Softwr

Parenting · head to head

Bark vs Kidslox

Bark logo

Bark

Parenting

Keep kids safer online and in real life

From
$14/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kidslox logo

Kidslox

Parenting

Simple parental controls for all devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Kidslox 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; Kidslox one paid account controls up to 10 devices
  • They diverge on capability: Bark covers AI-powered content monitoring, Kidslox covers App blocking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bark and Kidslox actually diverge.

Attributes where Bark and Kidslox differ
AttributeBarkKidslox
Starting price$14/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, ChromebookWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac
Founded20152013

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Parenting).

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
  • Instagram
  • TikTok

Only in Kidslox

  • App blocking
  • Content filtering
  • Website blocking
  • Schedule management
  • Usage reports
  • Multiple device support
  • Device manufacturers
  • Cloud services

Both cover

  • Screen time management
  • Location tracking
  • 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 Kidslox
  • Blocking websites and apps by schedulenot Kidslox
  • Location tracking for a child's phone or watchnot Kidslox
  • Screen time limits across home devicesnot Kidslox
  • A restricted phone or watch with no browser or social medianot Kidslox

Kidslox

  • Parental monitoring and screen time managementnot Bark
  • Child device managementnot Bark
  • Family safety featuresnot 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

Kidslox

  • One paid account controls up to 10 devices
  • The free trial lasts only 3 days
  • Kidslox must be installed on every device you want to control
  • Kidslox requires an internet connection to operate at all
  • The Android app requires Device Administrator, VPN, Accessibility and Location permissions to filter content, take screenshots and show location

Pricing, plan by plan

Bark

$14/month
  • Bark App$14/month
    • Parental monitoring for unlimited children and devices
    • 7-day free trial available
    • Optional Bark Sync smart charger at $6/month
  • Bark App$99/year
  • Bark Phone Service$29/month
    • Phone plan starting at $29/month
  • Bark Watch$15/month
    • Family premium subscription included

Kidslox

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Screen time limits
    • Basic app blocking
    • Content filtering
  • Premium$9.99/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Location tracking
    • Advanced filtering

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.
Bark review

Choose Kidslox if

  • You need app blocking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac.
  • You also want content filtering.
Kidslox review

Questions people ask

Is Bark or Kidslox better?
Neither clearly leads. Bark starts at $14/month and Kidslox at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bark or Kidslox?
Kidslox has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $14/month for Bark and Free for Kidslox.
Does Bark or Kidslox run on more platforms?
Bark runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook. Kidslox runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac.
Can I use Kidslox for free?
Yes. Kidslox has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Bark starts at $14/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 Kidslox is typically brought in for.
What can Bark do that Kidslox cannot?
Bark covers AI-powered content monitoring, Social media monitoring, Text & email monitoring, Web filtering. Kidslox covers App blocking, Content filtering, Website blocking, Schedule management. Both handle Screen time management, Location tracking, Cloud deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bark: What does the Bark App cost?

Bark App subscription is $14 per month or $99 per year, with a 7-day free trial. A single subscription covers unlimited children and devices.

Source
Kidslox: Does Kidslox offer a free version?

Yes, Kidslox offers free plans. A 3-day free trial is available to test Premium features.

Source
Bark: Is there a free trial for Bark?

Yes, Bark App offers a 7-day free trial before you pay.

Source
Kidslox: What is the cost of Kidslox Premium?

Specific pricing for Kidslox Premium features is not published on the website. Pricing details are available in the mobile app or by contacting Kidslox support.

Source
Bark: What additional features cost extra on Bark?

Bark Sync smart charger costs $6 per month or $49 per year as an optional add-on to the main Bark App subscription.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Bark

More on Kidslox

Keep looking

Other head to heads