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Bark Parental Control App Review


ConsumersAdvocate.org Rating: 4.9 / 5 (Excellent)
35 Customer Comments & Reviews - see all comments
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Founded in 2015 and based in Georgia, Bark Technologies, Inc. provides a parental control app that focuses primarily on online threats to children through social media, texting, and other lines of communication. The company was founded by digital media experts who aimed to create a parental monitoring tool that did not compromise children's privacy.

How is Bark rated?

Breakdown

5.0/5
Transparency
5.0/5
Multiple OS Monitoring
5.0/5
Unique Features
5.0/5
Ease of Installation/Use

Overall Rating: 4.9 / 5 (Excellent)

Bark offers one of the most comprehensive monitoring packages in the parental control app landscape, and does so at a very reasonable price. In addition to email and text monitoring, Bark covers an extensive list of social media platforms as well. Screen time monitoring is available as a stand-alone feature with Bark JR, the company's lowest price plan and included with Bark's flagship product.

Additionally, Bark’s approach to monitoring text messaging does not require jailbreaking/rooting the phone, nor does it cause Apple password lockouts like other services. Since children have so many lines of communication open to them, Bark provides unprecedented coverage, monitoring posts and messaging for signs of bullying, communication with dangerous strangers, etc. What's more, Bark’s AI-based algorithms analyze all activity itself and issues parents notifications via their chosen communication method. Although full locator services are not available, Bark does have a check-in feature that allows parents to request their children's location at any given time.

Bark Features & Services

Features & Services - 5 / 5

Bark offers the most robust service out there for monitoring social media apps, emails, and text on children's mobile devices and smartphones. With 30 social media networks monitored, no other company we review has quite the reach as Bark. What's more, the company uses machine learning and advanced pattern recognition software to monitor all activity. This is especially useful to parents as monitoring with Bark does not require users to sift through all the activity themselves. Bark algorithms automatically scan children's communication for potentially problematic issues and send alerts to parents through the app, email or text. Bark's features and services are ideal and affordable for parents who are specifically concerned about social media interaction and text messaging. Parents can also control their children's screen time and filter content and set different limits for each child.
Customizable Filtering
No

Monitoring Method

  • Provider/Algorithmic
Monitoring Features
Social Media
SMS
Email

Social Networks Monitored

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Snapchat
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • Google+
  • Flickr
  • WhatsApp
  • Kik
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Ask.fm
  • GroupMe
  • Google Drive
  • Gmail
  • iCloud
  • Outlook
  • Hotmail
  • Yahoo!
  • AOL Mail
  • Comcast Email
  • Musical.ly
  • Slack
  • Kidzworld
Display Less
17 More
Notifications/Alerts
App
Email
Text
Combination

Bark Pricing & Subscription Model

Pricing & Subscription Model - 5 / 5

Bark offers one of the most comprehensive monitoring suites out there for the price. After a 7-day free trial where customers can test run the service, Bark Jr plans are $5 per month or $49 billed annually, and Bark is $14 per family month-to-month, or $99 billed annually. As parental control app offerings go, this is one of the least expensive out there.

Plan 1/Price

Bark Jr. - $5.00 monthly or $49 annually

Plan 2/Price

Bark Plan - $9.00 monthly or $99 annually
Free Trial
Yes
Number of Devices
Unlimited
Number of Accounts
Unlimited
Auto-Renew
Yes

Subscription Model

Both month-to-month and annual plans will auto-renew for the same price if the customer does not cancel. Customers can cancel on the "my account" page and the subscription will terminate at the end of that billing cycle.

Bark Customer Experience

Customer Experience - 5 / 5

As a relatively new company, Bark has no presence on the BBB or Trustpilot. Bark can be contacted through email or chat, but it is unclear what their customer support hours are. Developed in conjunction with psychologists, law enforcement, and digital media experts, Bark has received awards from The National Parenting Center, Mom’s Choice, and National Parenting Product.
Year Founded
2015
Platforms and Devices
Mobile
iOS
Android
Contact Method
Email
Online Form
Live Chat

Company Profile

Full Name
Bark Parental Control App
Company Website
Headquarters
3423 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30305

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35 Customer Comments & Reviews

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maggie.mcdevitt
5/22/2023
The Bark phone was a waste of money, time, and energy. My daughter got past the "controls", and they never worked right. They also don't tell you that you need to keep the original packaging when you return it, and you never own the phone no matter how long you pay the monthly fee. It was a very expensive mistake, but the amount of time and frustration I spent trying to make it work is what hurts the most.


S
Susie P
5/3/2023
This company false advertises. The bark phone is a rip off. There are too many hoops to jump through, customer support is slower than your great grandmother, and if the product doesn't meet your needs you won't get a refund. I would not recommend this product to anyone.


T
Tim M
4/6/2023
Wish I could give this ZERO STARS. Total trash! Basically all the app does is scan your kids texts, just like you could do. It hits on the most ridiculous things (someone says "my stomach hurts" and you MEDICALLY CONCERNING ALERT). It does NOT work on any apps they use like Snapchat, DIscord, etc. And with the latest iOS update, it doesn't automatically scan your kids phone, you have to have the phone inyour hand and enter the pass code every time. Every. Time. One of my kids phones it straight up doesn't work on. Don't waste your money!


lagassekylie1
3/23/2023
I wouldn't ever recommend this platform to anyone. I think that this is the worst app anyone could have ever created. My parents got me a bark phone for Christmas unexpectedly. I feel left out all of the time from my friends who have iPhones, and I'm constantly stressed about everything, including my privacy not being respected. My relationship with my parents went from good to horrible. Our relationship has started to fall apart, and to be honest, I couldn't care less because of how frustrated I am all the time. The system is slow anyway, and costs too much money. I wouldn't recommend ever putting your child through this, unless you want that relationship to go down the drain. I'm a good... Read More


ryan.mccready01
3/15/2023
Reality vs expectations is very different for this app. Part of me wants to love it, but also the majority of me hates it. It would be great if apple didnt limit it, but your stuck having to trust the child is going to 1. Stay on WiFi, and 2. Trust they will let you scan it. The only way we can actually monitor, us if we take it and plug it in yourself. It feels like they want you to just buy there bark phone instead. I would not recommend this app at all, for the price and for what it does and does not do, you really are just better using the parental controls on the iPhone yourself.


J
Jeff D
7/13/2022
I cancelled this app after a month. Sucks. Stopped monitoring texts after 1 week .


minoli1979
6/5/2022
I used Bark at work since we work with at-risk minors. It was tricky to set up but worked for our purposes. I set it up at home. Without my permission, it added and charged me for additional features. I canceled my subscription the day after I was billed, expecting that like other subscriptions, I would have access until the end of the billing cycle. Nope. The 30 days I paid for were lost. I contacted them and the only way to use the time I already paid for services (which are pricy to begin with) are lost, unless I agree to resubscribe. Bark is meant to protect children from predators while using predatory practices itself. Very ironic and disappointing. I wanted to like and use this... Read More


J
Janet
2/13/2022
Have had the app for about 8 months and have been very happy, however now we are having an issue and customer support is severely lacking! Difficult to get in contact with someone. They email or if pressed schedule a zoom call which is not at all convenient as they are not readily available. For the annual cost I am disappointed in the customer service availability.


J
Javier H
2/6/2022
I just left my previous service with Custodio because it wasn´t working appropiate and there was no good client service. I decided to give a try to Bark but it´s been impossible to set up the system in the iOS. My daughter has a Iphone and it´s not working. I need support to set it up appropriately, I already sent an email but I haven´t had a response. Please help me.


1
10284
1/25/2022
As has been noted by others, Bark DOES NOT work consistently with Apple products. It seemed that time that Apple had an update, Bark stopped working and we’d have to spend HOURS on email (you can’t call Bark - you have to set up an appointment to talk - days in advance!) and also with Apple. Don’t ever give your credit card to Bark. They renewed our subscription, even though we continued to have problems with it working. We asked for a refund within 3 weeks but they somehow talked us into trying to get it to work again. It temporarily (never went for more than a few weeks with all devices backing up to it,) so we asked to cancel a few months later. They refused stating that their terms... Read More



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  • Get alerts for cyberbullying, sexual content, and more
  • Filter content, manage screen time, track locations, and monitor activity