Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Bark vs Norton Family
Bark
Norton Family
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | BarkReviewVisitVisit | Norton FamilyReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $99 | $49.99Lower |
| Platforms | iOS, IPadOS, Android, Chromebook, Amazon Fire OS | Windows, Android, iOS |
| Devices | Not confirmed | 5 to 10 |
Same on both: Features (Screen time, Web filter, Location).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Norton Family scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.7.
- Yearly price is lower at Norton Family: $49.99 vs $99.
- Platforms: only Bark offers IPadOS, Chromebook, Amazon Fire OS.
- Platforms: only Norton Family offers Windows.
- Support channels: only Bark offers Email, Chat.
- Support channels: only Norton Family offers Phone, Community.
- Founded is lower at Norton Family: 1982 vs 2015.
- Norton Family is available in 43 more countries.
- Pricing model: only Bark offers Free.
- Pricing model: only Norton Family offers Budget.
Our verdict on each
Bark
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.
Norton Family
Norton Family suits families who want screen time limits, web filtering and location checks under the same subscription. It costs $49.99 a year for 5 to 10 devices across Windows, Android and iOS, which puts it mid table among the brands compared here.
Score breakdown
| Area | Bark | Norton Family |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.3Bark ranks 26 of 32 brands on yearly price, above the €43.84 median for parental controls. | 9.1HigherYearly price $49.99 sits mid table at position 16 of 32, above free built in tools. |
| Offer | 9.3Higher | 9.2 |
| Privacy | 8.4 | 10.0Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | Bark | Norton Family |
|---|---|---|
| Parental control apps | 22 of 59 | 11 of 59 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Bark | Norton Family |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Budget |
| Legal entity | Bark Technologies, Inc. | Gen Digital Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2015 | 1982Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Phone, Help centre, Community |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Bark | Norton Family | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $99above the median | $49.99below the median | $71.88 |
| Devices | Not confirmed | 5 to 10at the median | 10 |
Median across 33 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Bark
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.
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.
Norton Family
Pros
- Covers 5 to 10 devices across Windows, Android and iOS for $49.99 a year.
- Bundles screen time, web filter and location into the same subscription.
- Comes from Gen Digital Inc., a vendor founded in 1982.
Cons
- Platforms stop at Windows, Android and iOS, while Control D covers Windows, macOS and Linux.
- It is a paid plan at $49.99 a year where Apple built in controls cost $0 a year.
- The feature set is screen time, web filter and location, focused on the core jobs and little else.
Who each suits
Bark
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.
Norton Family
Who it suits
- Households on Windows, Android and iOS who want screen time, web filtering and location in the same place.
- Parents who check location and screen time together rather than in separate apps.
- Buyers who want a vendor founded in 1982 behind a budget tier product.
Who should look elsewhere
- Mac and Linux households, since Control D covers Windows, macOS and Linux while Norton Family stays on Windows, Android and iOS.
- Apple Inc. users content with the built in controls that cost $0 a year.
- Buyers comparing in BRL, since ESET Brasil charges BRL 64.22 to BRL 278.32 in another currency.
Current offers
Bark
Current offer
Free trial
7-day free trial on the Bark app: 7 days free
Bark app subscription for iOS and Android
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Norton Family
Current offer
First period offer
Norton 360 Deluxe at a great price: EUR 39.99 for the first year: 63% OFF, EUR 39.99 first year (EUR 109.99/year renewal)
Terms and Conditions Apply; savings compared to the renewal price of EUR 109.99/year
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Free trials
A payment method is required at sign-up and is charged at the end of the trial period unless cancelled first
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Bark | Norton Family |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | No | Yes |
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Brazil | No | Yes |
| Canada | No | Yes |
| Chile | No | Yes |
| Colombia | No | Yes |
| Czechia | No | Yes |
8 of 46 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Bark
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.
Norton Family
What does Norton Family cost a year?+
The plan is $49.99 a year for the whole household. That yearly figure covers screen time, web filtering and location across the covered devices, so families can weigh it against the built in tools that cost $0 a year. It sits in the budget tier of this market.
How many devices can a Norton Family plan cover?+
Coverage runs to 5 to 10 devices. That fits a household with several phones and a shared computer, and the typical ceiling across parental control brands in this comparison is 10 devices.