Why Choose Qustodio over Bark?

Putting parental control solutions to the test

With so many different options available, it can be tough to decide which online protection solution to go for. We’ve done the research for you to give you a helping hand and take some of the pressure off. Whether you’re looking for the latest features or are on a budget, we’ll provide you with the information you need to make the right choice and keep your child safe online. Today we weigh up two powerful parental control apps, Qustodio and Bark. Find out how they fared below.

Qustodio vs Bark

Cross-platform solution

A good parental control caters for different families’ needs by supporting various platforms. Whether you use a different kind of device from your child to monitor their activity, or maybe your child has several devices of their own, the more limited parental controls out there can pose problems for families. Luckily, both Qustodio and Bark work across multiple platforms, meaning you can trust them to protect your child’s Windows, Mac, Android iOS, Kindle and Chromebook devices.

Free Trial

A free trial is the perfect way for you to learn exactly what a parental control has to offer. It also lets you get a feel for it before committing. Qustodio offers parents full access to the Premium version for 3 days so you can try out all the features, while Bark provides a longer 7-day trial period. Once the free trial is over, Qustodio also offers a permanent free option, with limited features.

Price

Pricing is always a delicate area. High fees tend to put some people off. At the same time, how do you put a price on your child’s safety? Bark’s annual plan comes in at just $49, however this option does have limited features. They also offer a Premium version, which is more expensive at $99. Qustodio’s annual Premium plans start at $54.95 and protect from 5+ devices.

Google Play Ratings

Both parental controls have been well-received with satisfied customers continually giving high scores in the Play Store. That said, Qustodio is consistently rated more highly than Bark.

Apple Store Ratings

Both apps enjoy ratings from happy parents in the Apple Store, with Qustodio scoring higher than Bark.

Geolocation

We all know that kids need their independence and like to explore. Yet letting them go off on their own can be a huge worry for parents. Both Qustodio and Bark offer geolocation services, which means you can keep an eye on your child’s whereabouts and know they’re safe while they enjoy their freedom.

Geofencing

Geofencing lets you define safe areas on the map that your child can visit such as home, school and grandma’s house. If your child wanders outside of these areas, you will receive an alert to let you know. Qustodio users already enjoy this feature but it is not yet offered by Bark.

Time Limits

With the steep increase in homeschooling, kids are spending more time on their devices than ever. While you may have tried to establish healthy screen time limits at home, maintaining them is probably a whole other story! Both Qustodio and Bark allow parents to set time limits that suit their routine and stop kids from staring at the screen too long. Once the limit is reached, kids are automatically ‘locked out’ of their session, forcing them to take a break.

Call and Text Monitoring

Call and text monitoring lets you check only known or ‘safe’ contacts are messaging or calling your child. Qustodio offers this feature on Android devices. It is not currently offered by Bark.

Block Apps

Ever-changing trends mean kids are regularly hearing about different apps and possibly trying them out for themselves. While many of them are fun and maybe even educational, there is always a risk that these new apps are meant for older teens or even adults. Qustodio and Bark allow parents to decide which apps they want their children to be able to use and to block any they deem inappropriate.

Social Media Monitoring

Kids live for social media these days and while it’s certainly a great source of entertainment for them, it also exposes them to all kinds of content and, therefore, risks. As a parent, it’s important to be able to monitor their social networks to ensure content is age-appropriate. Qustodio is compatible with several popular social media platforms, while Bark covers an impressive 24 different platforms.

Activity Report & Alerts

Qustodio keeps parents up to date by sending an email outlining their child’s online activity and behavior. Parents can choose to receive this report daily or weekly. Bark doesn’t send reports but instead sends an alert any time its algorithms detect a threat.

Panic Button

Kids need to play outside and meet up with other kids their age. More often than not, they spend their time having harmless fun. However, if children find themselves in a dangerous situation and need help, Qustodio’s panic button offers them a quick way to alert a trusted parent or relative. This feature is not currently offered by Bark.

Web Filtering

Web filtering allows you to control which websites your child can access. Whether you choose to block unsafe or inappropriate websites, allow specific kinds of sites, or receive alerts when your child tries to access certain websites, Qustodio and Bark make this possible. Qustodio currently lets you filter 29 different kinds of websites, while Bark offers slightly less coverage with a total of 17 web categories.

Languages

Qustodio is the most global of the two apps and is available in 8 different languages, namely English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Chinese and Japanese. Bark is available in both English and Spanish but can currently only be used in the US.

Note: This table has been prepared on the basis of public information available as of 8 February, 2021 using information from Bark websites and product testing under similar conditions. No claims, representations or warranties, whether express or implied, are made as to the quality, reliability and performance of any of the referenced products. All third-party trademarks are property of the respective owners and Qustodio’s use of these trademarks and brand names does not indicate any sponsorship, promotion, or endorsement between Qustodio and the owners of these brands. Reference to the trademarks is merely to identify the corresponding third-party products and services and shall be considered nominative fair and legitimate use under trademark and advertising laws. For any queries, or if you believe any of the information is inaccurate, please contact info@qustodio.com

Qustodio provides the most parental control features and extensive reporting for parents who want one app that does it all, across devices and operating systems. Qustodio can also be used in combination with Google Family Link and Screen Time.

Real stories from parents

Featured in the media

Qustodio has over 10 years of experience in childrens' online safety and offers schools the most personal, dedicated support. Qustodio is the easiest tool to install and use: ideal for organizations that don't have a dedicated tech team.