Figuring out the best family calendar app and which one you would use can take time and effort. I have downloaded and used quite a few myself over the years, and I have a top 3 list because, after much trial and error, I have found the one that makes the most sense for me. The main thing for me is that the app is free or low-cost. There are many options, but adding another subscription for some products is not a goal for me or my household. So, I will compare a few options on the market and give you the top 3 options I could recommend and a few honorable mentions.
Google Calendar is the best overall FREE family calendar that is offered. It has many options and features that other “free” calendar apps do not. Google Calendar is my go-to calendar, and I have used it for years. It has a sharing option that allows a family to create multiple user calendars that connect in a single place. You can also create multiple calendars for yourself, such as work, family, and business calendars that you can view anytime on your phone.
However, besides Google Calendar, several other great free family calendar apps help busy moms stay organized and keep track of their family’s schedules.
Here are a few popular options:
- Cozi
- Our Home
- TimeTree
- FamCal
Top 3 overall recommendations based on Recommendation Score:
- Google Calendar -17 out of 20
- TimeTree -16 out of 20
- Cozi & OurHome – 15 out of 20
We’ll review each to compare features, descriptions, and prices.
Google Calendar:
Description: Google Calendar is a popular calendar app available for free. It allows you to create and share multiple calendars with family members or coworkers. You can also set reminders and create recurring events, making it easy to keep track of your family’s schedule.
| Available Features: | Evaluation: | Recommendation Score: |
| Shared calendars: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Reminders: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Recurring events: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| To-do lists: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Communication tools: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Shopping lists: | NO | (0 out of 1) |
| Ease of Use: | GREAT | (2 out of 2) |
| Additional features: | Video Conferencing, Merging all calendars into one place, and working with Google Workspace. Excellent interface online and on the phone | (3 out of 5) |
| Premium features: | N/A | (2 out of 2) |
| Software options: | Android, iOS & Web | (3 out of 3) |
| Price: | FREE | (2 out of 2) |
Cozi:
Description: Cozi is a family organizing app with a shared calendar, to-do lists, and shopping lists. You can use the app to keep track of appointments, school schedules, and other significant events. It also includes a feature that allows you to send automated reminders to family members. The app is designed to help busy families stay organized and keep track of their schedules.
| Available Features: | Evaluation: | Recommendation Score: |
| Shared calendars: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Reminders: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Recurring events: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| To-do lists: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Communication tools: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Shopping lists: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Ease of Use: | GOOD | (1 out of 2) |
| Additional features: | Automated reminders to family members, Recipes box | (3 out of 5) |
| Premium Features: | Birthday Tracker, Mobile Month View, Calendar Search, Multiple Reminders, Change Notifications, Shopping Mode | (1 out of 2) |
| Software options: | Android, iOS & Web | (3 out of 3) |
| Price: | FREE some features/ $29.99/yr or 2.49/mo premium features | (1 out of 2) |
OurHome:
Description: OurHome is a family organizing app with a shared calendar, to-do lists, and a chore chart. The app is designed to help families stay organized and communicate more effectively.
| Available Features: | Evaluation: | Recommendation Score: |
| Shared calendars: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Reminders: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Recurring events: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| To-do lists: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Communication tools: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Shopping lists: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Ease of Use: | GOOD | (1 out of 2) |
| Additional features: | Chore Chart, Reward System | (2 out of 5) |
| Premium Features: | N/A | (2 out of 2) |
| Software options: | Android, iOS & WebApp | (2 out of 3) |
| Price: | FREE | (2 out of 2) |
TimeTree:
Description: TimeTree is a shared calendar app that allows you to create multiple calendars and share them with others. You can use the app to keep track of appointments, schedule events, and set reminders. The app also includes a chat feature that allows you to communicate with family members.
| Available Features: | Evaluation: | Recommendation Score: |
| Shared calendars: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Reminders: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Recurring events: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| To-do lists: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Communication tools: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Shopping lists: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Ease of Use: | GOOD | (1 out of 2) |
| Additional features: | Deliver reminders, set different colors for each member or activity, search feature, share notes/ lists, and Widget feature. | (4 out of 5) |
| Premium Features: | Attach a file, Pin Event, View events by the hour, Ad-free, Premium Dedicated Support | (1 out of 2) |
| Software options: | Android, iOS & Web | (3 out of 3) |
| Price: | FREE -Basic Features/ 44.99 year/ 4.49 month – Premium Features | (1 out of 2) |
FamCal
FamCal: FamCal is a family calendar app with shared calendars, to-do lists, and reminders. You can use the app to keep track of your family’s schedule and assign tasks to family members.
| Available Features: | Evaluation: | Recommendation Score: |
| Shared calendars: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Reminders: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Recurring events: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| To-do lists: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Communication tools: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Shopping lists: | YES | (1 out of 1) |
| Ease of Use: | GOOD | (1 out of 2) |
| Additional features: | Memo, Recipes | (3 out of 5) |
| Premium Features: | Text Month View, Contacts Module, Birthday Tracker, Anniversary Tracker, Unlimited Recipes, Create Subtasks Directly, Email Notifications, Print & Export Schedule, Ads Free | (1 out of 2) |
| Software options: | Android& iOS | (2 out of 3) |
| Price: | Free -Some Features/ Premium – 4.99/mo or 79.99 one-time payment | (1 out of 2) |
All these apps offer free versions with basic features; some also offer premium versions with additional features for a fee. When choosing a family calendar app, consider your specific needs and preferences, such as whether you need to coordinate schedules with a large family or just a few people and additional features beyond a shared calendar.
Suppose you are looking for a great app to use as an organizational tool in your family. In that case, I recommend Google Calendar first because there is no hidden subscriptions or fee, and it’s excellent at integrating with other Google tools like Workspace. However, TimeTree is a very impressive alternative to Google because it offers as much as Google in the free version and has some cool extra features that are helpful to a family, such as a shopping list and phone widget features. Cozi and OurHome got the same score because they have the same features and ease of use. However, Cozi offers some extras in the premium versions that would beat Google. However, if you are looking for “Free” options, the free options in Cozi and TimeTree do not compare to those that Google and OurHome offer.
Remember that these are all preferences, so investigate what you like best for your family. I will continue to use Google Calendar as my first choice and incorporate OurHome occasionally. Happy scheduling!
