Guide to Co-Parenting Apps for Separated Parents in Australia
Updated: Oct 6
Updated September 2026
Parents often ask me which co-parenting app to use. A lot has changed since I first wrote this guide in January, so I have provided an update.
Why co-parenting apps help
Separation changes how families communicate and organise daily life. Once children are moving between two homes, texts, emails and handwritten notes often aren't enough.
Co-parenting apps give separated parents one shared place to manage information about the children. They can reduce misunderstandings, lower tension at changeovers and keep school activities, appointments and costs on track.
They also keep children out of adult communication. Parents talk directly to each other, so the kids don't become the messengers.
Free co-parenting apps in Australia: what's changed in 2026
Divvito has closed. The app shut down on 22 July 2026 and deleted its account data after that date.
New Australian-made apps have arrived. KidsFirst is free and CoOperate was built by a WA family mediator.
AppClose is no longer free. It now charges each parent a monthly fee after a 60-day free trial.
TalkingParents ended its free plan on 30 March 2026.
AI message tools are now more common. Several apps check or rewrite the tone of a message before it's sent.
What these apps do and don't do
Apps run the day-to-day arrangements of co-parenting. They don't decide them. That's the job of your parenting plan.
If you're still working out what your plan should cover, my guide to parenting plans in Australia gives you a list of topics a list of topics to consider.
Want your draft parenting plan checked?
An app helps keep the day-to-day running smoothly, but it can only follow the plan behind it. If you've drafted a parenting plan, we'll check it for gaps and unclear wording.
1. OurFamilyWizard
Best for: Families who want a structured, businesslike tool with detailed records.
OurFamilyWizard is a US company that has been running since 2001. It's one of the best-known co-parenting apps. Its Australian website says it's accepted by courts across Australia.
Key features:
Messages can't be edited and you can see when the other parent first viewed them.
ToneMeter and Writing Assistant flag charged language and suggest calmer wording before you send.
A shared calendar with change requests.
Expense tracking with custom percentage splits.
GPS check-ins that record when a parent arrives for a changeover.
Free access for children, third parties and professionals such as your mediator or lawyer.
Cost: A$199.99, A$299.99 or A$399.99 a year per parent, depending on the plan. Each parent needs their own subscription, though one parent can pay for both. Fee waivers are available for financial hardship.
Worth knowing: The fee applies to each parent, so the cost for a family doubles. Its 30-day money-back guarantee only applies if you subscribe through its website, not the App Store or Google Play.
Australian App Store rating: 4.3 from 1.1K ratings.
2. KidsFirst
Best for: Any family that wants a full set of features at no cost, with strong protection against hostile messages.
KidsFirst is an Australian app and it's free for both parents. Every feature is included, with no ads, no paid tiers and no trial period. Its data is held in Australia.
KidsFirst isn't run for profit and says it's working towards charity registration.
Key features:
An AI Conflict Filter. If a message is hostile or aggressive, the filter rewrites it in a calm, neutral tone before it's delivered. The sender sees the rewritten version and can send it or edit it but any edit goes back through the filter. The other parent only ever sees the filtered version and neither parent can switch the filter off.
Message threads by topic, such as school, health, handovers and money.
Messages can't be edited or deleted and you can export a whole thread as a timestamped PDF.
A shared calendar, expense tracking and document storage.
Names and contact details are removed before a message reaches the AI and messages are never used to train AI.
Cost: Free.
Worth knowing: KidsFirst launched in mid-2026, so it has only a handful of ratings so far, but early reviews are strong. The filter is AI, so it can't guarantee every hostile message is caught.
Australian App Store rating: 4.8 from 9 ratings.
3. AppClose
Best for: Parents who want a full set of features and one parent who may not join.
AppClose is a US app with a broad set of tools.
Key features:
Messages that can't be altered, with Co-Parent Assist to help with tone before you send.
Audio and video calls, recorded and transcribed only when both parents agree.
A shared calendar with schedule templates, plus swap and pick-up requests.
Expense tracking, reimbursement requests and payments.
Solo Mode, which works even if the other parent won't join. Requests go to them by text or email.
Cost: US$7.99 a month on the web or US$8.99 a month in the app, per parent. There's a 60-day free trial with no credit card. Fee waivers are available for financial hardship and for survivors of domestic violence.
Worth knowing: AppClose is built for the US and uses US terms such as custody and visitation. Its claim to be court-ordered in Australia is based on data its users supply.
Australian App Store rating: 4.6 from 1.3K ratings.
4. TalkingParents
Best for: Parents who need a record of phone and video calls as well as messages.
Most co-parenting apps focus on text. TalkingParents also records calls made through the app, which can reduce arguments about what was said.
Key features:
Secure messaging, a shared calendar, an information library and a private journal.
Recorded calls: 30 minutes a month on Essentials, 60 on Enhanced and unlimited on Ultimate.
Payments between parents, with a small fee on each one.
Sentiment Scanner and Writing Assist on the top plan.
Cost: US$7, US$16 or US$32 a month per parent, with a 30-day free trial. The two parents can be on different plans. Fee waivers are available for financial hardship or domestic violence.
Worth knowing: Recording a call without the other person's knowledge or consent may breach state and territory surveillance devices laws. A recording made that way may also be inadmissible in court. If you're unsure about your situation, get advice from a family lawyer.
Australian App Store rating: 4.0 from 432 ratings.
5. CoOperate
Best for: Parents who want an Australian-built app designed with family mediators.
CoOperate is made by The Coparenting Institute in Western Australia. It was developed by an Australian family mediator and stores its data on Australian servers.
Key features:
A shared calendar and expense tracker.
GPS check-ins.
Permanent messaging with read receipts.
A private journal and a file vault.
Access for lawyers, mediators or counsellors when both parents agree.
Reports you can export.
Cost: $9.99 a month, month to month, with no minimum period.
Worth knowing: Its App Store listing says both parents need a subscription to connect, so budget for two.
Australian App Store rating: 4.0 from 59 ratings.
Best co-parenting apps in Australia compared
App | Made in | Price | Does each parent pay? | Australian App Store rating |
OurFamilyWizard | USA | A$199.99 to A$399.99 a year | Yes | 4.3 (1.1K) |
KidsFirst | Australia | Free | No, free for both | 4.8 (9) |
AppClose | USA | US$7.99 to US$8.99 a month | Yes | 4.6 (1.3K) |
TalkingParents | USA | US$7 to US$32 a month | Yes | 4.0 (432) |
CoOperate | Australia | $9.99 a month | Yes | 4.0 (59) |
Are co-parenting apps court approved?
A court can make parenting orders about how you and the other parent communicate. Orders sometimes name a particular app. If your orders name one, use that app. If they don't, "court approved" is a claim the app makes about itself, so check what it actually says. If you're unsure what your orders require, speak with a family lawyer.
How I chose the apps
Every app in this guide is on the Australian App Store and is rated 4 stars or more there. Prices and ratings were checked on 28 September 2026.
I couldn't find CoRaise on the Australian App Store and 2houses is rated 3.8 there so I have left those out.
I've also left out apps that write or read parenting plans, for the reasons below.
Apps that write or read parenting plans
Some apps now build a parenting plan for you, or read one you upload. I haven't included them. The ones I looked at were written for other countries or before the Family Law Act changed in May 2024. A plan built on them can:
Use American terms such as custody and visitation, which Australian family law doesn't use.
Speak of "equal shared parental responsibility", which the Family Law Act dropped on 6 May 2024.
Include clauses written for other countries, such as which parent claims the children on their tax return.
Set out a process for disagreements that never mentions family dispute resolution.
A plan like this can look finished and still fall apart the first time you disagree.
One US app sells a feature it calls "Parenting Plan Review". It's an AI that reads your uploaded plan and uses it to guide the app's AI coach. It says it isn't legal advice.
In the interests of full disclosure, I now offer a parenting plan review. An accredited family dispute resolution practitioner reads your plan, not an app. My written report picks up:
Topics your plan doesn't cover at all.
Topics it mentions but leaves unclear.
Wording that could be read more than one way.
Questions to work through.
How to choose the best co-parenting app
No single app is right for every family. It can help to ask:
What's our biggest pain point right now: communication, scheduling or money?
Do we both prefer messaging, calls or a mix of both?
Does cost matter more, or features like tone checking or call recording?
Are we both willing to pay, or do we need a free option?
I advise parents I work with to use one app for all child-related communication for six months, then review it. That gives them enough time to see whether it's right for them.
When a co-parenting app isn't enough
Co-parenting apps work when both parents use them consistently and keep communication constructive. When that isn't happening, an app alone won't fix the underlying problems.
If one parent isn't engaging, communication is getting worse or you can't agree on the basics, parenting mediation is the next step. A mediator helps both parents reach agreement without going to court.
How Mediation Canberra can help
We offer fixed-fee parenting mediation in Canberra and online anywhere in Australia or overseas. Whether you're just starting out or co-parenting has broken down, we can help you get back on track. First consultation is always free. Same-week availability.
Disclaimer
This guide provides general information about co‑parenting apps used by Australian families. It does not provide legal advice or take the place of advice from a lawyer. For advice about your own situation, please speak with a family law professional. App features and prices change often, so check each app's website before you subscribe.
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