"Contains ads" on Google Play and "Contains: Advertising" on the App Store mean the developer says the app shows ads. "In-App Purchases" means it sells extra content, coins or subscriptions inside the app. "Made for Ages 6–8" means it is in Apple's Kids category for that age band. Developers supply most of these labels themselves.
This glossary is for parents who want to read a store page in two minutes before a child downloads a game. Definitions come from Apple's and Google's own help pages, checked on October 13, 2026. Examples come from the US listings of the princess apps in our fact sheet.
Where to find each label
Checked on 13 October 2026 on US App Store product pages and US Google Play listings. We read the web versions of these pages; the store apps on a phone or tablet may arrange the same labels differently.
| What you want to know | App Store (iPhone, iPad) | Google Play (Android) |
|---|---|---|
| Ads | Information → Age Rating → "Contains: Advertising" | "Contains ads" under the app name |
| Things for sale | Information → In-App Purchases (list with prices) | "In-app purchases" under the app name |
| Subscriptions and trials | Item names in the purchase list; terms in the description | Terms in the description |
| Content rating | Age Rating: 4+, 9+, 13+, 16+ or 18+ | Rating badge: Everyone, Everyone 10+, Teen, Mature, Adults Only |
| Target age | "Made for Ages" under Age Rating (Kids category only) | Not shown on the web listings we checked |
| Expert badge | None | "Teacher Approved" next to the download count |
| Data | App Privacy | Data safety |
Money labels
1. Contains Ads / Contains: Advertising
These labels mean the developer says the app shows ads. On Google Play, "Contains ads" sits under the app name and also covers banners that promote the developer's own apps; Google may add the label itself. On the App Store, "Advertising" appears under "Contains" in the Age Rating panel. Apple defines advertising as paid promotion of products or services within the app.
A missing App Store line proves less than it seems. Apple added advertising to its age rating questions on July 24, 2025, so an app not updated since may show nothing. Princess games without ads has examples.
2. In-App Purchases
The app sells something inside it: rooms, characters, coins or a subscription. The App Store shows "In-App Purchases: Yes" with a list of items and prices, which may not include every item. Google Play shows "In-app purchases" under the app name. Disney Frozen Free Fall, for example, lists packs from $0.99 to $9.99 in the US App Store.
3. Subscription, free trial and auto-renew
A subscription charges again every period until someone cancels it. A free trial turns into a paid subscription unless you cancel in time: Apple says to cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends. Google notes that uninstalling an app doesn't cancel its subscription. Look for "monthly," "yearly," "membership" or "pass" in the purchase list. If a charge slips through anyway, see how to ask for a refund.
Age labels
4. App Store age ratings: 4+, 9+, 13+, 16+, 18+
The rating shows the youngest age the content is considered suitable for. Apple generates it from the developer's answers to a questionnaire. On July 24, 2025, Apple added 13+, 16+ and 18+ to the existing 4+ and 9+, for devices running iOS 26 and matching versions of its other systems; older devices may show different values. A rating says nothing about difficulty, reading level or spending.
5. "Rated 4+ with content restrictions" and In-App Controls
This line means some content may be rated higher, and the developer manages it through controls inside the app. "Parental Controls" are tools that let parents limit features such as purchases or chat. "Age Assurance" is a way to confirm a user's age. My Little Princess Castle Game shows both controls.
6. Made for Ages
"Made for Ages 6–8" means the app is in Apple's Kids category, where developers pick one band: 5 and under, 6–8, or 9–11. Kids category apps must keep purchases and links out of the app behind a parental gate and should avoid third-party ads and analytics, with limited exceptions. Four of our six princess apps show Made for Ages 6–8.
7. Google Play content rating
Google says its ratings are the responsibility of app developers and the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC). In North and South America they use ESRB labels: Everyone, Everyone 10+, Teen, Mature and Adults Only. All ten princess apps we checked are rated Everyone in the US.
8. In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)
This ESRB notice under the rating means the game sells digital items for real money, and the buyer doesn't know exactly what they'll get before paying, as with loot boxes or mystery packs. Google Play shows it for Disney Frozen Free Fall in the US. Without "Includes Random Items," the notice simply means the game sells digital goods.
9. Teacher Approved
Teacher Approved is a Google Play badge given after teachers and children's education and media specialists rate an app on design, appeal, enrichment and age-appropriateness. Raters check that ads, purchases and cross-promotion follow Google's Families policies, so the badge doesn't mean "no ads." Disney Frozen Royal Castle shows both the badge and "Contains ads."
Privacy and family labels
10. App Privacy and Data safety
Both sections are the developer's own summary of what data the app collects and why. The App Store page says Apple hasn't verified it, and Google Play says the developer provided it. Read "Data Used to Track You" first: Apple defines tracking as linking app data with other companies' data for targeted ads, or sharing it with data brokers. Papo Town Castle and Disney Frozen Free Fall both list this heading.
11. Family Sharing and Family Library
These let one purchase cover the whole family, with gaps. Apple shares subscriptions and in-app purchases only from apps whose developers allow it, and never consumables such as coins or gems. Google Play Family Library can't share in-app purchases or apps that were free to download. StoryToys says Disney Coloring World supports Apple Family Sharing for its subscription.
12. Parental gate
A parental gate is an adult-level task an app shows before a purchase or a link out of the app, meant to stop a child from going ahead without a parent. Apple requires one in Kids category apps for purchases and links out. It's the app's own lock, so keep Ask to Buy or Google Play purchase approval switched on as well.
FAQ
What does "Contains Ads" mean on the App Store?
It means the developer told Apple the app shows ads, which Apple defines as paid promotion of products or services within the app. You'll find it on the app's page under Information, Age Rating, then "Contains: Advertising." An app not updated since July 24, 2025 may lack the line even if it shows ads.
What does "Made for Ages 6–8" mean?
It means the developer listed the app in Apple's Kids category and chose the 6–8 age band, one of three: 5 and under, 6–8 and 9–11. It is the target audience, not a content rating. Disney Frozen Royal Castle, for example, shows both a 4+ rating and Made for Ages 6–8.
What is the difference between 4+ and 9+ on the App Store?
Apple says a 4+ app has no objectionable material, while a 9+ app may contain content unsuitable for children under 9. Since Apple's update announced on July 24, 2025, the scale continues with 13+, 16+ and 18+. Neither number tells you about ads or spending, so read the Age Rating panel and purchase list too.
Does Teacher Approved mean an app is safe for my child?
It means teachers and children's media specialists rated it as well designed and age-appropriate for its target ages, and checked that ads and purchases follow Google's Families policies. It doesn't mean there are no ads or purchases: Disney Frozen Royal Castle shows the badge next to "Contains ads." Read the rest of the listing too.
Who writes the App Privacy and Data safety labels?
The developer does. Apple's page states that the privacy information has not been verified by Apple, and Google Play says the developer provided it and may update it over time. The labels are still useful for comparing apps, but read them as the developer's statement rather than an independent audit.
Sources
All checked on October 13, 2026.
- Apple Developer, "Updated age ratings in App Store Connect" (July 24, 2025): https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=ks775ehf
- Apple Developer, age ratings values and definitions: https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/reference/app-information/age-ratings-values-and-definitions/
- Apple Developer, Kids apps (age bands, parental gates): https://developer.apple.com/app-store/kids-apps/
- Apple App Review Guidelines, 1.3 Kids Category: https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/
- Apple Developer, app privacy details (definition of tracking): https://developer.apple.com/app-store/app-privacy-details/
- Apple Support, cancel a subscription: https://support.apple.com/en-us/118428
- Apple Support, what you can share with Family Sharing: https://support.apple.com/en-us/111114
- Apple Support, Ask to Buy: https://support.apple.com/en-us/105121
- Play Console Help, ads declaration: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9859455
- Google Play Help, in-app purchases: https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/1061913
- Google Play Help, content ratings: https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/6209544
- ESRB ratings guide (interactive elements): https://www.esrb.org/ratings-guide/
- Google Play, Teacher Approved program: https://play.google.com/console/about/programs/teacherapproved/
- Google Play Help, Data safety: https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/11416267
- Google Play Help, Family Library: https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/7007852
- Google Play Help, cancel a subscription: https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/7018481
- Example listings: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/my-little-princess-castle-game/id1471172184 · https://apps.apple.com/us/app/disney-frozen-royal-castle/id6446950319 · https://apps.apple.com/us/app/disney-frozen-free-fall-game/id692412579 · https://apps.apple.com/us/app/papo-town-castle/id1503660567 · https://apps.apple.com/us/app/disney-coloring-world/id1400326821 · https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.disney.frozensaga_goo · https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.budgestudios.googleplay.FrozenFRZ
- Princess Games for Kids: 10 Apps Compared (2026)
- Princess Games Without Ads: How to Check Before You Download
- Kid Made an In-App Purchase? How to Get a Refund
- How to Stop In-App Purchases on Kids' iPhone and Android
- How to Choose a Princess Game for Kids Ages 4–12
- How Much Screen Time for a 5-Year-Old? WHO and AAP
Now that you can read the labels, the next step is to lock purchases: how to stop in-app purchases on iPhone and Android.
