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Bolt Browser and Documents
By Ana Beltran,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Offline access to docs, but private browser beats filters.
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Bolt Browser and Documents
Community Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Bolt is good apps
Good
Privacy Rating Warning
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
What’s It About?
BOLT BROWSER AND DOCUMENTS enables private browsing and incorporates an adblocker program so that users can browse without ads. Users can add another level of privacy by turning on the Touch or Face ID feature, which locks the app unless the ID is recognized. Using the browser, kids can access different websites and search the internet. They can open multiple tabs and browse several sites at a time. The app offers the option turn on a Virtually Private Network, VPN, which allows users to access blocked websites. Kids can download material from the web -- including documents, audio, and visual media -- for offline use. When video or music is played, a box automatically pops up asking users if they want to download media. They can also organize downloads into folders. The app doesn't offer directions or tips for taking advantage of its unique features.
Is It Any Good?
Tool to download internet content and organize it is overshadowed by private browsing, app lock, and bypassing network web filters, which compromises filters and parental controls. Using Bolt Browser and Documents is simple; however, there are no directions or tips on using the productivity features. Kids will have to play around with the app a bit to figure out how to organize downloads into folders and to figure out how to take full advantage of all the app's features. The option to download content and organize it is a useful tool. Families may find it useful when doing research for projects or assignments since downloaded material is accessible offline and can be categorized using folders. It's also perfect for organizing media into categories and accessing it offline. Kids can create playlists of media downloads for offline use.
Although the app's privacy features are a plus, families should be cautious. Kids can lock the app using the Touch or Face ID feature so that no one else can access their browser. The app gives them unlimited download options. The Virtually Private Network (VPN) allows them to bypass network web filters. For example, if their school network limits access to YouTube, music streaming sites, or sites considered to have sensitive content, the app enables access. So, while Bolt Browser and Documents is a useful tool, it's best for mature and responsible users.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the responsible use of internet when using Bolt Browser and Documents. The design of the app promotes privacy and can be used to circumvent network web filters. Discuss family expectations for internet use and expectations around content download.
Talk about how the folders feature can be used to organize material for online or offline use. Kids may find this to be a helpful tool when doing research for projects or other school assignments since they can download and organize multiple resources for later use.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: January 31, 2019
- Category: Productivity
- Publisher: Danyil Vasilenko
- Version: 1.3
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 10.0 or later
- Last updated: June 19, 2020
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