Mobile software content rating system

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  – No restrictions: Parental guidance is suggested for designated age range.
•  Purple  – No restrictions: Not recommended for a younger audience but not restricted.
•  Red  – Restricted: Parental accompaniment required for younger audiences. (Not used)
•  Black  – Prohibitive: Exclusively for older audience / Purchase age-restricted / Banned.

Explanations of specific ratings are available in corresponding articles.

Country/System	Age rating																			Other
	0/1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19
App Store	4+								9+			12+					17+			N/A
Google Play (IARC)	3						7					12				16		18		N/A
ACB   Australia	G														M			R 18+		N/A
	PG														MA 15+
ClassInd   Brazil	L									10		12		14		16		18		N/A
ESRB   USA   Canada   Mexico	E									E10+			T				M	AO		RP
	EC
GRAC   South Korea	ALL											12			15				19	N/A
PEGI   Europe   Israel	3						7					12				16		18		!
							7					12				16		18
USK   Germany	0					6				12		12				16		18		N/A
Country/System	0/1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	Other
Samsung Galaxy Store	ALL			4+								12+			15+			18+		N/A
Huawei AppGallery	3+						7+					12+				16+		18+		N/A
Amazon Appstore	All Ages																Mature	Adult		N/A
	Guidance Suggested
Blackberry World	G												T				M	A		N/A
Common Sense Media	N/A	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18		Not Yet Rated
Country/System	0/1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	Other

Apple's rating system for the App Store follows the following rubric:^[1]

 

 

 

 

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.^[2]

Up until March 17, 2015 Google Play used the following rubric:^[3][4]

• 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. ^[5] 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.^[6] These ratings include:

• 3+
• 7+
• 12+
• 16+
• 18+

In Australia, IARC applies its own ratings for non-gaming apps.^[6]

The ratings are, All Ages, 4+, 12+, 15+ and 18+. The 18+ rating is enforced and the rest are advisory.^{[citation needed]}

Huawei AppGallery developed own rating system. Ratings are: 3+, 7+, 12+, 15+ and 18+^[7]

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.^[8]

The Blackberry appstore as the following ratings:^[9][10]

• G (General) – All ages
• T (Teen) – May not be suitable for children under the age of 13
• M (Mature) – May not be suitable for children under the age of 17
• A (Adult) – 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 – The Wireless Association, an industry trade group, collaborated with the ESRB to largely apply ESRB's rating system to mobile devices.^[11] It was launched in 2011, with Apple and Google being notable abstentions from subscribing companies.^[12]

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

• "Set up parental controls on Google Play". Google. – on controlling what types of apps can be downloaded
• ESRB ratings