TalkingParents video calls: minutes, recording and cost

TalkingParents includes phone and video calls between co-parents on every paid plan, under the name Accountable Calling. Every call is recorded, the number of minutes depends on the plan, and each parent pays for their own plan in US dollars. This page sets out how it works, what it costs for two parents, and how calls work in ParenThing, which includes them in one plan for the family.

• Every call is recorded. Its help centre (How does Accountable Calling work?) says: "All Phone and Video calls are recorded, and parents can receive an audio and video file as well as a transcript for each call."
• Consent to receive calls. Parents must agree to its Calling Consent and have Recorded Calling switched on to receive calls from the other parent.
• The caller pays the minutes. Minutes are charged to the parent who places the call, rounded up to the next minute, and unanswered calls you place are billed too (How are the minutes for Calling charged?).
• Minutes do not roll over. Monthly minutes end with each billing month. Extra minutes cost US$35 for 100 on its website, or US$46 for 100 through the Apple and Google stores.
• Outside the US. Video calls work from anywhere. Phone calls need a US or Canadian mobile number beginning +1 (Does calling work outside the US?).

Its help centre says "A TalkingParents account is for a single user and cannot be shared", so each parent needs their own plan. One parent can buy an annual plan for the other, matching their own plan (Can I pay for my co-parent's account?).

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, in your own currency: €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.

TalkingParents suits you if you want every call recorded and transcribed, and a signed record of everything, and you are happy for each parent to pay in US dollars. Ultimate gives unlimited minutes.

ParenThing suits you if you want calls with the other parent and booked calls with the children on one plan for the family, without recordings, and a Free plan for the day to day.

If a court or your solicitor has asked you to use TalkingParents, follow that instruction.