Frequently asked questions
Your questions, answered.
Setup, libraries and viewing limits for families with kids ages 5–12.
5–12 Built for these ages$10.00 Per month7 days Free trial✓ Cancel anytime
Most asked
How is Watchly different from YouTube Kids?
YouTube Kids also offers an Approved content only mode, and neither child player has comments. Watchly combines its own library workflow, transcript reviews and viewing limits. Compare the mode your family actually uses.
Will my child like the child view?
Start with videos your child already enjoys and try the child view together. Watchly gives them a library to choose from, without an endless recommended feed. Your child’s preference is something to test during the trial.
How much does Watchly cost after the trial?
See the pricing page for current monthly and annual plans. Plan cards show the child-profile allowance, and checkout shows the amount and billing period before you subscribe.
What's included in the free trial?
A no-card trial includes up to 20 distinct videos across your family, with child profiles and viewing controls. Your signup page shows the duration and billing terms; see current plans for the profile allowance. No-card trials do not charge you automatically.
How do I cancel if needed?
Manage cancellation from your billing settings. A paid subscription keeps access through its current billing period. If you started a trial with a card, cancel before its end to avoid the scheduled charge.
How do I get started?
Create your account, add a child profile and choose a few favourite videos. Set a daily limit, then try the child view together. You can add more later.
Getting Started
How do I get started?
Create your account, add a child profile and choose a few favourite videos. Set a daily limit, then try the child view together. You can add more later.
What devices does Watchly work on?
Use Watchly in a web browser on phones, tablets and computers. Test your family’s devices during the trial; TV playback and casting depend on your device and browser.
Do I need to download anything?
You can start in your browser without installing an app. On supported devices, you can also add Watchly to the home screen.
How do I add my first videos?
Search for a video, or use channel and playlist imports to review videos in a batch. Choose which child receives them. A no-card trial allows 20 distinct videos across the family.
Can I import entire YouTube channels?
You can import videos from a YouTube channel and review the selection for your child. Availability and your account’s video allowance affect what you can add; importing a channel is not a safety guarantee.
How do I create child profiles?
Choose Add Child in your parent dashboard and enter a name or nickname. Picture, colour and a four-digit profile PIN are optional. Each child has their own library and viewing rules.
What's included in the free trial?
A no-card trial includes up to 20 distinct videos across your family, with child profiles and viewing controls. Your signup page shows the duration and billing terms; see current plans for the profile allowance. No-card trials do not charge you automatically.
How do I cancel if needed?
Manage cancellation from your billing settings. A paid subscription keeps access through its current billing period. If you started a trial with a card, cancel before its end to avoid the scheduled charge.
Can I transfer settings between devices?
Profiles, libraries and settings are saved to your account. Sign in on another supported device to use them without a manual transfer.
Features & Safety
How is Watchly different from YouTube Kids?
YouTube Kids also offers an Approved content only mode, and neither child player has comments. Watchly combines its own library workflow, transcript reviews and viewing limits. Compare the mode your family actually uses.
Will my child like the child view?
Start with videos your child already enjoys and try the child view together. Watchly gives them a library to choose from, without an endless recommended feed. Your child’s preference is something to test during the trial.
Can they still watch their favorite channels?
Add videos from favourite creators, or review a channel or playlist in a batch. Video availability can vary. Children can request more through the discovery options you enable.
How do I set time limits?
Open your child’s parental controls to set a daily viewing limit, breaks and allowed viewing times. These limits stop playback inside Watchly. Other apps need separate device controls.
What parental controls are available?
Manage each child’s library, daily limit, breaks and viewing schedule. You can also manage discovery rules, use profile PINs and check Watchly viewing history.
How does PIN protection work?
An optional four-digit PIN helps keep sibling profiles separate. The parent account manages it. It is not a substitute for your parent password or device controls.
Can I see what my kids are watching in real-time?
The parent dashboard shows Watchly viewing activity and history, with a remote-pause control. It does not monitor videos watched in other apps.
Is there a way to block specific content?
Remove videos your child should no longer have. If you enable discovery, set its content rules and review flagged requests. Keep discovery off if you want children to use only the library you provide.
How do library and discovery settings work?
With discovery off, children choose from the library you provide. If you enable discovery, matching videos can be added under your rules and daily allowance; flagged requests wait for review. AI transcript findings help you decide, but can miss context and visual content.
What if I find unsuitable content?
Remove the video from your child’s library and review your discovery settings. AI reviews and filters can make mistakes. You can keep discovery off while you review the library yourself.
Can kids request new videos?
If you enable discovery, matching videos can be added under your rules and daily allowance. Flagged requests wait for your review. Keep discovery off for library-only viewing.
How do I manage multiple children with different ages?
Give each child a separate library and viewing limits. Your 5-year-old and 12-year-old can share some videos and have different choices elsewhere. Optional PINs help separate their profiles.
Can I use Watchly for homeschooling?
Yes. Group videos by subject or project and assign the relevant libraries to each child. See our homeschooling guide for an example setup.
What does the AI review?
AI reviews available transcripts and explains the themes it finds. It can miss context and visual content, so use the findings to help make your own decision.
Does Watchly remove ads and creator sponsorships?
Watchly adds no ads, but YouTube-served ads and sponsor messages inside videos may still appear. Transcript reviews can flag spoken promotions; they do not edit the video or block ads.
YouTube Parental Controls
Does Watchly work with YouTube Premium?
Watchly is a separate viewing experience for YouTube videos; it does not change settings inside the YouTube app. You do not need a YouTube Premium subscription to use Watchly.
How do I set time limits for YouTube that actually work?
Set a daily limit in each child’s Watchly controls. That limit follows the profile across Watchly sessions. Use device controls for access to regular YouTube, browsers and other apps.
How does Watchly protect kids from YouTube's algorithm?
Watchly’s child player does not show an endless recommendation feed or start the next video automatically. Children can choose another library video while viewing time remains. Optional discovery uses the rules you set.
Can I block specific YouTube videos or channels?
Choose what you add to a child’s library and remove videos you no longer want there. If you enable discovery, use its rules and review queue to manage new additions.
How do I monitor what my kids watch on YouTube?
Use the parent dashboard to see Watchly viewing activity and history. It cannot show activity inside the regular YouTube app or other services.
Can I limit YouTube to certain hours of the day?
Set allowed viewing times in your child’s Watchly controls. Playback is restricted outside that schedule. This does not block YouTube in another app or browser.
Can Watchly help us build a screen-time routine?
Set a daily limit, scheduled breaks and a library your child enjoys. Watchly stops playback at those limits, giving your routine a clear stopping point. Use the trial to see what works for your family.
Is Watchly a YouTube competitor or replacement?
Children watch YouTube videos through Watchly’s separate player. Their libraries and viewing rules are managed in Watchly, while device controls handle access to other apps.
Technical & Troubleshooting
What browsers does Watchly support?
Use an up-to-date browser on your phone, tablet or computer. Try video playback and controls on the devices your family will use during the trial.
Why isn't a video playing?
Check your connection, the child’s viewing limits and whether the original video is still available. Try refreshing or playing another approved video. Contact support if the problem continues.
How do I cast to my TV?
Casting and TV playback depend on your device and browser. Test your setup during the trial, including whether playback and controls work as expected.
What internet speed do I need?
Video playback needs a stable internet connection. Higher video quality and several devices playing at once use more bandwidth. Try the quality and devices your family normally uses.
Can Watchly work offline?
Watchly needs an internet connection for video playback. Your account’s saved profiles, libraries and settings remain available when you reconnect.
How do I reset a forgotten PIN?
Sign in to your parent account and open the child’s profile settings to change the PIN. Keep your parent password separate from child-profile PINs.
What if the app seems slow?
Check your connection, refresh the page and try another browser. If the problem continues, tell support which device, browser and action were affected.
Can I use Watchly on multiple devices simultaneously?
Family members can use their own child profiles on supported devices. Trial and plan allowances still apply; check your intended setup during the trial.
How do I update my account settings?
Open Settings in your parent dashboard to manage your account. Use the billing area for subscription and payment changes.
Is there a mobile app?
Watchly works in a mobile browser and can be added to the home screen on supported devices. You can begin using it without an app-store download.
Content Management
What if I don't have time to approve videos?
Start with a few favourite videos, or review a channel, playlist or topic library in a batch. AI transcript reviews can help you decide. The no-card trial allowance is 20 distinct videos across your family.
How many videos can my family add?
No-card trials allow up to 20 distinct assigned videos across the family. Sharing the same video with siblings uses one slot; removing it from every child frees that slot. Check your paid plan for its allowance.
Can I create different libraries for different ages?
Create libraries for each child’s interests and needs, such as early reading or science projects. Assign shared interests to both children and keep other choices separate.
How do I remove videos from a library?
Open the child’s library in your parent dashboard and remove the video. Review other children’s libraries too if you want it removed across the family.
Can I share libraries between children?
You can give the same videos to more than one child. In a no-card trial, a video shared by siblings counts once toward the 20-video family allowance.
How often is content updated?
You can add more videos from your parent dashboard. If discovery is enabled, new videos may also be added under the rules and daily allowance you set.
Can I add non-YouTube content?
Watchly’s library is built around YouTube videos. Check that the videos your family wants are available during your trial.
Where are my libraries saved?
Your libraries are saved to your Watchly account. Sign back in to access them; contact support if a library appears to be missing.
Pricing & Billing
How much does Watchly cost after the trial?
See the pricing page for current monthly and annual plans. Plan cards show the child-profile allowance, and checkout shows the amount and billing period before you subscribe.
What payment methods do you accept?
Card payments are handled through Stripe. Checkout shows the payment methods available for your purchase.
Can I change plans anytime?
Manage your subscription from billing settings. Review the price and effective date shown before confirming a change.
What happens after the free trial ends?
With a no-card trial, choose a paid plan to continue; there is no automatic charge. A trial started through checkout with a card begins billing for the selected plan when the trial ends unless you cancel.
Can schools or groups use Watchly?
Contact support with your organisation’s needs and the number of families involved. We can explain the options currently available.
Can I pause my subscription?
Use billing settings to manage or cancel your subscription. Contact support about returning later and any questions about retaining your account data.
What's your refund policy?
For a charge or refund question, contact support with the details of your bill. See the Terms of Service for the applicable policy.
What are the plan limits?
Check the plan card and checkout for your price, billing period and allowances. A no-card trial allows 20 distinct family videos; child-profile limits depend on the plan.
Privacy & Security
How do you protect my family's data?
Your parent account manages child profiles, libraries and viewing controls. Use a private parent password and keep it separate from child PINs. Our Privacy Policy explains data use and service providers.
Who manages child profiles?
Parents create and manage child profiles in Watchly. Read our Privacy Policy for information about children’s data and parental requests.
What information do you collect about viewing habits?
Watchly records viewing activity to provide history and parental controls in the dashboard. Our Privacy Policy explains what is collected, how it is used and the service providers involved.
Can I delete our data?
You can remove profiles and libraries from your parent account. See our Privacy Policy or contact support for account deletion, data requests and retention details.
Do you share data with YouTube or Google?
Watchly uses YouTube video content and playback services. Our Privacy Policy explains the service providers involved and how data is used.
Is our viewing history private?
View your family’s Watchly history through your parent account. Our Privacy Policy explains access, processing and sharing of account and viewing data.
How secure is the PIN system?
A profile PIN helps keep sibling profiles separate and is managed through the parent account. Keep your parent password private. PINs do not lock the device or restrict other apps.
Still Have Questions?
Ask us about setup, devices or your trial.
Start Free Trial7-day free trial · No-card trials include up to 20 family videos. See your offer at signup.
Or email us at support@watchlyplayer.com