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.
Explanations of specific ratings are available in corresponding articles.
Up until March 17, 2015 Google Play used the following rubric:[3][4]
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. [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:
3+
7+
12+
16+
18+
In Australia, IARC applies its own ratings for non-gaming apps.[6]
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]
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.
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]
Australia
Brazil
USA
Canada
Mexico
South Korea
Europe
Israel
Germany
