Best Co-Parenting Apps for Single Parents in the UK (Free & Low-Cost Options)

Something that comes up as a question in our SPW community is around the best apps for communication. Communicating with a co-parent, linear parent or high conflict parent, can be one of the most challenging parts of single parenting, particularly after separation, during conflict, or where family court, mediation, or safeguarding services are involved. For many single parents in the UK, affordability, safety, and having a clear written record matter far more than complicated features.

This blog looks at the best co-parenting apps for single parents in the UK, with an honest focus on free and low-cost options, how suitable they are for UK families, and what genuinely helps reduce stress rather than add to it.

What UK Single Parents Often Need From a Co-Parenting App

Many co-parenting apps are developed in the US and don’t always reflect how parenting arrangements work in England and Wales. In practice, UK single parents often need:

• Free or affordable tools

• Clear, time-stamped communication

• Shared calendars for school, contact, and handovers

• Reduced conflict and emotional distance

• Something that can support mediation or court processes if needed

AppClose – Useful, With Important Changes Coming

Best for: Messaging, shared calendars, expenses

Cost: Subscription from January (fee waivers available)

AppClose has been popular because it offered a wide range of features at no cost. However, it has confirmed that it will be introducing a monthly subscription from January 2026. What UK parents need to know:

• A fee-waiver scheme is continuing, which may allow free access for parents on low incomes

• You may be eligible if you receive benefits such as:

• Universal Credit

• Income Support

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Employment and Support Allowance

• Housing Benefit

• Council Tax Reduction

• Parents who have had help with fees (EX160) or court fee remission in the last 12 months may also qualify

• If you don’t subscribe, accounts are expected to remain available in read-only mode, allowing you to view or export existing records

AppClose can still be a practical option, but it’s important to check current pricing and eligibility before relying on it long-term.

Key features:

• Secure, time-stamped messaging

• Shared calendar for contact, handovers, and school events

• Requests and updates for schedule changes

• Expense tracking with receipt uploads

• Document storage and exportable records for mediation or court

• Privacy controls so personal contact details can remain hidden

TalkingParents – Free, Clear, and UK-Appropriate

Best for: Safe, documented communication

Cost: Free messaging

TalkingParents is often recommended by solicitors, mediators, and safeguarding professionals. Messages are time-stamped, securely stored, and cannot be edited or deleted, which helps keep communication factual and calm.

Key features:

• Free to use for messaging

• Communication logs can be downloaded if needed

• You can hide your phone number

• Feels less “American-style” than some other apps

It doesn’t offer extensive planning tools unless you upgrade, but if your priority is safe communication with clear boundaries, it’s one of the strongest free options available.

OurFamilyWizard – Powerful but Expensive

Best for: High-conflict or court-ordered situations

Cost: Paid subscription (each parent usually pays separately)

OurFamilyWizard is well-known in legal settings.

Key features:

• Messaging,

• Shared calendars,

• Expense tracking,

• Tone Detector, which flags potentially confrontational language before messages are sent.

• Each parent usually needs their own subscription, which can make this app costly. There is a financial hardship or fee-assistance scheme, but access isn’t guaranteed and requires an application.

UK considerations

• High cost compared with free options

• Built around American custody models that don’t always reflect UK arrangements

• Can feel complex if you mainly need simple, calm communication

Fayr – Detailed Records and Reporting in One Place

Best for: Parents who want detailed documentation and reports

Cost: Paid subscription (free Lite version available)

Fayr is a co-parenting app designed to keep communication, schedules, expenses, and records together in one organised system. It focuses heavily on documentation, transparency, and reporting. US based app.

Key features

• Shared calendar for parenting time, handovers, and events

• In-app messaging so communication stays in one place

• Expense tracking with notes and receipts

• GPS location logging for verified pickups or drop-offs

• Exportable PDF reports that can support mediation or court discussions

Fayr offers a free Lite version with limited features and a Premium subscription. Both parents usually need a subscription to use the app together.

Cozi – Helpful for Planning, Not Conflict

Best for: Shared calendars and routines

Cost: Free with optional upgrades

Cozi isn’t designed specifically for separated parents, but many families use it successfully for shared planning. It works best where communication is already relatively calm and the main need is keeping dates and activities visible.

Timetree & FamCal – Simple Shared Calendars

Best for: Low-conflict co-parenting

Cost: Free

These apps offer straightforward shared calendars. They’re accessible and easy to use but don’t provide any communication safeguards, so they’re best suited to cooperative arrangements.

2Houses & My Family Wall – Mostly Planning Tools

Both apps focus mainly on calendars and organisation. While useful, many features sit behind paywalls, which may limit accessibility for single parents managing on a tight budget.

A Free, Practical Alternative: Shared Email & Calendar

For many UK families, the simplest option works best. Setting up a shared Outlook or Gmail email account with a shared calendar can provide:

• Written, time-stamped communication

• A shared view of school events, contact, and holidays

• No subscription costs

While it doesn’t offer specialist features, it’s accessible, familiar, and effective for many parents.

Final Thoughts

There is no perfect co-parenting app — especially in the UK, where many tools are developed in the US and can be costly or overly complex for everyday family life.

Within the Single Parents Wellbeing (SPW) community, parents consistently recommend the following as the top three co-parenting apps:

• AppClose

• TalkingParents

• OurFamilyWizard

These are most often described by SPW parents as the most practical, reliable, and useful for managing communication, boundaries, and planning, particularly where clarity, records, and reduced conflict matter.

The right tool is the one that reduces stress, protects your wellbeing, and keeps the focus on your children.

This blog is for general information and peer-support purposes only and is based on community feedback and publicly available information at the time of writing. It does not constitute legal or professional advice. App features and pricing may change.

Got any thoughts on any of these apps or options for communication? We’d love to hear from you! Comment on our blog or join our online FB community.