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Best Bark Alternatives

Best Bark Alternatives

By Rayssa G.Rayssa G. — Verified by Mary P.Mary P. — Last updated: July 11, 2024 — (0)
Table of contents

If there’s one thing that can’t be neglected or even slightly overlooked, it’s kids’ online safety. While technological advancements have done wonders for children’s cognitive development – especially with the rise of educational apps – they’ve also brought about security issues.

Anyone is susceptible to falling victim to online dangers. However, it goes without saying that kids are among the most vulnerable. Online predators, scams, and excessive exposure to screens are just a few of parents’ concerns. So, having excellent parental controls to protect kids while online isn’t only desirable, it’s vital.

What makes Bark so good?

It’s true, the hype around Bark is legitimate. The software is unique because it encourages parents to respect kids’ privacy while still protecting them from online dangers. Instead of manually shutting down your child’s internet access or checking their conversations and online browsing history, you can trust Bark’s parental controls to scan their online activity for you. It will even alert you if any potential dangers are found.

In addition to monitoring texts, apps, social media, and web searches, Bark also stands out for letting parents install the app on unlimited devices, set screen time schedules, and block specific websites or apps. Other advantages are its 7-day free trial of the paid plans and a 42% discount for annual subscriptions.

However, one of the main drawbacks of the parental control app is that its anti-tampering capabilities are limited, making it easier for kids to uninstall it. Still, those who wish to stick to Bark should check the Bark phone, which has tamper-proof built-in parental controls and stops working if kids factory reset the device.

Another downside is that while parents can monitor kids’ location in real time and receive alerts when they arrive at a pre-determined location, it doesn’t have geofencing or 24/7 location tracking. So, parents can’t set a range area to receive alerts when kids stray from the determined area.

How To Cancel Bark

If you’re unhappy with Bark or don’t need its services anymore, canceling your subscription won’t be a headache. The process is simple and straightforward.

  • Log in to your Bark account.
  • Select ‘Account’ in the menu on a desktop or ‘More’ on a mobile device.
  • Scroll down and select ‘Cancel my account’.

Additionally, you’re able to access Bark after canceling, until the end of your subscription. Go to ‘Account Settings’ to find out the exact period.

Criteria for Evaluating Alternatives

When looking for alternatives to Bark, it’s important to establish criteria to evaluate the numerous options available on the market. This is the criteria we used to assess the five alternatives we chose:

  • Content monitoring: Parental control software should scan virtually all kids’ online activities for potential dangers. It’s essential to make sure that texting, social media interactions, email, and web searches are constantly being monitored.
  • Screen time control: It’s crucial that the parental control app allows parents to set limits on app usage and even block internet access remotely after a certain period.
  • Location tracking: Being able to track kids’ location in real-time and knowing you’ll receive an alert when they arrive in areas you specified makes it possible to protect your kid even from a distance.
  • Potential app workarounds: It’s also essential to consider whether the app can be easily uninstalled or if there are any other workarounds that may stop the parental control app from working properly.
  • Pricing: Of course, searching for the best deal is also key when choosing any service.
  • Refunds and cancellations policy: it’s important to consider the flexibility of contract terms and cancellation conditions, as well as the existence of any trial periods and money-back guarantees.

When carrying out your own research, follow the same criteria for Bark alternatives so that you’re ready to make an informed decision according to your family’s needs.

Best 5 Bark alternatives of 2024

Mobicip
Mobicip
Editor's rating:
Reviews
  • Free version
  • Covers all major devices
  • Blocks mobile apps
  • GPS tracking
  • Deactivates for selected IP addresses
  • No live chat
  • Doesn't monitor TikTok and Twitter
Starting price: $4.99 Visit Mobicip
Qustodio
Qustodio
Editor's rating:
Reviews
  • Android and iOS apps
  • Family locator
  • Call and SMS monitoring
  • User-friendly
  • Free plan
  • Bypassable with a VPN
  • Limited customer support
Starting price: $3.99/mo Visit Qustodio
Kaspersky Safe Kids
Kaspersky Safe Kids
Editor's rating:
Reviews
  • Great customer service
  • Reasonably priced
  • On-hand expert advice
  • Supports 500 devices
  • Outdated dashboard
  • Limited browser support
  • Easy to circumvent
Starting price: $14.95/yr Visit Kaspersky
mSpy
mSpy
Editor's rating:
Reviews
  • Extensive social media coverage
  • Geofencing
  • Keylogging and screenlogging
  • Block websites
  • View photo and video files
  • Expensive
  • Security concerns
  • Encourages jailbreaking/rooting phones
Starting price: $11.66/mo Visit mSpy
Norton Family Premier
Norton Family Premier
Editor's rating:
Reviews
  • Easy installation
  • Well-designed layouts
  • Effective filtering
  • House rules for kids
  • Lack of macOS support
  • No geofencing
  • Removed Android SMS feature
Starting price: $49.99/yr Visit Norton

Which parental control software is the best Bark alternative?

It’s true that there isn’t a number one product when it comes to parental control software. The best alternative depends on what parents and legal guardians are looking for.

There are plenty of excellent parental control apps on the market. Some offer more tamper-proof features, others respect kids’ privacy more, and many have free versions that may be just the perfect fit. With so many options, at least one certainly ticks all the boxes for what you seek in parental control software.

Take some time to understand your family’s priorities, what level of kids’ privacy is important for you to respect, and your budget for keeping your kids safe from digital dangers. As a final note, take advantage of the money-back guarantees, free versions, and trials of the alternatives we detailed.

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