Q: Can I use family sharing without a credit card

No.

Actually, no. Would have been nice if. Maybe someday.

Great! I'll just return the iPad Air I bought for my 7 year old for Christmas and get her a Chromebook instead. I don't have a credit card and don't want one.

Guess I will return my child's iPod for this reason also. Thanks Apple for this, I will be getting rid of my wife's and mine iPhone's also.  These stupid rules are getting ridiculous. 

There are many people that choose not to own credit cards and use a debit card instead.  The requirement of needing to have a credit card to use Family Sharing is very short sighted on Apple's part. 

I now have much less respect for Apple's thoroughness before making software design decisions.  We have over 15 Apple devices in our family and this definitely changes my attitude about the long term viability of Apple in our family.

I strongly recommend that Apple review and change this ridiculous requirement!

Apple suggests that in this case you add with a credit card then switch back: Start or join a family group using Family Sharing - Apple Support

"When you create an account for a child, you must use a credit card as the payment method as part of providing your parental consent. After you create the child's Apple ID, you can change your payment method if you choose."

Annoying, but presumably there are technical constraints that make this difficult. I hope they'll fix at some point but this at least means I can set it up. I don't use a credit card but I have one around that I can use to at least set up the accounts.

The requirement to use a credit card when setting it up is not technical. It's legal.

A debit card, gift card, etc., can not be used to provide legal proof of identity. A credit card can. Because of the laws regarding the use of online services that collect data by children, you must use a credit card to set up Family Sharing. It's a legal requirement so that you can give parental consent for your children to use Apple's services.

For those here who believe this is a "ridiculous requirement" by Apple, I suggest you write to your congressman if you're not happy. Apple doesn't have a choice in the matter.

I can't really understand this being a requirement. If proof of identity is required, it is required for all the purchases on the Net. However, if the gift card is accepted even the kids can get it from any store and top it up themselves, there is no way to say that by law, proof of identity is required for any purchases done by the junior.

I agree there could be some other legal considerations or even business consideration, i just don't see it being used for the Proof of Identity on the NET.

A credit card is not required for every purchase, just to verify your identity to legally consent to allow a child to access the services provided.

If you don't like it, contact your congressman.

Hi KiltedTim,

I would like to react on your comments if you do not mind.

First of all, your assumptions - because i doubt you are a lawyer :-) - are only valid in the US.

Apple set this rule of family sharing for the world 190 countries in the world. There are therefore 190 laws or legal obligations.

When saying that Apple set it for legal reason, you are partly right but also partly wrong - depends where you are.

In the France a credit card is not an ID proof. So here your point is not valid, so the question remains :

Why do Apple force its customer to use his credit card?

The answer is simple : Because they can. David Vs Goliath. They are a very profitable company and use everything in there power to make it even more profitable. Getting the credit cards of all its customer is a way to do it. NO anonymity. But i presume Apple user do not care about this :-)

Have a good day Tim.

I am not sure whether it is specifically a credit card at that are you are averse to using, however you are able to use a debit card if that helps you at all.

ha, even in Australia?? this is an interesting situation where the rules of one country are being imposed on the citizens of another, and I'm VERY SURE that Americans wouldn't stand for that! In order to obtain a Visa debit card we go through the same bank hoops as you do for a credit card. This is ludicrous. I don't want a credit card, and for all internet use I only use a visa debit card. It's so patronising: "in order to prove you're an adult you need a credit card". Seriously?

ha, even in Australia?? this is an interesting situation where the rules of one country are being imposed on the citizens of another, and I'm VERY SURE that Americans wouldn't stand for that! In order to obtain a Visa debit card you go through the same bank hoops as you do for a credit card. This is ludicrous. I don't want a credit card, and for all internet use I only use a visa debit card. It's so patronising: "in order to prove you're an adult you need a credit card". Seriously?

there has to be a way round this. surely we can physically go into an Apple store and someone can verify i'm an actual real adult? (of course, I may be way too sarcastic to be tolerated....)