Best Bark Alternatives in 2026

We take a close look at key features such as screen time controls, web content filtering, GPS tracking, text message monitoring, and level access management. This comparison will help you evaluate your options and choose the solution that best fits your family’s needs.

Kidsee

Platforms: iOS, Android

Kidsee focuses on building healthy digital habits through flexible, day-specific scheduling rather than rigid blanket restrictions. The app lets you block websites by category or individual URLs, preventing access to distracting or inappropriate sites during school hours, bedtime, or anytime your child needs to stay focused. What sets Kidsee apart is its emphasis on creating healthy digital habits rather than just restriction. Parents can customize different time limits for weekdays versus weekends, recognizing that children need more flexibility during non-school days while maintaining structure when focus matters most.

Key Features:

• Day-Specific Time Limits. Set different daily screen time limits for each day of the week: stricter controls during school nights, with more flexibility on weekends and holidays.
• Instant Remote Blocking. Lock selected applications on your child’s device instantly from the parent dashboard when you need their attention during dinner, homework, or family time.
• Custom Usage Schedules. Create schedules that automatically restrict games, social networks, and entertainment services during study hours and bedtime, while keeping educational tools accessible.
• Educational Exceptions. Exclude learning programs and study tools from time limits to ensure screen restrictions don’t interfere with school-related activities.
• Real-Time GPS Location Tracking. Monitor your child’s current location and view route history throughout the day to better understand their movement patterns.
• Hourly Usage Reports. Access detailed statistics showing which programs are used each hour, helping you identify habits and peak activity times.
• Adult Content Blocking. Automatically filter 18+ websites and add custom URLs to a personalized block list for safer browsing.
• In-Device Purchase Protection. Prevent purchases within digital services to avoid accidental or unauthorized payments.
• Battery Level Monitoring. Check the device’s battery level remotely to ensure your child stays reachable when needed.
• Multi-Child Management. Manage up to 10 child devices from a single parent account, making the solution convenient for larger families.

Price: $29.99 per year or $3.99 per month (3-day free trial)

Download on the App Store

GET IT ON Google Play‍

OurPact

Platforms: iOS, Android

OurPact specializes in schedule-based automation that removes apps from your child's device during school hours, bedtime, or family time, not just blocking access but making them temporarily invisible. The platform's View feature captures real-time screenshots of your child's device activity and uses OCR technology to flag inappropriate content in categories like sexual material, profanity, violence, and substance abuse. Parents appreciate OurPact's cross-platform compatibility, managing both iOS and Android devices under one account with identical control features.

Key Features:

• Schedule-Based Rules. Automatically hide and restore selected applications using customizable schedules, completely remove distractions during school hours and bring access back after homework time.
• View Real-Time Monitoring. Capture periodic or on-demand screenshots of your child's device activity with OCR technology that detects and flags inappropriate content across five categories.
• Screen Time Allowance. Set daily time limits that your child can spend on their device, promoting balanced digital habits without constant manual intervention.
• Rules Dashboard. Review detailed information about each installed application on your child’s device, including functionality descriptions, store ratings, and age recommendations before deciding whether to allow or block access.
• Family Locator with Geofencing. Track your child's location in real-time and create GPS geofences around home, school, or other places with automatic alerts when they arrive or leave.
• Text Message Blocking. Block access to messaging apps entirely or set rules that limit when your child can send and receive text messages.
• Website Blocking. Restrict access to specific websites, including adult content, ensuring safe browsing across all applicationswith web access.
• New Installation Alerts. Receive instant notifications whenever your child installs a new application on their device, giving you the opportunity to review and block it before first use.

Website: www.ourpact.com

Price: $69.99 per year or $6.99 per month

Mobicip

Platforms: iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Chromebook, Kindle

Mobicip helps parents manage screen time, block harmful content, monitor social media, and track location across all major devices. It focuses on safety and balance, so kids stay protected while building healthier digital habits.

Key Features

• Screen Time Management. Set daily limits, specific limits, and custom schedules for school, bedtime, and family time.
• App and Website Blocking. Block distracting or inappropriate apps and filter websites by category or risk level.
• Social Media Monitoring. Monitors activity on major social platforms and alerts parents to risky or harmful behavior.
• YouTube Controls. Allow only safe videos, block unsafe content, and review watch history.
• AI-Based Web Filtering. Automatically blocks adult content, violence, and unsafe sites across browsers and apps.
• Instant Internet Pause. Turn off internet access instantly during homework, meals, or sleep.
• Location Tracking and Geofencing. View real-time location and get alerts when children enter or leave set zones.
• Activity Reports. Review clear reports on app usage, screen time, and browsing activity.
• Tamper Protection. Prevent children from uninstalling or bypassing parental controls.
• Shared Parenting Tools. Invite guardians to help manage rules and monitor activity.

Website: mobicip.com

Price:

• Lite: $2.99 per month
• Standard: $4.99 per month
• Premium: $7.99 per month

FamilyKeeper

Platforms: Android and iOS devices

FamilyKeeper is a comprehensive parental control app like Bark, powered by AI that helps parents monitor social media, set screen time limits, block harmful content, and track location in real time. It’s a good alternative to Bark for families who want active protection, instant alerts, and flexible control options across a child’s online life.

Key Features

• AI-Powered Content Monitoring. Detects risky behavior, offensive language, and age-inappropriate content across apps and websites in real time.
• Social Media Monitoring. Monitors major social media and alerts parents to potential cyberbullying or unknown contacts.
• Screen Time Scheduling. Set screen time limits and create schedules for specific apps, including bedtime and school hours.
• Real-Time Location Tracking. Track your child’s location, set safe zones, and receive alerts when they enter or leave key areas.
• App and Website Blocking. Block specific apps or harmful websites to control internet access and keep kids safe online.
• Instant Safety Alerts. Get real-time alerts for suspicious messages, online predators, or risky online activities.

Website:reasonlabs.com/platform/products/parental-control

Price:

• Individual:$12.56 per month
• Unlimited:$22.77 per month

Norton Family

Platforms: Windows, Android, iOS

Norton Family gives parents visibility into their children's digital lives through search term monitoring, video tracking, and content filtering. The platform emphasizes education over restriction—parents receive detailed activity reports and email alerts that spark conversations about safe online behavior. Norton Family works across Windows PCs and mobile devices, though it doesn't support Mac or Windows 10 in S mode. What makes it stand out is the School Time feature that creates distraction-free learning environments during remote schooling hours.

Key Features:

• Web Content Supervision. Block inappropriate websites while monitoring which sites your child visits, giving you insights into their online interests and potential risks.
• Search Term Monitoring. Review the search terms your child enters on their devices to understand what topics interest them and identify concerning searches that need discussion.
• Video Tracking. See which videos your child watches online, helping you spot age-inappropriate content before it becomes a pattern.
• Time Supervision. Set screen time limits by day of the week or schedule specific hours when your child can access their Windows PC, Android device, or iOS device.
• School Time Mode. Create an approved whitelist of educational websites accessible during school hours while blocking distracting sites that pull focus from homework.
• App Supervision. Get notified when your child downloads or installs new applications, allowing you to approve or block them before they cause issues.
• Location Supervision. Track your child's Android and iOS device location in real-time with 30-day location history and geofencing alerts when they leave approved areas.
• Check-In Feature. Let your child send their current location to you instantly with a few taps on their mobile device.

Website: norton.com

Price: $49.99 per year

Canopy

Platforms: iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Chrome OS

Canopy uses patented AI technology to filter explicit content in real-time across every website and app, not just blocking entire sites. The platform detects and removes pornographic images and videos from social media feeds like Instagram and TikTok before they appear on screen. Canopy's sexting prevention feature identifies explicit photos before they're shared and alerts parents immediately. Over 200,000 families trust Canopy's AI-powered approach that focuses on filtering harmful content while allowing access to legitimate websites and educational resources.

Key Features:

• Real-Time AI Content Filtering. Block pornographic images and videos instantly across all websites and apps, including social media platforms, without blocking entire sites or disrupting legitimate content.
• Sexting Prevention and Alerts. Detect explicit photos on your child's device camera before they're sent and receive immediate notifications when risky images are identified.
• Social Media Monitoring. Monitor your child's messages across multiple platforms and get alerts for discussions involving bullying, drugs, alcohol, or other sensitive topics.
• App and Website Blocking. Create custom lists of blocked or allowed websites and applications to personalize your child’s online experience based on your family’s values.
• Internet Downtime Scheduling. Set daily or weekly rules for device downtime during dinner, homework hours, or bedtime to help your child develop healthy screen habits.
• Removal Prevention. Stop your child from disabling or uninstalling the Shield app with anti-tampering technology that alerts you to any removal attempts.
• Location Alerts and Check-Ins. Track your child's GPS location in real-time and receive notifications when they leave specified areas like home or school.
• Accountability Partner Feature. Choose a spouse, family member, or trusted friend to support your online safety goals and hold you accountable to protection rules.

Website: canopy.us

Price:

• Solo Protects 1 device: $7.99/month
• Multiple Protects up to 5 devices: $9.99/month

Parental Control Kroha

Platforms: iOS, Android

Parental Control Kroha stands out with surveillance-oriented features not found in most parental control apps, including ambient sound recording and remote camera access. The platform monitors social media chat history across 11 popular messengers, tracks YouTube viewing habits, and provides detailed statistics onusage patterns. Kroha's one-year license covers up to five devices across both Android and iOS platforms under a single family account. Parents who need comprehensive visibility into their child's digital activities, including the ability to capture screenshots remotely and listen to surroundings, will find Kroha's extensive monitoring capabilities valuable.

Key Features:

• Sound Around Child (Android only). Remotely activate your child's device microphone to record 30-second audio clips of their surroundings, helping you verify their safety in real-time.
• Remote Screen Captures (Android only). Access your child's front or back camera remotely to take photos of their environment, providing visual confirmation of their whereabouts and activities.
• Messenger Chat History (Android only). View recent messages from 11 popular messaging apps to monitor conversations and identify potential cyberbullying or inappropriate communications.
• YouTube Monitoring and Control (Android only). See which videos your child watches, track their subscribed channels, and block age-inappropriate content or specific videos.
• Real-Time Location Tracking. Monitor your child's current location on a map and create geofences that send notifications when they enter or leave designated areas like home or school.
• App Blocker with Schedules. Block specific apps and games or set schedules that automatically restrict access during bedtime, study time, and family hours.
• Website Filtering. Block inappropriate websites and enable SafeSearch to filter explicit content from search engine results across all browsers.
• Eye Protection Mode (Android only). Adjust screen color temperature and blue light intensity to protect your child's vision, especially during evening hours.
• Call and SMS History (Android only). Review your child's call logs and text message history to understand who they're communicating with via traditional phone features.
• Usage Statistics. Access daily and weekly reports showing how much time your child spends in each app, identifying patterns of excessive device usage.

Website: parental-control.net

Price:

• 1 month: $4.99 per month
• 1 year: $1.50 per month

Kids360

Platforms: iOS, Android

Kids360 transforms screen time management into a reward system where children earn device time by completing educational tasks, physical exercises, or chores assigned by parents. The app works through two companion applications: Kids360 on the parent's device and Alli360 on the child's phone, that communicate to enforce time limits and track usage. What makes Kids360 unique is its gamified approach: instead of simply restricting access, it motivates children to develop critical thinking skills and healthy habits in exchange for extra screen time on their favorite apps.

Key Features:

• Task-Based Time Earning. Let your child complete logic puzzles, attention exercises, physical activities, or custom tasks you create to earn additional screen time on games and social media.
• Usage Limiter. Set individual time limits for distracting applications such as games, social networks, and entertainment platforms, while keeping essential communication tools for calls and messages always available.
• Usage Schedule Management. Create schedules that automatically block apps during school hours and bedtime, ensuring your child focuses on studying and gets adequate sleep.
• Detailed Statistics. Monitor which apps your child uses most frequently and for how long, helping you identify whether they're playing games during class instead of studying.
• Screen Time Transparency. Your child sees the limits you've set and receives alerts about remaining time, teaching them to manage their own device usage responsibly.
• Location Tracking with History. View your child's current location on a secure map and access their location history to understand their movement patterns throughout the day.
• Deletion Protection. Device administrator permissions prevent your child from uninstalling Alli360 without authorization, ensuring consistent monitoring and enforcement.
• Free Basic Features. View your child's screen time statistics at no cost once devices are connected; scheduling and app blocking features require a paid subscription after the trial period.

Website: kids360.app

Price: $9.99/month or $59.99/year

Qustodio

Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Kindle

Qustodio delivers cross-platform parental control that works identically whether your child uses an iPhone, Android tablet, Windows PC, or Chromebook. The app uses AI technology to scan messages and search queries, alerting you when it detects suspicious activity or harmful content. Qustodio provides both free and premium options, letting families start with basic protection and upgrade as their monitoring needs grow. What sets it apart is the centralized dashboard that shows activity from all your children's devices in one place, making it practical for families with multiple kids using different operating systems. While Bark offers monitoring primarily through alerts, Qustodio provides real-time controls and instant blocking capabilities.

Key Features:

• AI-Powered Content Alerts. Get automatic notifications when your child searches for concerning topics, receives harmful messages, or encounters suspicious browsing activity across devices.
• Automatic Screen Time Limits. Set daily time allowances that lock the device when time runs out, eliminating arguments about when screen time ends.
• Content Filtering and App Blocking. Block inappropriate websites, games, gambling sites, and adult content while restricting access to distracting apps during homework or sleep hours.
• Social Media Monitoring. Track conversations on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Line with alerts when your child receives or sends messages containing concerning content or language.
• GPS Family Locator. See where your child is right now, save important locations, and receive notifications when they arrive at school or leave home.
• Custom Screen-Free Schedules. Create routines for specific times like study hours and bedtime, switching between different rule sets as your family's schedule changes.
• YouTube Activity Tracking. Monitor which videos your child watches and ensure they're not viewing age-inappropriate content on the platform.
• Call and SMS Monitoring. View who contacts your child through calls and texts, read message content, and block unwanted numbers from reaching them.
• One-Touch Internet Pause. Instantly disable internet access when you need immediate attention for meals, family time, or homework.
• Comprehensive Activity Reports. Review browsing history, app usage, and online activity for the past month, with automated email summaries delivered daily or weekly.
• Emergency SOS Button (Android). Let your child send you instant emergency alerts when they feel unsafe or need help urgently.
• Shared Parenting Controls. Invite your co-parent or another guardian to view activity and manage rules, ensuring consistent boundaries across both households.

Website: qustodio.com

Price:

• Basic: $54.95 per year
• Complete: $99.95 per year

Net Nanny

Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS

Net Nanny is a comprehensive parental control app that uses AI-powered content filtering to block harmful content in real time—before it appears on the screen. It combines accurate web filtering, screen time management, and real-time alerts, making it a strong bark alternative for families who want proactive protection rather than passive monitoring. Unlike Bark, which focuses heavily on social media monitoring and text messages, Net Nanny emphasizes real-time content filtering and active blocking. That makes it a good alternative to Bark for parents who want to block harmful content instantly rather than receive alerts after exposure.

Key Features

• AI-Based Content Filtering. Uses real-time content analysis instead of static lists, blocking inappropriate web content the moment it is requested.
• Screen Time Management. Set screen time limits and define specific hours when internet access is allowed or paused.
• Real-Time Alerts. Sends instant alerts for searches or content related to pornography, drugs, weapons, or self-harm.
• App Monitoring and Blocking. Shows a clear list of apps your child uses and lets parents block apps when needed.
• Web Search Visibility. Provides instant reporting on web searches to help parents understand a child’s online activities.
• Location Tracking. Allows parents to view a child’s location on a family map and review location history.

Website: netnanny.com

Price:

• 1 device: $39.99 per year
• 5 devices: $54.99 per year
• 20 devices: $89.99 per year

Aura

Platforms: iOS, Android

Aura combines traditional parental control features with advanced digital wellbeing analytics that reveal patterns in your child's online behavior. The platform monitors screen time, blocks inappropriate content, and tracks social media interactions while providing science-backed insights into your child's daytime and nighttime activity. Aura's unique Safe Gaming feature monitors voice and text communication across 200 popular PC games, alerting parents to cyberbullying and online predators. The Family plan adds identity theft protection and antivirus tools, making it more than just a parental control solution.

Key Features:

• Digital Wellbeing Analytics. Track trends in your child's social interactions, sleep patterns, and online routines to identify meaningful changes in their behavior and mental health.
• Safe Gaming Monitoring. Receive real-time alerts about cyberbullying, predators, and scams detected through 24/7 voice and text monitoring in 200 popular PC games.
• Content Filtering and Site Blocking. Block specific apps and websites or activate SafeSearch to filter explicit content from Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo search results.
• Screen Time Limits and Scheduling. Set daily screen time limits and create schedules that remove digital distractions during school hours, homework time, and bedtime.
• Pause the Internet. Instantly shut off internet access on your child's device with one taphat makes it perfect for family dinners or when you need their immediate attention.
• Social Persona Insights. Understand your child's unique communication style by analyzing the volume, tone, and engagement patterns of their online interactions over time.
• Personalized Parent Recommendations. Access conversation starters and parenting tips based on your child's specific online behavior patterns and social engagement style.
• Complete Activity Reports. Review comprehensive usage reports showing which apps and websites your child accessed, when they were most active, and how their habits compare to healthy baselines.

Website: www.aura.com/parental-controls

Price

• Kids: $10 per month
• Family: $32 per month