Family Sharing vs Separate Apple IDs

[netnothing]

Getting the kids (7 & 9) iPod Touches for Christmas this year.

Debating whether to setup them up under Family Sharing vs creating their own Apple IDs for iCloud and having my Apple ID for the store.

Seems to me that Family Sharing for kids under 13:

- locks the child in the family (you can only move them to another family)
- any app they request belongs to them
- can't share in app purchases

To setup an Apple ID without family sharing, obviously I'd have to set it up and set a birthdate of at least 13. And I can create an Apple ID online for this without needing a credit card correct? I just use the web site to create it?

Anyone have any thoughts? Which way is better?

Think the biggest issue is the in-app purchases. If they both want the same "free" game, and you need to buy in-app purchases.....with Family Sharing I'm buying everything twice.

-Kevin

 

[netnothing]

I think I've convinced myself to just setup their own Apple IDs as 13 year olds and use my Apple ID as the store. That way everything is still purchased by me.

This BTW is how my wife's phone is setup, her own Apple ID for iCloud and mine for the store.

-Kevin

 

[netnothing]

Another question......what controls syncing game data between devices? Is that the iCloud ID or the Apple ID? Because I think the Apple ID is what is for Game Center correct?

-Kevin

 

[aicul]

Although your Kids are bound to share things, they are different and I sort of doubt that there will be any massive cost-effectiveness of a family account.

I would promote their own individual self, and virtual responsibility thru their own accounts.

But that's only my personal opinion.

 

[netnothing]

Although your Kids are bound to share things, they are different and I sort of doubt that there will be any massive cost-effectiveness of a family account.

I would promote their own individual self, and virtual responsibility thru their own accounts.

But that's only my personal opinion.

I agree.....although here's another issue with the Family Sharing and In-App purchases......we also have 2 iPads in the house.

So let's say my daughter wants the latest Barbie game. Those are usually Free. But it's an In-App purchase to unlock everything. Often times something like $4.99.

So if we go the Family Sharing route......she buys the in-app purchase that I approve, but it's now tied to just her on the iPod. If she goes to play on the iPad, she'll be able to get the base game, but not the in-app purchase because the iPad is under my Apple ID.

Seems with Family Sharing there are too many of these restrictions.

Right now, unless someone says otherwise....I think I'm going to set it up like the old days.....sign them up for their own Apple IDs as 13 for iCloud, and use my Apple ID for the store.

-Kevin

 

[netnothing]

I ended up going the old school route.....just created Apple IDs for the kids (as 13 year olds) and using my Apple ID for store purchases, etc.

With restrictions on, this allows me to still control purchases, while also allowing any new purchases on all devices and the IAP on all devices.

-Kevin

 

[afsnyder]

Another question......what controls syncing game data between devices? Is that the iCloud ID or the Apple ID? Because I think the Apple ID is what is for Game Center correct?

-Kevin

Apple ID is the same as iCloud ID. There actually isn't an iCloud ID. The confusion here is that Apple lets you have sign in using separate accounts for iTunes or iCloud. With family sharing, they hope people create their own Apple ID and just share through the family rather than through other people's Apple ID to share purchases.

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I ended up going the old school route.....just created Apple IDs for the kids (as 13 year olds) and using my Apple ID for store purchases, etc.

With restrictions on, this allows me to still control purchases, while also allowing any new purchases on all devices and the IAP on all devices.

-Kevin

If you let them sign into iCloud and iTunes with the same account, just shoot them family sharing offer then accept it on their device. That's all that you need to do and they will automatically have to request permission to buy things. The iCloud stuff is just a bonus syncing tool.

 

[netnothing]

Apple ID is the same as iCloud ID. There actually isn't an iCloud ID. The confusion here is that Apple lets you have sign in using separate accounts for iTunes or iCloud. With family sharing, they hope people create their own Apple ID and just share through the family rather than through other people's Apple ID to share purchases.

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If you let them sign into iCloud and iTunes with the same account, just shoot them family sharing offer then accept it on their device. That's all that you need to do and they will automatically have to request permission to buy things. The iCloud stuff is just a bonus syncing tool.

Yeah, wrong wording on my part. I was wondering what technically controls syncing game progress when you have 2 accounts on the device. I believe it's whatever Apple ID you used for iCloud sign in that controls it.

As for Family sharing.....I don't want to have to buy in-app purchases for 3+ devices.

-Kevin

 

[afsnyder]

Yeah, wrong wording on my part. I was wondering what technically controls syncing game progress when you have 2 accounts on the device. I believe it's whatever Apple ID you used for iCloud sign in that controls it.

As for Family sharing.....I don't want to have to buy in-app purchases for 3+ devices.

-Kevin

It's Game Center. You sign into Game Center with your Apple ID like you do iTunes, iCloud.

 

[DaveF]

Think the biggest issue is the in-app purchases. If they both want the same "free" game, and you need to buy in-app purchases.....with Family Sharing I'm buying everything twice.

-Kevin

As you say, that's the biggest downside to Home Sharing and Family Sharing, and I think the strongest reason to choose single Id for purchases.

An annoyance is they can't trivially have their own iTunes gift card money, separate from everyone else, for presents or holidays.