Bark review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Our verdict
Bark suits families who want screen time, web filtering and location tracking on iOS, iPadOS and Android. Its yearly price of $99 puts it at the expensive end of parental controls, though a free version covers the basics for parents who only need a filter.
Key facts
- Best for
- Families who want screen time, web filtering and location in a single parental controls app.
- Yearly price
- $99 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- iOS, IPadOS, Android, Chromebook, Amazon Fire OS (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Features
- Screen-time, Web-filter, Location (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Bark Technologies, Inc. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2015 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Chat, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Free
- Official website
- bark.us
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App StoreGoogle Play
Pros and cons
Pros
- Covers screen time, web filter and location in one subscription, so filtering, limits and location sit together.
- Runs on iOS, iPadOS and Android, so phones, tablets, school laptops and Fire tablets are in scope.
- The listed model is free, so a no cost version is available for a first look.
- Support includes email, chat and help centre, with a help centre for self service answers.
Cons
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line in the mix.
- The yearly price of $99 is the full amount, with the free version the only cheaper route, so moving to the paid plan means a step up in cost.
- Windows and macOS are not among its iOS, iPadOS and Android, so a family with a desktop computer in the mix is left out.
Who it suits
- Parents of younger children who need web filtering and screen time limits on a shared family phone.
- Families running phones, tablets and school laptops together: iOS, iPadOS and Android covers them in the same subscription.
- Readers who want to try the controls at no cost first, since the listed model is free.
Who should look elsewhere
- Families that need desktop coverage: Control D lists Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Buyers who will not commit to a yearly subscription: Apple Inc. lists $0.
- Readers after security software priced in Brazil: ESET Brasil lists fees of BRL 64.22 to BRL 278.32.
How Bark compares
8.7 vs 9.1
8.7 vs 8.8
8.7 vs 8.5
8.7 vs 9.5
8.7 vs 9.4
8.7 vs 9.1
8.7 vs 9.2
8.7 vs 9.4Yearly fees of BRL 64.22 to BRL 278.32 for readers who want pricing in BRL.
8.7 vs 9.2
8.7 vs 8.8
8.7 vs 9.3
8.7 vs 9.0
8.7 vs 9.0
8.7 vs 9.4
Where Bark is available
- Available
- Australia, South Africa, United States
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much does Bark cost a year?+
Bark lists a yearly price of $99 for the paid plan, and the listed model is free, so a no cost version sits alongside it. That yearly figure is above the €43.84 median for parental controls, which is worth checking before a renewal.
Is there a free version of Bark?+
Yes, the listed model is free. The paid plan covers screen time, web filter and location, so a sensible route is to try the free version first and see whether that set of controls is enough for your family.
Which devices does Bark run on?+
Bark covers iOS, iPadOS and Android. That mix is aimed at family phones, tablets and school devices rather than desktop computers, which is the gap to weigh if older children use a Windows or Mac machine.
What does the Bark subscription include?+
The subscription includes screen time, web filter and location, so screen time limits, web filtering and location sit in a single plan rather than separate add ons. Bark Technologies, Inc. is the listed legal entity and the company has run since 2015.
How do I get help from Bark support?+
Support runs through email, chat and help centre. There is a help centre for self service answers, plus email and chat for questions about a family account. Plan on chat for quick clarification and email for anything that needs a written trail.
How does Bark compare with Control D on device coverage?+
Bark lists iOS, iPadOS and Android, while Control D lists Windows, macOS and Linux. The difference matters for a family with a desktop or Linux machine in the mix, and Bark's yearly price of $99 is the higher outlay of the two.
How does Bark's price stack up against the other options?+
Bark's $99 compares with $0 for Apple Inc. and fees of BRL 64.22 to BRL 278.32 for ESET Brasil, so Bark sits at the paid end of the range in this comparison.
Who is Bark built for?+
Bark suits families with children on shared phones and tablets, thanks to iOS, iPadOS and Android. Parents who need screen time, web filter and location can start on the free version and decide later whether the yearly price is worth it.
Sources
- bark.us/about checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded, Pricing model
“2015 - Bark is born. CEO Brian Bason, a dad of two, founds Bark”
- bark.us/contact-us checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“Chat with our AI assistant ... speak to a Bark team member at any time ... Read support articles ... https://support.bark.us/en/”
- bark.us/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Features, Platforms, Yearly price
“Manage screen time and block specific websites and apps; Track your child's location with live GPS and location alerts”
- bark.us/privacy checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity
“Bark is headquartered in the United States and has service providers in other countries.”
Compiled from 4 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Devices.
Bark
Families who want screen time, web filtering and location in a single parental controls app.