-on.html |accessdate=2015-06-14 }}

• Everyone
• Low maturity
• Medium maturity
• High maturity

Google now uses the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) in most countries not represented by a rating authority, whilst countries or regions with a superimposed video game rating authority continues applying their own ratings where applicable. {{cite web |title=About the International Age Rating Coalition |work=IARC |url=https://www.globalratings.com/about.aspx |accessdate=2015-11-11 }}

This includes Americas (except Brazil), where ESRB is imposed, Brazil with ClassInd, Europe and Israel with PEGI, Australia with ACB and South Korea with GRAC. However, a new Google Play Rating system is used exclusively in Russia and for non-gaming apps in South Korea.[https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/6209544 Apps & Games content ratings on Google Play]

These ratings include:

• 3+
• 7+
• 12+
• 16+
• 18+

In Australia, IARC applies its own ratings for non-gaming apps.

The Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK) utilises the following age classifications: 0 (no restrictions), 6, 12, 16 and 18. Games rated 12 can be legally purchased from the age of 10.{{cite web |title=Protecting Children and Young People |publisher=Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle |url=http://www.usk.de/fileadmin/documents/USK_Broschuere_ENG.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221044801/http://www.usk.de/fileadmin/documents/USK_Broschuere_ENG.pdf |archive-date=21 February 2011 |url-status=dead}}

{{Main|Samsung Galaxy Store}}

The ratings are, All Ages, 4+, 12+, 15+ and 18+. The 18+ rating is enforced and the rest are advisory.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Huawei AppGallery developed own rating system.

Ratings are: 3+, 7+, 12+, 15+ and 18+{{cite web |title=AppGallery Rating system|publisher=Huawei Developers |url=https://developer.huawei.com/consumer/en/doc/distribution/app/50125 |accessdate=30 January 2022}}

On the Amazon Appstore, "All Ages" is for all ages. "Guidance Suggested" is for recommendation that parents should give guidance to pre-teens/children. "Mature" is recommended to be suitable for mature audiences. "Adult" is advertisements, graphic violence, nudity or other content only suitable for adult audiences.[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007N85POS/ref=s9_bbs_gw_d5_g405_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-6&pf_rd_r=14HZZ1KMYK2H9AXD7Z6P&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1741301142&pf_rd_i=507846 Amazon.com: Angry Birds Rio HD (Fire Edition): Appstore for Android] (click "guidance suggested" for information on rating system). [https://archive.org/details/AmazonRatings Archive].

The Blackberry appstore as the following ratings:[https://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/35148893/?lang=en&countrycode=CA Despicable Me: Minion Rush{{snd}} BlackBerry World] (click "Teen" for information on rating system). [https://archive.org/details/blackberryworldratings Archive].{{cite news |last1=Evelyn |first1=Alex |title=Consideringapple |url=https://consideringapple.com/ |access-date=23 August 2023}}

• G (General){{snd}} All ages
• T (Teen){{snd}} May not be suitable for children under the age of 13
• M (Mature){{snd}} May not be suitable for children under the age of 17
• A (Adult){{snd}} Content that is generally recognized as appropriate only for, or that is legally restricted to, persons at least the age of majority in their region.

The CTIA{{snd}} The Wireless Association, an industry trade group, collaborated with the ESRB to largely apply ESRB's rating system to mobile devices.{{cite web|url = http://www.esrb.org/ratings/mobileapp_ratings_guide.jsp|title = CTIA Mobile Application Ratings System with ESRB|publisher = ESRB}} It was launched in 2011, with Apple and Google being notable abstentions from subscribing companies.{{cite web|url = https://techcrunch.com/2011/11/29/ctia-and-esrb-debuts-app-rating-system-no-buy-in-from-google-or-apple/|title = CTIA And ESRB Debut App Rating System, No Buy-In From Google Or Apple|author = Chris Velazco|publisher = Techcrunch|date = November 29, 2011}}

{{Main|Common Sense Media}}

Common Sense Media's rating scheme ranges from 2+ to 18+, in one-year increments.

• Internet Content Rating Association
• Video game content rating system
• Motion picture content rating system
• Television content rating system

{{reflist}}

• {{cite web |url=https://support.google.com/googleplay/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1075738 |title=Set up parental controls on Google Play |work=Google}}{{snd}} on controlling what types of apps can be downloaded
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140911055741/https://www.esrb.org/index-js.jsp ESRB ratings]

Category:Mobile software

*

*

*