Apple Screen Time vs Bark:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Bark had more branded searches than Apple Screen Time among parental control apps worldwide. Bark had about 22,500 branded searches, while Apple Screen Time had 9,900. Bark made up 4.8% of all parental control app searches we track, and Apple Screen Time accounted for 2.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about parental control apps, both Apple Screen Time and Bark appeared in all five answers. Bark was mentioned before Apple Screen Time in four out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Bark, about 2 searches for every 1 for Apple Screen Time
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
Bark, named ahead of Apple Screen Time in 4 of 5 answers
Follow Apple Screen Time vs Bark and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top parental control apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Apple Screen Time and Bark showed up in all five answers. Bark was listed before Apple Screen Time in four of them.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Qustodio1st- Bark2nd
Apple Screen Time3rd
Google Family Link4th
Norton5th
Net Nanny6th
Kidslox–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Google Family Link5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Qustodio5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Bark5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Apple Screen Time5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Net Nanny2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Norton1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Kidslox0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about parental control apps
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which parental control app should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best parental control apps?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best parental control app for managing a teenager's phone?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“parental control app”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best parental control app”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 22, 2026.
Is Apple Screen Time or Bark more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Apple Screen Time and Bark by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven parental control apps we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Bark, Apple Screen Time. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Google Family Link | Qustodio | Bark | Kidslox | Apple Screen Time | Norton | Net Nanny |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 54.2% | 29.7% | 7.1% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 2.7% | 2.2% |
| Nov 2025 | 58.4% | 26.2% | 6.8% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.6% |
| Dec 2025 | 62.5% | 22.9% | 6.3% | 2.5% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% |
| Jan 2026 | 65.9% | 19.7% | 5.4% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 1.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 62.6% | 22.9% | 5.1% | 2.5% | 3.8% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 61.8% | 22.6% | 5.1% | 3% | 4.6% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| Apr 2026 | 62.4% | 22.8% | 4.9% | 2.5% | 4.6% | 1.4% | 1.4% |
| May 2026 | 58.3% | 26.1% | 5.9% | 2.9% | 4.3% | 1.6% | 1% |
| Jun 2026 | 63.1% | 23.2% | 6.7% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 1.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 67.8% | 20.4% | 5.9% | 2.2% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.99% |
| Aug 2026 | 62.3% | 22.8% | 5.5% | 2.5% | 4.6% | 1.4% | 0.91% |
| Sep 2026 | 64.6% | 23.6% | 4.8% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 1.4% | 0.77% |
How has the Apple Screen Time and Bark comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Bark was ahead of Apple Screen Time in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple Screen Time’s share of searches among parental control apps worldwide moved from 1.5% to 2.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.6K to 9.9K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Bark’s share of searches among parental control apps worldwide moved from 7.1% to 4.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 32.1K to 22.5K.
How did search popularity change for parental control apps worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Apple Screen Time lost share of searches among parental control apps worldwide, from 4.6% to 2.1%.
In September 2026, Bark lost share of searches among parental control apps worldwide, from 5.5% to 4.8%.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apple Screen Time’s and Bark’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Apple Screen Time
1 branded search term
- apple screen time
Bark
2 branded search terms
- bark app
- bark parental controls
Other head-to-heads among parental control apps
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.