Software · head to head
Bark vs Google Family Link
Google Family Link
Software
Google's free family device management and controls
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Google Family Link has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Bark the hardware products lock you into 24 month device payments on top of the monthly service; Google Family Link google documents that iPhones, iPads and computers other than Chromebooks cannot be supervised with Family Link
- They diverge on capability: Bark covers AI-powered content monitoring, Google Family Link covers App approval system.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Bark and Google Family Link actually diverge.
| Attribute | Bark | Google Family Link |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $5/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook | Android, Web |
| Founded | 2015 | 2019 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Bark
- AI-powered content monitoring
- Social media monitoring
- Text & email monitoring
- Web filtering
- Check-in alerts
- Cyberbullying detection
- TikTok
Only in Google Family Link
- App approval system
- Device locking
- Settings management
- Password controls
- Google Play filtering
- Account monitoring
- Google services
- Google Play
Both cover
- Screen time management
- Location tracking
- YouTube
- Cloud deployment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Bark
- Monitoring a child's texts, social media and photos for concerning contentnot Google Family Link
- Blocking websites and apps by schedulenot Google Family Link
- Location tracking for a child's phone or watchnot Google Family Link
- Screen time limits across home devicesnot Google Family Link
- A restricted phone or watch with no browser or social medianot Google Family Link
Google Family Link
- Setting screen time limits and app approvals on a child's Android devicenot Bark
- Creating and managing a Google Account for a child under 13not Bark
- Seeing which apps a child uses and where their device isnot Bark
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Bark
- The hardware products lock you into 24 month device payments on top of the monthly service
- The app costs more on iOS at $20 a month than on Android at $14, because of what Apple allows a monitoring app to do
- Sold in the United States only, with the app also available in South Africa and Australia
- Bark Home at $6 a month covers home network devices only and does not travel with a phone
Google Family Link
- Google documents that iPhones, iPads and computers other than Chromebooks cannot be supervised with Family Link
- Supervision is built around a Google Account, so activity outside Google accounts and Android devices is not covered
- Parent controlled account creation applies to children under 13 or the applicable age in the country
Pricing, plan by plan
Bark
$5/month- Bark Jr$5/month
- Screen time scheduling
- Web filtering
- Location tracking
- Bark Premium$14/month
- Everything in Bark Jr
- Content monitoring
- 30+ social platforms
Google Family Link
Free- FreeFree
- Screen time limits
- App approval
- Device locking
Which should you pick?
Choose Bark if
- You need ai-powered content monitoring.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook.
- You also want social media monitoring.
Choose Google Family Link if
- You need app approval system.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Android, Web.
- You also want device locking.
Questions people ask
- Is Bark or Google Family Link better?
- Neither clearly leads. Bark starts at $5/month and Google Family Link at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Bark or Google Family Link?
- Google Family Link has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $5/month for Bark and Free for Google Family Link.
- Does Bark or Google Family Link run on more platforms?
- Bark runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook. Google Family Link runs on Android, Web.
- Can I use Google Family Link for free?
- Yes. Google Family Link has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Bark starts at $5/month.
- What is Bark best used for?
- Bark is most often used for monitoring a child's texts, social media and photos for concerning content, blocking websites and apps by schedule, location tracking for a child's phone or watch, screen time limits across home devices. Of those, monitoring a child's texts, social media and photos for concerning content and blocking websites and apps by schedule are not what Google Family Link is typically brought in for.
- What can Bark do that Google Family Link cannot?
- Bark covers AI-powered content monitoring, Social media monitoring, Text & email monitoring, Web filtering. Google Family Link covers App approval system, Device locking, Settings management, Password controls. Both handle Screen time management, Location tracking, YouTube, Cloud deployment.