Comparison

Bark vs XKBOX

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Bark

Send custom push notifications to your iPhone via an HTTP API. Supports advanced features like custom icons, grouping, and critical alerts. Offers privacy-protected, end-to-end encrypted pushes with self-deployable server options.

Highlights
  • HTTP API for push notifications
  • Custom icons and grouping
  • Continuous and critical alerts
  • End-to-end push encryption
  • Self-deployable server options
  • Privacy-protected notifications
Features
Read full description

You can send push notifications to your iPhone by simply calling an HTTP API. Bark supports many advanced iOS push features, such as custom icons, notification grouping, custom ringtones, continuous alerts, critical alerts, and encrypted pushes. Bark does not consume device battery, as its core functionality relies on system push services and push extensions, and the app itself does not need to be running. Bark ensures your privacy and security with high reliability. Bark supports self-deploying the server, which can be deployed via Docker, Serverless, or Cloudflare Worker. The bark-server supports most operating systems, and you can also run it manually. The app is compiled and uploaded through Github Action, ensuring that the version you’re using is compiled from open-source code, without any modifications by anyone (including the author). Bark supports end-to-end push encryption with a custom key, ensuring that the push content is not accessed or leaked by the Bark server or Apple’s APNs server during transmission. The notification message history saved locally by Bark is also very secure. Using the NotificationServiceExtension, the push message is only stored on the device when the push is received. Feedback email: to@day.app Privacy Policy: https://api.day.app/privacy User Agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

XKBOX

Manage your smart devices and monitor their data usage with this platform. It offers seamless interaction between your phone and various smart hardware, ensuring smooth inter-device communication and providing efficient after-sales support for a smarter lifestyle.

Highlights
  • Seamless interactive management
  • Monitor device status
  • Connect smart home devices
  • Connect smart wearables
  • Efficient after-sales service
  • Customer service access
Features
Read full description

Xkbox App — A platform designed for managing smart devices, giving you complete control over device data usage and enhancing your smart living experience! 1. Seamless Interactive Management Xkbox App enables fast and convenient interaction between your cellphone and smart hardware, allowing you to monitor device status anytime, anywhere. Whether it’s smart home devices, smart wearables, or other smart IoT gadgets, they can be effortlessly connected for smooth inter-device communication. 2. High-Quality, Efficient After-Sales Service We are dedicated to meeting user needs by providing top-notch and efficient after-sales support. If you encounter any issues during use, you can quickly access solutions through the Xkbox App’s customer service. Our professional team is committed to offering comprehensive assistance to ensure your smart devices operate at their best. Download Xkbox now and embark on a new chapter of smart living! Let us help you manage your device data effortlessly and enjoy a more convenient, efficient smart lifestyle.

Screenshots

Bark3 screens
XKBOX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Bark at 98% against XKBOX's 0%. Bark also leads on rating (4.9 vs 1.3) and ads (none vs shown). XKBOX's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Bark sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.69 per year and XKBOX sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Bark holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 1.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bark has 105 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 98% of Bark's written reviews are positive against 0% of XKBOX's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bark ships an update every 3 weeks, XKBOX fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and July 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Bark versus XKBOX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBarkXKBOX
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (105 ratings) — better1.3 (14 ratings)
Positive reviews98.3% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings105 — better14
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB138 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer丰 黄Hangzhou Kedang Technology Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

Bark

All ratings105 ratings
Positive97.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive98.3%
Neutral1.7%
Negative0.0%

XKBOX

All ratings14 ratings
Positive7.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative92.9%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Bark

Subscriptions1
  • Continuous support$2.691 Year
One-time1
  • One-time donation$2.69
5 purchases

XKBOX

One-time5
  • 300积分套餐$0.99
  • 1450积分套餐$6.99
  • 2900积分套餐$14.99
Show 2 more
  • 5800积分套餐$29.99
  • 14500积分套餐$69.99

Questions

Is Bark free?
Bark is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is XKBOX free?
XKBOX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bark or XKBOX?
Bark is rated higher. Bark averages 4.9 out of 5 from 105 ratings, while XKBOX averages 1.3 from 14 ratings.
Do Bark or XKBOX have ads?
XKBOX shows ads; Bark does not.
Which is updated more often, Bark or XKBOX?
Bark ships an update every 3 weeks, and XKBOX fortnightly. Most recently, Bark was updated on September 21, 2026 and XKBOX on July 6, 2026.

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