Bark Phone vs Pinwheel Slim

Compare the Features

Bark Phone vs Pinwheel Slim
Bark built in
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Bark
Bark Premium, which covers content monitoring and alerts, screen time, and location tracking is included in the phone's price. It comes built into the Bark Phone and can't be deleted.
Pinwheel Slim
Today, Bark comes pre-downloaded on the Pinwheel and can be purchased separately for $5/ mo. However, Bark will be unable to be purchased through Pinwheel devices after 12/20/22.
Child can only delete texts with permission
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Bark
You decide as a parent whether messages can be removed from the Bark Phone.
Pinwheel Slim
The Pinwheel Slim doesn’t allow kids to delete texts.
Free protective case included
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Bark
A case is included in the cost of the Bark Phone.
Pinwheel Slim
Cases are available for purchase at checkout.
Automatic monitoring of many apps and social media platforms
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Bark
Bark automatically monitors texts, Chrome, TikTok, Snapchat, Discord, WhatsApp, KIK, and more — if you chose to allow these apps. You can also block them whenever you choose.
Pinwheel Slim
Only if you pay for a Bark Premium membership.
Tamper-proof parental controls
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Bark
Kids can’t change your settings.
Pinwheel Slim
Kids can’t change your settings.
Sleek and modern design
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Bark
The Bark Phone is a Samsung A13.
Pinwheel Slim
The Pinwheel phone is a BLU G91s.
Access to app store when needed
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Bark
You can allow access to the app store at any time — or block it. You can also control which apps your child can install.
Pinwheel Slim
The Pinwheel Slim allows access to only curated apps. It’s not possible to add apps not included on that curated list.
Web browsers allowed
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Bark
You can allow access to a web browser at any time — or block it. It’s up to you. Safe search browsing and YouTube restricted mode are automatically enabled.
Pinwheel Slim
Web browsers are not allowed on Pinwheels.
Grows with child and allows you to add functionality and apps
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Bark
Nearly every setting on the Bark Phone is customizable, making it work for kids and teens of any age.
Pinwheel Slim
Some things older teens may need – like social media and a web browser – are never allowed.
No contract required
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Bark
The Bark Phone is available on a month-to-month basis and you can cancel at any time.
Pinwheel Slim
No contract is required with the Pinwheel. But you will have to add cell service separately, which could require a contract.
Cell service included
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Bark
Unlimited talk and text is included with every Bark phone plan.
Pinwheel Slim
You can add your own cell service or use the Pinwheel-recommended Mint Mobile for an additional fee.

Pricing & Details

No upfront cost. No contract required. Cancel anytime.

  • Bark Phone with USB-C charging cord
  • Comes with a subscription to Bark Premium for the entire family
  • Includes exclusive Bark Phone features like undeletable texts, location tracking, remote phone lock, and more
  • Protective case
  • Unlimited talk and text with data plans that fit your family’s needs
  • Free shipping
Starting at
$ 49 /mo USD

Features Youll Love

FAQs

What type of phone is the Bark Phone?

The Bark Phone for kids is a Samsung A13. We purposely designed it so that it wouldn’t be recognizable as a “kiddie” phone. No one will know it’s a Bark Phone unless you tell them. Bark’s powerful parental controls are all internal — there’s no Bark branding, logos, or other tell-tales that would broadcast it as a kid’s phone. 

It comes with all the standard features of a Samsung A13 phone.

Regardless of whether a parent has an iPhone or an Android, they will be able to manage the Bark Phone with no issues, so don’t worry about compatibility problems.

How much does the Bark Phone cost?

Bark Phone plans start at $49/month with no contract required. We have three monthly data options to fit your family’s needs:

  • $49/month for unlimited talk, text, and Wi-Fi only (no data)
  • $59/month for unlimited talk, text, and 4GB data
  • $69/month for unlimited talk, text, and 8GB data

Each phone plan comes with a Bark Premium subscription and will cover any other kids, devices, and accounts a user’s family has. You won’t pay for an extra Bark subscription if you already have Bark Premium — we will adjust your plan and prorate the remaining amount left and apply it to the subscription.

How is a Bark Phone different from a phone with the Bark app?

The Bark Phone for kids is the result of years of experience in the online safety industry and real-life conversations with the people whose opinion counts the most: families raising kids with phones in the digital age. 

We’ve created a device that integrates Bark’s software seamlessly, resulting in a comprehensive and robust parental control experience.

It also comes with exclusive features that weren’t possible with just a downloadable app. The Bark Kid’s Phone gives parents unprecedented oversight of their child’s online experience, including GPS-powered location tracking, call blocking, contact management, and automatic monitoring for texts and many apps and social media platforms. 

Its native controls are tamper-proof, providing parents with peace of mind that the rules they set stay in place. Bark can’t be deleted, even if you factory reset it.

The best part of the Bark Phone? It grows with your child as they mature. For younger kids, you can keep the phone locked down with as little functionality as a flip phone. As they get older, you can add in additional freedoms, functionality, and apps — or scale back anytime boundaries are needed.

What does the Bark Phone come with?
  • USB-C charging cord
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Protective case
  • A data plan that fits your family’s needs
  • Bark Premium subscription for the Bark Phone as well as for all of the other devices and accounts in your family
What if I already have a Bark subscription?

If you already have a Bark Premium subscription, that’s okay! We will adjust your plan and prorate the remaining amount left and apply it to your Bark Phone subscription.

Is the Bark Phone available outside the U.S.?

Right now, the Bark Phone for kids is only available for families located in the U.S.

What apps are available?

You know your child best, which is why the Bark Phone gives you full control over the apps they can access. You can block every app that a Samsung A13 could download, or you can allow them all — or somewhere in between, which is where most families will fall.

How is the Bark Phone different from other kids’ phones?

The Bark Phone is powered by the award-winning technology that made the Bark app a trusted name for families across the world. It’s the result of years of experience understanding what families need and want when it comes to kids’ devices.

Secondly, we made it completely customizable, because every family — and kid — is different. For younger kids, you can make the Bark Phone work essentially like a non-smartphone. As they get older and become ready for more responsibility, you can add in functionality and access to web browsing, apps, social media, and more.

The Best Phone for Kids — Powered by Bark

Plans start at just $49/month with no contract required.