Spending controls · PlayStation
A monthly limit on PlayStation
PlayStation has the clearest control of the four: a monthly spending limit per child that starts at zero. Here is how to set it and how the money actually flows.
Last checked 24 September 2026
How PlayStation families work
Every PlayStation family has one family manager, an adult who can create accounts for children under 18, invite other adults and name some of them as parents or guardians. Child accounts can't add payment methods or wallet funds of their own. When a child buys something, the money comes out of the family manager's wallet, up to the monthly limit.
A new child account starts with a monthly spending limit of £0, so nothing can be bought until a parent raises it.
Set the monthly limit
- Make sure your child has their own PlayStation account in your family, with a verified email address.
- On a PS5, open Settings, then Family and Parental Controls, then Family Management. On a PS4, look under Parental Controls/Family Management.
- Select your child.
- On PS5, choose Parental Controls, then Monthly Spending Limit. On PS4 it sits under Applications/Devices/Network Features.
- Keep it at £0 to block purchases, or choose the monthly amount you are happy with.
- Confirm. The limit belongs to the account, so it applies on every console and on the web.
- If your child was playing while you made the change, ask them to sign out and back in.
No console to hand? Sign in to your account on the PlayStation website, open Family Management, choose your child and edit the Monthly Spending Limit. The PlayStation Family app for phones, launched in September 2025, has the same setting as a widget, along with a button to add funds to your wallet.
Where the money comes from
- Your child spends from your wallet, never from their own, and only up to the monthly limit.
- If your wallet is empty, the purchase fails even if the limit would allow it.
- PlayStation Store gift cards have to go onto the family manager's wallet, because child accounts can't add funds. The monthly limit still caps what the child can use.
- Anyone you name as a parent or guardian can change the limit too, so choose them with care.
Playtime
Playtime settings decide how long and at what times your child can play each day. On a PS5 they can ask for more time, and you get a notification to allow it or decline. The PlayStation Family app shows a seven-day summary, the most played games, and what is being played right now with its age rating.
Order history and refunds
On the web, go to Account Management, then Order History. On a PS5, it is under Settings, Users and Accounts, Account, Payment and Subscriptions, Transaction History. Only the family manager can see what family members bought.
| What was bought | Cancellation rule |
|---|---|
| Games and add-ons | Within 14 days, as long as the download or streaming has not started |
| In-game currency and items bought in PlayStation Store | Within 14 days, only if the game has not been launched since the purchase |
| Items bought from inside a game | Delivered at once, so in practice they can't be cancelled |
Faulty content is a separate matter: your rights under UK consumer law still apply. Our refunds guide explains how.
What the limit doesn't cover
- Games that take payment through their own account or website rather than PlayStation Store.
- Money a parent or guardian spends on their own account on the same console.
Sources: PlayStation Support pages on spending limits, the PlayStation Family app, family accounts and refunds, checked 24 September 2026.