Companies have found that without parental controls in place, some apps and devices can be problematic when used by children. Companies such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft have created parental controls for their operating systems, i.e., iOS, MacOS, Android, and Windows. In this article, we’ll talk about the pros and cons of Microsoft Family, Microsoft’s parental controls. We’ll also take a look at five Microsoft Family Features alternatives.
What is Microsoft Family Features?
Microsoft Family is a collection of tools and services that enable parents to track and control their children’s internet activity, screen time, spending, location, and driving behaviors. It is accessible for Windows, Xbox, and Android devices, and each family member must have a Microsoft account.
Pros of Microsoft Family Features
Microsoft Family Features has a lot of great options for parents. Here are some of the most important pros of using Microsoft’s parental controls.
Microsoft Family is simple to install and use if you check out a step by step guide on how to setup Windows Parental Controls. You may invite your children to join a family group you create online or using the Microsoft Family Safety app. You may also give roles, such as organizers or members, to different family members and adjust their settings accordingly.
Microsoft Family provides a complete set of services to help you monitor your children’s digital and physical safety. You can set screen time limits for devices, apps, and games, filter inappropriate content on the web and in apps and games, view activity reports and purchase history, add money to your children’s accounts, require approval for Microsoft Store purchases, share locations with family members, save places and receive location alerts, and gain insights into your children’s driving habits (with a Microsoft 365 Family subscription).
Microsoft Family works with other Microsoft products and services, including Windows, Xbox, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Store, Outlook, OneDrive, Teams, and others. This means you can access your family settings across several platforms and devices, as well as take advantage of premium features with a Microsoft 365 Family membership.
Cons of Microsoft Family
Unfortunately, using Microsoft Family Features has some disadvantages to it. It is confined to Windows, Xbox, and Android devices. You will be unable to watch or manage your children if they use other devices, like as iOS or Mac, with Microsoft Family. To activate web and search filters, you will also need to install the Microsoft Edge browser on your children’s devices.
Microsoft Family is not extremely adaptable or configurable. For app and game filters, you can only select from predetermined age ratings; you cannot build your own categories or exceptions. You also can’t create separate screen time limitations for weekdays and weekends, or for various sorts of activity (like study or amusement). You also cannot remotely stop or circumvent the screen time limitations.
In rare circumstances, the Microsoft Family may be ineffective or unreliable. The app and game filters may not identify some applications and games, and the web and search filters may not block some websites. Some services may not function correctly if your children change accounts or devices, or if they use VPNs or other techniques to circumvent the limits.
5 Alternatives to Microsoft Family
If you are looking for a parental control app that works on more devices, offers more customization options, or has more advanced features than Microsoft Family, here are five alternatives you can consider while choosing the best parental control app:
1. Safes
Safes is a third-party parental control app available on iOS, MacOS, Android and Windows devices. Using Safes, you can:
- Limit your child’s screen time for each app individually
- Set a schedule for app usage for your child
- Filter inappropriate keyword from your child’s web searches on every search engine (not just Bing)
- Block specific URLs on every web browser on your child’s device (not just Microsoft Edge)
- Track your child’s location in real time
- Check your child’s location history
Safes is free to download but needs a subscription to use. As of right now, it is the cheapest paid parental control app on this list. Safes is available for children up to 18 years of age. Whereas children over 13 can leave the family group you create with Microsoft Family Features.
2. Screen Time
Screen Time is a parental control feature on Apple devices that allows parents to manage how their children use their devices. It can be used to set limits on screen time, approve or block apps and websites, and see how their children are using their devices. Here are some of the specific features of Screen Time:
- App Limits: You can set daily limits for how much time your child can spend using individual apps.
- Website Restrictions: You can block specific websites or categories of websites.
- Downtime: You can set a period of time each day when all apps and websites are blocked.
- Content & Privacy Restrictions: You can restrict access to explicit content, apps, and features.
- Ask to Buy: You can require that all purchases from the App Store or iTunes be approved by you.
- Screen Time Reports: You can see how much time your child is spending on each app, as well as the websites they are visiting.
Screen Time is available on all Apple devices running iOS 12 or later, iPadOS 12 or later, and macOS Catalina or later.
3. Family Link
Google Family Link is a parental control app that allows parents to manage how their children use their Android devices. It is free to use and available on both Android and iOS devices. Here are some of the features of Google Family Link:
- Screen time limits: You can set daily limits for how much time your child can spend using their device.
- App and website restrictions: You can block specific apps or websites, or restrict access to certain categories of content.
- Location tracking: You can see where your child is at all times.
- Approved apps: You can approve or block apps that your child can download from the Google Play Store.
- In-app purchases: You can require that all in-app purchases be approved by you.
- SafeSearch: You can enable SafeSearch on your child’s device to filter out explicit content.
4. Bark
Bark is a parental control app that monitors your child’s online activity for potential safety risks. It does not offer as many features for controlling screen time or app usage as other parental control apps. Here are some of the features of Bark:
- Content monitoring: Bark monitors your child’s text messages, emails, social media posts, and other online activity for potential safety risks. It can identify harmful content, such as cyberbullying, sexting, and online predators.
- Screen time limits: Bark can be used to set screen time limits for your child. You can also set up schedules for when your child can use their devices.
- App and website restrictions: Bark can be used to block specific apps or websites. You can also restrict access to certain categories of content.
- Location tracking: Bark can be used to track your child’s location. You can receive alerts if your child leaves a designated area or arrives at a specific location.
- Check-ins: Bark allows you to request check-ins from your child. This means that your child will be required to open the Bark app and respond to a prompt.
- Reports: Bark provides you with reports on your child’s online activity. These reports can help you identify any potential safety risks.
5. Qustodio
Qustodio is a parental control app that offers a wide range of features, including screen time limits, app and website restrictions, location tracking, and more. Here are some of the features of Qustodio:
- Screen time limits: You can set daily limits for how much time your child can spend using their device. You can also set up schedules for when your child can use their devices.
- App and website restrictions: You can block specific apps or websites, or restrict access to certain categories of content.
- Location tracking: You can see where your child is at all times.
- Panic button: Your child can press the panic button if they feel unsafe. This will send an alert to you and allow you to track their location.
- Call and SMS monitoring: You can see who your child is calling and messaging, and read their text messages.
- Social media monitoring: You can see what your child is posting on social media and who they are interacting with.
- SafeSearch: You can enable SafeSearch on your child’s device to filter out explicit content.
- Reports: Qustodio provides you with reports on your child’s online activity. These reports can help you identify any potential safety risks.
Conclusion
Overall, Microsoft Family Feature has a lot of benefits that parents can take advantage of but still isn’t the best option on the market. Our top pick is Safes since it has more options compared to free Microsoft Family Features alternatives and yet, it’s cheaper than other paid alternatives. At the end of the day, each parental control app has minor differences, and the best parental control app depends on what you need for your child and what you’re willing to spend. Hopefully, this blog will have helped you find an appropriate Microsoft Family Feature alternative.
