--- title: Bark canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/bark/ category: Parental Control Apps points: 75 rank: 6 of 10 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Bark Parental control app that scans texts, social media and email for risks, for phones, tablets and Chromebooks. 75 points out of 100. #6 of 10 parental control apps. Vendor: Bark Technologies. Website: https://www.bark.us/ - The Bark App costs $14 a month or $99 a year ($8.25 a month) [1][2]. - One subscription covers every child and device, with no account or device limit [2]. - Alerts cover 29 types of danger across texts, email, YouTube and 30+ social apps [2][6]. - Screen time and filtering work on iOS, Android, Fire tablets and Chromebooks; Windows PCs and Macs get web monitoring only [2][7]. - Bark has no free plan, only a 7-day free trial [1]. Verdict: Bark suits parents who mainly want warnings about what their children say and see on phones. One $99 yearly subscription covers all children and devices [2]. The catch: Windows PCs get only browser monitoring, per-app time limits are limited to the Bark Phone, and there is no free plan [1][2][3]. Best for: Parents of phone-owning kids who want alerts about messages and social media. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Windows PC | Yes | 6/6 | Support article: Bark monitors Chrome and Edge on a child's Windows computer through extensions; no screen time or filtering there [7]. | | Systems | Other systems | macOS, Android, iOS, ChromeOS | 12/12 | Support article lists Macs and Chromebooks, with Chrome or Edge monitoring on Mac [7]. Screen time works on iOS, Android and Chromebooks [2]. | | Controls | Website filtering by category | Yes | 8/8 | Blocks 19 curated categories, lets you add specific sites, and supports exceptions [4]. | | Controls | Block apps and games | Yes | 6/6 | Website and app blocking is listed for the Bark App on iOS and Android [1][4]. | | Controls | Daily limits and schedules | Yes | 8/8 | Custom schedules in the Bark App; daily screen time limits are listed as a Bark Phone feature [1][2]. | | Controls | Time limits per app | Yes | 3/3 | Time limits per app or category are a Bark Phone feature only [3]. | | Controls | Pause or lock from the parent app | Yes | 3/3 | Pause the internet anytime with one tap [3]. | | Controls | Removal protection | Yes | 3/3 | FAQ says companion apps can be protected from uninstall on iOS and Android, and parents are alerted if one is removed [2]. | | Controls | YouTube controls | Yes | 2/2 | Bark monitors YouTube, and screen time rules can turn off YouTube access [2][3]. | | Monitoring | Live location | Yes | 6/6 | Location tracking is included with the Bark App [1][2]. | | Monitoring | Place alerts | Yes | 2/2 | Location alerts can be set for frequently visited places [5]. | | Monitoring | Social media and message alerts | Yes | 5/5 | Scans texts, email and 30+ social apps, sending alerts for 29 types of danger [2][6]. | | Monitoring | Activity reports | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the vendor's pricing, FAQ or features pages; they describe alerts, not an activity history [1][2][3]. | | Monitoring | Child requests | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the vendor's pricing or FAQ pages; they describe parent-side approvals only [1][2]. | | Terms | Money-back period | Not published | 0/2 | Not published for the Bark App; the 60-day guarantee applies to Bark Phone and Watch [1][2]. | | Price and plan | Free plan | No | 0/8 | Pricing page lists no free plan; the Bark App has a 7-day free trial [1]. | | Price and plan | Cheapest paid family plan | $8.25/mo | 3/12 | Bark App, $99 a year billed yearly; covers every child and device with filtering and schedules [1][2]. | | Price and plan | Devices on the priced plan | 100 | 8/8 | FAQ: one subscription covers every child and device, with no limit on accounts, devices or kids [2]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Bark App | $99/year [1][2] | $8.25 | | Bark Phone | From $29/month plus device [1] | - | | Bark Watch | $15/month plus device [1][2] | - | The Bark App is $14 a month or $99 a year. Bark Home, a router-connected device, is $6 a month or $79 once and is not counted [1][2]. ## Strengths - One subscription covers unlimited children and devices [2]. - Monitors texts, email, YouTube and 30+ social apps and sends alerts for 29 danger types [2][6]. - Location alerts for frequently visited places [5]. - FAQ says the child app can be protected from uninstall on iOS and Android, and alerts the parent if it is removed [2]. ## Limits - The app plan is $14 a month, or $99 a year if paid up front [1][2]. - Screen time and filtering do not run on Windows or Mac; only Chrome and Edge extensions monitor web use [2][7]. - Per-app time limits, daily limits and app approvals are Bark Phone features, not in the Bark App [2][3]. - No free plan; only a 7-day trial [1]. ## Vendor claims (not scored) - Bark says its alerts cover 29 different types of dangers [6]. ## Sources 1. [Bark pricing](https://www.bark.us/pricing/), Bark, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Bark FAQs](https://www.bark.us/faq/), Bark, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Manage screen time with parental controls](https://www.bark.us/manage-screen-time/), Bark, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Block websites and apps](https://www.bark.us/website-blocking/), Bark, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Location sharing](https://www.bark.us/location-sharing/), Bark, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Monitor content](https://www.bark.us/monitor-content/), Bark, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [How to set up Bark on computers](https://support.bark.us/en/articles/13461242-how-to-set-up-bark-on-computers), Bark, accessed 2026-10-08