FamilyAtlasSame idea, same price band
Bark Home ($79) and a Brume 2 (about $80 on Amazon) cost about the same and both plug into the router you already own. The difference is what the plan on top gives you.
FamilyAtlas HomeControl vs
Bark Home
A $79 box that pauses, schedules and filters home devices, with Bark's phone plans sold separately.
Checked October 11, 2026 · Written by FamilyAtlas, a competing product, not an independent review. FamilyAtlas is not publicly available yet; HomeControl statuses come from its published capability data.
At a glance.
A dedicated add-on parental-control box for home devices. Source ↗
FamilyAtlas sells software, not a modem or Wi-Fi router. Its current HomeControl installation is Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in, not Bark Home firmware.
| FamilyAtlas HomeControl | Bark Home | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware | GL.iNet Brume 2, about $80 on Amazon, bought separately | $79 one-time purchase, or lease for $6/month. Source ↗ |
| Subscription | Family + Home $12.99/month or $119.99/year; includes the FamilyAtlas phone app | No separate Bark phone-app plan is required for Bark Home. The Bark phone app is $14/month or $99/year and is sold separately from the $79 box or $6/month hardware offer. Source ↗ |
| Wi-Fi built in | No built-in Wi-Fi. The Brume 2 sits behind, or in front of, the Wi-Fi router you already have. | No. Bark Home plugs into your existing router. |
| Keeps your current router | Yes. Your current router stays; it is set to access-point or bridge mode so traffic passes through the Brume 2. | Yes, with most routers; Bark publishes a compatibility list and says some routers need adjusting. |
| Throughput | FamilyAtlas has not published a throughput benchmark for the Brume 2; GL.iNet sells it as a 2.5G-port VPN security gateway. | Bark claims up to 1 Gbps and says any web filtering affects upload speeds somewhat. |
Why parents compare the two.
Box without a plan, or box plus a plan
Bark Home has no separate phone-app subscription requirement. Adding the Bark phone app costs $99/year at the quoted annual price; FamilyAtlas bundles its phone app and HomeControl in Family + Home.
Bark's strength is monitoring
Bark Premium's message and social-media alerts have no equivalent in FamilyAtlas. If that is your priority, Bark is the product to compare on its own terms.
What Bark Home already offers.
These are shared controls where both products support them. The presence of a FamilyAtlas checkbox is not an exclusive addition.
FamilyAtlas cells are Available or Preview from its capability data. Bark Home cells summarise its published documentation; Not listed means we did not find it, not that it is absent.
| Control | FamilyAtlas HomeControl | Bark Home |
|---|---|---|
| Pause one device or everyone | AvailableOnly traffic routed through the Brume 2. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | YesPause internet access at any time. Source ↗ |
| Bedtime and homework schedules | AvailableNeeds the Brume 2. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | YesDaily schedules for bedtime, school time and free time, with automatic bedtime rules. Source ↗ |
| Block YouTube, TikTok, games on TVs and consoles | AvailableBlocks whole services, not single videos; phones on mobile data are outside it. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | YesBlock specific apps and games; choose when gaming and streaming sites are allowed, on TVs and consoles too. Source ↗ |
| Content filtering and SafeSearch | AvailableNeeds the Brume 2. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | YesAllow or block specific websites or use one of 18 category filters; SafeSearch on YouTube, Google, Bing and DuckDuckGo. Source ↗ |
| Per-child profiles with daily time limits | PreviewNeeds the Brume 2. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | PartialRules are per device and schedule; daily time allowances are not described on the Bark Home page. Source ↗ |
| Usage reports per device | PreviewSite names for children's and shared devices, kept 7 days. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | Not listedNot described for Bark Home on the pages checked. |
| Malware, phishing and ad blocking for every device | AvailableEvery device at home; your internet keeps working if the filter stops. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | Not listedBark Home is a content and schedule filter; malware or ad blocking is not described. |
| Encrypted DNS upstream | AvailableDNS over TLS to Cloudflare, Quad9 or Google. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | Not listedNot described. |
| Rules that follow the child's phone away from home | AvailableThe FamilyAtlas Android app carries screen-time, app and location rules off the home network; iPhone is Preview. | PartialBark's separate phone app plan is $14/month or $99/year; it is not included in the box price. Source ↗ |
What FamilyAtlas adds to the family workflow.
This compares two setups; FamilyAtlas does not upgrade Bark Home firmware. Its Android child app works on supported enrolled phones; HomeControl requires a separately paired Brume 2. Device compatibility does not follow from a vendor offering parental controls.
| Family need | Existing Bark Home offer | FamilyAtlas | What changes for the family |
|---|---|---|---|
| App limits on an existing Android phone | PartialThe separate Bark phone app provides phone controls; the Home box does not include that phone plan. Source ↗ | AvailableAndroid child app. | The child app enforces supported app-use limits on the phone; a network service block controls internet access, not offline app use. |
| Separate parent accounts | NoBark consumer account help says only the primary account email/password can log in. Co-parents can receive alert emails; that does not provide separate parent logins. Source ↗ | AvailableAndroid child app. | Parents use their own FamilyAtlas accounts. Shared vendor administration may also be available; missing documentation is not a unique-feature claim. |
| Child requests extra phone time | Not listedA child-initiated phone extra-time request workflow is not established by the linked product pages. | AvailableAndroid child app. | The child sends a request and a parent decides. Android phone requests do not establish home-gateway extra-time support. |
| Daily home internet budgets | PartialRules are per device and schedule; daily time allowances are not described on the Bark Home page. Source ↗ | PreviewHomeControl on Brume 2. Needs the Brume 2. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | Check the Preview badge. Scheduled access windows are different from daily usage budgets; network activity is not active screen time. |
| Home usage reports | Not listedNot described for Bark Home on the pages checked. | PreviewHomeControl on Brume 2. Site names for children's and shared devices, kept 7 days. Needs the GL.iNet Brume 2 with the FamilyAtlas plug-in. | Check the Preview badge. A vendor may already offer richer or released reports; no reporting advantage is promised. |
Choose Bark Home if…
- You want a home box with no subscription at all.
- You already pay for Bark Premium's message alerts and want the home side to match.
- Your router is on Bark's compatibility list and you do not want to change its mode.
Choose FamilyAtlas HomeControl if…
- You want home rules and the child's Android phone rules in one plan, with location and extra-time requests.
- You want malware and ad blocking for every home device, and encrypted DNS, from the same gateway.
- You would rather have one bill for the family than a box plus a separate phone plan.
What it costs over three years.
| Product | First year | Three years | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| FamilyAtlas HomeControl | $199.99 | $439.97 | Brume 2 $80.00 + $119.99/year, phones included |
| Bark Home | $79.00 | $79.00 | Bark Home (one-time purchase) Source ↗, no subscription for built-in features |
As an Amazon Associate, FamilyAtlas earns from qualifying purchases.
If you move from Bark Home to HomeControl.
- Both boxes depend on your router: Bark Home on its compatibility list, the Brume 2 on access-point or bridge mode. Check your router model first.
- Record Bark Home schedules and website exceptions. Recreate only supported rules after pairing; FamilyAtlas custom home lists remain Preview.
- Bark Home can stay in place while you test HomeControl on one TV, but do not run two filters on the same device at once.
FamilyAtlas is in early access. Check device support and the HomeControl feature page before you plan a move.
Before you decide.
Does Bark Home need a Bark subscription?
The current pricing page offers Bark Home at $79 once or from $6/month. Its separate phone app plan is $14/month or $99/year; that phone plan is not the price of the home box.
Does Bark Home block malware or ads?
Bark's pages describe website and app filtering, schedules and pause, not malware or ad blocking. HomeControl lists both as Available.
Which is cheaper?
Bark Home alone is cheaper: $79 once. HomeControl adds a plan on top of the Brume 2, but that plan also covers the family's phones.
Sources & comparison notes
- Bark Home product page (schedules, filters, pause, compatibility) ↗
- Bark current pricing (Home purchase/lease and separate phone app plan) ↗
- Bark account help (consumer primary login and co-parent access) ↗
- FamilyAtlas pricing (plan and Brume 2 estimate)
US-dollar prices where shown, as published on October 11, 2026. Offers, taxes, shipping, renewal terms and availability may change. We do not claim to be the cheapest option or the right fit for every family. HomeControl statuses marked Preview still need validation.
Keep exploring.
All home controllers compared →
Other home controllers: CleanRouter, pcWRT, Firewalla Purple SE, Orange and Gold, Gryphon AX, Guardian and Atlas Max.
Build a routine that fitsMore family time starts
Join the early-access list →More family time starts
with a small change.
FamilyAtlas is coming soon. Join the email list and we’ll let you know when early access opens.