Top 8 Co-Parenting Apps to Simplify Shared Parenting
Co-parenting is undoubtedly a challenging journey, especially when the relationship between you and your ex is complicated. However, we live in an era where technology can provide much-needed assistance in making the process smoother. If you’re not already utilising a co-parenting app, it’s time to consider integrating one into your routine. These apps are designed to streamline communication, keep everyone on the same page, and reduce the stress that often accompanies raising children across two homes.
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Here’s a rundown of eight of the best co-parenting apps that can help make life easier and more organised.
1. SharedCare
For co-parents and other caregivers, such as grandparents, nannies, and extended family members, SharedCare is an essential app that keeps everyone in the loop. It’s designed to ensure that all information related to the children is accessible in one place. From care arrangements to expenses, and photos to sharing important news, SharedCare gives everyone a centralised platform to stay on track.
Key Features:
- Shared Calendar: A shared calendar allows everyone to stay updated on schedules, appointments, and important dates.
- Care Arrangements: You can easily request to swap days, schedule holidays, and keep everyone informed of the care roster.
- Expense Tracker: This feature helps track child-related expenses such as school fees, medical bills, and even pocket money. You can store receipts for future reference.
- Group News Feed: The news feed lets parents and family members share important milestones and events without needing to interact directly with the parent or carer in charge at the time.
SharedCare helps prevent misunderstandings and makes it easy to stay organised, especially when juggling multiple people involved in the children’s lives.
Cost: Free, with in-app purchases available.
2. Parentship
Parentship is designed to ease the emotional stress of co-parenting by providing a user-friendly platform to help parents stay focused on their shared commitment to raising children. The app helps parents navigate the complexities of scheduling, communication, and tracking custody arrangements with minimal emotional strain.
Key Features:
- Custom Dashboard: The dashboard gives you an overview of upcoming events, important alerts, and essential tasks.
- Reminders: Set reminders so you never forget important events like school recitals or doctor appointments.
- Custom Calendaring: This feature allows you to easily coordinate schedules without the back-and-forth of calls, texts, or emails.
- Smart Profile: Everything about your child is stored in one place, making it easy to access relevant information quickly.
- Digital Documents: Store essential documents such as custody agreements, medical records, or school forms digitally, eliminating the need for paper tracking.
Parentship aims to streamline co-parenting and help reduce the tension that often accompanies shared responsibilities.
Cost: Free for the first month; annual subscription at $39.99 or monthly at $3.99.
3. FamCal
FamCal is ideal for all types of families, whether co-parenting or just busy families managing multiple schedules. It’s a shared family calendar app that allows you to coordinate dates, tasks, notes, and events, ensuring everyone is organised and on the same page.
Key Features:
- Family Calendar: Colour-code events and people, share schedules, and set up reminders for important dates.
- Lists and Tasks: Share grocery lists, work schedules, and to-do lists to ensure no task is overlooked.
- Family Notes: A space for jotting down notes or sharing important moments with anyone in the family who has access to the app.
FamCal is a great option for simplifying day-to-day life and keeping everyone in the loop.
Cost: Free.
4. Parenting Apart
Created by Christina McGhee, a divorce coach and parent educator, the Parenting Apart app offers helpful guidance for navigating the challenges of co-parenting after separation or divorce. It’s designed to assist parents in managing their emotions, staying calm, and making informed decisions about their children’s well-being.
Key Features:
- Guidance and Advice: Offers quick answers to tough problems, from handling emotional signs in children to exploring legal options.
- Resources for Co-Parents: Provides helpful information about divorce and managing the emotional transitions that accompany it.
- Child Well-being: Focuses on ensuring that the emotional and psychological health of your child is maintained throughout the co-parenting process.
This app provides helpful advice and practical tools to minimise the negative impact that separation can have on the whole family.
Cost: $1.49.
5. Custody Connection
If you’re looking for a tool to help organise custody schedules and eliminate confusion over who has the children, Custody Connection is the app for you. With a shared calendar and easy event syncing, it helps both parents stay on top of scheduling, custody dates, and even medical information.
Key Features:
- Shared Calendar: Keep track of the children’s schedules, including school events, doctor appointments, and extracurricular activities.
- Syncing and Reminders: Both parents can sync their calendars and set reminders for important events.
- Medical and Other Important Information: Store and share medical details, allergies, and other vital information.
The Custody Connection app eliminates much of the frustration that comes from miscommunication between parents.
Cost: Free for the first 30 days, then $2.99 for the basic version.
6. 2 Houses
For parents who are separated and have children moving between two homes, 2Houses is a fantastic tool to organise custody schedules, manage expenses, and store important family documents. This app makes it easy to communicate and share information without the hassle of traditional communication methods.
Key Features:
- Custody Calendar: Simplifies managing the children’s schedule between two homes.
- Expense Tracker: Keep track of and manage child-related expenses, from school fees to medical bills.
- Photo and Journal Sharing: Share photos and journal notes about the kids with the other parent.
- School and Medical Information: Easily exchange school-related information, medical details, and updates between homes.
2Houses offers a comprehensive platform for parents to keep everything organised in one place, ensuring both parents are aware of what’s happening in their children’s lives.
Cost: Free for a 14-day trial; upgrades available for additional features.
7. Cozi (Family Organiser)
If you’re managing a busy family with multiple schedules, tasks, and appointments, Cozi is an ideal solution. While it’s great for all types of families, it’s especially useful for co-parents trying to stay organised. The app allows users to create a shared family calendar, manage to-do lists, and even store family recipes, making life just a little bit easier.
Key Features:
- Shared Family Calendar: Sync appointments, school schedules, and family events with ease.
- To-Do Lists: Organise and sign tasks, from picking up groceries to helping with homework.
- Recipe Storage: Share family-friendly recipes, perfect for families managing dietary restrictions.
- Family Journal: Store memories and photos in a digital format, so you can revisit special moments.
Cozi is a perfect tool for keeping everyone in the family, including both parents, organised and connected.
Cost: Free, with premium features available for purchase.
8. Custody Junction
Unlike the other apps on this list, Custody Junction is an online co-parenting management system. For parents who prefer working on a computer rather than a mobile app, Custody Junction provides a complete platform to manage schedules, communication, and reports.
Key Features:
- Detailed Reports: Track and report events, custodial exchanges, and expenses.
- Online Communication: Secure messaging system to communicate with your co-parent.
- Custody Schedule: Easily track and modify the custody schedule, syncing it with both parties.
For those who prefer working on a computer or need more detailed reports for custody-related matters, Custody Junction offers a thorough and efficient solution.
Final Thoughts
Co-parenting can be a complex, emotional, and at times frustrating journey, but these eight apps provide the tools necessary to streamline communication, scheduling, and expense tracking. Whether you’re managing day-to-day routines, ensuring your children’s well-being, or simply trying to stay organised, these apps can help reduce the mental load and foster a healthier co-parenting relationship.
If you’re not yet using one of these tools, now might be the perfect time to start — it could make your life just a little bit easier and a lot more organised.
