Comparison

Bark vs TextReel

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

TextReel

Features
Read full description

Bring your words to life with TextReel, a local-first creator for animated text videos and natural voiceovers. Paste or write your content and TextReel automatically turns it into editable scenes. Choose an animation, font, background, aspect ratio and narration voice, preview every detail, then export an MP4 video ready to share. CREATE VIDEOS FROM TEXT • Split long text into clear, editable scenes • Reorder scenes and fine-tune their timing • Choose 9:16, 1:1 or 16:9 for short videos, social posts and widescreen content • Create quote videos, explainers, stories and product messages DESIGN YOUR STYLE • Choose from 10 text animations and 17 system font styles • Use 10 built-in backgrounds, including colorful Pro gradients • Preview the full timeline, jump between scenes and loop a single scene • Keep animation, layout, narration and export in sync VIDEO NARRATION AND M4A VOICEOVERS • Generate narration from the actual text in every scene • Turn up to 3,000 characters into a standalone M4A audio file • Use an automatic system voice or create a custom voice from an authorized recording • Play, rename, share and manage completed audio files EXPORT AND ORGANIZE • Export H.264 MP4 video in portrait, square or landscape format • Create narrated or silent videos • Save completed videos and audio in on-device libraries • Search, filter, sort, rename, play and share your work • Save videos to Photos or continue editing after export PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your text, reference recordings, voice features and generated media are processed locally on your device. TextReel does not upload this content for processing. TextReel Pro unlocks all premium animations, fonts and backgrounds, custom voices in videos and audio, full project history, and watermark-free export. Some features may depend on your device and language. 【Auto-Renewable Subscription Terms】 — Subscription periods: TextReel Pro Monthly has a subscription period of one month. TextReel Pro Yearly has a subscription period of one year. — Subscription prices: TextReel Pro Monthly costs US$2.99 per month. TextReel Pro Yearly costs US$14.99 per year. — Payment: Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account when the purchase is confirmed. — Automatic renewal: Your subscription renews automatically unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. — Renewal: Your Apple ID account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. After successful payment, your subscription will be extended for the corresponding period. — Cancellation: You can manage your subscription or turn off auto-renewal in your Apple ID account settings. After cancellation, your membership benefits will remain available until the end of the current subscription period. — Terms of Use: https://raw.githack.com/xingtianwuganqi/file/main/textreel/terms_of_use.html — Auto-Renewal Subscription Agreement: https://raw.githack.com/xingtianwuganqi/file/main/textreel/auto_renewal_agreement.html

Screenshots

Bark3 screens
TextReel4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Bark at 15.0 against TextReel's 17.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 TextReel sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Bark versus TextReel: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBarkTextReel
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (110 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews98.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings110 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB578 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer丰 黄军 景

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Bark

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

TextReel

Subscriptions2
  • TextReel Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • TextReel Pro Yearly$14.991 Year

Questions

Is Bark free?
Bark is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TextReel free?
TextReel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Bark or TextReel have ads?
Neither Bark nor TextReel shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bark or TextReel?
Bark ships an update every 3 weeks, and TextReel every 3 weeks. Most recently, Bark was updated on October 24, 2026 and TextReel on October 23, 2026.

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