Free for both parents

An OurFamilyWizard alternative that's free for both parents.

TextingParents is an OurFamilyWizard alternative for families who would rather not pay two subscriptions. Here is TextingParents vs OurFamilyWizard on the things that actually decide it: what each one costs, who the plan covers, and what you get without paying.

Messages, photos, calendar and Family Vault, free for both
Premium is $99 a year for the whole family, not each parent
TrueCopy, your certified court record, when a hearing needs one
iPhone. Both parents use it free.
What a family pays a yearCompared
TextingParents
$0
Free for both parents, or $99 a year for the family
OurFamilyWizard
$432
Premium at $216 a year, times two parents
OurFamilyWizard figures read on ourfamilywizard.com/plans-and-pricing on 09/17/2026
Side by side

TextingParents vs OurFamilyWizard

Only what each company publishes about itself. Nothing here is a guess about how the other app works.

TextingParents
OurFamilyWizard
Price
$0 for both parents. Premium is $99 a year or $12.99 a month for the whole family.
Premium is $216 a year. Essentials is $149.99 a year, Max is $299.88 a year, and the entry plan starts at $110 a year.
Who one plan covers
One plan covers both parents. Either parent can be the one who pays.
Their FAQ says each parent needs their own account and their own subscription, and that you can pay for your co-parent if you want to.
Free plan for parents
Yes. Unlimited messaging, high-res photos and videos, the shared calendar and the Family Vault, free for both parents.
No free parent plan is listed. They publish a fee waiver program, a military family discount, free child and third-party accounts, free access for your professionals, and a full refund inside the first 30 days.
Calls
Unlimited voice and video calls on Premium, with a 7-day free trial and no credit card.
Essentials includes 45 minutes a month of documented video and audio calling. Premium and Max list unlimited calls, and Max adds call recordings and transcriptions.
Court record
TrueCopy, your certified court record. $39 each on the Free Plan, unlimited on Premium. Any court or attorney can check that one is genuine at textingparents.com/verify.
Essentials and above list unlimited PDF records. Premium adds unlimited certified records, notarized, printed and mailed to you.
Help with wording
AI tone assist offers a calmer version of a message before you send it. Included with Premium.
A Writing Assistant is listed on Essentials and above, described as helping you rewrite messages with clarity and empathy.

OurFamilyWizard details read on ourfamilywizard.com/plans-and-pricing on 09/17/2026. Plans and prices change, so check their site before you decide. TextingParents details are on our pricing page and features page.

Fair is fair

What OurFamilyWizard does well

OurFamilyWizard is the oldest name in this category and their plans go deep. Their pricing page lists expense tracking and payments through OFWpay, GPS-verified check-ins at exchanges, secure file storage that runs to unlimited on the higher plans, call recordings and transcriptions on Max, free accounts for children and third parties, and free access for your attorney or therapist. They also run a fee waiver program and a military family discount. If your case needs that much machinery and your budget can carry two subscriptions, they have built it.

The difference

Where TextingParents is different

The difference that matters to most families is the bill. On OurFamilyWizard each parent holds their own subscription, so a two-parent family on Premium is $216 a year each. On TextingParents nobody has to pay at all: messaging, photos and videos, the shared calendar and the Family Vault are free for both parents, and if you want the extras, one Premium plan at $99 a year covers the family.

The second difference is what happens to the record when a hearing arrives. Every TrueCopy carries a code, and a judge, a clerk or the other side's attorney can confirm it is genuine at textingparents.com/verify without calling us and without taking your word for it.

No court approves an app, and we will not tell you one approved ours. What is true: the record is timestamped and cannot be edited or deleted, and a TrueCopy is a certified court record that anyone can check at textingparents.com/verify.
Questions

OurFamilyWizard alternative questions

Is TextingParents a good OurFamilyWizard alternative?+

It is the closest match if the per-parent bill is what you are trying to get away from. Messaging, photos, the shared calendar and the Family Vault are free for both parents, and Premium is $99 a year for the whole family rather than for each parent.

How much does OurFamilyWizard cost for two parents?+

Their pricing page, read on 09/17/2026, lists Premium at $216 a year, and their FAQ says each parent needs their own subscription. Two parents on Premium is $432 a year. Prices change, so check their site before you decide.

Can I switch without losing my old records?+

You can keep your existing account open and read your history there while the new thread starts here. There is a guide on switching co-parenting apps without losing records.

Do both parents have to agree to use it?+

Both parents need the app for the thread to work, which is the main reason it is free for both. Nobody has to pay to be reachable.

Is TextingParents court-approved?+

No court approves an app, and we will not tell you one approved ours. What is true is that the record is timestamped and cannot be edited or deleted, and that a TrueCopy is a certified court record anyone can verify at textingparents.com/verify.

Keep reading

More on choosing an app

Try it with your co-parent.

Download TextingParents, invite your co-parent, and the record starts with your first message. Free for both of you.