Temperance

A LITTLE BALANCE. A LOT MORE LIFE.

More room for life
beyond the screen.

Help your kids build healthier internet habits. Set thoughtful limits, make space for family time, and manage it all from a dashboard you run at home.

Get started See how it works

Open source. Self-hosted. No Temperance cloud or telemetry.

YOUR FAMILY, AT A GLANCE A little balance

A calmer afternoon.

Individual limits. One place to manage them.

Jamie

Daily internet budget
Online

45 minof 90 min today

Time to explore offline45 min left

Riley

Evening routine
Bedtime
Logging off. Winding down.

Internet resumes at 7:00 am.

Illustrative dashboard · Sample profiles and usage
Boundaries that fit your family A pause when you need it Your home. Your data.

WHY WE CREATED TEMPERANCE

Parenting is enough.
Managing screens
should feel simpler.

We created Temperance to help parents manage screen-time for their kids. Screens are part of everyday life, but so are homework, sleep, play, and time together.

Parents need a practical way to set boundaries that reflect their family’s routines: a daily budget, a predictable bedtime, or a pause for dinner.

We also believe families should control the tools they rely on. That’s why Temperance is open source and runs on your own server, with no Temperance cloud account and no telemetry.

Explore the project

SMALL CONTROLS. MEANINGFUL ROUTINES.

Set the rhythm. Leave room to grow.

01 / TIME

A budget for each child

Set daily internet time limits by profile. See observed network usage and adjust the rules as your family’s needs change.

02 / ROUTINE

Bedtime means bedtime

Build predictable breaks with bedtimes and access schedules. Pause a profile or device when it’s time to put screens down.

03 / FLEXIBILITY

A little extra, when it fits

Kids can ask for more time through the device apps. Parents can approve or decline requests from the dashboard.

04 / FILTERING

Guide internet access

Use domain and category rules, with SafeSearch and YouTube restrictions. DNS filtering adds a layer of control, with limits you should understand.

HOW IT WORKS

Your family’s rules.
One home base.

Temperance brings a parent dashboard and a VPN gateway together in one program you run.

  1. 1

    Set up your home base

    Install the Linux server package on a dedicated machine, such as a Raspberry Pi or mini PC. Docker works on an existing Linux server or NAS; other server modes remain experimental. Follow the setup guide to make the gateway reachable.

  2. 2

    Connect the family

    Create profiles and enroll devices. VPN apps connect supported phones and computers to home, even when they’re away.

  3. 3

    Find your balance

    Choose limits, schedules, and filters from the dashboard. Use home-network DNS or Linux router mode for TVs and consoles.

FAMILY DATA BELONGS WITH THE FAMILY

A home base, not a data business.

Your installation stores profiles, rules, device information, and activity records on the server you choose. The project does not operate a Temperance cloud service or collect app telemetry.

Read our privacy policy

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

A few things to know.

Is Temperance free?

Temperance’s code is free and open source under the MIT license. You provide the computer or server, internet connection, and any hosting services you choose to use.

Does it work outside our home?

Enrolled devices using the Temperance VPN connect back to your gateway, so its rules can apply away from home. The tunnel must be active and your server reachable. Home-network DNS and router controls only apply on the network they serve.

Does this replace conversations about screen-time?

Temperance helps you put family agreements into practice. It works best alongside clear expectations and ongoing conversations about when, why, and how your kids use the internet.

MAKE SPACE FOR WHAT MATTERS

A little less screen.
A little more together.

Set up Temperance

Start with the installation guide. Make it your family’s own.