Co-parenting apps in New Zealand: the 2026 guide
Reviewed 19 September 2026 · Verified September 2026 · New Zealand
If you are co-parenting after a separation in New Zealand, a good app keeps messages, the schedule and shared costs in one calm place, and gives you a clear record if you ever need one for Family Dispute Resolution or the Family Court. There is no New Zealand-built app of note, and the well-known ones are American and charge each parent separately. Here is an honest guide to the main options, what they cost, and where your data goes.
The main options for New Zealand families
| App | Cost | Where data is hosted | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ParenThing | Free tier; Premium NZ$29.99/mo or NZ$299.99/yr per family | EU (Ireland) | Built in Ireland, one subscription covers both parents, no per-parent charge, no ads |
| OurFamilyWizard | Priced in Australian dollars on its Australian site, A$199.99 to A$399.99/yr per parent | Not stated on its pricing page | The US market leader; each co-parent needs a separate paid account |
| TalkingParents | US$7 to US$32/mo per parent | Not stated | US app billed in US dollars; free tier is limited |
| AppClose | About $8/mo per parent (currency not labelled) | Not stated | US app; no free tier since January 2026 (fee waivers if you qualify) |
| 2houses | €99/yr per family | Not stated | Belgian app priced in euro; one subscription per family |
ParenThing is built in Ireland and keeps your data in the EU, which means it leaves New Zealand; we meet the Privacy Act 2020 in how we handle it, and we never sell it or show ads. The free tier covers the everyday essentials for both parents: shared calendar, secure messaging with a tone check, tasks and documents, with expense tracking in Premium. One Premium plan at NZ$29.99 a month, or NZ$299.99 a year, covers the whole family and adds full access to your records when you need them. Google Play bills you in New Zealand dollars.
OurFamilyWizard is the app lawyers in Australia and New Zealand know best, and it charges every parent separately. TalkingParents and AppClose are American and bill per parent in US dollars. 2houses is the other one-plan-per-family option, priced in euro.
Free services worth knowing about
Apps are only part of the picture. New Zealand has free public services that most separating parents are entitled to:
What to look for
Words: New Zealand law says day-to-day care and contact, not custody. Your parenting plan should use the same words.
Data: your messages and children’s details are sensitive. Ask every app where the data is stored and whether it is sold; ParenThing’s answer is the EU, and never.
Records: a clear, timestamped message record helps if you ever need it for FDR or the Family Court. Our parenting plan templates are written for Ireland and the UK; the record itself works the same in New Zealand.
Try ParenThing free
Built in Ireland. Free to start for both parents, one Premium plan per family, billed in New Zealand dollars by Google Play. Your data stays in the EU.
Get the app on Google PlayFind help in New Zealand
Related
ParenThing is not affiliated with the other services named on this page. This guide is based on publicly available information, verified in September 2026. Prices and features change; please check each provider’s current terms before deciding. This page is general information, not legal advice.