Set daily limits, bedtime schedules, and class windows. Manage everything from your browser. Free, no app to install for parents.
Web Dashboard
Mac Agent
Daily limits in minutes. Different for each day of the week, or separate weekday/weekend settings. Only counts active use — sleep and idle don't count.
Lock the computer on a schedule. 10 PM to 8 AM on school nights, later on weekends. Separate schedules for weekdays and weekends.
Whitelist time for online classes, lessons, or homework. Computer unlocks automatically, minutes aren't counted. Configurable buffer before and after.
6-digit codes that change every 5 minutes. Internet not needed. Read the code from your dashboard, child types it — 30 minutes of free time.
Installs as a system service with a watchdog. Restarts in 15 seconds if killed. Cmd+Q blocked. Requires admin password to remove.
No app needed for parents. Open the dashboard on your phone, tablet, or computer. See usage, change limits, get unlock codes — from anywhere.
The agent updates itself automatically. New features and fixes are delivered without touching your child's Mac.
Only counts time when the screen is on, unlocked, and your child is active. Walk away for 5 minutes — timer pauses.
No trial, no premium tier, no credit card. Unlimited devices, all features included. Open-source on GitHub.
Add a device in the dashboard. You'll get a one-line setup code. Download the small agent app on the child's Mac, paste the code — done.
Configure daily limits, bedtime, and class windows. Changes apply within seconds. Monitor usage from anywhere.
| Feature | Apple Screen Time | Qustodio / Bark | NesTimer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $5-15/mo | Free |
| Parent needs app | Yes (iPhone) | Yes | No (any browser) |
| Bypass protection | Weak | Medium | Strong (root daemon) |
| Offline unlock | No | No | Yes (TOTP codes) |
| Per-day limits | No | Yes | Yes (Mon-Sun) |
| Class/activity windows | No | Limited | Yes, with buffer |
| Auto-updates | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No | Yes |
Based on pediatrician recommendations and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Weekdays: 45–60 min
Weekends: 60–90 min
Bedtime: 7:30 PM
Weekdays: 60–90 min
Weekends: 90–120 min
Bedtime: 8:30 PM
Weekdays: 90–120 min
Weekends: 120–180 min
Bedtime: 10:00 PM
Use class windows to exclude homework and online lessons from the daily limit.
No. You manage everything from your browser at my.nestimer.com. Works on any phone, tablet, or computer. There's also an optional native app for iOS and macOS if you prefer.
Yes. No subscription, no premium tier, no credit card required. All features are included for unlimited devices.
The agent installs as a root-protected system service. It cannot be quit, and if killed, a watchdog restarts it within 15 seconds. If your child is a Standard User (not admin) on macOS, they cannot remove it.
All rules work offline. The agent enforces limits and downtime locally. You can generate offline unlock codes from the dashboard — the code changes every 5 minutes and gives 30 minutes of free time.
Apple Screen Time is widely known to be easy for children to bypass. NesTimer is root-protected, offers per-day limits, class windows with buffer time, offline unlock codes, and doesn't require iCloud Family Sharing.
Any Mac running macOS 13 (Ventura) or newer. Both Intel and Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) are supported.
No. NesTimer only tracks total screen time. It does not monitor browsing, apps, messages, or any content. It's a time management tool, not surveillance.
Yes. Add as many devices as you need, each with its own rules, schedules, and activity windows.
Yes! NesTimer is fully open-source. Clone the GitHub repo, run docker compose up, and you have your own private instance. The cloud dashboard at my.nestimer.com is the same software.
Free forever. No credit card. Takes 2 minutes to set up.
