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Best for Comprehensive Monitoring
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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 Web Filtering for Android Users
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Excels at app blocking and content filtering across 47 categories
Offers age-specific restriction levels to enhance safety and unlimited device connections
Our testing determined that Bark is the better parental control service compared to Norton Family. Bark is ideal for prioritizing social media monitoring and alerts on emails, text messages, and social media apps. Even though Bark wins, both offer unique features to match different parental concerns, from managing screen time to tracking a child's location. Norton Family is better for families seeking robust web content filtering for Android devices.
Discover the best parental control apps tailored to protect your family online. Below, we delve deeper into the advantages of Bark and Norton Family with a detailed side-by-side comparison.
In the quest for the best parental control app, families often compare Bark and Norton Family. Bark is celebrated for its social media monitoring and alerts for emails, texts, and social media apps, making it a powerful tool for safeguarding children online. Norton Family, recognized for its robust web content filtering on Android devices, provides a solid foundation for managing screen time effectively.
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| Star rating | ||
| Price | $4.00–$14.00/mo | $4.16-$24.99/mo (billed annually) |
| Free version | ||
| Free trial | Yes — 7 days | Yes — 30 days |
| Max number of protected devices | Unlimited | 15 children |
| Web filtering | ||
| Conversation monitoring | Social media, text message, and email monitoring | |
| 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, Android, and iOS |
| Learn more | Get Bark | Get Norton Family |
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 has various plans to fit a range of budgets, making it the winner of this section. However, Norton Family does offer a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Best Value |
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| Price range | $4.00–$14.00/mo | $4.16-$24.99/mo (billed annually) |
| Best value plan | Bark Premium for $14.00/mo | Norton Family for $49.99/yr |
| Free trial | Yes — 7 days | Yes — 30 days |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 60 days | |
| Learn more | Get Bark | Get Norton Family |
Bark tailors its offerings to fit various budgets and monitoring needs for your child's online activity. It invites new users to test its features with a 7-day free trial, though signing up requires a credit card. Bark offers both annual and monthly subscriptions, with fees kicking in if not canceled before the trial's end. Below is an overview of Bark's plans, including their starting prices and key features:
Each of Bark’s plans is compatible with Google Family Link, one of the best free parental control apps for online safety. While Bark Phone is tailored for Android phones, it’s also compatible with iOS devices. For iOS users, look at our guide on setting up parental controls on iOS devices.
Norton Family customizes its online safety measures based on the unique needs of minors, especially young children, setting age-appropriate limits. This approach allows for scrutiny of websites and apps. Norton Family also provides location tracking and remote locking features. With the Norton Family plan, parents can explore a 30-day free trial that requires a credit card for registration, accompanied by a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Bark offers better monitoring features, as it can monitor your child's social media, text messages, and emails.
Our Pick |
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| Website filtering | Yes — 18 categories, including sexual content, online gaming, streaming services, ecommerce, weapons, AI chatbots & tools, illegal, and more. | Yes — 47 categories, including mature content, social networking, hate, crime, cyberbullying, tobacco, alcohol, and more. |
| App filtering | Yes — YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Discord, Spotify, among others. | Yes — YouTube, Google, Facebook, Netflix, TikTok, Telegram, and more. *This feature is not available in the iOS app. |
| Social media monitoring | Yes — Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Spotify, and Twitter. | Yes, limited monitoring for Android — Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and more. |
| 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 Norton Family |
In comparing Bark vs. Norton Family for the best parental control app, each platform shines in specific areas, catering to diverse parental concerns regarding their child's online activity. Bark is the premier choice for social media monitoring and safeguarding children from online risks. Its strengths lie in comprehensive monitoring of text messages, emails, and social media platforms, making it a standout among the best parental control apps for those prioritizing alert systems for cyberbullying, substance use, and mental health indicators.
Bark offers comprehensive monitoring for risks like anxiety, bullying, depression, and more. /images/2024/03/11/bark_monitoringsensitivity.png)
Bark’s categorized alerts. In this example, alerts are provided for the Spotify and Gmail apps. By clicking on Spotify alerts, you can view the song and lyrics that have been flagged for particular content. For Gmail alerts, Bark will display the flagged email content while displaying the sender’s email. /images/2024/03/11/bark_alerts001.png)
Norton Family, on the other hand, excels as the best parental control software for web filtering and app blocking, offering unparalleled protection across 47 content categories. Its age-specific restrictions and location tracking features position it as a top parental control app for Android devices and parents seeking screen time management.
This image displays an overview of web categories that Norton Family blocks. Restriction levels, ranging from very high to low, are tailored to different age groups under 18. Custom tailoring is also offered. /images/2024/03/11/nortonfamily_defaultwebsiteblocks.png)
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Both Bark and Norton Family provide essential parental controls, including location tracking and screen time limits, essential for managing device usage and ensuring a child’s online safety. However, Norton Family stands out for Android users with its detailed app blocking and web content filtering. At the same time, Bark leads in social media monitoring and alert capabilities, setting a high standard for parental control apps.
For parents with children, we encourage you to explore our seven safety tips on how to stay safe on social media.
Bark offers more compatibility with various devices, making it a good fit for families. However, Norton provides 24/7 customer support.
Our Pick |
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| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Android | ||
| iOS | ||
| Browser extensions | Yes — Chrome, Microsoft Edge | Yes — Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge |
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Customer support options | Direct messaging within the app; helpful videos, quizzes, and blogs are also offered. | 24/7 live chat support |
| Learn more | Get Bark | Get Norton Family |
When comparing the compatibility and customer support of Bark and Norton Family, both services offer robust solutions tailored to safeguarding children online. Yet, they cater to different user needs and device ecosystems. Bark's compatibility stretches across many devices, including iPhones, iPads, iPods, Android phones and tablets, Amazon Fire devices, Chromebooks, computers/laptops, and even gaming consoles. This extensive support ensures that Bark can provide monitoring and protection no matter what device your child uses. Norton Family, while offering solid support for Windows, Android, and iOS, faces limitations on iOS devices, potentially affecting the user experience for Apple device users.
Norton Family activity summary dashboard with limited iOS compatibility /images/2024/03/09/norton_family_dashboard.png)
Both platforms offer tailored customer support options, with Norton Family standing out for its 24/7 live chat support, a valuable resource for immediate assistance. Bark, while lacking round-the-clock live support, facilitates direct messaging within the app for user convenience. Each service's interface is designed with user-friendliness in mind. However, Bark’s broad device compatibility, paired with its intuitive design, slightly tips the scale in its favor for a more seamless user experience across diverse digital environments.
While Bark's interface is both user-friendly and visually appealing with its vibrant design, it differs from Norton Family's centralized control panel. To access various features in Bark, parents need to navigate and select each parental control app feature (e.g., monitoring or screen time) individually for detailed views. /images/2024/03/11/bark_dashboard.png)
Considering these factors, Bark's expansive device compatibility and user-friendly interface make it a highly versatile choice for parents managing a range of technology in their household. Norton Family's dedicated 24/7 customer support is commendable, but its limited functionality on iOS devices might be a consideration for families heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem.
Norton Family conveniently centralizes its parental control management features in the dashboard. However, it does not support app filtering for iOS devices. /images/2024/03/11/nortonfamily_dashboard.png)
The best parental control app varies by need, with Bark leading in social media monitoring and Norton Family in web filtering.
The best monitoring app depends on your priorities, such as comprehensive monitoring, web filtering, or screen time management. Bark, Norton Family, Net Nanny, and Qustodio are top contenders, each with its own strengths.
Norton Family focuses on web filtering and screen time management and does not offer text message monitoring as part of its core features, compared to other parental control software like Bark.
Bark takes the lead for parents seeking extensive insight into their children's digital lives. It tracks social media, texts, and emails to guard against cyber threats and mental health issues. It supports a wide range of devices, making it versatile for comprehensive monitoring.
On the flip side, Norton Family specializes in web and app blocking with age-specific controls, ideal for those focusing on content restrictions. While it offers robust support, its limited functionality on iOS devices might be a deal-breaker for some.
Choosing between Bark and Norton Family depends on your primary concern: Bark for detailed monitoring across various platforms or Norton Family for its strong filtering capabilities, particularly on Android and Windows. Both apps excel in their domains, catering to different aspects of parental control.
Our Pick |
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| Value | ||
| Features | ||
| Compatibility and customer support | ||
| Learn more | Get Bark | Get Norton Family |
Robust parental controls to track, monitor, and limit device usage
Machine learning catches the latest slang and keywords
Screens content across 19 categories
Exploring alternatives to Bark and Norton Family can help parents find the perfect fit for their family's online safety needs. Below are the top contenders in the parental control software market, each offering unique features and benefits to enhance your child’s digital well-being and security.
With our guides, you can discover more tips on child online safety. Learn how to make TikTok and Discord safer for kids and explore the impact of social media on children.
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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