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Bark Phone for Kids Review


ConsumersAdvocate.org Rating: 4.9 / 5 (Excellent)
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Founded in 2015, Bark has been providing parents with parental control products designed to protect their children from online and real life threats. Its products include the Bark Phone, a phone for kids that features comprehensive parental control tools, but resembles a regular one.

The company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and offers services in the U.S., Australia, Guam and South Africa. The Bark Phone, however, is only available in the US.
 
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How is Bark Phone 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)

The Bark Phone provides parents with kid phones that already have the company's software built-in but present as any other mobile phone. Bark's software includes a very complete set of monitoring and parental control features that could significantly reduce the daily dangers kids are exposed to when using a phone with or without access to the internet. Unfortunately, customer reviews for the company's products and services are scarce. The few that we could find online were mostly negative and mainly complained about glitches in Bark's monitoring features, which is the reason most customers seek out the company's services.

Bark Phone Features & Services

Features & Services - 5 / 5

The Bark Phone offers all of the content monitoring features of the Bark app with the added benefit of having the software directly built into it, which makes it virtually impossible to be deleted or tampered with. Bark's software scans apps, texts, social media, photos and videos for things like bullying, sexual content and potential harms and immediately alerts parents upon finding signs of any of them. The phone model is a Samsung A13 and includes no Bark logos or branding so as to give it the appearance of a regular phone.

Some additional features the Bark Phone has include contact and app approvals, daily screen time limits, remote alarms and the ability to allow or cut off access to the app store. All Bark Phones come with a Bark subscription for unlimited devices, a protective case and a USB-C charging cord.
Monitoring Categories
Sexual Content
Violence
Bullying
Online predators
Suicidal ideation
Anxiety
Body Image/Eating-related
Dangerous Organizations
Depression
Drugs/Alcohol-Related Content
Inappropriate Behavior/Content
Medically Concerning Content
Profanity
Risky App/Site Usage
Self-harm or Suicidal Content
Weapon
Customizable Filtering
Yes
Usage Control Features
Access Scheduling
Remote Device Lockdown
Call Blocking
Message Blocking
Contact Approvals
Remote Alarms
App Install Approvals
Website Blocking
Customized Screen Time Schedules
Individual App Blocking
Category Blocking

Monitoring Method

  • Provider/Algorithmic
Monitoring Features
Phone Contents
Social Media
SMS
Email
Apps
Location Tracking

Social Networks Monitored

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Snapchat
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • Flickr
  • WhatsApp
  • Kik
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • GroupMe
  • Google Drive
  • Gmail
  • iCloud
  • Outlook
  • Dropbox
  • Yahoo!
  • Holla
  • AOL Mail
  • Lipsi
  • Comcast Email
  • LiveMe
  • Messenger Kids
  • Slack
  • Roblox
  • Skype
  • Spotify
  • Steam
  • TikTok
  • VSCO
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23 More
Locator Services
GPS-Enabled

Bark Phone Pricing & Subscription Model

Pricing & Subscription Model - 5 / 5

Monthly prices for the Bark Phone subscription start at $29 for its starter plan. This plan includes unlimited calls and texts, but no internet or access to the app store or games. Bark's offers four advanced plans, which include unlimited calls and texts as well as internet access. Parents can choose whether they only want their children to have access to Wi-Fi or if they want to include data (4GB, 8GB or unlimited) in their plans.

Bark offers a 7-day free trial for the Bark Phone.

Plan 1/Price

Starter plan: $29 per month with no internet access

Plan 2/Price

Advanced plans: $49 - $89 per month with internet access
Free Trial
Yes
Number of Devices
Unlimited
Number of Accounts

Bark Phone Customer Experience

Customer Experience - 5 / 5

Bark Technologies, Inc. has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau since 2019 and holds an A+ rating from the organization. Its BBB profile only features three customer reviews, which give the company a rating of 1 out of 5. Bark also has a claimed profile on Trustpilot, which has a rating of 2.2 based on 13 reviews. Customers complain about experiencing faulty monitoring and glitches, as well as not being able to cancel their subscriptions.
Year Founded
2015
BBB Rating
A+
Number of BBB Negative Reviews
3
Trustpilot Rating
2.2 out of 10

Company Profile

Full Name
Bark Phone for Kids
Company Website
https://www.bark.us
Headquarters
3423 Piedmont Rd NE STE 405, Atlanta, GA, 30305

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  • Most comprehensive coverage of any parental control app
  • FREE 7 Day Trial, and coverage starting at $5 a month
  • Get alerts for cyberbullying, sexual content, and more
  • Filter content, manage screen time, track locations, and monitor activity 
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