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Software · head to head

Norton Family vs Bark

Norton Family logo

Norton Family

Software

Comprehensive parental control from Norton Security

From
$49.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Bark logo

Bark

Software

Keep kids safer online and in real life

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Norton Family norton Family can only be installed on a child's Windows PC, iOS or Android device, with no macOS support; Bark the hardware products lock you into 24 month device payments on top of the monthly service
  • They diverge on capability: Norton Family covers Antivirus protection, Bark covers AI-powered content monitoring.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Norton Family and Bark actually diverge.

Attributes where Norton Family and Bark differ
AttributeNorton FamilyBark
Starting price$49.99/year$5/month
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, MacWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook
Founded19912015

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 Norton Family

  • Antivirus protection
  • Web monitoring
  • App blocking
  • Activity reports
  • Custom alerts
  • Norton antivirus
  • Device manufacturers
  • Military-grade encryption

Only in Bark

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

Both cover

  • Screen time management
  • Location tracking
  • Social media monitoring
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Norton Family

  • Blocking unsuitable websites and reporting which sites a child visitsnot Bark
  • Scheduling screen time limits and a School Time focus modenot Bark
  • Tracking a child's device location with arrival and departure alertsnot Bark

Bark

  • Monitoring a child's texts, social media and photos for concerning contentnot Norton Family
  • Blocking websites and apps by schedulenot Norton Family
  • Location tracking for a child's phone or watchnot Norton Family
  • Screen time limits across home devicesnot Norton Family
  • A restricted phone or watch with no browser or social medianot Norton Family

Where each one falls short

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

Norton Family

  • Norton Family can only be installed on a child's Windows PC, iOS or Android device, with no macOS support
  • Windows 10 in S mode is explicitly excluded
  • Not all features are available on all supported platforms
  • Location Supervision is not available in all countries and must be activated before use
  • Video Supervision covers only videos watched on YouTube.com and does not track YouTube videos embedded in other sites or blogs
  • Mobile App Supervision shows and controls apps only on Android devices
  • The Android app relies on the AccessibilityService API to see websites viewed and to stop the child removing permissions
  • Features require the child's device to have an internet or data plan and to be turned on

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

Norton Family

$49.99/year
  • Norton 360 Deluxe$49.99/year
    • Antivirus protection
    • Parental controls
    • Screen time limits
  • Norton 360 Premium$99.99/year
    • Everything in Deluxe
    • Location tracking
    • Advanced monitoring

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 Norton Family if

  • You need antivirus protection.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac.
  • You also want web monitoring.
Norton Family review

Choose Bark if

  • You need ai-powered content monitoring.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook.
  • You also want text & email monitoring.
Bark review

Questions people ask

Is Norton Family or Bark better?
Neither clearly leads. Norton Family starts at $49.99/year and Bark at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Norton Family or Bark?
Norton Family starts at $49.99/year and Bark at $5/month.
Does Norton Family or Bark run on more platforms?
Norton Family runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac. Bark runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook.
What is Norton Family best used for?
Norton Family is most often used for blocking unsuitable websites and reporting which sites a child visits, scheduling screen time limits and a school time focus mode, tracking a child's device location with arrival and departure alerts. Of those, blocking unsuitable websites and reporting which sites a child visits and scheduling screen time limits and a school time focus mode are not what Bark is typically brought in for.
What can Norton Family do that Bark cannot?
Norton Family covers Antivirus protection, Web monitoring, App blocking, Activity reports. Bark covers AI-powered content monitoring, Text & email monitoring, Web filtering, Check-in alerts. Both handle Screen time management, Location tracking, Social media monitoring, Cloud deployment.
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