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Software · head to head

Kidslox vs Bark

Kidslox logo

Kidslox

Software

Simple parental controls for all devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Bark logo

Bark

Software

Keep kids safer online and in real life

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Kidslox has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Kidslox one paid account controls up to 10 devices; Bark the hardware products lock you into 24 month device payments on top of the monthly service
  • They diverge on capability: Kidslox covers App blocking, Bark covers AI-powered content monitoring.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kidslox and Bark actually diverge.

Attributes where Kidslox and Bark differ
AttributeKidsloxBark
Starting priceFree$5/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, MacWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook
Founded20132015

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 Kidslox

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

Only in Bark

  • AI-powered content monitoring
  • Social media monitoring
  • Text & email monitoring
  • Web filtering
  • Check-in alerts
  • Cyberbullying detection
  • Instagram
  • TikTok

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.

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

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

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

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

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

Kidslox

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

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 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

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

Questions people ask

Is Kidslox or Bark better?
Neither clearly leads. Kidslox 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, Kidslox or Bark?
Kidslox has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Kidslox and $5/month for Bark.
Does Kidslox or Bark run on more platforms?
Kidslox runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac. Bark runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook.
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 Kidslox best used for?
Kidslox is most often used for locking a child's phone instantly or on a bedtime schedule, blocking adult content, in-app purchases and specific apps, tracking a child's location with geofenced arrival and departure alerts. Of those, locking a child's phone instantly or on a bedtime schedule and blocking adult content, in-app purchases and specific apps are not what Bark is typically brought in for.
What can Kidslox do that Bark cannot?
Kidslox covers App blocking, Content filtering, Website blocking, Schedule management. Bark covers AI-powered content monitoring, Social media monitoring, Text & email monitoring, Web filtering. Both handle Screen time management, Location tracking, Cloud deployment.
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