A mobile software content rating system is a rating system which is tailored to users of mobile software.
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.| 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 | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| ACB | G | M | R 18+ | N/A | |||||||||||||||||
| PG | MA 15+ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ClassInd | L | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | N/A | ||||||||||||||
| ESRB | E | E10+ | T | M | AO | ||||||||||||||||
| GRAC | ALL | 12 | 15 | 19 | N/A | ||||||||||||||||
| PEGI | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| USK | 0 | 6 | 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]
Apps rated 17+ are prohibited from purchase by younger users.[2]
Up until March 17, 2015 Google Play used the following rubric:[3] [4]
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:
In Australia, IARC applies its own ratings for non-gaming apps.
See main article: Samsung Galaxy Store.
The ratings are, All Ages, 4+, 12+, 15+ and 18+. The 18+ rating is enforced and the rest are advisory.
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]
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]
See main article: Common Sense Media.