OurFamilyWizard video calls: what each plan includes

OurFamilyWizard now has audio and video calls between co-parents. What you can do with them depends on your plan, and because each parent has their own subscription, it also depends on the plan your co-parent is on. This page sets out the calls on each plan, what they cost for two parents in Ireland, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, and how calls work in ParenThing, which includes them in one plan for the family.

OurFamilyWizard's help centre adds a few details worth knowing. Both parents consent to audio calls and video calls separately before calls can start. Calls use an internet connection rather than your phone number, and they ring even when the app is closed. Every call is logged with its date, time, duration and status, and the Call Activity report can be downloaded from a web browser. Its help centre also says Calls are for the main co-parent accounts only, and that plans with Calls may be limited in some regions.

OurFamilyWizard's pricing FAQ says: "You will each need to have your own subscriptions, but you are able to pay for your co-parent if you would like." So for both of you to be able to ring the other, you both need Essentials or higher.

Recorded calls cost more again: two parents on Max pay €509.98 a year in Ireland, £431.98 in the UK, A$799.98 in Australia, NZ$878 in New Zealand and C$719.98 in Canada. In Ireland only, one parent on Essentials and one on Basic comes to €229.98, but then only one of you can place calls.

ParenThing Premium includes audio and video calls between the two parents in the ParenThing phone app on Android and iPhone, with 1,000 call minutes a month for the family. A free trial includes 100 call minutes. You can also book calls with the children, one-off or repeating: a child's call rings the phone of the parent the child is with, who hands the phone over. Calls are not recorded or transcribed, and they are not available on the web app. Each call leaves a plain entry in your family's record: who called, when, how long it lasted and whether it was answered.

One Premium plan covers both parents, so you share the minutes rather than each paying for your own: €12.99 a month or €129.99 a year in Ireland, £10.99 or £109.99 in the UK, A$23.99 or A$234.99 in Australia, NZ$29.99 or NZ$299.99 in New Zealand, and C$20.99 or C$209.99 in Canada.

• Recording and transcripts. If you want a recording of what was said, OurFamilyWizard Max offers it, with both parents' consent. ParenThing calls are not recorded.
• Unlimited minutes on Premium and Max. ParenThing Premium has 1,000 call minutes a month for the family.
• Calls through a fee waiver. Its help centre says an approved fee waiver gives an Essentials subscription with unlimited call minutes.

If a court or your solicitor has asked you to use OurFamilyWizard, use it. If you are choosing for yourselves, the questions are whether you need recordings, and whether paying for two subscriptions makes sense for your family.