Looking for an AppClose alternative in the UK or Ireland?
Reviewed 18 July 2026 · Verified July 2026 · Independent comparison
AppClose is a popular co-parenting app, and for many families it does the job well. It used to be free, but since January 2026 it is a paid subscription, with free accounts kept for parents in financial hardship and survivors of domestic abuse. If you are separating in the UK or Ireland, though, there is another thing worth knowing: AppClose is built US-first, and its privacy policy transfers your data outside the EEA to the United States.
ParenThing also has a free tier both parents can use, with one Premium plan (€12.99 a month) covering the whole family, and it is built in Ireland for UK and Irish families and keeps your data in the EU. So the real choice here is not just about price, it is about where your family's data lives.
ParenThing vs AppClose at a glance
| ParenThing | AppClose | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free tier; Premium €12.99/mo per family | No free tier since January 2026. £5.99/mo on the web or £8.99/mo in the app, after a 60-day trial; fee waivers if you qualify |
| Where your data is hosted | In the EU (Ireland) | Transferred outside the EEA to the US, per its privacy policy |
| Built for | UK & Ireland | US-first |
| Secure messaging | Yes | Yes |
| Shared calendar & schedules | Yes | Yes |
| Expense tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Timestamped message record | Yes | Yes |
Where your co-parenting data lives
If you are in the UK: ParenThing is built for UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, with your data held in the EU, a region the UK recognises as providing adequate protection, rather than being sent to the US.
Being fair about AppClose
AppClose is a capable app with a large user base, and it offers secure messaging, scheduling and expense tracking much like ParenThing. If US data hosting is not a concern for you, it is a reasonable choice. For UK and Irish families who would rather keep their data in the EU and use something built for their own courts and services, ParenThing is the closer fit.
Try ParenThing free
Free to start for both parents, one Premium plan per family. Built in Ireland. Your data stays in the EU.
Get the app on Google PlayRelated
ParenThing is not affiliated with AppClose. This comparison is based on publicly available information from appclose.com, verified in July 2026. Prices and features change; please check each provider's current terms before deciding. This page is general information, not legal advice.