Compare
OurFamilyWizard vs AppClose
OurFamilyWizard and AppClose are both co-parenting communication apps: secure messaging, a shared calendar and an expense record for the years after a parenting plan is in place. Neither writes the plan. The differences are in the record each keeps, the extras around it, and how each charges.
We make CoParent Navigator, a parenting-plan builder, and compete with neither app for day-to-day messaging. Details last reviewed July 2026; check each app's site for the current version.
Quick verdict
Choose OurFamilyWizard for court-recognized message and expense records.
The most established co-parenting communication app, a court-trusted message log, shared calendar, and expense tracker.
Choose AppClose for all-in-one day-to-day coordination.
A co-parenting coordination app for messaging, recorded calls, shared calendars, expenses, and payments.
Add CoParent Navigator for building the parenting plan itself.
Neither OurFamilyWizard nor AppClose writes the parenting plan. Build it first, then run it in whichever of the two you choose.
Feature comparison
| Feature | OurFamilyWizard | AppClose | CoParent Navigator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Ongoing communication & records | Ongoing communication & records | Create your comprehensive parenting plan |
| Guided parenting-plan builder | No | No | Yes, step-by-step wizard |
| Research-backed clause library | No | No | Yes, covering every area of a plan |
| Parenting-time % calculator | No | No | Yes |
| Plan gap-check / evaluation | No | No | Yes |
| State-specific guidance | Limited | No | Yes |
| Mediation preparation tools | No | No | Yes |
| Expert-grounded education library | Limited (blog) | Limited | Yes, cited to the field's experts |
| Secure messaging & court records | Yes, court-trusted | Yes | No, not what we do |
| Shared calendar & expense tracking | Yes | Yes | No, not what we do |
| Pricing model | Paid, per parent | Paid (was free) | Free to start; affordable one-time/again-as-needed |
Category-level comparison; last reviewed July 2026.
Where OurFamilyWizard is strong
Best for court-recognized message and expense records.
- 22+ years in market and the name many courts and attorneys default to
- Time-stamped, unalterable message log built for legal documentation
- Shared calendar, expense/payment tracking, and an info bank
Pricing: Paid subscription, billed per parent (each parent pays separately), so a two-parent family pays roughly double the headline price.
CoParent Navigator vs OurFamilyWizard OurFamilyWizard's site
Where AppClose is strong
Best for all-in-one day-to-day coordination.
- Broad coordination toolkit: messaging, calls, calendar, expenses, payments
- Unalterable message history for accountability
- Discounts and free accounts for hardship, DV survivors, and military
Pricing: Previously free; moved to a paid subscription in 2026 (with a free trial and hardship programs).
How to choose between OurFamilyWizard and AppClose
- Start from the job. OurFamilyWizard is strongest at court-recognized message and expense records; AppClose at all-in-one day-to-day coordination. If one of those is your actual problem, the choice is made.
- Check who pays. OurFamilyWizard: Paid subscription, billed per parent (each parent pays separately), so a two-parent family pays roughly double the headline price. AppClose: Previously free; moved to a paid subscription in 2026 (with a free trial and hardship programs). Confirm whether a price covers one parent or both before you compare.
- Ask what your court or mediator expects. In high-conflict cases a judge or attorney may ask for an unalterable message record, and sometimes names the app. That decides it.
- Get the plan right first. Every calendar, holiday and expense rule you set up afterwards comes from the parenting plan. Neither app writes it; CoParent Navigator builds the plan substance-first, with a clause library, a gap-check and state guidance, and the co-parent, mediator or attorney you invite joins at no extra cost.
CoParent Navigator is an educational and drafting tool, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Product names belong to their owners.
Build the plan before you pick the app
A comprehensive parenting plan, step by step, tailored to your family and your state. Then take it into whichever app you use day to day.