Bark vs Cocospy
Learn how the Bark Premium app stacks up against Cocospy, a spyware app.
Compare the Features
Alerts are sent for worrisome content in over 45 different categories
"Stealth mode" allows you to view some content on your child's device, but you do not receive alerts about issues like these
Set custom rules for school time, bedtime, and free time, plus create different schedules for any day of the week
Cocospy does not currently have a feature to allow you to manage screen time
Check your child’s location in real time on a map
Receive location alerts when child arrives or leaves pre-set locations
Get your child’s exact location with check-ins
View GPS and Wi-Fi-based locations
See location entry and exit times
Read addresses and geographical coordinates
Set up geofences and receive alerts when the target enters the location
Track a phone using the SIM card (network tracking) and receive alerts if the SIM card is changed
Block specific websites and apps as well as 19 categories, including adult content, gaming, and streaming sites
Cocospy does not appear to be able to block websites or apps from a child's device
If you purchase a Bark Phone, Bark Premium comes built in and is included in the monthly subscription — plans start at $39/month
$14/month or $99/year for content monitoring, screen time, web filtering, and location tracking for as many kids and devices as your family needs
Prices range from $9.99/month to $399.99/month for a limited number of devices
Bark only alerts you to potential issues so you can save time and help protect your child while also building trust
Cocospy states that they allow parents to “surveil remotely, without being detected”
With Bark, you can:
Monitor content
Get alerts for issues like bullying, predators, sexual content, and more.
Manage screen time
Create custom daily screen time schedules for your child’s device.
Block websites
Block access to specific websites or even whole categories.
Track location
Stay on top of your child’s location with our real-time map, location alerts, and check-ins.
Pricing & Details
- Monitor texts, email, YouTube, and 30+ apps and platforms
- Monitor web searches and saved photos & videos
- Receive parental monitoring alerts for issues like cyberbullying, online predators, suicidal ideation, and more
- Get insights into your child’s digital activities
- Learn how to address issues with child-psychologist advice and tips
- Manage screen time
- Block website and apps
- Keep up with kids with location alerts and check-ins
FAQs
Bark's parental control features undoubtedly provide the most protection for your child. Cocospy does not offer alerts for dangers, website blocking, or screen time management. Bark provides all of this — and more.
Bark is $99/year for content monitoring, screen time, web filtering, and location tracking for as many kids and devices as your family needs. Cocospy has 3 different pricing plans, ranging from $12.49/month to $49.99/month.
Phone spyware consists of programs that are installed on devices that records information with or without the user’s knowledge. This can look like complete access to messages and call logs, photos, and more. Some spyware programs will take screenshots periodically of the phone and send them to the spyware owner. Other programs can allow you to tune into the phone and hear what’s going on in the background.
Bark strikes the perfect balance between monitoring your child’s phone and giving them privacy to learn about growing up with a digital device. You don’t get unfettered access to everything on their phone, but you will get alerts about potential dangers like online predators, sexting, depression, and more. This way, you can see the concerning message, but you won’t have to wade through hundreds of Fortnite memes or texts about baseball practice.
If your parents ever looked through your pen-and-paper journal growing up or secretly listened to one of your phone calls, you know how spying can breed resentment. And while parents are responsible for their child’s safety — and phones can be extremely dangerous — there’s a happy medium between outright spying and making sure everything’s okay. Spyware programs simply encourage kids to find alternate ways to talk to their friends, which can cause problems in another way.
Bark helps you build trust by allowing your child to learn how to safely use their phone while also giving them a digital safety net that centers you as the go-to person for help.
Cocospy offers no website blocking, so Bark is the clear winner here. Bark's website blocking feature lets you manage any website or app on your child's device.
Ready to get started?
Bark was created by parents, for parents, to offer a better, easier, and more effective way to help families create healthy digital habits.
