child-time vs Microsoft Family Safety

Updated: November 9, 2026

Microsoft Family Safety is the parental control built into the Microsoft ecosystem. child-time is a separate program for Windows PCs. Here's an honest look at how they differ and who each one suits.

The main difference

Microsoft Family works through Microsoft accounts: your child needs their own Microsoft account added to your family group. child-time works with ordinary local Windows accounts — your child doesn't need a Microsoft account.

Feature comparison

	child-time	Microsoft Family
Child's account	Ordinary local Windows account	Microsoft account in a family group
Daily screen time limit	Yes	Yes
Hours when the PC is off-limits	Yes — bedtime hours	Yes — schedule
Limits for specific games and apps	Yes — daily minutes, allowed hours or always paused	Yes
App usage reports	Yes — which apps and how many minutes	Yes
Web filtering	No — child-time doesn't track or block websites	Yes — in Microsoft Edge
Tasks that earn extra time	Yes — the child completes, you approve	No
Chat and messages on the child's screen	Yes, plus “more time” requests	Requests for more time
Parent notifications	Phone (installable dashboard) and Telegram	Family Safety app
Class schedule with reminders	Yes	No
Price	Free during the beta	Core features are free

Choose Microsoft Family if

your whole family already uses Microsoft accounts, and your child has an Xbox;
you need web filtering — child-time doesn't have it.

Choose child-time if

you'd rather not create a Microsoft account for your child — a normal Windows account is enough;
you want to agree, not just restrict: tasks for time, chat, “more time” requests;
several kids share one computer — each gets their own rules;
you like getting notifications and approving requests in Telegram.

You can also use both: web filtering from Microsoft, limits and tasks from child-time.

Try child-time free