Is Bark the best app for young kids? In-depth review for parents

Today's children face online dangers that we – as their parents – never had to face, from predators to cyberbullying. As a cybersecurity expert at Cybernews, I know how difficult it can be for parents to keep their children secure while establishing healthy trust with them.

That’s why I have thoroughly tested Bark's parental control features alongside the Cybernews research team to help you see if Bark is the right solution for your family.

Quick overview of Bark parental control

Here's a quick overview of Bark's core features and capabilities before we dive into the detailed analysis:

Web & App filtering:	Yes
Screen time limits:	Yes
Location Tracking:	Yes
Supported platforms:	iOS, Android, Chromebook, Amazon Fire
Number of devices:	Unlimited
Free plan:	No
Trial period:	7 days
Price:	From $5.00/month

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What is the Bark parental control app?

Bark is a popular parental control app known for its robust protection of children’s social media activities. The app was founded in 2015 in Georgia, and due to its concept as a “watchdog,” it got the name Bark. Over the years, this app got significant media attention for its role in detecting sexual predators and preventing potential acts of violence in American schools. Through analyzing over a billion messages, Bark claims to have helped prevent at least 33 suicides, 12 school shootings, and numerous bomb threats.

The best part is that Bark offers comprehensive monitoring capabilities. More specifically, it covers more than 30 popular apps and social media platforms. Also, it utilizes advanced AI to analyze context, flagging issues such as cyberbullying, depression, and drug use.

Bark even allows you to manage your kids’ screen time through customizable schedules and its 24/7 website filtering feature. Additionally, its alert system will notify you about various concerns via text or email, including analysis of deleted messages.

On top of this, Bark lets you create an unlimited number of profiles across multiple devices, like iPhones, iPads, Android phones, Android tablets, laptops, computers, Chromebooks, and Amazon Fire tablets, making it suitable for entire families. While Bark may occasionally flag false positives, you can easily solve this by tweaking the content filter’s sensitivity.

Lastly, Bark comes with a 7-day free trial, which makes up for the need for a free plan. Due to this, you can test Bark’s features to confirm that it really is one of the best parental control apps before committing to it entirely.

Key features of Bark parental control

Bark has an edge because of its content-identification software, real-time location tracking with pinpoint accuracy, and flexible scheduling system. These features make this app stand out in the world of parental control. So, let’s explore the Bark key features in more detail!

Web and app filtering

The Bark app allows you to customize the content filters and limits. After you do that, you’ll get an alert for any potentially suspicious activity that it detects, like cyberbullying, a predator, a sexual event, violent threats, suicidal thoughts, or signs of depression. You’ll receive the alert as a text, an email, or a push notification.

Bark’s advanced machine learning algorithms also enable it to block websites associated with some of the latest slang and keywords.

Unfortunately, Bark has a minor limitation regarding web and app filtering. Unlike some other parental control apps, it can’t block offline apps, meaning your kids can still be exposed to some risks if they’re offline.

Scheduling

Bark also lets you set screen time schedules, for example, to limit screen time after bedtime, which is controlled by shutting down streaming and gaming. Or you can even implement these limits during school time. This includes blocking websites to keep children away from sites you do not want them to visit.

However, Bark lacks strict app time limits, as you can only restrict access to certain activities but not apps. Therefore, you can block their internet access entirely or choose a particular activity, like gaming.

Content monitoring

Bark allows you to monitor over 30 online activities, like texts, Instagram, YouTube, and other social media apps. Once you select the content you would like to track, Bark will conduct ongoing content monitoring.

This is possible as, unlike other app control apps that rely only on keywords, Bark utilizes advanced AI algorithms to screen social media, texts, emails, and images for content across 15+ categories, including anxiety, bullying, weapons, drugs, violence, and self-harm.

Bark scans sent emails, received emails, and image attachments. In contrast, it can only monitor text content on most social media apps and messages. That means your teen could still access inappropriate content through social media, such as videos and images.

Another potential drawback is that Bark has limited real-time access to content monitoring, especially on iOS apps.

Location tracking and Geo-Fencing

Bark helps you track your kid’s real-time location, get alerts, and determine if they’re walking, biking, or driving. What’s also great is that you can see how fast they’re moving. Aside from the full location tracking, you will receive alerts when your kid leaves or arrives home or at school. Due to this, you don’t have to open the map app to see where your kid is.

Unfortunately, while the real-time tracking itself exceeds my expectations, it seems Bark has a limited range of geofencing compared to other parental control apps.

Activity reports

Last but not least, Bark comes with activity reports that give you insights into your child’s screen use, regardless of whether it’s recently installed apps or top contacts. You’ll even receive weekly summary reports on your email, SMS texts, or the Bark app about any suspicious activities your child was exposed to.

Unfortunately, the only drawback is that Bark doesn’t give you a detailed app and browser history, so you won’t see what your kid has been searching about in the last week.

Bark parental controls plans & pricing

The Bark app offers two pricing plan options: Bark Premium and Bark Jr. A single subscription covers every child and device in your family, with no limit on accounts (unlike parental apps such as Qustodio or Norton Family), devices, or kids.

Bark Premium subscriptions are $14.00/month or $99.00/year. This top-tier plan will let you monitor and receive alerts for your child’s social media, phones, tablets, and computers. Also, you can manage screen time, block specific websites and apps, and track their location.

On the other hand, Bark Jr costs $5.00/month or $49.00/year. This subscription lets you control your children’s screen time, block unwanted websites and apps, and filter inappropriate content. You’ll also be able to track your child's whereabouts with live GPS, location alerts, and check-in features.

Aside from the Bark app, you can also get a Bark phone or Bark Home. The Bark Home is a small device that plugs into your home’s Wi-Fi router, and it works by allowing or restricting content at different times on your home network. You can get it for $6/month.

This device provides internet parental control by letting you block websites or apps and set screen time schedules on your child’s electronic devices, including TVs, tablets, gaming consoles, and computers. It also works on iOS and Android phones.

Thanks to Bark Home, you can protect your entire family from inappropriate content like pornography, gambling sites, and excessive violence. You can also set up schedules where your kid can only access the internet on these devices at certain times, like after dinner or only on weekends.

As for the Bark phone, you can get it for a starting price of $39/month. The phone comes with built-in comprehensive monitoring features. On top of that, you’ll enjoy some exclusive features, such as contact approvals, app install approvals, remote alarms, daily screen time limits, and completely tamper-proof settings.

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Bark parental controls app user experience and setup process

Now that you’re familiar with the Bark parental control app let’s see how you can set it up and whether it’s user-friendly.

Installation & Setup (Parental App + Kids App)

Parental control apps can have a tricky installation process, but that’s not the case with Bark. In fact, I really liked that Bark guides you through each step and explains it in more detail. However, the setup time depends on how many kids you want to add and how many apps and online services they use. Let’s delve into more detail:

1. Open the official Bark website and click on Pricing.
2. Find the Bark app service and click on Try for free.
3. You’ll be taken to the Sign Up page, where you must enter your email and password to create an account. Once you do that, check the Terms and Conditions box and click Sign up.
4. Once you sign up, you’ll need to select the issues you’re mostly concerned about. After you pick a few categories (or all), press Next.
5. The next step is creating your child’s profile. To do this, you need to fill in their name or nickname, birthday month, and year. As soon as you do that, click on Create profile.
6. You’ll then be asked if you want to add another child or you’re done adding children. Pick the option that suits you.
7. Afterward, you need to select the devices your children use. Pick them from the list and click on Next.
8. The next step requires you to select whether your kid uses email, and if they do, you need to choose the email they have. After you do that, click on Next.
9. Next, Bark will ask you to pick which apps your kid uses and provide you with a complete list of all the apps you can monitor. After you make your choice, click on Next.
10. You’ll then proceed to the step where you need to select if your kid uses a browser and which one. Tick the box that refers to your kid, and click on Next.
11. Now, you need to pick which Bark plan you want to use. You can pick Bark Premium or Bark Jr. Make your choice and select if you want to be charged monthly or annually.
12. Then, select whether you want to pay with a card or Google Pay, and enter your details. You need to provide your card number, expiration date, security code, country, and ZIP code. Once you’re done, click on Confirm Subscription.
13. Then, Bark will take you to the Checkout section, where you just need to confirm your plan and press Checkout.
14. Then, review your payment once again and click on Submit payment.
15. Afterward, you need to add your or your partner’s contact details for use in an emergency.
16. Then, on your kid’s Android device (if they use such devices), open up a browser app (like Chrome or Firefox).
17. Go to bark.us/android.
18. Select Download for Bark Kids.
19. When it’s finished downloading, tap Open.
20. Confirm the installation and open the app on your kid’s device.
21. Set your kid's Android aside for now.
    
22. Open up the Bark parent app/dashboard on your own device.
23. Select the v menu (desktop) or More (mobile).
24. Tap Device code.
25. Use this code to log into the Bark Kids app on your kid's Android.
26. Press Next on the disclosure screens.
27. On the Get Started screen, select each checklist item, one by one, to grant Bark the permissions it needs to protect your kid's device.
28. Tap Bark under the Services or Installed Services to enable Accessibility permission.
29. Toggle on Bark Accessibility.
30. Tap Allow on all other prompts (Media, SMS & MMS, Contacts, Notifications).
31. Go to Open Settings > Permissions > Location > Allow all the time on the Background Location permission.
32. Click OK on the VPN request.
33. Select Check In.
34. Go back to the home screen or apps list on your kid's Android.
35. Open up the Chrome app and click on the three-line menu, then Settings, Privacy, Use secure DNS, and Toggle off secure DNS.
36. Once you do that, prevent Bark from being affected by battery optimization and data saver settings.
37. That’s it! You can now monitor your children’s devices with Bark.

Ease of use:

The installation process may be a bit longer, but Bark is straightforward to use. So, let’s go through the user-friendliness of both mobile and desktop Bark apps:

• Mobile & Tablets: Installation gets a bit tricky with iOS devices. You’ll need to connect your iPhone or other iOS devices directly to your laptop or computer and use Bark’s desktop app to finish the installation. However, you can easily monitor iOS devices even from desktop apps. The dashboard is also neat and well-organized, allowing you to access each feature you want to activate. Unfortunately, some features are limited on iOS devices, so you may be unable to implement them. Regarding Android, you’ll set up the app in no time. Unfortunately, you need to disable the built-in VPN on Android to access web filtering and screen time management.
• Desktop: My testing shows Bark maintains an intuitive and consistent interface across all devices, whether mobile or desktop. Based on this, you can set up Bark on your and your kids’ desktop devices effortlessly and use each feature to protect them effectively. However, Bark’s monitoring capabilities are primarily focused on mobile devices. Monitoring web searches on Windows and macOS requires the Chrome or Edge browser extension. You'll need to purchase the additional Bark Home physical device for more comprehensive control over desktop devices, such as web filtering, screen time enforcement, and app blocking. So, this is something that can be improved.

Customer support

Bark offers robust customer support, including phone support, 24/7 email support, a chatbot, and live chat support. If you use email support, you’ll receive helpful responses within a few hours. The live chat and phone support are available Monday through Sunday, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST.

Bark also has a Discover tab that provides how-to videos, blog posts, and slang translations. This is especially helpful, as it keeps you up-to-date with the advancement of technology and teen language. Also, its FAQ section includes over 100 answers and step-by-step guides.

Bark also has a unique feature allowing you to schedule one-on-one calls with a representative for personalized setup assistance. This is especially beneficial for those who may not be tech-savvy.

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Bark vs alternatives: a comparative analysis

If Bark isn’t your cup of tea, you might want to check out these alternatives. Let’s briefly go over what they offer:

• Aura. This parental control app is best for its web filtering and device coverage. Unfortunately, it lacks certain features like geo-fencing and text monitoring. You can compare Aura vs Bark in our dedicated comparison.
• Norton Family. Norton Family comes with comprehensive features when bundled with Norton 360. But if you go for the standalone option, you’ll be able to see your child’s search terms and viewed videos, monitor for age-appropriate content, and set screen limits.
• Qustodio. Ultimately, Qustodio is a budget-friendly option that comes with essential monitoring features. Aside from them, it offers a lot of extras, such as a wider geofencing range and more robust options than Bark. One of them is the higher level of customization and setting screen time schedules for various activities.

Conclusion: is Bark the right choice for your family?

Bark is a popular parental control app with a few pricing plans and all the essential features. But let’s wrap up everything I’ve discussed in my Bark review so I can help you decide whether Bark is suitable for your family’s needs in 2025.

Pros of using Bark

Bark is a relatively effective parental control app. Thanks to its features, it balances privacy and monitoring. It can oversee texts and the content of over 30 social media platforms and numerous websites. Its standard parental control features include monitoring, weekly reports, setting time limits, and location tracking.

Bark also offers unlimited device monitoring, user-friendly apps, and reliable and robust customer support via numerous channels.

Cons of using Bark

However, I’ve run into some minor limitations. For example, Bark isn’t able to set strict app usage limits. Also, if you install it on Android, you need to disable the VPN so you can use web filtering and blocking.

Although it comes with two relatively affordable plans – Bark Jr ($5.00/month) and Bark Premium ($14.00/month) – it’s not the cheapest parental control app I’ve reviewed. Also, it doesn’t have a money-back guarantee.

Despite these small issues, Bark offers exceptional value for a specific set of use cases.

In particular, Bark might be the best parental control app for your family if you are more interested in establishing trust and cultivating digital safety skills and awareness than in end-to-end surveillance of your children’s internet use.

FAQ