Best co-parenting apps in 2026: pricing and records compared

Last updated: 5 August 2026

OurFamilyWizard, TalkingParents, AppClose, 2houses and Parentlog all help parents manage information across two homes, but they are built around different assumptions.

Some focus primarily on communication between two participating parents. Some are broader family organisers. Others place greater emphasis on private record-keeping, documented calls or records that can be shared with a legal professional.

The most important differences are not always visible from the headline price. Before choosing an app, it is worth checking:

• whether both parents need separate subscriptions;
• whether the app works when the other parent will not join;
• which features are restricted to higher-priced plans;
• whether PDF records cost extra;
• whether audio or video calls are included;
• which platforms are supported.

Disclosure: Parentlog publishes this comparison and is one of the apps included. Pricing and features were checked against each provider’s official information on 5 August 2026. We have included Parentlog’s limitations alongside those of the other products. Plans may change, and regional prices may differ, so check the provider’s current information before registering.

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The quick answer

Best for private records and affordability: Parentlog

Parentlog can be used immediately without a connected co-parent. Privately, it covers journal entries, expenses, handovers, parenting time, schedules and important child information. When a co-parent connects, it adds shared messaging, expense requests, settlements, balance summaries, swap requests and a shared Info Library. Earlier private records remain private after connecting.

Parentlog is currently free, with no payment card required. Its main limitation is that it is available only on iPhone.

Best broad all-inclusive alternative: AppClose

AppClose provides one extensive feature set across iPhone, Android and the web, covering messaging, calls, schedules and payments. Each participating parent needs an individual subscription after the trial.

Best-established professional ecosystem: OurFamilyWizard

OurFamilyWizard has operated for more than two decades and is widely used by parents and family-law professionals. It offers documented communication, professional access, calling and several levels of certified records.

The main drawback is its annual per-parent pricing and the way advanced features are divided between four subscription levels.

Others

TalkingParents is worth considering when documented calls matter most; 2houses when one family subscription is the priority.

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Pricing and access at a glance

US prices are shown where a provider publishes several regional prices, allowing a consistent comparison. Taxes, local pricing and app-store pricing may differ.

App	Current starting cost	Free access or trial	Works without the other parent?	Records and exports	Platforms
Parentlog	Free	Free for secured founding accounts; no card required	Yes	Verifiable PDF exports included	iPhone
OurFamilyWizard	From $110 per year, per parent	30-day refund period rather than a conventional trial	Limited	Unlimited PDFs included from the entry plan; advanced certified records on higher plans	iPhone, Android, web
TalkingParents	$7 per month, per parent	30-day trial; fee waivers available for eligible users	No	Essentials charges separately for PDF access; unlimited PDFs from Enhanced	iPhone, Android, web
AppClose	$7.99 per month through the web or $8.99 through the app, per user	60 days with no card required; fee waivers available	Yes	Unlimited exports included; certified business records limited to US users	iPhone, Android, web
2houses	$169.99 per year for the family	14-day trial	Collaboration-first rather than dedicated solo use	Expense reports available as PDF or CSV; conversations can be printed	iPhone, Android, web

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If a court order or formal agreement names a particular platform, follow that requirement unless a qualified legal professional advises otherwise.

1. Parentlog

Best for

Parents who want one app that works independently from the first day and expands into a full shared co-parenting system when both parents participate.

Current Founding-Free Window

Parentlog is currently offering free lifetime access to a limited number of founding accounts.

The window will close when capacity is reached. Registration reserves a place. Founding access is confirmed once you have completed onboarding and used the app.

No payment card is required, and the full Parentlog feature set is available.

What Parentlog includes

Parentlog uses one complete feature set rather than placing different tools behind several subscription tiers.

It includes:

• private or shared journal entries;
• child-related expenses, responses, settlements and balance summaries;
• pickup and drop-off records;
• actual parenting-time calculations based on logged handovers;
• planned schedules, schedule proposals and swap requests;
• an Info Library for school, medical and other important child information;
• permanent in-app messages when parents are connected;
• private bookmarks;
• Apple Calendar mirroring;
• Face ID or Touch ID protection;
• structured PDF exports.

Solo use is treated as a complete mode rather than a temporary version of the app. A parent can use the journal, expenses, handovers, parenting-time calculator, calendar, Info Library, bookmarks and PDF exports without inviting anyone else.

Connecting with a co-parent later does not reveal records created before the connection. Earlier private history remains private, while shared features become available for future records.

Records and verification

Important records receive server-set timestamps and tamper-evident content hashes. Messages, handovers, submitted expenses and schedule records cannot be silently edited or deleted after confirmation.

Journal entries can be amended, but the original version remains preserved alongside the amendment history.

Parentlog’s PDF exports include integrity information and can be checked through its public verification portal. This provides an additional way to confirm that an exported document matches the version generated by Parentlog.

No app can determine whether a document will be admitted or how much weight it will receive in a legal proceeding. Parentlog’s role is to provide a dated, organised and tamper-evident record that can be reviewed by the parent or shared with a legal professional.

Important limitations

Parentlog is currently available only on iPhone. It does not offer an Android app, web application, audio calling or video calling.

It is also a newer product than the major established providers in this comparison and does not yet have their user numbers or long-standing professional networks.

Parentlog verdict

Parentlog is the strongest fit for an iPhone user whose priority is a structured private record from day one, particularly while its free founding window remains open.

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2. OurFamilyWizard

Best for

Parents who have been directed to use OurFamilyWizard, want an established professional ecosystem or need connected access for a family-law or mental-health professional.

Pricing and tiers

OurFamilyWizard charges each parent separately and uses annual subscriptions rather than month-to-month billing.

Its current US plans are:

• Choose Your Own: from $110 per year
• Essentials: $149.99 per year
• Premium: $216 per year
• Max: $299.88 per year

The entry plan includes messaging, calendars, journal entries, exchange check-ins, expenses and unlimited PDF downloads, but it cannot initiate calls.

Essentials adds a limited allowance of outgoing audio and video calls. Premium adds unlimited calling, unlimited storage and certified-record requests. Max adds call recording and transcription.

Discounted two-year commitments are also available. OurFamilyWizard does not advertise a conventional free trial, although qualifying first purchases may be refunded within 30 days.

Strengths

OurFamilyWizard offers:

• secure messaging with first-viewed timestamps;
• shared calendars and parenting-time change requests;
• expenses and reimbursements;
• private journal tools;
• GPS-verified exchange check-ins;
• documented audio and video calls;
• free connected accounts for approved professionals;
• fee-waiver options for eligible parents.

Unlimited standard PDF downloads are included from the entry plan.

Important limitations

Each parent normally needs an individual subscription. Two parents using the entry plan therefore pay at least $220 per year, while two Essentials accounts cost $299.98 per year.

The lower plan cannot initiate calls, and recording or transcription requires the most expensive plan.

Some private tools can be used independently, but the platform’s principal communication and coordination value depends on linked accounts.

OurFamilyWizard verdict

OurFamilyWizard is the strongest fit when a long-established professional network and familiarity within the family-law system matter more than price or billing flexibility.

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3. TalkingParents

Best for

Two participating parents who want permanent communication records, documented calls and the option to pay monthly.

Pricing and plans

TalkingParents charges each parent separately. Its current plans cost:

• Essentials: $7 per month or $77 per year;
• Enhanced: $16 per month or $176 per year;
• Ultimate: $32 per month or $352 per year.

All plans include secure messaging, calendars, a private journal, recorded and transcribed audio or video calls, and payment tools.

The main difference is access and capacity. Essentials includes 30 monthly calling minutes and 1 GB of storage but does not include unlimited PDF records. Essentials users currently pay $55 for a 24-hour period of PDF access.

Enhanced adds unlimited PDFs, 60 monthly calling minutes and more storage. Ultimate adds unlimited calling, writing tools, priority support and a printed annual record package.

TalkingParents offers a 30-day trial. Fee waivers are available to some eligible users.

Strengths

TalkingParents combines permanent messages with recorded and transcribed calls, even on its entry plan. It also offers monthly billing, which is more flexible than an annual-only commitment.

Important limitations

Both parents must register and match their accounts before the service can be used. It cannot function as an independent solo record-keeping app.

Each parent pays separately, and the inexpensive Essentials plan becomes less attractive when regular PDF downloads are needed.

TalkingParents verdict

TalkingParents is a strong choice when both parents will participate and documented calls are central to the arrangement.

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4. AppClose

Best for

Parents who want the broadest all-inclusive feature set across iPhone, Android and the web.

Pricing

AppClose currently charges:

• $7.99 per month when purchased through its website;
• $8.99 per month when purchased through the app;
• $83.88 for one prepaid year through the website;
• $143.76 for two prepaid years through the website.

The complete feature set can be tested for 60 days without entering payment-card details.

AppClose uses one all-inclusive plan rather than several feature tiers. Each participating user normally needs an active subscription, although one person can pay for another user.

Fee waivers are available for eligible parents experiencing financial hardship or domestic violence, with separate discounts for eligible military users.

What is included

AppClose includes:

• secure messaging;
• parenting schedules and shared calendars;
• expense tracking and reimbursements;
• integrated payments;
• private GPS check-ins;
• unlimited audio and video calling;
• mutually agreed call recording and transcription;
• journaling and private notes;
• unlimited file storage;
• unlimited record exports;
• professional connections through AppClose Pro;
• several separate co-parenting circles;
• third-party access;
• AppClose Solo.

AppClose Solo allows a parent to manage schedules, records and expenses without the other parent joining. Certain events, expenses and requests can be sent to non-users through external links, and their responses can be tracked.

AppClose also provides certified electronic business records. Its certified-record service is currently limited to users in the United States, although standard app records and exports are available more broadly.

Important limitations

The app-store price is higher than the web price. This difference may be missed by users who subscribe directly through their phone.

Although AppClose has an effective solo mode, full two-parent communication and calling still require each participating user to have access.

Its extensive feature set may also be more than a parent needs when the main requirement is a straightforward private journal, handover log, expense record and PDF export.

AppClose verdict

AppClose is the better choice when Android, web access and documented calls are essential.

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5. 2houses

Best for

Families who want shared calendars, expenses, communication and access for several family members under one subscription.

Pricing

2houses currently lists one family subscription at $169.99 per year, equivalent to $14.17 per month.

Only one parent needs to manage the subscription. It can provide access to both parents, children, third parties and mediators.

The service includes a 14-day trial and renews automatically unless cancelled before the trial or renewal date.

What is included

2houses provides:

• shared parenting calendars;
• schedule-change requests;
• messaging;
• expense management and balances;
• payment invitations;
• a family journal;
• photo albums;
• an information bank;
• shared document storage;
• access for children, relatives and other invited people.

Expense reports can be exported as PDF or CSV files. Conversations can be archived or printed and cannot be deleted.

Important limitations

2houses is primarily designed as a collaborative family organiser. Its public feature set does not present a dedicated private solo evidence mode comparable with Parentlog or AppClose Solo.

Its exports focus mainly on financial reports and printable communication rather than a single combined, independently verifiable evidence document.

It does not currently advertise documented audio or video calling.

2houses verdict

2houses is well suited when several family members need access and one family subscription is preferable to separate per-parent plans.

A final point about “court-ready” records

No co-parenting app can guarantee that a record will be admitted in court or determine how much weight a decision-maker will give it.

What an app can do is preserve useful details consistently: dates, timestamps, messages, responses, expenses, handovers, amendments and export history.

Clear records kept at the time are generally easier for a parent or legal professional to review than screenshots, receipts and notes reconstructed after a disagreement has developed.

The best app is therefore not automatically the one with the longest feature list. It is the one that works in your circumstances, supports the devices involved and makes it realistic to keep accurate records consistently.

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Start your Parentlog record

Parentlog is currently free for founding users.

Registration reserves your place, and access is confirmed once you have completed onboarding and used the app.