Frequently asked questions

Lilypad is a calm iOS app that helps families manage screen time without daily battles. Parents pick which apps to pause and which simple tasks unlock them. Kids earn screen time by completing what matters — like brushing teeth, tidying up, or doing homework.

In parent mode, you choose the apps to block and create tasks with unlock durations (between 15 minutes and 2 hours). In kid mode, your child picks a task, enters the passcode you set, and the chosen apps unlock for that duration. When the time runs out, the apps lock again until the next task is completed.

You can block apps and categories available through Apple's official Family Controls picker, including individual apps, categories such as Games, Social, and Entertainment, or a mix of both.

No. Lilypad does not track which apps your child uses, how long they use them, what they search for, or where they go. Apple's Screen Time framework enforces the blocks entirely on the device, and Lilypad cannot see the underlying activity. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

Go to Settings → Apple Account → Subscriptions on your iPhone or iPad, choose Lilypad, and tap Cancel. Your subscription will remain active until the end of the current billing period. If you start the yearly plan's one-week free trial, you can cancel it any time before it converts.

Yes. App blocking is enforced by iOS itself and works fully offline. Lilypad only needs an internet connection occasionally — to verify your subscription status with the App Store.

Lilypad works best for kids roughly ages 5–12, when device habits are forming. Younger kids may need help reading tasks; older kids may need a more flexible approach. There's no hard age requirement — it's whatever fits your family.

Screen Time permission is what allows Lilypad to pause and unlock apps on your device. Without it, the app cannot block anything. You can revoke this permission at any time in iOS Settings, and we never use it for any other purpose.