Bark Phone Vs MMGuardian Phone: Comparing the Two

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Family Happy on MMGuardian Safety Phone

Bark Vs MMGuardian Summary

Cellular Service Compatibility: Bark Phones come with their own non-changeable cellular service. In contrast, MMGuardian is compatible with all major US carriers, allowing you to choose your preferred airtime provider.
Location Tracking: Bark offers a child check-in feature for location updates, while MMGuardian provides location tracking on demand, giving parents the ability to check their child’s location at any time.
Pricing Difference: Bark Phone costs vary by plan – airtime is included: $39/month for the no apps starter package, $49/month for unlimited talk and texts (Wi-Fi only), $59/month for unlimited talk and texts with 4GB of data, $69/month for unlimited talk and texts with 8GB of data, and $89/month for unlimited talk and text with 35GB of premium data per month. The MMGuardian Phone starts at $229. Parental Control functions cost $9.99 per month. Adding an unlimited text and talk with 2GB data plan from your preferred airtime provider can cost as little as $8 per month.
Text Monitoring: Bark only shows messages that trigger alerts, whereas MMGuardian allows parents to view all messages, ensuring more comprehensive monitoring.
Image Monitor Privacy Aspect: Both phones offer image monitoring. Bark uses a third-party service, which means images are stored externally, potentially reducing privacy. MMGuardian’s image monitoring is on-device, keeping images private and enhancing security.
Hardware Difference: The MMGuardian A15 comes with 128GB of storage and 4GB of memory (RAM). In comparison, Bark offers phones with 64GB of storage and 4GB of memory. (These specifications may be subject to updates based on the actual numbers at the time of purchase.)

MMGuardian Vs Bark Phone

  MMGuardian Logo MMGuardian Logo
No Social Media Option Green Tick: Yes Green Tick: Yes
Location Green Tick: YesRead More Green Tick: YesRead More
Track Location Green Tick: Yes Green Tick: Yes
Limit Screen Time Green Tick: Yes Green Tick: Yes
Phone Lock Green Tick: YesRead More Red Cross: NoRead More
Content Blocking Green Tick: Yes Green Tick: Yes
Message Safety Alerts Within Seconds Green Tick: YesRead More Red Cross: NoRead More
Picture Monitoring Green Tick: Yes Green Tick: Yes
Social Media Message Monitoring Green Tick: Yes Green Tick: Yes
Filtered Internet Green Tick: Yes Green Tick: Yes
Download Any Approved App on Basic Plans Green Tick: YesRead More Red Cross: NoRead More
View All Messages Green Tick: Yes Green Tick: Yes
Supports Multiple Carriers Green Tick: Yes Green Tick: Yes
Supports 5G Green Tick: Yes Green Tick: Yes
Storage 128GB 64GB
Memory (RAM) 4GB 4GB
Cost Breakdown Phones from $229.
Parental controls $10 per month.
Cellular service from $8 per month.		 $39-$89 per month. Includes phone, parental controls and cellular service.
First Year Cost (typical) From $445
$216 after the 1st year.		 $445 - $1068

KEY:

MMGuardian Has
Bark Doesn't Have
Bark Partially Has
Bark Has
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Long-Term Savings - Save Close to 80% Per Year With MMGuardian

MMGuardian

Phones:

  • Initial purchase cost: Phones start from $229
  • Lower monthly costs: Parental Control service is $9.99 per month
  • Cellular service: From $8 per month (MMGuardian does not offer cellular service)

Cost Benefits:

  • Savings: Up to $623 in the first year, and $252 to $852 in subsequent years
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Bark:

Phones:

  • Continuous high monthly fees: $39-$89 (includes phone, parental controls, and cellular service)

Limitations:

  • Must use Bark’s cellular plans
  • Phone must be returned if you cancel your subscription early unless you buy the phone outright on Amazon

Carrier Flexibility

MMGuardian

  • Compatible with all major US carriers
  • Flexibility to add to your family plan or choose any affordable carrier

Bark

  • Locked into Bark’s cellular plan
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Location Tracking

MMGuardian

  • Allows parents to retrieve location on demand without any requirements from the child’s phone.
  • On-Demand Tracking: Check your child’s location whenever you need.
  • Scheduled Tracking: Set specific times for automatic location updates, ensuring you always know your child’s whereabouts at regular intervals.

Bark

  • On-Demand Tracking Only: Provides location updates only when manually requested, without the option for automatic, scheduled updates.

Give your child the safest digital experience with MMGuardian.

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Phone Lock

MMGuardian

  • Allows parents to lock the phone completely, only permitting the child to contact admins or emergency contacts. This can be done manually for a set amount of time or according to schedules.

Bark

  • Does not provide any phone locking functions.

Message Safety Alerts Within Seconds

MMGuardian

  • Alerts are generated within seconds of the message in question being communicated.

Bark

  • Typically has delays of around 15 minutes, which can make a significant difference for alerts dealing with suicide, predators, cyberbullying, etc. Bark also missed some very concerning messages (including some related to child grooming) that MMGuardian detected.

Download Any Approved App on Basic Plans

MMGuardian

  • Allows flexibility on what apps you can enable your child to install with any plan.

Bark

  • Requires an advanced plan to enable app installation. On the basic plan, no apps can be installed on the phone.

What Parental Control Features Are Available with MMGuardian?

Unparalleled flexibility across all plans
Block or allow any app from Google Play
New downloads automatically blocked by default for review and approval
Tailor the phone’s app environment to your child’s needs and family’s safety preferences
Set daily time limits and customize schedules for each app
Provides robust parental controls
Allows use of educational apps without excessive screen time risk
Freedom to block or allow any apps, including social media, without extra cost
Allows use of educational apps without excessive screen time risk
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Bark Vs MMGuardian Summary

Monica

I’ve been using MMGuardian for a year and a half or so. I purchased in hopes of keeping tabs on my teenager. The map tracker is dead accurate. I was impressed. I like how you can read every text message incoming or outgoing.

Excessive Screen Time:

MMGuardian:

Enables setting daily time limits and customizing schedules for each app to help manage and reduce screen time.

Bark:

Enables setting daily time limits and customizing schedules for each app to help manage and reduce screen time.

Exposure to Inappropriate Apps:

MMGuardian:

Allows you to block or allow any app from Google Play across all plans. New downloads are automatically blocked by default for review and approval.

Bark:

Social media apps cannot be installed on the starter plan. Advanced app control features are only available with premium packages, resulting in higher costs for basic functionalities.

Safety from Online Predators:

MMGuardian:

Provides robust parental controls without extra costs. Grants the freedom to block or allow social media apps and any other apps, regardless of the package chosen.

Bark:

Requires upgrading to more expensive plans to add apps and social media apps, limiting the ability to address this concern in their starter plan.

Monitoring & Control

Marie

I have a 12 year old daughter who is suffering from depression and anxiety. I wanted to monitor her texts and phone calls to make sure she is doing okay. I found MMGuardian and it already had good reviews, so I thought I would try it.

MMGuardian

  • Provides detailed monitoring, allowing parents to view all messages, including deleted ones, ensuring no important information is missed.
  • Offers advanced app management capabilities, enabling parents to control and monitor app usage in real time.
  • Delivers instant alerts for web activity and inappropriate content, keeping parents informed of their child’s online behavior.
  • Does not rely solely on flagged alerts, offering more comprehensive oversight compared to Bark.

Bark

  • Covers texts, emails, and over 30 social media platforms, providing decent monitoring.
  • Issues real-time alerts for potential dangers such as cyberbullying, sexual content, and online predators.
  • Only alerts on flagged content without access to the full message history, which can miss some context and details, potentially leaving gaps in monitoring.

Location Tracking

MMGuardian

  • On-Demand Tracking: Check your child’s location whenever you need.
  • Scheduled Tracking: Set specific times for automatic location updates, ensuring you always know your child’s whereabouts at regular intervals.

Bark

  • On-Demand Tracking Only: Provides location updates only when manually requested, without the option for automatic, scheduled updates.

Build Quality

MMGuardian

  • High-Quality Samsung Device: Durable and premium feel, 6.5″ FHD Super AMOLED display, 5000mAh battery for long-lasting performance.

Bark

  • Solid Samsung A Series Build: Reliable construction, 6.5″ Super AMOLED display, lacks water resistance.

Display Quality

MMGuardian

  • Vibrant and Durable Display: 6.5″ FHD Super AMOLED, bright, clear, and durable for kids’ use.

Bark

  • Clear and Functional Display: 6.5″ Super AMOLED, FHD+ resolution, similar quality, less durable in rough conditions.

Safety Features

MMGuardian

  • Advanced Parental Controls: GPS tracking, call and text monitoring, customizable web and social media access, child safety alerts.

Bark

  • Comprehensive Safety with Limitations: GPS tracking, parental controls via subscription, limited by chosen plan.

Connectivity and Performance

MMGuardian

  • Superior Connectivity Options: 5G & 4G LTE, Octa-Core processor, 128GB internal storage, expandable with MicroSD up to 1TB.

Bark

  • Good Performance, Limited by Plan: 5G & 4G LTE, Octa-Core processor, 128GB internal memory, 4GB RAM, certain features limited by service plan.

Unique Features and Benefits

MMGuardian stands out with extensive web filtering, customizable app management, and superior privacy protections. With 128GB storage and 4GB RAM, it offers robust performance. Bark phones have limited app options, lower memory capacity, and less comprehensive monitoring.

Bark Phone Vs MMGuardian Phone Conclusion

When comparing the MMGuardian phone to the Bark phone, the MMGuardian phone stands out with more comprehensive monitoring features, including the ability to view all text and social media conversations, even if deleted, and extensive control over app management and contact blocking. MMGuardian offers superior privacy by conducting image monitoring on-device rather than through third-party services, reducing potential privacy risks. Additionally, MMGuardian provides greater cost flexibility, allowing parents to choose their preferred carrier and benefit from lower monthly costs, potentially saving $623 in the first year and up to $852 in subsequent years, compared to Bark. With MMGuardian’s flexible and customizable features, superior privacy protections, and cost-effective pricing, it ensures what many parents would agree is a safer, more affordable and more controlled digital experience for their child.

Lydia

After purchasing a cell phone for my 14 year old daughter, we installed MMGuardian right away from the recommendation of a friend.
Choose MMGuardian today for a smarter, more reliable, and affordable solution for your child’s phone needs. Give your child the safest digital experience with MMGuardian. Buy now and secure their digital future!
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MMGuardian Vs Bark FAQs

While Bark is a popular choice for parental controls, MMGuardian offers more comprehensive features for those who want granular control over their child’s digital activities. MMGuardian excels in detailed app management, robust web filtering, and advanced text message monitoring, making it a superior choice for parents who want to ensure the highest level of safety and security for their children.

 

The best child monitoring app depends on what features you prioritize. For parents looking for extensive control and monitoring capabilities, MMGuardian stands out as the best option. It not only monitors text messages and app usage but also provides alerts for potentially harmful content, detailed usage reports, and the ability to block apps or contacts, offering a well-rounded solution for child safety.

 

Yes, MMGuardian can see deleted messages. This feature is particularly useful for parents who want to ensure that their children are not hiding any potentially harmful communications. The app stores a backup of messages before they are deleted, allowing parents to review any conversations that their child may try to erase.

No, a child cannot delete MMGuardian. The app is designed with robust security measures to prevent tampering. Once installed, it requires a password to uninstall, ensuring that children cannot remove the app without parental consent. This makes MMGuardian a reliable tool for maintaining continuous monitoring and protection.

MMGuardian A35 Key Features

  • Quality Samsung phone with long battery life
  • IP67 rating for water & dust resistance
  • Robust Gorilla® Glass Victus+ screen
  • GPS tracking that can't be turned off by kids
  • No web or filtered web, parents decide
  • No social media, or monitored social media
  • Child safety alerts on texts and pictures
  • Call Block on strangers or other contacts
  • Prevents safe mode, factory reset & tampering
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