TalkingParents is no longer free. Here is what co-parents can do now.
Reviewed 29 September 2026 · UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada · based on TalkingParents’ own pricing page
TalkingParents used to have a free plan. Since 30 March 2026 you need a paid subscription to use the app. Its pricing page now lists three plans after a 30-day free trial: Essentials at $7 a month, Enhanced at $16 a month and Ultimate at $32 a month, billed in US dollars, with about 8% off if you pay annually (talkingparents.com/pricing, read 29 September 2026).
If a mediator, a forum or a friend told you TalkingParents was the free option, that has changed. This page covers who can still use it for free, what to save if you are moving, and a genuinely free option for both parents.
First, check whether you can still get TalkingParents free
TalkingParents offers a fee waiver if you qualify for financial or domestic violence support. If a court or solicitor has asked you to use TalkingParents specifically, apply for the waiver and follow that instruction rather than moving.
If you are in danger or worried about your safety, a helpline matters more than any app. In Ireland call Women’s Aid on 1800 341 900; in the UK the National Domestic Abuse Helpline is on 0808 2000 247. Both are free and open day and night.
TalkingParents and ParenThing side by side
| TalkingParents | ParenThing | |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | No free plan since 30 March 2026, apart from fee waivers for parents who qualify | Free for both parents with no time limit |
| Paid price | Essentials $7/mo, Enhanced $16/mo, Ultimate $32/mo, in US dollars | One Premium plan per family: £10.99/mo or £109.99/yr in the UK, €12.99/mo or €129.99/yr in Ireland |
| Trial | 30 days | Free runs indefinitely; Premium comes with a 30-day trial |
| Who pays | Check before you subscribe whether your co-parent needs a plan of their own | One plan covers both parents and the children |
| Currency | US dollars | Your own currency: pounds, euro, and Australian, New Zealand and Canadian dollars |
| Built for | US-first, with records built around US courts | Built in Ireland for families in Ireland and the UK, with local currency in Australia, New Zealand and Canada |
| Where your data lives | No EU data residency stated | Held in the EU (Ireland) under GDPR, never sold, no ads |
What ParenThing gives you free, and what is Premium
Free, for both parents: secure messages with a tone check before they send, a shared calendar with handovers, documents you can keep private or share, tasks, a journal, packing lists, the child wellbeing check-in, and connecting a mediator or solicitor when you both agree. You can set up your family and calendar before your co-parent joins, then invite them when you are ready.
Premium, one plan for the whole family: expenses and shared costs, maintenance tracking, payment requests, reports and court documents. £10.99 a month or £109.99 a year in the UK, €12.99 a month or €129.99 a year in Ireland, and priced in local currency in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Neither parent pays separately.
Free runs the day to day. Premium is money and evidence. There is no time limit on Free.
Moving across in twenty minutes
- Save what you have first. Before your TalkingParents trial or plan ends, download the message and calendar records you may need later. Printed and PDF records depend on your plan, so check what yours includes.
- Install ParenThing from Google Play or the App Store, or use the web app at app.parenthing.ie, and create your family.
- Invite your co-parent. One invite, one shared space, and it is free for them too.
- Rebuild the calendar from your parenting plan or court order, and upload the documents you saved.
We are a small company in Ireland, not a big US one. If something does not make sense, email support@parenthing.ie and a person answers.
Try ParenThing free
Free for both parents, with no time limit. One Premium plan per family if you ever want it. Built in Ireland. Your data stays in the EU.
Related
ParenThing is not affiliated with TalkingParents. Statements about TalkingParents are taken from its public pricing page on 29 September 2026 and may change, so check the latest before deciding. This page is general information, not legal advice.