OurFamilyWizard and TalkingParents dominate searches for co-parenting apps — but between rising subscription prices, US-centric data storage, and an assumption that every family looks the same, a lot of parents are looking for alternatives. This is a frank, side-by-side breakdown of all three.
Disclosure: Larkling is our app. We've tried to be accurate about where OFW and TalkingParents are stronger, because we think you deserve an honest comparison more than a sales pitch.
Pricing: The Biggest Difference
This is where the gap is most stark. OurFamilyWizard charges per parent, not per family — so a separated couple paying for both accounts is looking at roughly $33.98/month or over $400 a year. TalkingParents is cheaper per parent but the math still adds up when you multiply by two.
Larkling charges per family. One subscription covers both parents. That difference alone is significant for families already managing the financial pressures of separation.
| Cost | OurFamilyWizard | TalkingParents | Larkling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | No | Very limited | Yes — full messaging, calendar, 2 children |
| Paid plan (monthly) | ~$16.99 per parent | ~$8.99 per parent | £6.99 per family |
| Both parents, monthly | ~$33.98 | ~$17.98 | £6.99 |
| Both parents, annually | ~$408/year | ~$215/year | ~£84/year |
| Pricing model | Per parent | Per parent | Per family |
Pricing above reflects current published rates and approximate GBP conversion — always check each app's current pricing before subscribing.
Court Records
All three apps position their messaging as useful for legal proceedings. There are meaningful differences in how records are structured and what courts in the UK specifically will find useful.
| Court Records | OurFamilyWizard | TalkingParents | Larkling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timestamped messages | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tamper-evident PDF exports | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (SHA-256 hash) |
| Expense records | ✓ | Partial | ✓ (Premium) |
| PDF exports on free tier | ✗ | ✗ | Paid only |
| CAFCASS-relevant documentation | Not UK-specific | Not UK-specific | ✓ UK-focused |
| Tone guidance to improve records | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ Tone Coach |
No app can guarantee a court will accept any particular record. What courts (including CAFCASS in England and Wales) look for is consistency, completeness, and verifiability — all three apps can help with this to varying degrees.
LGBTQ+ and Alternative Family Support
OFW and TalkingParents were built for the traditional separated-heterosexual-couple use case. They work for other families, but the language, onboarding, and design reflects their original audience. Larkling was built from the start for same-sex couples, trans and non-binary parents, platonic co-parents, polyamorous families, and donor-conceived families.
| Inclusivity | OurFamilyWizard | TalkingParents | Larkling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral parent labels | ✗ Mum/Dad default | ✗ Mum/Dad default | ✓ Custom labels |
| Pronoun support | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multiple co-parents | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ (Premium) |
| Non-romantic co-parenting | Works but not designed for it | Works but not designed for it | ✓ First-class support |
Data Location
For UK families, data location matters — both for GDPR compliance and as a practical question about where your sensitive family records are held.
| Data & Privacy | OurFamilyWizard | TalkingParents | Larkling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data location | USA | USA | EU (Ireland) |
| GDPR compliant | US company, SCCs | US company, SCCs | ✓ EU-native |
| Right to deletion | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Feature Comparison
| Features | OurFamilyWizard | TalkingParents | Larkling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared messaging | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (free) |
| Shared calendar | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (free) |
| Expense tracking | ✓ | Limited | ✓ (Premium) |
| Document vault | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ (Premium) |
| Private journal | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ (Premium) |
| Tone Coach (AI message check) | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ (1/day free; 30/day Premium) |
| Mobile app | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (PWA) |
| Message history on free tier | ✗ | ✗ | 7 days free |
Honest Verdicts
Which Should You Choose?
If you're a US family in active litigation and your solicitor or attorney already knows OurFamilyWizard, staying with the known quantity may make sense. Court familiarity with a specific platform can matter in proceedings.
If you want the cheapest credible option for ongoing co-parenting communication — especially in the UK — Larkling's free tier covers messaging and calendar with no cost, and Premium is priced per family rather than per parent.
If your family isn't a traditional two-parent separated couple — same-sex, non-binary parents, platonic co-parents, three or more co-parents — Larkling is the only option on this list designed with you in mind from the ground up.
If you're switching from OFW or TalkingParents, export your records first. Both apps allow PDF exports of message history. Keep those records regardless of which app you move to.
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