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DISCOVER THE BARK PHONE

Bark Phone vs iPhones for Kids: Which Is the Best Option?

Created in collaboration with parents, the Bark Phone combines Bark’s industry-leading parental control software with the sleek, stylish design of a Samsung A15. iPhones may be popular for kids, but Apple’s stringent security restrictions mean that parental controls don’t work well on them, putting your child at risk if they find workarounds to your rules.

 

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Why the Bark Phone is Better than iPhones for Kids & Teens

Save with no activation fees

The Bark Phone is $240, and your payments will be $10/month plus your selected monthly data plan fee. No hidden surprises!

Get alerts for concerning content

Bark’s advanced monitoring technology alerts parents to digital dangers in their child’s texts, emails, and social media accounts. With iPhones, kids can view inappropriate content with no alerts to parents.

iPhones don’t work well with parental control apps

The Bark Phone has parental controls built in. iPhones, on the other hand, require 3rd-party apps, that can take a lot of time and effort to install — and are still easily worked around by kids.

Approve apps & contacts

Choose what apps are off-limits to your kids and approve new phone contacts. Bark lets you manage everything your child can access on their phone. iPhone apps only let you block websites and set time limits.

Rest assured your kid can’t delete texts without permission

With the Bark Phone, you manage when and if your child can delete texts. iPhones do not let you turn off text deletion and don’t offer text message monitoring out of the box for parents.

Remotely lock the phone & set time limits

Take control of your child’s Bark Phone any time they need a break. With an iPhone, you can’t lock it at a moment’s notice and the screen time limits aren’t as reliable

Featured On:

All plans include:

  • Unlimited talk and text
  • A Bark Premium subscription for the entire family
  • Free transfer of your kid's phone number to the Bark Phone
Plans starting at
$ 29 /mo USD

+ device fee

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Which plan works for your family?

Starter plan

$29/mo

Perfect for younger kids

  • No apps, no browser, no social media
    Talk & text only
  • Advanced content monitoring
    Get alerts for potential dangers
  • Tamper-proof parental controls
    Kids can’t get around your safety settings
  • GPS-powered location tracking
    Get peace of mind when your kid is on the go
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Starter Plan Features

 

Approve or deny contacts
Help protect your kid from strangers by choosing who they can talk to.

 

Emergency contacts
You can always get in touch with your kid — even when the device is paused.

 

Prevent texts from being deleted
Choose whether or not your child can delete text messages on their phone.

 

Driving mode
Automatically pause the Bark Phone when it detects your child is in a moving vehicle.

 

Disable camera
Decide when your kid can use the built-in camera.

 

Pause the device
Set a remote lock on your child’s phone from your parent dashboard.

 

No voicemail
Worry less about scams and unwanted callers leaving questionable messages.

 

Set remote alarms
Set one-time or recurring alarms to go off on your child’s Bark Phone.

 

Easily upgrade at any time
Want more features? Log in to the app and choose another plan that fits. Plans go into effect immediately. 

Kid holding Bark Phone starter plan

Advanced plans

From $39/mo

Completely customizable for older kids

  • Advanced content monitoring
    Get alerts for potential dangers
  • Approve apps and contacts
    Choose which apps are installed and who they can talk to
  • Robust screen time and blocking
    Set time limits and block inappropriate content
  • Add or remove functions at any time
    Take away social media, web browsers, and more whenever needed
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Advanced Plans

 

Approve or deny contacts

Help protect your kid from strangers by choosing who they can talk to.

 

Emergency contacts

You can always get in touch with your kid — even when apps are blocked or the internet is paused. 

 

Prevent texts from being deleted

Choose whether or not your child can delete text messages on their phone.

 

Driving mode

Automatically pause the Bark Phone when it detects your child is in a moving vehicle.

 

Allow or block access to Google Play

Decide if your child is allowed to access the Google Play Store by simply toggling a button.

 

Approve or deny app downloads

When your child tries to download an app, you’ll get a request to approve or deny the app.

 

Set app time limits

Select time limits for all the apps on your child’s phone by category or individually.

 

Create custom schedules for apps

From school time to bedtime, decide what apps your kid can use and when.

 

Block apps & websites

Our web filter lets you block whole categories of content as well as specific sites and apps.

 

GPS-powered location tracking

Stay on top of your kid’s location with our real-time map, location alerts, and check-ins.

 

Pause the internet

Set a remote lock on your child’s phone from your parent dashboard.

 

Disable camera

Decide when your kid can use the built-in camera. 

 

Set remote alarms

Create one-time or recurring alarms on your child’s Bark Phone.

 

Add more GB of data with the tap of a button

Easily purchase more data for streaming from your parent app. 

 

Easily downgrade at any time

Want fewer features? Log in to the app and choose another plan that fits. Plans go into effect immediately. 

Kid holding Bark Phone advanced plan

Real-life Bark families. Real-life stories.

  • Dorothea S.
    February 12
  • Heather W.
    March 9
  • Prjrm M.
    January 9
  • Jessie J.
    April 5
  • Jena R.
    January 10
  • Stephanie W.
    December 20
  • Marianne H.
    March 15
  • Kimberly S.
    January 16

Explore all the features

  • Approve or deny contacts

    Help protect your kid from strangers by choosing who they can talk to.

    INCLUDED WITH:

    Approve contacts on your kid's phone Approve contacts on your kid's phone

  • Approve or deny app downloads

    When your child tries to download an app, you'll get a request to approve or deny the app.

    INCLUDED WITH:

    Approve apps on your kid's phone Approve apps on your kid's phone

  • Allow or block access to App Store

    Decide if your child is allowed to access the Google Play Store by simply toggling a button.

    INCLUDED WITH:

    Control access to the Google Play Store on your kid's phone Control access to the Google Play Store on your kid's phone

  • Encourage healthy boundaries

    Select time limits for all the apps on your child's phone by category or individually.

    INCLUDED WITH:

    Control app time limits on your kid's phone Control app time limits on your kid's phone

  • Limit distractions while they’re driving

    Automatically pause the Bark Phone when it detects your child is in a moving vehicle.

    INCLUDED WITH:

  • Prevent texts from being deleted

    Choose whether or not your child can delete text messages on their phone.

    INCLUDED WITH:

    Prevent your child from deleting texts Prevent your child from deleting texts

  • Create custom schedules for apps

    From school time to bedtime, decide what apps your kid can use and when.

    INCLUDED WITH:

    Manage screen time on your kid's devices Manage screen time on your kid's devices

  • Protect your kid from inappropriate content

    Our web filter lets you block whole categories of content as well as specific sites and apps.

    INCLUDED WITH:

    Block and filter websites on your kid's devices Block and filter websites on your kid's devices

  • Worry less when your kid is out and about

    Stay on top of your kid's location with our real-time map, location alerts, and check-ins.

    INCLUDED WITH:

    Location tracking for kids Location tracking for kids

  • Get alerts for concerning content

    Bark scans texts, social media and online content and sends you alerts for potential issues.

    INCLUDED WITH:

    Monitor your kid's devices Monitor your kid's devices

  • Make morning wake-ups a little easier

    Set one-time or recurring alarms to go off on your child's Bark Phone.

    INCLUDED WITH:

  • “The Bark Phone does something special and it does it well.”
  • “I’ve tried many popular kids’ phones and this one is the best.”
  • “I’ve been waiting for something like this.”
  • motherly logo
    “The best phone for kids to keep them safely connected.”
  • “I like that this phone can grow with the child as they mature.”

We’ve got you covered

Find out if Bark covers your service area.

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FAQs

What type of phone is the Bark Phone?

The Bark Phone for kids is a Samsung A series. We purposely designed it so that it wouldn’t be recognizable as a “kiddie” phone. No one will know it’s a kid phone unless you tell them. Bark’s powerful parental controls are all internal — there’s no Bark branding, logos, or other tell-tales that would broadcast it as a kid’s cell phone. 

It comes with all the standard features of a Samsung phone.

Regardless of whether a parent has an iPhone or an Android, they will be able to manage the Bark Phone with no issues, so don’t worry about compatibility problems.

How is a Bark Phone different from a phone with the Bark app?

Because Bark’s software is built directly into the phone, it automatically monitors texts, emails, social media, and apps. Bark also can't be deleted from the Bark Phone, which helps ensure the settings you put into this cell phone for kids will stay.

The Bark Phone also offers exclusive features that the app doesn’t, including:

  • Contact approvals
  • App install approvals
  • Remote alarms
  • Daily screen time limits
  • Completely tamper-proof settings
What does the Bark Phone come with?

Every Bark Phone comes with:

  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Bark Premium subscription for the entire family
  • USB-C charging cord
  • A data plan that fits your family’s needs (non-starter plans only)
  • Quick start guide for easy setup
What if I want to buy the Bark Phone but already have a Bark subscription?

If your family already has a Bark Premium subscription, no problem! After your first Bark Phone payment, we'll adjust your plan and add any credits due from your old subscription to your next month's Bark Phone payment.

How much does the Bark Phone cost?

The Bark Phone has no activation fee. You’ll pay $10/month for 24 months to cover the cost of the device plus your monthly wireless plan. 

Your monthly plan cost will include:

  • A Bark Premium subscription for the entire family
  • Our built-in parental controls
  • Unlimited talk & text
  • Mobile data (if you choose it)

Starter plan:

  • $29/month for unlimited talk, text, and no internet, app store, or games

Advanced plans:

  • $39/month for unlimited talk, text, and Wi-Fi only (no data)
  • $49/month for unlimited talk, text, and 4GB data
  • $59/month for unlimited talk, text, and 8GB data
  • $79/month for unlimited talk, text, and data1

1 After exceeding 35GB/month of data use, data speeds will be reduced for the remainder of the monthly billing cycle. After exceeding 50GB/month of data usage, data speeds may be reduced further and/or data connection may be turned off for the remainder of the monthly billing cycle.

Is the Bark Phone available outside the U.S.?

Right now, the Bark Phone for kids is only available for families located in the U.S.

Tell us what country you'd like to bring the Bark Phone to next.

What apps are available for the Bark Phone?

We have two options when it comes to apps on our cell phone for kids.

The starter plan is our locked-down version perfect for younger kids or teens who need more supervision. It allows for texting and calling — that’s it. No internet, no apps, no games.

Our advanced plans, on the other hand, allow your child to request any apps in the Google Play store. You can choose which ones to allow or block.

How is the Bark Phone different from other kids’ phones?

The Bark Phone stands out from other kid phones because of our advanced content monitoring that comes built-in. Our software automatically scans texts, photos, videos, apps & social media for dangers and sends you an alert if something concerning is found. 

We also made it completely customizable, because every family — and kid — is different. For younger kids, you can make the Bark Phone work essentially like a non-smartphone with our starter plan, which is talk and text only with no internet access.  

As they get older and become ready for more responsibility, you can easily upgrade to our advanced plan and add in access to apps and games. The best part? You keep the same phone!

Does the Bark Phone get software updates?

Yes! The Bark Phone is updated regularly and automatically to keep up with changes in technology and when we add new features — which happens frequently! We’re constantly in touch with actual Bark Phone parents and implement feedback that families would like to see.

What is the Bark Phone return and refund policy?

If you cancel your Bark Phone subscription more than 60 days after purchase, you'll need to pay off what remains of the $240 total cost of the phone. After that, the phone is yours to keep.

The amount you owe depends on when you cancel. 

Here are some examples:

  • If you’ve made only two payments, you’ll still owe $220 + tax.
  • If you’ve made 12 payments, you’ll owe $120 + tax.

If you’d like to remove Bark’s software and use the phone like a regular Android, our support team can help. Contact us if you have any questions!

What happens when my child goes over on data on their Bark Phone?

This is a common concern for families! With our kid-safe phones, you’ll always be able to keep an on your child’s data usage from your Bark parent app/dashboard. 

If your child reaches their allotted data limit for the month, you won’t be charged anything. Their experience on the Bark Phone will simply be reduced speeds — this is called “throttling” and is standard practice for phone carriers. 

If you’d like to upgrade your child’s data plan, you can add more GB at any time from your account, and it will go into effect quickly.

Rest assured that your account will never automatically upgrade. Your child just may experience slower speeds for streaming and surfing the web. To help reduce data usage, encourage your kid to connect to trusted Wi-Fi networks whenever possible.

If I buy the Bark Phone can I also use Bark on my child’s tablet and computer?

Absolutely! When you buy a Bark Phone, you get free access to the Bark app, which you can put on other phones, tablets, computers, and more — perfect for siblings! Adding Bark to every device in your house helps create layers of protection for your family no matter how your children get online.

If I want to upgrade from the starter plan to an advanced plan later do I need to purchase a new phone?

Nope! You keep the same phone and simply upgrade (or downgrade!) straight from the parent app. Changes will go into effect in just a few minutes.

Is the Bark Phone compatible with hearing aid technology?

FCC Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) Regulations for Wireless Devices

The FCC established requirements for devices to be compatible with hearing aids and other hearing devices. For more information, visit the FCC website.

The wireless phone devices sold by Bark have been shown to be HAC compatible for GSM, LTE, and UMTS.

HAC for Newer Technologies:

The wireless phone devices sold by Bark have been tested and rated for use with hearing aids for some of the wireless technologies used. However, there may be some newer wireless technologies used in this device that have not been tested yet for use with hearing aids. It is important to try the different features of this device thoroughly and in different locations, using your hearing aid or cochlear implant, to determine if you hear any interfering noise. Consult your service provider or the manufacturer of this device for information on hearing aid compatibility.

Can I transfer over an existing phone number to the Bark Phone?

You sure can! Bark lets you transfer an existing number from another carrier — known as "porting" — at no additional cost! Check out this help article for step-by-step instructions.

How do I contact Bark with questions?

Visit bark.us/contact to get in touch with our customer support team — they’re standing by ready to help!

The Specs

bark phone
What's Included
Device
Data cable
Quick start guide
Product Name
A15
Brand
Samsung
Phone Style
Smartphone
Operating System
Android 14
Internal Memory
128 GB
Screen Size
6.5 inches
Water Resistant
No
Phone Memory (RAM)
4 GB
Front-Facing Camera
13 MP
Rear-Facing Camera
50 MP
Processor Model
Octa core (2.2Ghz + 2.0Ghz)
Internet Connectable
Yes, but not with Starter Plan
Voice Assistant Built-in
Google Assistant
Wireless Technology
5G
Color
Blue Black
Bluetooth Enabled
Yes
Charging Interface
USB Type-C
Carrier
Data and coverage provided by Bark

Ready for a phone that’s safer right out of the box?

Designed from the ground up with child safety in mind, the Bark Phone will change the way you think about a kid’s phone.

Order now

Coming soon to a wrist near you!