{
  "meta": {
    "url": "https://shotlingo.com/tools/app-store-age-ratings",
    "lastVerified": "2026-10-24",
    "sources": {
      "apple": "https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/reference/age-ratings-values-and-definitions",
      "google": "https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9859655"
    },
    "license": "MIT",
    "attribution": "Maintained by Shotlingo (https://shotlingo.com). Linkback appreciated."
  },
  "tiers": [
    {
      "apple": "4+",
      "minAge": 4,
      "esrb": "Everyone",
      "pegi": "PEGI 3",
      "usk": "USK 0",
      "classind": "L (all ages)",
      "iarc": "IARC 3+",
      "typical": "No objectionable material. Utilities, education, most productivity apps."
    },
    {
      "apple": "9+",
      "minAge": 9,
      "esrb": "Everyone 10+",
      "pegi": "PEGI 7",
      "usk": "USK 6",
      "classind": "10",
      "iarc": "IARC 7+",
      "typical": "Infrequent cartoon or fantasy violence, or mild fear themes."
    },
    {
      "apple": "13+",
      "minAge": 13,
      "esrb": "Teen",
      "pegi": "PEGI 12",
      "usk": "USK 12",
      "classind": "12",
      "iarc": "IARC 12+",
      "typical": "Frequent cartoon violence, infrequent mild profanity, simulated gambling, unrestricted social features."
    },
    {
      "apple": "16+",
      "minAge": 16,
      "esrb": "Teen or Mature 17+",
      "pegi": "PEGI 16",
      "usk": "USK 16",
      "classind": "16",
      "iarc": "IARC 16+",
      "typical": "Realistic violence, frequent profanity, mature or suggestive themes, frequent alcohol or drug references."
    },
    {
      "apple": "18+",
      "minAge": 18,
      "esrb": "Mature 17+ or Adults Only 18+",
      "pegi": "PEGI 18",
      "usk": "USK 18",
      "classind": "18",
      "iarc": "IARC 18+",
      "typical": "Graphic sexual content, prolonged graphic violence, real-money gambling."
    }
  ],
  "descriptors": [
    {
      "name": "Cartoon or fantasy violence",
      "levels": "None / Infrequent / Frequent",
      "note": "Stylized violence against fictional characters."
    },
    {
      "name": "Realistic violence",
      "levels": "None / Infrequent / Frequent",
      "note": "Violence that depicts real-looking people or animals."
    },
    {
      "name": "Prolonged graphic or sadistic realistic violence",
      "levels": "None / Infrequent / Frequent",
      "note": "The highest violence descriptor. Any answer above None pushes the app to the top tier."
    },
    {
      "name": "Profanity or crude humor",
      "levels": "None / Infrequent / Frequent",
      "note": "Applies to app content, not to user content you moderate."
    },
    {
      "name": "Horror or fear themes",
      "levels": "None / Infrequent / Frequent",
      "note": "Content meant to scare or disturb."
    },
    {
      "name": "Mature or suggestive themes",
      "levels": "None / Infrequent / Frequent",
      "note": "Sexual innuendo, provocative imagery."
    },
    {
      "name": "Sexual content or nudity",
      "levels": "None / Infrequent / Frequent",
      "note": "Non-graphic depictions."
    },
    {
      "name": "Graphic sexual content and nudity",
      "levels": "None / Infrequent / Frequent",
      "note": "Explicit depictions. Drives an 18+ rating."
    },
    {
      "name": "Alcohol, tobacco, or drug use or references",
      "levels": "None / Infrequent / Frequent",
      "note": "Depiction or promotion of use."
    },
    {
      "name": "Medical or treatment information",
      "levels": "None / Infrequent / Frequent",
      "note": "Health and wellness content that can be mistaken for advice."
    },
    {
      "name": "Simulated gambling",
      "levels": "None / Infrequent / Frequent",
      "note": "Casino-style play with no real-money payout."
    },
    {
      "name": "Contests",
      "levels": "None / Infrequent / Frequent",
      "note": "Prize-based competitions run inside the app."
    },
    {
      "name": "Gambling",
      "levels": "Yes / No",
      "note": "Real-money gambling. Requires an 18+ rating in Apple's scheme."
    },
    {
      "name": "Unrestricted web access",
      "levels": "Yes / No",
      "note": "An in-app browser that can open any site."
    },
    {
      "name": "User-generated content",
      "levels": "Yes / No",
      "note": "Users can post or share content with others."
    },
    {
      "name": "Messaging and chat",
      "levels": "Yes / No",
      "note": "Users can communicate with other users."
    },
    {
      "name": "Advertising",
      "levels": "Yes / No",
      "note": "The app shows ads, including third-party ads."
    },
    {
      "name": "Parental controls",
      "levels": "Yes / No",
      "note": "The app offers parental controls."
    },
    {
      "name": "Age assurance",
      "levels": "Yes / No",
      "note": "The app verifies the age of its users."
    }
  ],
  "rules": [
    {
      "label": "Apple age tiers",
      "value": "4+ 9+ 13+ 16+ 18+",
      "note": "Five tiers. The older 12+ and 17+ tiers were replaced when Apple revised the questionnaire."
    },
    {
      "label": "Who sets the rating",
      "value": "Apple, from your answers",
      "note": "You answer the questionnaire in App Store Connect and Apple calculates the tier. You can also set a higher minimum age yourself."
    },
    {
      "label": "Google Play rating source",
      "value": "IARC questionnaire",
      "note": "One questionnaire issues ratings for ESRB, PEGI, USK, ClassInd and a generic IARC rating at once."
    },
    {
      "label": "Rating per storefront",
      "value": "Same answers, local label",
      "note": "The questions are global. Each rating authority displays its own label in its own region."
    },
    {
      "label": "Unrated apps",
      "value": "Blocked on Google Play",
      "note": "Apps without a content rating can be removed from Play and are hidden from some regions."
    },
    {
      "label": "Screenshots and previews",
      "value": "Must match the rating",
      "note": "Marketing images that show content above the declared tier can fail review."
    }
  ]
}