Kaspersky Safe Kids vs Microsoft Family Safety
Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Kaspersky Safe Kids
Parental control app from Kaspersky with web filtering, screen time rules and GPS tracking across devices.
Microsoft Family Safety
Microsoft's free family app for screen time limits and web filters on Windows, Xbox and Android.
The short answer
Microsoft Family Safety is free and strongest on Windows PCs and Xbox consoles. Kaspersky Safe Kids is a paid subscription covering Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with GPS location and age-based presets. Choose Family Safety for a Windows and Xbox household on a zero budget; choose Safe Kids when children also use Macs or iPhones and you want one set of rules everywhere.
Kaspersky Safe Kids or Microsoft Family Safety: our take
Microsoft Family Safety works through a Microsoft family group. Parents can cap screen time on whole Windows PCs and Xbox consoles or on individual apps and games on Windows, Xbox and Android, and children can request more time for parents to approve. Web and search filtering works in Microsoft Edge only, and other browsers are blocked so the filter can't be bypassed. Parents also get activity summaries for each child. Kaspersky Safe Kids covers website filtering, YouTube safe search, app controls, screen time budgets and schedules, and a GPS locator, with presets by age group.
Platform reach is the main difference. Family Safety has little control over a child's iPhone, and device-wide limits only apply to Windows and Xbox. Safe Kids runs on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, though its features vary between Android and iOS. Family Safety has no macOS listing, while Safe Kids has no Xbox controls, so gaming consoles favour Microsoft and Apple devices favour Kaspersky.
Pricing is simple to compare: Family Safety is free with a Microsoft account, and parents manage it from Android, iOS or a browser. Safe Kids needs a paid subscription for the full feature set, has a 30-day money-back guarantee, and comes for 1 year with Kaspersky Premium. It isn't available in every country.
If your children mostly use a Windows PC and an Xbox, Family Safety does the job for free, provided they can live with Edge for browsing. If the family mixes Macs, iPhones and Android phones, or you want location tracking and age presets, Safe Kids is the more complete option and worth checking for availability in your country.
Which should you pick?
Choose Kaspersky Safe Kids if…
- Families with a mix of Android, iPhone, Windows and Mac devices who want one set of rules
- You need macOS, which Microsoft Family Safety doesn't list
- Works on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS
- Age-based presets for content and app rules
Choose Microsoft Family Safety if…
- Families whose kids use Windows PCs and Xbox consoles
- You want a free option (Kaspersky Safe Kids is paid only)
- You need Web, which Kaspersky Safe Kids doesn't list
- Free with a Microsoft account
- Screen time limits for Windows, Xbox and Android
About each app
What is Kaspersky Safe Kids?
Kaspersky Safe Kids is a parental control app from the security company Kaspersky. Parents can filter websites, turn on safe search for YouTube, control which apps a child can use, set screen time budgets and schedules, and see a child's location on a map. Settings come with presets by age group, and parents manage everything from their own phone. It runs on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, and AV-TEST has given it its parental control approval several years running. It is sold as a subscription with a 30-day money-back guarantee and is also included for a year with the Kaspersky Premium security suite. Availability depends on country: Kaspersky notes that some plans are limited in certain regions, so check before buying.
What is 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.
Side by side
| Attribute | Kaspersky Safe Kids | Microsoft Family Safety |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Windows, Android, iOS, Web |
| Best for | Families with a mix of Android, iPhone, Windows and Mac devices who want one set of rules | Families whose kids use Windows PCs and Xbox consoles |
| Status | Active | Active |
Kaspersky Safe Kids vs Microsoft Family Safety pricing
Kaspersky Safe Kids: paid
We couldn't verify Kaspersky Safe Kids's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.
Microsoft Family Safety: free
We couldn't verify Microsoft Family Safety's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.
Platforms
| Platform | Kaspersky Safe Kids | Microsoft Family Safety |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
Kaspersky Safe Kids facts
4 of 4 verified- Included with Kaspersky Premium
- 1 year
- Checked Nov 8, 2026kaspersky.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Kaspersky Safe Kids 1 YEAR FREE Premium Plan Kaspersky Premium Total Security Customer rating 4.7306666 out of 5 stars.”
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
- Checked Nov 8, 2026kaspersky.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Compatible with: Windows® macOS® Android™ iOS”
- Users
- 1 million+
- Checked Nov 8, 2026kaspersky.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “1 million users Over 1 million app users worldwide.”
- Refund policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Checked Nov 8, 2026kaspersky.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Find the perfect plan for your family Try Kaspersky Safe Kids on one of the plans below with our 30-day money-back guarantee .”
Microsoft Family Safety facts
3 of 3 verified- Parent app
- Android and iOS
- Checked Nov 8, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “They can be managed using the Microsoft Family Safety app on Android and iOS.”
- Web filtering
- Microsoft Edge only
- Checked Nov 8, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Other commonly used browsers will be blocked for this to work.”
- Screen time limits
- Windows, Xbox and Android
- Checked Nov 8, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “App and game screen time limits (Windows, Xbox, Android)”
Pros and cons of Kaspersky Safe Kids
- Works on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS
- Age-based presets for content and app rules
- GPS locator and YouTube safe search
- Included with Kaspersky Premium
- Not available in every country
- Paid subscription for the full feature set
- Features vary between Android and iOS
Pros and cons of Microsoft Family Safety
- 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
- 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
Other apps to consider
Net NannyInstead of Kaspersky Safe Kids
Long-running filter with real-time page scanning and a Family Feed of activity.
Google Family LinkInstead of Kaspersky Safe Kids
Free alternative if your children use Android phones or Chromebooks.
Apple Screen TimeInstead of Kaspersky Safe Kids
No extra app or subscription for families on iPhone and iPad; limits and approvals are part of the OS.
Norton FamilyInstead of Microsoft Family Safety
Dedicated parental-control service with web supervision and location history for Windows, Android and iOS kids.
AuraInstead of Microsoft Family Safety
Adds screen-time scheduling and content filtering to an identity and device protection plan for the whole family.
Kaspersky Safe Kids vs Microsoft Family Safety: common questions
Is Kaspersky Safe Kids better than Microsoft Family Safety?
Microsoft Family Safety is free and strongest on Windows PCs and Xbox consoles. Kaspersky Safe Kids is a paid subscription covering Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with GPS location and age-based presets. Choose Family Safety for a Windows and Xbox household on a zero budget; choose Safe Kids when children also use Macs or iPhones and you want one set of rules everywhere.
Is Kaspersky Safe Kids free?
No. Kaspersky Safe Kids is paid, though it may offer a trial.
Is Microsoft Family Safety free?
Yes, Microsoft Family Safety is free.
Is Kaspersky Safe Kids or Microsoft Family Safety open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Kaspersky Safe Kids and Microsoft Family Safety support?
Kaspersky Safe Kids: Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. Microsoft Family Safety: Windows, Android, iOS and Web.