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Best Overall
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Machine learning catches the latest slang and keywords
Screens content across 19 categories
Best for Light Protection
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Supports up to 20 devices
Easy-to-use Location Tracking and Screen Time Management features
Depending on the level of monitoring you want, Bark or Net Nanny may be perfect for you and your family. Bark has comprehensive controls that can monitor and alert you to all forms of data, including texts and emails, transmitted through your kids’ devices. Net Nanny blocks apps, monitors the internet, and provides valuable information that may help you open a dialogue with your child. We’ve broken down both services, so you can decide which one suits your family and needs the best.
Parental control apps work by helping parents monitor their children’s online activity, set screen time limits, and restrict inappropriate online content. Being a digital kid is difficult, especially with the mental health toll social media and other online communication can take on them. Bark monitors not just web pages and apps but also texts and emails for rounded protection. Net Nanny delivers slightly less invasive features that may leave your older kids and teens feeling seen and heard and able to make their own online decisions with your guidance.
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| Starting price | $5.00/mo | $3.33/mo (billed annually) |
| Free version | ||
| Max number of protected devices | Unlimited | Up to 20 |
| Web filtering | ||
| Screen time limits | ||
| Location tracking | ||
| Activity reports | ||
| Learn more | Get Bark | Get Net Nanny |
Best Value |
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| Price range | $5.00–$39.00/mo | $3.33-$7.50/mo (billed annually) |
| Best value plan | Bark Premium for $14.00/mo | 5-device Family Protection Pass for $4.58/mo (billed annually) |
| Learn more | Get Bark | Get Net Nanny |
Many software companies have tiers of service, with features increasing as the price point increases. Bark, on the other hand, offers a variety of products meant to meet different needs. Whether you have a child getting their first phone or want to monitor all the internet devices in your home, Bark has something customized for that need. Below is a breakdown of all Bark’s products.
Net Nanny offers plans based on the number of devices you’d like to cover. Maybe you have just one family computer, or you want to control phones for multiple children. Either way, Net Nanny splits out its plans so you purchase only what you need.
Our Pick |
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| Website filtering | ||
| App filtering | ||
| Social media monitoring | ||
| Text message monitoring | ||
| Email monitoring | ||
| Internet search monitoring | ||
| Screen time limits | ||
| Remote lock | ||
| Cyberbullying and online predator alerts | ||
| Location tracking | ||
| Geo-fencing | ||
| Activity reports | ||
| Learn more | Get Bark | Get Net Nanny |
When looking at features and functionality, Bark definitely offers more. Not only does it monitor text messages and emails, but it also allows you to remotely lock your child’s device if needed. Bark’s advanced machine learning can even scan for potential self-harm and predator behavior to keep your child safe on social media and other forms of online connection.
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You may not want all of this monitoring, however, as it’s been shown to make kids resentful. Net Nanny may help you strike a balance, specifically with older children because it doesn’t have as much invasive monitoring. Net Nanny can give you peace of mind while also helping children create better habits with features like screen time limits and location tracking.
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Fostering a healthy environment with your kids where they feel comfortable sharing with you and also feel trusted is a huge step in creating a safe environment for your children. You’ll also have insights and controls over social media sites like Discord and TikTok, both of which can be fun for kids but can be unsafe. This will allow you to help your kids make better decisions. Make sure to talk with your child about these services, why you want to use them, and how the two of you can make the most of them together.
When you use parental control software, you give out a lot of information about yourself and your children. It’s important to know that the software protects not only your child but also your data from being stolen. Both Bark and Net Nanny collect and share data, but Bark is the only one that allows for two-factor authentication (2FA).
Our Pick |
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| Two-factor authentication | ||
| Collects data | ||
| Shares data with third parties | ||
| Learn more | Get Bark | Get Net Nanny |
We were surprised that Net Nanny doesn’t offer 2FA. Having a second form of authentication, apart from login credentials, makes your account safer overall. We hope they implement this in the future.
Our Pick |
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| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Android | ||
| iOS | ||
| Browser extensions | Yes — Chrome and Microsoft Edge | |
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Customer support options | Live chat 8 am - 2 am EST, online guides | Live chat M-F 10 am - 7 pm EST, email |
| Learn more | Get Bark | Get Net Nanny |
We found both Bark and Net Nanny to have user-friendly portals and dashboards. It was easy to toggle between children and set up individual profiles for each one. Both services worked as advertised. Bark, however, offered more compatibility.
The customer service hours for Net Nanny are pretty limiting. There’s no weekend or evening support with the live chat. Bark is better with an 18-hour support window and online guides. Parental control software has a lot of access to your child’s phone. Limited support could be a serious problem if something gets wonky, so Bark’s extended hours are definitely more desirable.
Honestly, if you want a parental control app, we don’t think there’s a more comprehensive or better one than Bark. It offers a variety of monitoring features, checks texts for potential concerns and pictures, includes geo-fencing tools, and has screen time options, to name a few things.
We feel that Bark is the best overall parental control app. It offers a variety of products and features that cover almost anything a parent would want to monitor. It’s intuitive and uses advanced machine learning to monitor your child’s phone — and it’s just good software. It’s built well and works the way it’s supposed to without hassle.
Net Nanny is a good product. It definitely has some downsides, like a 20-device cap and limited compatibility, but it works as it claims and allows you to monitor your child’s computers and iPhones. One of the biggest downsides is that it doesn’t monitor texts or emails. If you’re looking for app blocking, screen time limits, and geo-fencing features, this could work for you.
Bark is one of the few parental control apps that monitors your child’s text messages and emails. It can also cover all the devices in your home with a device that works with your router. If you don’t want to install software, Bark even offers a Samsung phone for your child with its software preinstalled and includes a subscription for the entire family with the purchase. Overall, we feel this is the best service for monitoring your child’s phone.
No, Net Nanny does not monitor text messages, emails, or anything at all on Android phones. If you’re looking for a service that monitors text messages, we suggest using Bark parental controls instead.
Overall, Bark performed better than Net Nanny, offering more features, compatibility, support hours, and monitoring capabilities. We do think Net Nanny could be a great tool for customers looking for a lighter form of support, but for anyone wanting all the bells and whistles, Bark is it.
If neither of these services works for you, or you want to evaluate all of the best parental control services out there, we have suggestions. All of these services offer robust monitoring plus additional features you’re sure to find useful. Keeping your kids safe in this digital world is a top priority. This software can help you do it.
Machine learning catches the latest slang and keywords
Screens content across 19 categories
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