Key takeaways
- Google Play's ratings are the responsibility of app developers and the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC); South Korea uses GRAC for games.
- Developers answer one IARC questionnaire, and its logic assigns a rating for each participating authority's region, instantly.
- The labels follow local systems: ESRB in the Americas, PEGI in Europe and the Middle East, USK in Germany, and IARC generic ratings elsewhere.
- A rating describes the minimum maturity level of the content; Google says it does not tell you whether an app is designed for a particular age.
- Tap 'Read more' under an app's rating to see why it was given and which interactive features it has.
Google Play shows an app's content rating on its details page, under the app title, such as "Everyone", "Teen", "PEGI 12" or "Rated for 12+". The label looks simple, but it comes from an international system, varies by country and is easy to misread. This guide explains where ratings come from, what the main labels mean and what a rating cannot tell you, using Google Play's help and the International Age Rating Coalition's own FAQ.
Who sets the rating
Google says ratings are the responsibility of app developers and the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC); in South Korea, game ratings are approved by the Game Rating Administration Committee (GRAC). IARC explains how it works:
- A developer distributing through a participating store answers one questionnaire about the app's content and features.
- The questionnaire's logic, built by representatives of the participating rating authorities, generates a separate rating for each region, reflecting local standards.
- Ratings are issued immediately, without the authorities reviewing the product first, and IARC says some ratings may be modified after release. Developers can request a rating check.
IARC also notes that obtaining ratings is free for developers at this time; storefronts pay a licence fee to use the system.
Google uses the ratings to inform you of potentially objectionable content and to block or filter content in certain territories or for specific users where required.
The labels you will see
Which system you see depends on where you are. Google's help lists them:
| Region | Rating system | Labels |
|---|---|---|
| North and South America | ESRB | Everyone, Everyone 10+, Teen, Mature 17+, Adults Only 18+ |
| Europe and the Middle East | PEGI | 3, 7, 12, 16, 18, plus Parental Guidance Recommended |
| Germany | USK | Age bands from no restriction to 18 |
| Australia, for games | Australian Classification Board | G, PG, M, MA 15+, R 18+ |
| Brazil | ClassInd | All ages, 10+, 12+, 14+, 16+, 18+ |
| South Korea | GRAC for games | All, 12+, 15+, 19+ |
| Other countries | IARC generic | Rated for 3+, 7+, 12+, 16+, 18+ |
What the IARC generic ratings mean
Google's help describes the generic ratings used in countries without their own system:
- Rated for 3+: suitable for all age groups; some violence in a comical or fantasy context is acceptable; bad language is not permitted.
- Rated for 7+: may contain scenes or sounds frightening for children; mild violence, implied or non-realistic, is permitted.
- Rated for 12+: violence involving fantasy characters, or non-graphic violence involving human-looking characters or animals; non-graphic nudity, mild language and simulated gambling are permitted.
- Rated for 16+: realistic violence, sexual activity, strong language, tobacco and drug use and depictions of crime are permitted.
- Rated for 18+: graphic violence and sexual violence, graphic sexual content, discriminatory acts or glamorisation of illegal drug use may be included.
The ESRB descriptions follow similar steps: Everyone is generally suitable for all ages, Teen for ages 13 and up and may include simulated gambling, and Adults Only may include gambling with real currency.
What a rating does not tell you
Google is explicit: content ratings describe the minimum maturity level of content, but do not tell you whether an app is designed for users of a specific age. A 3+ calculator is not a children's app; it simply has nothing unsuitable.
Ratings also do not cover everything a parent may care about. Google says the Read more section on an app's page explains why it got its rating and lists interactive features, such as whether the app shares location or lets users interact. In-app purchases are flagged separately: Google's help says the Play Store app shows them by the Price or Install button; what "in-app purchases" means covers that label.
A worked example: one app, three labels
Picture a puzzle game with cartoon combat and a casino-style mini-game played with virtual coins. Under the IARC generic system, the simulated gambling alone points to Rated for 12+. In the Americas, ESRB's Teen rating mentions simulated gambling, so the same app could show Teen. In Europe it might show PEGI 12, the PEGI band that Google's help says covers simulated gambling. Same app, same content, three labels, because each authority applies its own standards. Social casino versus real-money gambling looks at why virtual-coin games are rated as they are.
Checking a rating
- Open the app's page in Google Play.
- Find the rating under the app title.
- Tap Read more for the reasons and the interactive features.
- Check for the in-app purchases note by the Price or Install button.
Our own apps show their ratings in the same place. Anime Trivia & Word Games, for example, is a trivia and word-puzzle game, free to download, supported by ads, with optional in-app purchases; its guide explains the game. It sits among our anime and creative apps.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Who decides an app's age rating on Google Play?
Does a content rating mean an app is designed for children?
Why is the same app rated differently in different countries?
Can a rating be wrong?
Sources
- Apps & Games content ratings on Google Play (opens in a new tab)Google Play Help — accessed
- Make in-app purchases in Android apps (opens in a new tab)Google Play Help — accessed
- FAQ (opens in a new tab)International Age Rating Coalition — accessed
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Reign Creative LLC — The independent app studio that builds the apps covered on this site and publishes every article here. On Google Play it publishes as Reign Collective Apps.
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