Bark vs KidsGuard

KidsGuard does not offer website blocking, content monitoring and alerts to dangers, or screen time management. That makes Bark the more comprehensive parental control app.

KidsGuard does not offer this. Bark's website blocking feature lets you manage any app or site on your child's device.

Bark strikes the perfect balance between monitoring your child’s phone and giving them privacy to learn about growing up with a digital device. You don’t get unfettered access to everything on their phone, but you will get alerts about potential dangers like online predators, sexting, depression, and more. This way, you can see the concerning message, but you won’t have to wade through hundreds of Fortnite memes or texts about baseball practice.

Bark is $99/year for content monitoring, screen time, web filtering, and location tracking for as many kids and devices as your family needs.

KidsGuard offers fewer features and is billed annually at $109.99.

If your parents ever looked through your pen-and-paper journal growing up or secretly listened to one of your phone calls, you know how spying can breed resentment. And while parents are responsible for their child’s safety — and phones can be extremely dangerous — there’s a happy medium between outright spying and making sure everything’s okay. Spyware programs simply encourage kids to find alternate ways to talk to their friends, which can cause problems in another way. 

Bark helps you build trust by allowing your child to learn how to safely use their phone while also giving them a digital safety net that centers you as the go-to person for help.