The Bark Phone Starter Plan

A safer starter phone for kids with no internet, apps, or browsers — just talk, text, camera, and location tracking.

$39/month. No contract required.

Everything you need for a safer first phone

Monitoring built in

Call & text only

GPS location tracking

Contact approval

Settings designed for peace of mind

Emergency contacts
No voicemail
Manage camera
Prevent text deletion

And when you’re ready for more features, upgrading is easy

Add in apps and other platforms when it’s time — and keep your same phone.

Thousands of happy parents...

The Bark Phone is better

“10/10 would recommend the Bark Phone. Better than a Gabb because she can still group text – you just have to approve contacts. Literally not ONE of her friends would know it's a Bark unless she told them.”

Maddie L.

The monitoring is fantastic

“Get the Bark Phone. My husband and I are so pleased with the Bark Phone. It is Android and we are iPhone people but it does not matter. The monitoring is fantastic. Best thing we have found.”

–Heather T.

A good balance

“It was my own son who asked for the Bark Phone, it has given us a good balance and he likes it. Gives him some privacy, but keeps me alerted to bad situations or conversations, this opens a good dialogue.”

–Kasey D.

What’s included?

  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Samsung A series device
  • USB-C charging cable
  • A Bark Premium subscription for the entire family
  • Free transfer of your kid's phone number to the Bark Phone
  • Month-to-month with no contract
  • Free shipping
$ 39 month USD

We’ve got you covered

Bark Phone Starter Plan FAQs

What does the Bark Phone starter plan come with?
  • Unlimited talk and text: Stay connected with your child through unlimited calls and text messages, ensuring seamless communication whenever they need it.
  • No apps or games: The starter plan provides a streamlined digital landscape with no distractions or potentially inappropriate content.
  • No social media: Say goodbye to social media concerns with a plan that keeps those platforms at bay, offering peace of mind for parents.
  • No web browsers: Web browsing is completely off the table, ensuring a worry-free online experience for your child.
  • Automatic text monitoring: Bark’s advanced technology will scan conversations and alert you to potential issues. 
  • Mandatory contact approvals: You’ll give the okay to every single person your child wants to message — no exceptions. 
  • No voicemail: Voicemail is permanently disabled to maintain a controlled and focused phone experience.
  • Monitored photos and videos: You can choose whether to allow the device’s camera, and rest easy knowing that any problematic photos and videos will trigger alerts. 
  • 24/7 location tracking: Keep an eye on your child’s whereabouts no matter where they roam. 

When you upgrade to an advanced plan, all of the above features will become available.

How much does the Bark Phone cost?

The Bark Phone is free! No hefty deposit or long contract is required, and after 90 days, the phone is yours to keep. We’re confident your family will love the Bark Phone, but if you need to cancel your subscription, just return your non-damaged phone to us and you’re all set.

Our monthly subscription plans range from $39/month to $89/month.

Plans include the device, our built-in parental controls, unlimited talk & text, data (if you need it), and a Bark Premium subscription for the entire family.

Choose the plan that fits your family's needs. 

Starter plan:

  • $39/month for unlimited talk, text, and no internet, app store, or games

Advanced plans:

  • $49/month for unlimited talk, text, and Wi-Fi only (no data)
  • $59/month for unlimited talk, text, and 4GB data
  • $69/month for unlimited talk, text, and 8GB data
  • $89/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.

Can I upgrade from the Bark Phone starter plan and add apps and internet access later?

Absolutely! You can update to one of 4 other plans that include internet access at any time from your parent dashboard whenever your kid is ready for more responsibility — all while keeping the same phone!

How does Bark’s starter phone compare to other kids’ phones?

The Bark Phone starter plan comes with Bark’s advanced content monitoring so you can be sure your child is safer while texting and taking photos/videos. Our technology scans them for potential issues and sends you an alert if we find anything concerning. 

Bark also allows you to upgrade to more functionality while keeping the same phone, which saves you money and puts you in charge of what your child can access and when.

Does the starter plan include location tracking?

It sure does! You’ll be able to track your child’s location in real-time, set location alerts, and request check-ins when they’re out and about.

Can I block my kid from texting and using the camera?

If you want to designate specific periods where your child can’t access the texting app or the camera, you can do it remotely from your phone and turn them back whenever you want.

If I upgrade from the starter plan, can I still block social media and internet access?

Yes, you can still block whatever you need whenever you want — and that could include all internet access, apps, and social media.

What features do I get when I upgrade to an advanced plan?

You’ll unlock a ton of new functionality, including:

  • The ability to add any app on the Google Play Store
  • Customizable screen time schedules
  • Daily time limits
  • Web browsers with the ability to block/allow any content or URL you choose
  • Remote alarms
  • Voicemail
  • The option to turn off contact approvals
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 comes with the Bark Phone?

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

This is a common concern for families! Keep in mind that you’ll always be able to keep 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.

How do I contact Bark with questions?

Simply email our customer support team with your initial questions and they’ll get back to you promptly — many customers benefit from a one-on-one Zoom or phone call. Additionally, you can check out all of our support articles here.

What countries is the Bark Phone available in? 

Right now the Bark Phone is only available in the U.S., but we’re working on bringing it to other countries. The Bark app is currently available in the U.S., South Africa, Guam, and Australia. 

What is the Bark Phone return and refund policy?

If you cancel before 3 months, you’ll need to ship the Bark Phone back to us.

If you cancel after 3 months, the phone is yours to keep, but:

  • Voice/text/data service will be deactivated.
  • The phone number will be released if you haven’t already ported it to a new carrier.
  • Monitoring and parental controls will no longer work on the device.
  • To remove the Bark software and use it as a regular Samsung phone, you’ll need to reach out to customer support, who will guide you through how to manually remove it.

If you have further questions you can contact us for help.

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.

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

Get the only phone with Bark built in