Comparison

Bark vs LockMe

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

Head to head
About

Bark

This service helps families manage their children's digital lives by monitoring online content, managing screen time, and filtering websites. It alerts parents to potential issues like cyberbullying or adult content, offering peace of mind.

Highlights
  • Content monitoring for texts, email, YouTube, and social media
  • Alerts for cyberbullying, adult content, and threats
  • Screen time limits and scheduling
  • Website filtering by category or specific sites
  • Monitors 30+ apps and social media platforms
Features
Read full description

Bark provides families with all the tools they need to raise kids in the digital age. Our comprehensive service lets you monitor content, manage screen time, and filter websites so you can get peace of mind while your child is online. CONTENT MONITORING Bark monitors your child’s texts, email, YouTube, and 30+ apps and social media platforms for issues like cyberbullying, adult content, sexual predators, profanity, suicidal ideation, threats of violence, and more. Parents receive alerts only when something potentially problematic occurs online. You won’t have full access to everything on your child’s phone — just the things you might need to know about. SCREEN TIME MANAGEMENT Families can set healthy time limits and create schedules for when their children’s devices can connect to the internet (through both cell service and Wi-Fi). WEB FILTERING Our web filter lets you select which websites your child can access on their devices. You can allow or block specific sites — or even whole categories like streaming services, online gaming, sexual content, and more. BARK TESTIMONIALS • "My wife and I LOVE Bark. We've had some tough but productive conversations with our 13-year-old son. It's proving to be extremely valuable." — Josh L. • “It’s just another set of protections we as parents give our kids for the digital environment (or as my 10-year-old calls it, a “cell phone seat belt”). My oldest is a 9th grader, and while I trust her, I’ve come to realize through the alerts that some of her friends aren’t truly her friends. It’s led to some amazing conversations about choosing friends wisely and recognizing toxic people. While she wasn’t for Bark at first, she’s since said she’s grateful that I saw those messages because it reaffirmed what she was feeling but didn’t know how to verbalize without sounding sensitive.” — Bark Parent • "Bark notified me that my young daughter had unknowingly revealed her phone number to strangers on Twitter. The fact that Bark notified me was impressive and led to an informative discussion with her the same day." — Jon B. • “Since Bark alerted us to the suicidal language used in the Google doc that was being used in a chat document with a friend, we have seen both a pediatrician and a licensed counselor. We are hopeful for a positive outcome. Thanks to Bark for letting us peek into our child’s mind!” — Bark Parent • “This app is a lifesaver! It has allowed us to catch so many “red flags” in the content my kids have accessed on their devices and in their interactions with friends and other people online that I wouldn’t have ever known about otherwise. The big difference between Bark and other “Parental Control” software is that Bark allows your kids to have so much more privacy. It doesn’t show you everything they do, but sends an instant alert regarding any activity that might be concerning. Highly recommended!” — Bark Parent With Bark, you can help keep your kids safe both online and in real life. Try it out for seven days absolutely free! Our Family Online Safety Specialists are standing by to help answer any questions you may have. Email help@bark.us or visit help.bark.us to get answers and advice from the Bark Team. Terms of Use https://www.bark.us/terms

About

LockMe

Control app usage on your device or for your children with time and location-based restrictions. Automate app blocking, minimize distractions, and protect sensitive information for a balanced digital life.

Highlights
  • Time-based app restrictions
  • Location-based app blocking
  • Automated app access control
  • Minimize distractions
  • Protect sensitive apps
  • App grouping management
Features
Read full description

Take charge of your apps usage or your child's digital world with LockMe. This cutting-edge app helps you to set precise time or location-based a Block restrictions on any apps on your iOS device. Ensure a privacy of your apps and balanced lifestyle and responsible device habits effortlessly for you or your children Amazing Benefits: - Restrict access to certain apps on your own device or your child device during specific hours or locations. - Automate the restriction or blocking of apps during specific time intervals. - Block access to your personal or sensitive apps with one click on specific times or location automatically - Minimize distractions during work hours by automatically Restrict access to social media or gaming apps, - Prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information on your device or your kids device. - Adjust your apps accessibility based on your location or time of the day, ensuring certain apps are restricted or locked in specific places. - Avoid constant disturbances apps notifications and temporarily disable there notifications automatically on specific time or location 1. Smart Time Controls: App lock lets you fine-tune apps access with custom time restrictions. Tailor usage limits for different apps during school hours, work time, home, study time, and bedtime. Encourage focused activities while preventing excessive screen time effortlessly. 2. Location-Based Management: Unlock the potential of location-based controls. Designate safe zones and customize app availability accordingly. Allow only the apps you choose to be active on a certain location of youre choice, 3. Apps Groups Management: With App Lock, Group apps into financial apps, social apps, education, games, entertainment, and more. Adjust access based on app types, ensuring a balanced blend of learning and leisure. The app offers Unlimited Access to all the features for auto renew Subscription: * Subscription payments will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of your purchase and upon commencement of each renewal term. Subscription with a free trial period will automatically renew to a paid subscription. You can cancel your subscription or free trial in the iTunes settings at least 24-hours before the end of the free trial period. The cancellation will take effect the day after the last day of the current subscription period and you will be downgraded to the free service. Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/tysongillprivacypolicy Terms of use: https://sites.google.com/view/tysontermsofuse

Screenshots

Bark3 screens
LockMe4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Bark at free with in-app purchases against LockMe's subscription. Bark also leads on ratings volume (36K vs 229) and chart position (#64 vs unranked). LockMe's advantage is review sentiment (47% vs 13%) and rating (4.6 vs 4.3). On price, ads, 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 4 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and LockMe sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

LockMe holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bark has 36K ratings behind it against 229, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 13% of Bark's written reviews are positive against 47% of LockMe's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bark ships an update every 2 months, LockMe every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Bark versus LockMe: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBarkLockMe
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (36K ratings)4.6 (229 ratings) — better
Positive reviews12.5% of reviews47.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings36K — better229
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
Best chart rank#64 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.2
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB49 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperBark Technologies, Inc.Tyson Gill

Customer experience

Bark

All ratings36,182 ratings
Positive80.8%
Neutral3.3%
Negative15.9%
Written reviews599 reviews
Positive12.5%
Neutral7.5%
Negative80.0%

LockMe

All ratings229 ratings
Positive90.4%
Neutral3.9%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive47.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative52.9%

User reviews

Bark

From 36K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💯 Solid recommendation
  • 🔒 Helps keep watch over family
  • 🔒 Necessary for child safety
  • 🚀 Disturbingly good app so far
  • 🚀 Unique helpful tracker

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Very hard to navigate
  • 🐛 Can't install
  • 🐛 Annoying features
  • 🐛 Useless, don't waste money
  • 🐛 Confusion during setup

LockMe

From 229 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great for protecting kids
  • 👍 Useful for restricting apps
  • 👍 Helps with homework focus
  • 👍 Good for safeguarding children
  • 👍 App ran smoothly (one instance)

Room to improve

  • 🐛 App freezes frequently
  • 🐛 App does not lock apps
  • 🐛 Cannot access app after forgetting PIN
  • 🐛 App requires premium for full functionality
  • 🐛 Misleading promo for free lifetime premium

Bugs and requests

Bark

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Frequent disconnections and reconnections required
  • Inability to monitor certain popular apps like TikTok and Snapchat
  • Delayed alerts and notifications
  • Unexpected phone performance issues like slower speeds and battery drain

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improve compatibility with iOS devices
  • Provide cloud-based backups instead of manual device backups
  • Add password protection to prevent app uninstallation
  • Improve sensitivity settings and notification management

LockMe

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • App does not lock apps
  • App freezes during use
  • App crashes when trying to turn on Face ID
  • App is locked out after setting passcode
  • App crashes when Face ID option is turned off
Show 1 more
  • Face ID unlock not getting enabled

Requested features

2 requests
  • Option to reset PIN
  • More free functionality

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Bark

Subscriptions4
  • Bark Jr Monthly7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Bark Monthly7 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • Bark Jr Annual7 Days trial$49.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Bark Annual7 Days trial$99.991 Year
8 purchases

LockMe

Subscriptions7
  • App Lock Unlimited$7.997 Days
  • LockMe Pro$7.997 Days
  • App Lock Unlimited$9.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • LockMe Pro$12.991 Month
  • App Lock Unlimited$24.991 Year
  • Lock Unlimited Apps3 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • LockMe Pro3 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • App Lock Unlimited$79.99

Questions

Is Bark free?
Bark is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is LockMe free?
LockMe is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bark or LockMe?
LockMe is rated higher. Bark averages 4.3 out of 5 from 36K ratings, while LockMe averages 4.6 from 229 ratings.
Do Bark or LockMe have ads?
Neither Bark nor LockMe shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bark or LockMe?
Bark ships an update every 2 months, and LockMe every 3 weeks. Most recently, Bark was updated on November 2, 2026 and LockMe on October 30, 2026.

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