If you've ever handed your child a phone and felt that knot in your stomach — wondering what they'll encounter online — Bark was built for exactly that moment. Founded in 2015 by CEO Brian Bason, a dad of two, Bark has grown into one of the most comprehensive parental control platforms available, now covering over 7.3 million children across the U.S., South Africa, and Australia.^1
Bark uses advanced AI to monitor your child's texts, emails, YouTube activity, and 30+ social media apps for concerning behavior — cyberbullying, adult content, online predators, suicidal ideation, and more — across 29 alert categories. Rather than showing parents every message, Bark only sends alerts when something potentially harmful is detected, preserving your child's sense of privacy while keeping you informed.^2 Beyond monitoring, Bark offers screen time management with custom schedules, web and app filtering, and GPS location tracking with check-ins.^3
What sets Bark apart is its full ecosystem of family safety products. The Bark Phone and Bark Phone Pro are Samsung devices with monitoring and tamper-proof controls built in from day one. The Bark Watch gives younger kids (ages 5–9) GPS tracking and monitored messaging without a browser, games, or social media. And Bark Home is a small device that connects to your Wi-Fi router to manage screen time and filter content across every connected device in your house — smart TVs, gaming consoles, and all.^1
Bark also gives back in a powerful way. After the tragic Parkland school shooting, the company offered its monitoring technology to all K–12 schools in the U.S. at no cost. Today, Bark for Schools is trusted by more than 3,400 districts to help protect students from digital dangers.^4 Bark partners with the CDC, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and other organizations dedicated to child safety.^4
Why Parents Love It"Bark potentially saved my daughter's life… if you are contemplating this… don't! It alerted me to more than I ever would have known. I can't even repay you for what you have given me." — Lauren C.^1
"Bark is the best decision my husband and I made. We have a 15-year-old and although that may sound a bit old for monitoring, it alerts us on potentially dangerous situations and holds her accountable for how she conducts herself online." — Jena R.^1
"I got a suicide alert and what I read broke my heart. A friend's mother had attempted suicide and the friend was sharing with my child. I had time to process how I wanted to approach this subject… and we had a great talk." — App Store Review^2
Notable- Featured on CNN, Forbes, The New York Times, Good Morning America, BBC, TechCrunch, and more^1
- Celebrated its 10th anniversary in July 2025 with 100+ employees across every U.S. time zone^5
- Bark's 2025 Annual Report analyzed a record 11.1 billion data points, revealing gaps in big tech's child safety protections^6
- Available in English, Spanish, and Afrikaans^1
- Widely recommended by churches and Christian parenting resources as a tool for protecting kids online^7
Platforms: iOS, Android, Chromebook, Windows, Mac, Amazon Fire Pricing: Subscription (monthly and annual options) — 7-day free trial
