1. Bark
" Best for social media "
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Number of devicesUp to 20
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GeofencingNo
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Social media monitoringYes
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Superb alert system
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Unique algorithm
Things we liked / disliked:
- Deep monitoring
- Less time-consuming
- Compatible with many devices
- Expensive premium plan
Things we liked / disliked:
- Deep monitoring
- Less time-consuming
- Compatible with many devices
- Expensive premium plan
-
Number of devicesUp to 20
-
GeofencingNo
-
Social media monitoringYes
-
Superb alert system
-
Unique algorithm
Bark is the first of our picks on this list of the best parental control software. Just like a guard dog barks when danger or suspicion approaches, Bark gives off a warning when your child is at risk online. If you have no interest in being a helicopter parent but still want to keep your child safe online, Bark is a great option. It’s not overly intrusive; it simply gives you a warning when something’s not right, which could prompt you to talk to your child or perhaps take more serious action, depending on the situation. It’s this subtlety that makes Bark arguably the best parental control software for alerts.
It’s relatively simple to get started with Bark. The installation phase may be slightly tricky, but the site’s step-by-step guidance will help you get it up and running. Once you do, you’ll find that Bark puts a stronger emphasis on sending you alerts based on your child’s usage and perceived threats. The team at Bark stresses that parental control software should be transparent, so the website gives you an abundance of information on how to discuss this with your child. You can really tell that this app was designed with the help of psychologists.
Bark is our pick as the best parental control software for social media. It covers 24 social media platforms and its algorithm scans messages, only alerting you when there’s an issue at hand.
There are three tiers of alerts for you to choose from: relaxed, moderate, and strict. The strict alert settings may become tiresome quickly, with the algorithm warning you of things that aren’t really issues at all. If you don’t want to be too intrusive on your child’s activities but are still concerned for their welfare, then Bark’s relaxed alert settings only warn you of serious issues.
Bark is one of the higher-priced options on the market, but you do get some of the best software for parental control in return. There are two packages available; Bark Jr – which usually costs $49 per year but at the time of writing this review was available free for a lifetime – and Bark Premium for $99 per year.
Unlike alternative software, Bark also offers monthly subscriptions, although this raises the price significantly. A seven-day free trial is also available for both packages so you can put them to the test.
Bark Jr is aimed at younger children and offers screen time management, web filtering, and location check-in. If you want a further overview of your child’s activities, then the Premium package offers you the best parental control computer software. It gives you advanced monitoring alerts for issues such as cyberbullying that could be a direct threat to your child, as well as an in-depth analysis of the websites and applications they’ve been using. A subscription to Bark allows you to implement its software across unlimited devices for an unlimited number of children, which is a green light for us.