Best co-parenting apps in the UK (2026): an honest comparison

We build a co-parenting app, so treat this as a comparison written by someone with a horse in the race, and check the facts against each provider yourself. That said, we have tried to be genuinely fair about where each app is strong. The right choice depends on what matters most to you: cost, court reputation, or where your data is stored.

ParenThing is the free option built for UK and Irish families, with secure messaging, a shared calendar, expenses and documents, and your data kept in the EU. It is newer, so it does not have the courtroom history of the incumbents, but it covers what most separated families need at no cost.

OurFamilyWizard is the best-known name and the one most often referenced by UK courts and CAFCASS. It is also the most expensive and charges each parent separately. If a court has recommended it, use it.

TalkingParents is strong on unalterable records and authentication, and is often suggested for high-conflict cases, though its pricing and framing are US-centric.

AppClose is a capable free app, but it is US-first and transfers data to the United States.

2houses is a well-established EU app with fair whole-family pricing, though it is paid and its privacy policy does not mention GDPR.

Our honest take: if a court has named an app, use that one. Otherwise, for most UK families who want the essentials without paying twice and without their data going to the US, ParenThing is the one to try first, because it is free and there is nothing to lose.