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Best Overall
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Robust parental controls to track, monitor, and limit device usage
Machine learning catches the latest slang and keywords
Screens content across 19 categories
Best for Light Protection
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Supports up to 20 devices
Easy-to-use location tracking and screen time management features
As one of the best parental control apps you can get, it's no surprise that Bark is a better option than Net Nanny.
With Bark, you'll get a wider range of features, including better conversation monitoring, geo-fencing functionality, and cyberbullying alerts. Net Nanny is also a less pleasant experience overall with an outdated user interface and no Android support at the time of writing.
We’ve broken down both services, so you can decide which of these parental control apps suits your family and needs the best.
Bark is a better parental control app than Net Nanny because it delivers a more fully-featured experience. You can rest well knowing your child is safe thanks to Bark's alerts for inappropriate or dangerous conversations on social media and text. You can only see the contents of your child's messages if it triggers an alert, which lets your child keep their privacy.
If you want to provide even more privacy, then Net Nanny delivers slightly less invasive features. It doesn't track text or emails at all, but does still provide good screen time management and location tracking.
 Our Pick |
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| Star rating | ||
| Price | $4.00–$14.00/mo | $3.33-$7.50/mo (billed annually) |
| Free trial | Yes — 7 days | |
| Max number of protected devices | Unlimited | 1 - 20 devices |
| Web filtering | ||
| Conversation monitoring | Social media, text, email | |
| Screen time management | ||
| Location tracking | ||
| Activity reports | ||
| Remote lock | ||
| Supported devices | Android phone or tablet, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Amazon Fire, Chromebook, Computer, Gaming console | Windows, macOS, iOS |
| Learn more | Get Bark | Get Net Nanny |
We put every parental control app through vigorous hands-on testing by downloading the software to our own devices. We test how the product works from both the parent's and child's perspectives, evaluating how well we're able to monitor device usage and deliberately attempting to sneak around the limitations.
By taking a fine-tooth comb through all available features and settings, we carefully compare each product using our proprietary grading rubric. The star ratings take into account price, screen time management, content filters, location tracking, monitoring, alerts, and ease of use.
To learn more about how we test, check out our full testing methodology here.
Bark pretty much offers all parental control features you could possibly ask for, including location tracking, content filtering, conversation monitoring, and screen time management. Every asset of your child's device is monitored in some way, but they can keep their privacy since the parent is only shown the content of messages when an alert is triggered.
Thanks to extra products like Bark Home and the Bark Phone, you can go even further in your parental monitoring by unlocking additional functionality and applying web filtering at the Wi-Fi level. That means any device connected to the internet, even your children's gaming consoles, would be subject to the web filtering and content management settings you set.
When we were testing Bark, we were very impressed with its extensive features, but found the experience was very draining on our phone. We were testing on an old Samsung Galaxy S10, so this may be less of a problem on newer phones, but this was the main downside we found about the product. The other downside was that we found alerts to be quite delayed, often coming in a full day after the content that triggered it was sent.
Net Nanny has a lot of the functionality a parent may be looking for, without including more intrusive options like text monitoring. If you want to make sure your kid knows their personal conversations are safe, then this may be a better option for you.
During our testing, we found the dashboard to be helpful and update quickly, which was nice. The different alerts we set up triggered immediately and we were able to filter for a variety of categories, even ones we created ourselves.
The main downside was that the website and browser page for the app is very outdated and clunky. Net Nanny could use a major overhaul and update to help bring it up to par with other apps. We also found the program made our computer very slow to use when it was installed on our Windows laptop.
Bark is a better value overall because it allows you to add an unlimited amount of devices, plus offers a seven day free trial.
Best Value |
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| Price range | $4.00–$14.00/mo | $3.33-$7.50/mo (billed annually) |
| Best value plan | Bark Premium for $14.00/mo | 5-device Family Protection Pass for $4.58/mo (billed annually) |
| Free trial | Yes — 7 days | |
| Money-back guarantee | ||
| Learn more | Get Bark | Get Net Nanny |
When it comes to the Bark app, you can either get the basic version called Bark Jr. or opt for Bark Premium for a few extra features. On top of that, you have the options to get the Bark Phone and/or Bark Home as separate monthly fees, if those more all-encompassing solutions is better for you.
Here's an overview of the offered plans.
Net Nanny offers plans based on the number of devices you’d like to cover. Maybe you have just one family computer, or you want to control phones for multiple children. Either way, Net Nanny splits out its plans so you purchase only what you need.
Bark offers a full buffet of parental control options, making it the better option if you're looking for sheer functionality.
Our Pick |
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| Website filtering | ||
| App filtering | ||
| Social media monitoring | ||
| Text message monitoring | ||
| Email monitoring | ||
| Internet search monitoring | ||
| Screen time limits | ||
| Remote lock | ||
| Cyberbullying and online predator alerts | ||
| Location tracking | ||
| Geo-fencing | ||
| Activity reports | ||
| Learn more | Get Bark | Get Net Nanny |
When looking at features and functionality, Bark definitely offers more. Not only does it monitor text messages and emails, but it also sends you alerts if the device leaves certain areas. Bark’s advanced machine learning can even scan for potential self-harm and predator behavior to keep your child safe on social media and other forms of online connection.
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You may not want all of this monitoring, however, as it could make some older kids resentful. Net Nanny may help you strike a balance, specifically with older children because it doesn’t have as much invasive monitoring. Net Nanny can give you peace of mind while also helping children create better habits with features like screen time limits and location tracking.
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Fostering a healthy environment with your kids where they feel comfortable sharing with you and also feel trusted is a huge step in creating a safe environment for your children. You’ll also have insights and controls over social media sites like Discord and TikTok, both of which can be fun for kids but can be unsafe. This will allow you to help your kids make better decisions. Make sure to talk with your child about these services, why you want to use them, and how the two of you can make the most of them together.
Bark is available on far more devices than Net Nanny, especially when you consider grabbing a Bark Home makes any device connected to the internet compatible.
Our Pick |
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| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Android | ||
| iOS | ||
| Other devices | Android tablet, iPad, iPod, Amazon Fire, Chromebook, Computer, Gaming console | |
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Customer support options | Email, guides | Guides, live chat, email |
| Learn more | Get Bark | Get Net Nanny |
Though neither app has 24/7 customer service, the customer service hours for Net Nanny are pretty limiting in particular. There’s no weekend or evening support with the live chat. Bark is better with an 18-hour support window and online guides. Parental control software has a lot of access to your child’s phone. Limited support could be a serious problem if something gets wonky, so Bark’s extended hours are definitely more desirable.
Honestly, if you want a parental control app, we don’t think there’s a more comprehensive or better one than Bark. It offers a variety of monitoring features, checks texts for potential concerns and pictures, includes geo-fencing tools, and has screen time options, to name a few things.
Net Nanny is a good product. It definitely has some downsides, like a 20-device cap and limited compatibility, but it works as it claims and allows you to monitor your child’s computers and iPhones. One of the biggest downsides is that it doesn’t monitor texts or emails. If you’re looking for app blocking, screen time limits, and geo-fencing features, this could work for you.
No, Net Nanny does not monitor text messages, emails, or anything at all on Android phones. If you’re looking for a service that monitors text messages, we suggest using Bark parental controls instead.
Overall, Bark performed better than Net Nanny in our testing, offering more features, compatibility, support hours, and monitoring capabilities. We do think Net Nanny could be a great tool for customers looking for a lighter form of support, but for anyone wanting all the bells and whistles, Bark is it.
Our Pick |
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| Value | ||
| Features | ||
| Compatibility & customer support | ||
| Learn more | Get Bark | Get Net Nanny |
Robust parental controls to track, monitor, and limit device usage
Machine learning catches the latest slang and keywords
Screens content across 19 categories
If neither of these services works for you, or you want to evaluate all of the best parental control services out there, we have suggestions. All of these services offer robust monitoring plus additional features you’re sure to find useful. Keeping your kids safe in this digital world is a top priority. This software can help you do it.
| Service | 
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| Star rating | |||
| Price | Starts at $4.16/mo (billed annually) | Starts at $8.25/mo (billed annually) | Starts at $4.58/mo (billed annually) |
| # of people covered | Up to 15 kids | Unlimited | 1 - unlimited |
| Screen time management | |||
| Content filtering | |||
| Conversation monitoring | Yes, on social media, texts, and email | ||
| Location tracking | |||
| Details | Get Norton Family | Get Aura | Get Qustodio |
Robust parental controls to track, monitor, and limit device usage
Machine learning catches the latest slang and keywords
Screens content across 19 categories
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