Software · head to head
Bark vs Kidslox
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.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Bark and Kidslox actually diverge.
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 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
- Locking a child's phone instantly or on a bedtime schedulenot Bark
- Blocking adult content, in-app purchases and specific appsnot Bark
- Tracking a child's location with geofenced arrival and departure alertsnot 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
$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
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.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Bark or Kidslox better?
- Neither clearly leads. Bark starts at $5/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 $5/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 $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 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.