A mobile software content rating system is a rating system which is tailored to users of mobile software.
Comparison table
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.
- Yellow – Advisory: Parental guidance is suggested for designated age range.
- Purple – Strong advisory: Not recommended for a younger audience but not restricted.
- Red – Restrictive: Parental accompaniment required for younger audiences.
- Black – Prohibitive: Exclusively for older audiences / Restricted to licensed premises / 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 | 20 | 21 | |||
| App Store | — | 4+ (aged 5 and under) |
4+ (ages 6–8) |
4+ (ages 9–11) |
— | 13+ | 16+ | 18+ | No Rating | |||||||||||||||
| 4+ | 9+ | 18+ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Australia (ACB)
|
G | M | R 18+ | CTC | ||||||||||||||||||||
| PG | MA 15+ | RC | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Brazil (ClassInd)
|
L | 6 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | — | ||||||||||||||||
Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Canada Mexico United States
|
EC | E10+ | T | M | AO | RP | ||||||||||||||||||
| E | RP – Likely Mature 17+ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Germany (USK)
|
USK 0 | USK 6 | USK 12 | USK 16 | USK 18[1] | Unrated[2] | ||||||||||||||||||
| No Rating[3] | Confiscated[4] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indexed[5] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Indonesia (IGRS)
|
— | 3+ | 7+ | 13+ | 15+ | 18+ | Refused classification | |||||||||||||||||
| International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) | — | 3+ | 7+ | 12+ | 16+ | 18+ | — | |||||||||||||||||
|
— | 3 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 18 | ![6] | |||||||||||||||||
 Saudi Arabia (Gmedia/GAMR)
|
— | 3 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 21 | TBC | ||||||||||||||||
 South Korea (GRAC)
|
ALL | 12 | 15 | 19 | Refused classification | |||||||||||||||||||
 Taiwan (GSRR)
|
0+ | 6+ | 12+ | 15+ | 18+ | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung Galaxy Store | All | 4+ | 12+ | 15+ | 18+ | Banned | ||||||||||||||||||
| Huawei AppGallery | — | 3+ | 7+ | 12+ | 15+ | 18+ | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Amazon Appstore | All Ages | Adult | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Guidance Suggested | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mature | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Blackberry World | G | T | M | A | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Common Sense Media | — | 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 | 20 | 21 | Other | |
Existing systems
App Store (iOS/iPadOS)
Since iOS 26, Apple’s rating system for the App Store has followed the following rubric:[7]
- 4+: Contains no objectionable material. Apps specifically aimed at children can be placed into one of three subcategories: ages 5 and under, 6–8 and 9–11.
- 9+: May contain content unsuitable for children under the age of 9.
- 13+: May contain content unsuitable for children under the age of 13. Replaces the 12+ rating.
- 16+: May contain content unsuitable for children under the age of 16. Replaces the 17+ rating.
- 18+: May contain content unsuitable for children under the age of 18. Replaces the 17+ rating. Apps rated 18+ are restricted in Australia, Brazil, Singapore, and United Kingdom.[8][9]
Apps rated 17+ were prohibited from purchase by younger users.[10]
Google Play
Up until March 17, 2015 Google Play used the following rubric:[11][12]
- 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. [13] 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.[14] These ratings include:
- 3+
- 7+
- 12+
- 16+
- 18+
In Australia, IARC applies its own ratings for non-gaming apps.[14]
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]
Huawei AppGallery
Huawei AppGallery developed own rating system. Ratings are: 3+, 7+, 12+, 15+ and 18+[15]
Amazon Appstore
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.[16]
Blackberry World
The Blackberry appstore as the following ratings:[17][18]
- 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.
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media’s rating scheme ranges from 2+ to 18+, in one-year increments.
See also
- Internet Content Rating Association
- Video game content rating system
- Motion picture content rating system
- Television content rating system
References
- ^ “Welche Alterskennzeichen gibt es? (USK)”. Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ^ “Spiele und Apps im IARC-System (USK)”. Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
- ^ “Wann erhalten Spiele kein USK-Kennzeichen (USK)”. Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ^ “Können Games verboten werden? (USK)”. Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ^ “Was bedeutet Indizierung? (USK)”. Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ^ “What do the labels mean?”. Pan-European Game Information.
- ^ “Age ratings”. Apple Developer. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
- ^ “Age requirements for apps distributed in Brazil, Australia, Singapore, Utah, and Louisiana”. Apple Developer. 24 February 2026. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
- ^ Cress, Laura (2026-03-25). “Apple iPhone users in the UK asked to verify age with new update”. BBC News. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
- ^ Masna, Aulia (17 July 2009). “App Store rating system raises questions”. Macworld. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
- ^ “Application Content Ratings”. Google Inc.
- ^ “Creating Better User Experiences on Google Play”. Android Developers Blog. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
- ^ “About the International Age Rating Coalition”. International Age Rating Coalition. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
- ^ a b “Apps & Games content ratings on Google Play”. Google Play Help. Archived from the original on 2026-03-06.
- ^ “AppGallery Rating system”. Huawei Developers. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ Amazon.com: Angry Birds Rio HD (Fire Edition): Appstore for Android (click “guidance suggested” for information on rating system). Archive.
- ^ Despicable Me: Minion Rush – BlackBerry World (click “Teen” for information on rating system). Archive.
- ^ Evelyn, Alex. “Consideringapple”. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
External links
- “Set up parental controls on Google Play”. Google. – on controlling what types of apps can be downloaded
- ESRB ratings