These Apps Make Co-Parenting (& Life in General) So Much Easier
Co-parenting can sometimes feel like running a small startup — with no sleep, shifting schedules, and a partner whose parenting style doesn’t always match yours. Between school pickups, custody exchanges, and who-packed-the-favorite-hoodie debates, keeping two households organized is no small feat. Even the most on-top-of-it parents can feel like they’re herding cats (while juggling snacks, emotions, and endless text threads). And when your kids are moving between homes, one missed message can turn into a full-blown “Wait, who’s got soccer tonight?” situation before you’ve even had your coffee.
That’s where the best co-parenting apps come in. These digital tools transform chaos into coordination, helping parents share custody calendars, communicate clearly, manage expenses, and keep everyone on the same page — literally. Whether things with your ex are peaceful, complicated, or somewhere in between, today’s top co-parenting apps make family logistics smoother, communication calmer, and life a little easier for everyone involved.
Think of these apps as modern parenting allies — designed to help both parents stay connected, organized, and focused on what really matters: raising happy, well-supported kids. Here are some of the options to make your co-parenting life easier.
The Family Core
At $9.99 per month, The Family Core is designed for modern families with lots of moving parts — and people. More than just a shared calendar, it’s a full-service family management hub that keeps everyone in sync across multiple households. You can share schedules, upload important documents, add notes for school or sports, and even use the built-in location feature to confirm safe arrivals for pickups and drop-offs. Each user’s access is customizable: your ex can see your shared child’s calendar without seeing details about your other kids or household events.
Why it’s worth it: Few co-parenting apps balance privacy, flexibility, and inclusion this well. It’s perfect for blended families that include stepparents, grandparents, and caregivers — anyone who helps keep the household running.
Best for: Families juggling busy schedules, multiple homes, and a mix of caregivers who all need different access levels.
2houses
With plans starting around $169.99 per year (about $14 a month), 2Houses is one of the most established and trusted co-parenting apps — and for good reason. It brings order to the chaos of shared custody by combining calendars, secure messaging, expense tracking, and a shared journal for important updates or milestones. Parents can upload receipts, keep medical records in one place, and log everything from report cards to travel plans. The clean, visual design makes even complex custody schedules easy to understand at a glance, and kids can have their own accounts to check plans without accessing sensitive information.
Why it’s worth it: It’s a true “all-in-one” co-parenting platform that covers communication, finances, and organization — with a proven track record of helping families stay connected across multiple homes.
Best for: Parents who want a well-designed, court-friendly app that keeps everyone informed, organized, and out of each other’s inboxes.
Our Family Wizard
Starting at $144 per year (or $204 per year for the Premium plan with the ToneMeter add-on), Our Family Wizard has long been the gold standard for co-parenting apps — especially when things get complicated. The app’s shared calendar, expense tracker, secure messaging, and document storage features are designed for full transparency, helping families communicate clearly and avoid misunderstandings. Its standout feature, the ToneMeter, works like an emotional spell-check, flagging words or phrases that might sound aggressive or inflammatory before you send your message. Everything — messages, calls, receipts — is time-stamped and saved, and the platform is widely accepted by courts and mediators as a trusted recordkeeping system.
Why it’s worth it: It’s one of the few apps that actively helps prevent conflict, not just document it. The tone-checking feature alone can change the tone of co-parenting conversations — literally.
Best for: Co-parents in high-stakes or high-conflict situations who want a complete, court-recognized tool for calm communication and crystal-clear organization.
AppClose
The best kind of price tag? Free. AppClose doesn’t charge subscription fees or in-app costs, making it one of the most affordable co-parenting apps available. It includes time-stamped messaging, shared calendars, expense tracking, and even downloadable records for legal or mediation use — all at zero cost. You can even create and send payment requests through the built-in “AppClose Pay” feature, which allows for secure reimbursements without sharing bank info. Parents can also export conversations or calendars if proof of communication is ever needed in court.
Why it’s worth it: It’s one of the few completely free co-parenting tools that feels genuinely professional — no ads, no gimmicks, just clean functionality that works. Many family attorneys even recommend it because it keeps all documentation organized and admissible.
Best for: Parents who want a legally friendly co-parenting tool with powerful recordkeeping — without adding another monthly bill.
Custody X Change
Starting at $10 per month (or about $6 per month if billed annually), Custody X Change is less of a communication tool and more of a strategy planner for co-parenting. It helps parents build detailed custody schedules, log actual parenting time, and generate polished reports that can be shared with lawyers, mediators, or judges. The app’s analytics feature shows how time is divided — a lifesaver if you’re renegotiating custody or seeking to document parenting patterns. You can also compare proposed schedules side-by-side to find fair compromises.
Why it’s worth it: Custody X Change stands out for its precision. While most apps focus on day-to-day messaging, this one gives you legal-grade tools for tracking custody compliance, planning ahead, and documenting your involvement — features that can have a real impact in court or mediation.
Best for: Parents navigating complex custody arrangements, legal disputes, or long-term parenting plans that need professional-level tracking and reports.
BestInterest
At $14.99 per month or about $119.99 per year, BestInterest is one of the newest co-parenting apps and uses AI to make communication calmer and safer. Its “Message Shield” scans messages for harsh or inflammatory language and suggests friendlier re-writes before you send. You can also use “Solo Mode” to track your own communications and notes — even if your co-parent isn’t using the app.
Why it’s worth it: Smart AI tools help tone down tension, protect your peace, and create healthier digital communication habits.
Best for: Parents dealing with high-conflict situations or emotionally charged exchanges.
Dcomply
Designed to make co-parenting finances less stressful, DComply focuses on simplifying payments, reimbursements, and shared expenses between parents. Starting at $4.99 per month or $47.99 per year, the app lets you send or request payments directly through its secure platform — no awkward Venmo requests or lost receipts required. You can also upload bills, track spending by category, and generate detailed reports for budgeting or legal documentation. It’s available on both iOS and Android, and every transaction is timestamped for accountability.
Why it’s worth it: Managing money with an ex can be one of the hardest parts of co-parenting; DComply makes it straightforward, trackable, and conflict-free.
Best for: Parents who want a transparent, hassle-free way to manage child-support payments, reimbursements, and shared expenses without financial tension.
Cozi
Free to use (with an optional Cozi Gold upgrade for $39.99 per year), Cozi isn’t just a family calendar — it’s the ultimate digital household command center. Parents can share color-coded schedules, grocery lists, meal plans, and reminders across all devices, so no one misses a pickup or forgets to grab snacks for soccer. It’s simple, cheerful, and syncs instantly between users — no tech learning curve required. The premium version removes ads and adds customizable notifications and birthday tracking, making everyday coordination even smoother.
Why it’s worth it: Cozi shines when communication is already good but life is just busy. It helps families stay connected and organized without turning every conversation into a negotiation.
Best for: Low-conflict or cooperative co-parents who want an easy, upbeat way to keep shared routines running smoothly — with a single, reliable source of truth for everyone’s schedule.
Talking Parents
Available as a free web plan or a Premium Plan for $9.99 per month, Talking Parents is built around one core idea: accountability. Every message, call, and video chat is automatically recorded, time-stamped, and stored securely — creating a verifiable record of communication that can be used in court if needed. The app also offers unlimited PDF downloads, shared calendars, and a payment feature for managing reimbursements and child support. You can access it via web, iOS, or Android, and even generate detailed reports directly from the app.
Why it’s worth it: Talking Parents stands out because it’s designed not just for organization, but for transparency. Parents can communicate safely without fear of deleted messages, misinterpretations, or “he said, she said” disputes. That built-in recordkeeping can lower tension and simplify legal proceedings when co-parenting gets complicated.
Best for: Parents in high-conflict or court-involved situations who need secure, documented communication — and peace of mind that nothing gets lost in translation.
No app can make co-parenting effortless, but the right one can make it a whole lot easier. Whether you’re managing shared custody schedules, tracking expenses, or just trying to keep communication calm and consistent, these co-parenting tools help you stay organized — and focused on what matters most: raising happy, well-adjusted kids together.
A version of this story was originally published in February 2019.
Before you go, check out Celebrity Exes Who Are Co-Parenting Right.