Parenting & Family · head to head
Google Family Link vs Bark
Google Family Link
Parenting & Family
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: Google Family Link google documents that iPhones, iPads and computers other than Chromebooks cannot be supervised with Family Link; Bark the hardware products lock you into 24 month device payments on top of the monthly service
- They diverge on capability: Google Family Link covers App approval system, Bark covers AI-powered content monitoring.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Google Family Link and Bark actually diverge.
| Attribute | Google Family Link | Bark |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $5/month |
| Pricing model | free | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Android, Web | Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook |
| Founded | 2019 | 2015 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Parenting & Family).
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 Google Family Link
- App approval system
- Device locking
- Settings management
- Password controls
- Google Play filtering
- Account monitoring
- Google services
- Google Play
Only in Bark
- AI-powered content monitoring
- Social media monitoring
- Text & email monitoring
- Web filtering
- Check-in alerts
- Cyberbullying detection
- TikTok
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.
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
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
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Google Family Link
Free- FreeFree
- Screen time limits
- App approval
- Device locking
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
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Bark if
- You need ai-powered content monitoring.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook.
- You also want social media monitoring.
Questions people ask
- Is Google Family Link or Bark better?
- Neither clearly leads. Google Family Link starts at Free and Bark at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Google Family Link or Bark?
- Google Family Link has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Family Link and $5/month for Bark.
- Does Google Family Link or Bark run on more platforms?
- Google Family Link runs on Android, Web. Bark runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook.
- 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 Google Family Link best used for?
- Google Family Link is most often used for setting screen time limits and app approvals on a child's android device, creating and managing a google account for a child under 13, seeing which apps a child uses and where their device is. Of those, setting screen time limits and app approvals on a child's android device and creating and managing a google account for a child under 13 are not what Bark is typically brought in for.
- What can Google Family Link do that Bark cannot?
- Google Family Link covers App approval system, Device locking, Settings management, Password controls. Bark covers AI-powered content monitoring, Social media monitoring, Text & email monitoring, Web filtering. Both handle Screen time management, Location tracking, YouTube, Cloud deployment.