Approve-first on an iPad is a start. Kids also own laptops and TVs.
YouApprove is a polished iPhone and iPad player. WhitelistVideo filters the real YouTube on every device type, including desktop browsers and Android TV.
Both block every channel until a parent approves it, and both let a child ask for more. YouApprove does that inside its own Child Mode on Apple devices. WhitelistVideo does it inside the real YouTube app and site, with lock-in installers on Windows and Mac, Screen Time access on iPhone and iPad, Family Link on Android, and a dedicated Android TV app.
Choose YouApprove if your family is all-Apple, your child is young enough to be happy inside a separate player on an iPhone or iPad, and you want a free start with a watch history, a daily timer, and an Ask a Grown-Up request inbox. Choose WhitelistVideo if your child is 8 to 15 and watches real YouTube on a Windows PC, Mac, Chromebook, Android device, or Android TV as well: it filters the actual YouTube app and site so only approved channels play, blocks Shorts by default, and routes channel requests to WhatsApp or Telegram. Both are approve-first; they differ on devices and on where the filtering lives.
September 7, 2026
Prices and features checked September 2026 against the YouApprove listing on the US App Store (version 2.0 release notes and in-app purchase prices) and the developer's site and policies at edgeinteractive.io. Prices and features can change, so confirm them before subscribing.
Ten checks that decide between an Apple player and full YouTube coverage
The approve-first idea is shared. These checks show which devices each one reaches, and where the filtering actually happens.
Scroll horizontally to see all columns.
| What to compare | YouApprove | WhitelistVideo |
|---|---|---|
| Age range | Not published as a range. App Store rating 4+; Child Mode is described as designed for younger viewers, with age-based channel recommendations | Built for children 8-15 who have outgrown YouTube Kids and want real, full-length channels |
| Content model | A separate player app. All channels are blocked by default; parents approve channels from a curated list or add their own, and can build Collections. Ask a Grown-Up lets a child request a channel or video; parents approve a whole channel, a single video, one time, or until a date. Watching happens inside YouApprove, not in the YouTube app | Every YouTube video is blocked by default. Parents approve channels once; the child watches the real YouTube app or site with only those channels playing, or a locked Curated Feed on Android and Android TV. Kids request new channels from the device and parents approve or decline |
| Platforms | iPhone and iPad (App Store), also listed for Apple Silicon Macs and Apple Vision. The developer's site lists Android and tvOS; no Google Play listing was found when checked September 2026 | Windows, Mac, and Chromebook (Chrome and Edge extension), iPhone and iPad, Android phones and tablets, Android TV / Google TV |
| Desktop and browser coverage | Runs on Apple Silicon Macs as the same player app. No Windows, Chromebook, or browser coverage published, and no extension that filters youtube.com | Filters youtube.com itself in Chrome and Edge, with administrator lock-in installers on Windows and Mac so the child cannot remove the extension |
| TV | Apple TV (tvOS) is listed on the developer's site but not in the App Store compatibility list. Android TV / Google TV: not published | Dedicated Android TV / Google TV app in Curated Feed mode. Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, Samsung, and LG are on the roadmap and not yet supported |
| YouTube Shorts | Parent toggle: Shorts on the Home tab can be turned on or off per child | Blocked by default on every plan, inside the real YouTube app and site as well; a dashboard toggle lets a parent allow Shorts for a child |
| Viewing history | Yes. View history per child, plus weekly reports of watch time by channel; a co-parent can share approvals, limits, and reports on Premium | Shows channel requests rather than a watch log: prevention, not surveillance, so kids get a safe YouTube without feeling monitored |
| Screen-time limits | Yes. Daily screen-time limits, included in the free plan | Controls what plays, not how long. Leaves time limits to the free device controls it runs alongside (Apple Screen Time, Google Family Link, Microsoft Family Safety) |
| Price and billing | Free: 1 child, PIN, time limits, and a 6-channel approved library. Premium $2.99 monthly, $29.99 yearly, or $59.99 lifetime (US App Store, checked September 2026) for unlimited channels, Discover and Search, co-parent, up to four child profiles, Collections, weekly trends, and unlimited asks | Basic $6.99 per child monthly (30 channels). Premium $14.99 per child monthly (100 channels, Auto-pilot, WhatsApp and Telegram management). Lifetime $299.00 one-time for up to 5 children. Local-currency pricing by country; see whitelist.video/pricing |
| Trial and refunds | Free plan with no expiry; Premium trial and refund terms not published beyond App Store rules | Free 2-hour test period to confirm it works on your child's device, no credit card. No day-count trial and no refunds after purchase |
Trade-offs to know before you switch
WhitelistVideo is built to do one job better than anything else: decide what plays on YouTube, inside the real app and site, on every device type a child uses. Here is what it deliberately leaves to YouApprove or to your device, and how parents handle each.
- Per-child plans instead of a free tier. YouApprove has a free plan (1 child, 6 channels, PIN, time limits) and low Premium prices from $2.99 monthly (checked September 2026). WhitelistVideo has no free plan: a free 2-hour test period to confirm it works on your device, then per-child billing on Basic and Premium, with no refunds after purchase. That price covers filtering of the real YouTube on computers, phones, tablets, and Android TV, which a player app on one platform does not provide.
- Prevention, not surveillance. YouApprove keeps a view history and weekly watch-time reports; WhitelistVideo shows channel requests instead of a watch log, so children get a safe YouTube without feeling spied on.
- Controls what plays, not how long. YouApprove has a daily timer built in. WhitelistVideo leaves time limits to Apple Screen Time, Google Family Link, or Microsoft Family Safety, which already exist on every device, and adds the piece they lack: control over the actual content.
- Parents build the list, with help. YouApprove ships a curated starter list, age-based recommendations, and Collections. WhitelistVideo parents approve channels themselves, sped up by child requests, Auto-pilot screening on Premium, and approval of public or unlisted YouTube playlists.
- Curated Feed on Android today, filtered Full YouTube everywhere else. YouApprove's player looks the same on iPhone and iPad. WhitelistVideo's locked Curated Feed grid is on Android phones, tablets, and Android TV; iPhone, iPad, and computers use filtered Full YouTube, which still blocks every unapproved video.
- Protection is as strong as the setup. YouApprove is a single App Store install. WhitelistVideo's guided setup takes a few minutes per device and is what makes the whitelist hold inside the real YouTube app and browser. On a personal Chromebook, pair it with Family Link supervision.
WhitelistVideo is the right fit when...
- Your child (8-15) has outgrown YouTube Kids but you are not ready to hand the algorithm the keys
- You want to approve channels once and know nothing else can play, on every device they use
- You would rather prevent exposure than read a report about it afterwards
- Your kids use a mix of computers, phones, tablets, or an Android TV
- Stick with YouApprove if every screen in your home is an iPhone or iPad, your child is happy inside a player app, and a free plan matters most.
Which One Fits Your Setup?
YouApprove may fit if...
- Every screen your child uses is an iPhone or iPad
- Your child is young enough to stay inside a separate player app
- You want a free start with a 6-channel library, a PIN, and a daily timer
- You want a watch history, weekly watch-time reports, and a co-parent inbox
WhitelistVideo may fit if...
- Your child is 8 to 15 and wants real YouTube, not a kids' player
- Your child also uses a Windows PC, Mac, Chromebook, Android device, or Android TV
- You want youtube.com itself filtered, so there is nothing separate to block
- Shorts should be off by default in the real app, with a toggle only when you choose
- You want channel requests answered from WhatsApp or Telegram, not only inside an app
- You would rather prevent exposure than read a report about it afterwards
How the two compare once a child has more than one device
YouApprove fits an all-Apple family with a younger child and a parent who wants a free start, history, and a timer. WhitelistVideo fits children 8 to 15 who use real YouTube across computers, phones, tablets, and Android TV, and parents who want the filtering to live inside YouTube itself. Whichever you choose, finish the device setup so the whitelist holds.
How WhitelistVideo keeps the whitelist inside real YouTube
The protection layer changes with the device. The parent rules stay the same.
Set up the device layer
Install the Chrome or Edge extension plus the lock-in installer on Windows or Mac. On iPhone or iPad, install the child app and approve Screen Time access. On Android, install the child app alongside Family Link. On Android TV, install the TV app.
Choose the viewing mode
Use filtered Full YouTube so the child keeps the real app and site with only approved channels playing, or switch Android devices and Android TV to Curated Feed for a locked grid of approved videos.
Approve channels once
Approve the channels you trust from the web dashboard, the Android parent app, or WhatsApp and Telegram. Shorts stay off unless you turn them on. Premium adds Auto-pilot, which screens videos against your rules.
Answer requests, not reports
When your child asks for a new channel, the request lands on your phone. Approve or decline in one tap and it applies on every device they use.
Questions Parents Ask About YouApprove and WhitelistVideo
Compare Other YouTube Safety Options
See it in action
Don't take our word for it — drive the parent dashboard yourself in an interactive simulator. Approve a video, block Shorts, add a channel. No signup needed.
Try the Interactive DemoPut the whitelist inside real YouTube, on every device your child uses
Set up WhitelistVideo on the devices your child already has, approve the channels you trust once, and let requests come to your phone.
Free 2-hour test period. No credit card required to start.
