Family Sharing vs Multiple Apple ID

[SpotOnT]

Hey guys,

Quick question. The hubby and I currently have our devices set up such that we share a single Apple ID for iTunes & the App Store but each have our own Apple ID for iCloud/Facetime.

This allows is to share all app and media purchases, but have independent messages, calendars etc.

My question is what would be different if we went from sharing an Apple ID to using Family Sharing?

As far as I can tell, Family Sharing would do the exact same thing as how we have our devices set up now right? Would there be any differences at all?

 

[eyoungren]

Hey guys,

Quick question. The hubby and I currently have our devices set up such that we share a single Apple ID for iTunes & the App Store but each have our own Apple ID for iCloud/Facetime.

This allows is to share all app and media purchases, but have independent messages, calendars etc.

My question is what would be different if we went from sharing an Apple ID to using Family Sharing?

As far as I can tell, Family Sharing would do the exact same thing as how we have our devices set up now right? Would there be any differences at all?

So…because you are doing it this way it means you're using two Apple IDs on the same device right?

Logged in under one Apple ID for iTunes and the App store and logged in under a second Apple ID for iCloud and Facetime.

The advantage to Family sharing is that, yes, you get your own Apple ID but you only need that ONE Apple ID to log into all services.

For instance, my son and my daughter have their own Apple IDs and I have mine. My wife is not with us on family sharing because I haven't gotten around to setting her up on that (we created her Apple ID before family sharing). But my point is that, whatever I download from the app store is available to both of them even though they are not logged in to my personal Apple ID. And since I am not logged in to THEIR Apple IDs I don't see their messages, etc. Conversely, if my son or daughter download an app I also have access to it.

Note that as a parent it also allows me to control what they can download.

So Family Sharing allows you to have multiple IDs which keeps messages, FT, etc separate but allows each family member access to the same apps the other one downloads.

 

[ericwn]

One limitation used to be in-app purchases, one couldn’t share those with the family.