Microsoft Family Safety
Microsoft's free family app for screen time limits and web filters on Windows, Xbox and Android.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Windows, Android, iOS, Web
Is Microsoft Family Safety free?
Yes, free to use
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- Alternatives ranked
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About Microsoft Family Safety
Microsoft Family Safety lets parents in a Microsoft family group set screen time limits and content filters for their children. Limits can apply to whole Windows PCs and Xbox consoles or to individual apps and games on Windows, Xbox and Android, and kids can send requests for more time that parents approve from the app. Web and search filters block mature sites and results in Microsoft Edge, and other browsers are blocked so the filter can't be bypassed. Parents get activity summaries and manage everything from the Family Safety app on Android or iOS, or from a browser. The app is free to use with a Microsoft account. It fits families centred on Windows and Xbox; it has little control over iPhones, and filtering depends on children using Edge.
Best for: Families whose kids use Windows PCs and Xbox consoles.
Pros and cons
What works
- Free with a Microsoft account
- Screen time limits for Windows, Xbox and Android
- Children can request more time and parents approve it
- Activity summaries for each child
Why people leave
- Web filtering only works in Microsoft Edge, and other browsers get blocked
- Little control over a child's iPhone
- Device-wide screen time limits cover only Windows and Xbox
Microsoft Family Safety vs Google Family Link, Net Nanny and Kaspersky Safe Kids
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Microsoft Family Safety | Google Family Link | Net Nanny | Kaspersky Safe Kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free | Paid | Paid |
| Verified price | — | — | $39.99 a year for 1 desktop (list $49.99) | — |
| Free plan | Free app | Free app | No | No |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Windows, Android, iOS, Web | Android, iOS, Web | Windows, macOS, iOS, Web | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
Full Microsoft Family Safety vs Google Family Link comparisonFull Microsoft Family Safety vs Kaspersky Safe Kids comparison
Top Microsoft Family Safety alternatives
See all 6- 1
Google Family Link68.8Free like Microsoft's tool, but built for Android phones and Chromebooks.
- 2
Net Nanny64.8Paid filter that works in any browser and also covers Macs and iPhones.
- 3KaKaspersky Safe Kids61.8
Cross-platform rules including iPhone, with GPS tracking and YouTube safe search.
- 4
Apple Screen Time57.5Free and built in on Apple devices, with downtime, app limits and contact approval for kids in Family Sharing.
- 5
Norton Family55.9Dedicated parental-control service with web supervision and location history for Windows, Android and iOS kids.
Why people left Microsoft Family Safety
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Microsoft Family Safety: common questions
What is Microsoft Family Safety?
Microsoft Family Safety: Microsoft's free family app for screen time limits and web filters on Windows, Xbox and Android. Best for families whose kids use Windows PCs and Xbox consoles. Available for Windows, Android, iOS and Web.
Is Microsoft Family Safety free?
Yes, Microsoft Family Safety is free to use.
Is Microsoft Family Safety open source?
No, Microsoft Family Safety is not open source.
What platforms does Microsoft Family Safety run on?
Microsoft Family Safety is available for Windows, Android, iOS and Web.
What are the best alternatives to Microsoft Family Safety?
The highest-ranked Microsoft Family Safety alternatives right now are Google Family Link, Net Nanny and Kaspersky Safe Kids. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Microsoft Family Safety vs Google Family Link: what's the difference?
Both Microsoft Family Safety and Google Family Link are free to use. Only Microsoft Family Safety runs on Windows.