# Bark Kids vs Upper Decky

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Upper Decky at 100% against Bark Kids's 13%. Upper Decky also leads on rating (5.0 vs 1.3). Bark Kids's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Upper Decky sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Bark Kids asks for nothing beyond the download.

Upper Decky holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bark Kids has 9.4K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 13% of Bark Kids's written reviews are positive against 100% of Upper Decky's.

Bark Kids ships an update every 9 days, Upper Decky every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bark Kids | Upper Decky |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.3 (9.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bark-kids/id1500629600/reviews) | **[5.0 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upper-decky/id6754811070/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **9.4K** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | 12.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 11 days |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 68 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Bark Technologies, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1164495252) | [Matthew Howell](https://appshunter.io/developer/1850234852) |

## What reviewers say

### Bark Kids

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bark-kids/id1500629600)

This app helps parents manage their child's device usage and online safety. It allows for screen time management, web filtering, and real-time location tracking. Children can also connect their accounts for enhanced privacy.

**Highlights:** Screen time management, Web filtering, GPS location tracking, Check-ins for arrival confirmation, Personal account connections, Device usage monitoring

**Features:** Safari Extension

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helps keep kids safe
- 🚀 Effective at monitoring online activity
- 🔒 Provides parental control and oversight

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Excessive invasion of privacy
- 🤖 Overly sensitive alerts and false positives
- 🔌 Negatively impacts device performance and connectivity
- 💔 Damages trust and relationship with parents
- 😞 Restricts teen freedom and independence

**Reported bugs**

- Persistent VPN issues causing internet connectivity problems
- Incompatibility with certain apps and device functionality

**Requested features**

- More customizable alert settings
- Improved filtering and classification of content
- Better integration with family devices and accounts
- Gradual relaxation of restrictions as child matures


### Upper Decky

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upper-decky/id6754811070)

This app helps you monitor and manage your nicotine pouch consumption. It offers tools to track usage, set reduction goals with AI coaching, and monitor costs. Social features and home screen widgets enhance the experience.

**Highlights:** Log pouch usage with one tap, Daily, weekly, monthly trend charts, Personalized reduction goals, AI Coach for motivation and tips, Product catalog with favorites, Cost tracking and savings monitoring, Home screen widgets for quick access, Social features with privacy controls

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bark Kids free?

Bark Kids is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Upper Decky free?

Upper Decky is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Bark Kids or Upper Decky?

Upper Decky is rated higher. Bark Kids averages 1.3 out of 5 from 9.4K ratings, while Upper Decky averages 5.0 from 13 ratings.

### Do Bark Kids or Upper Decky have ads?

Upper Decky shows ads; Bark Kids does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bark Kids or Upper Decky?

Bark Kids ships an update every 9 days, and Upper Decky every 11 days. Most recently, Bark Kids was updated on October 20, 2026 and Upper Decky on October 4, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*