OurFamilyWizard is one of the most established co-parenting apps in the world. It offers messaging, a shared calendar, expense tracking, and its ToneMeter feature to flag potentially hostile language. It is widely used in family law, including in Australia.
It is also built around the assumption that both parents are paying and taking part, and much of its design comes from a US family law context rather than an Australian one.
Kindred is a new Australian app being built by a separated parent. Solo use is free, because plenty of parents are doing this on their own. The rest of the app is built around the idea that what you need changes as your situation does.
Feature comparison
How Kindred stacks up
| Feature | Kindred | OurFamilyWizard |
|---|---|---|
| AI communication coaching | ToneMeter | |
| Full solo use, free | ||
| Shared calendar | ||
| Expense tracking | ||
| Schedule swap requests | ||
| Calendar subscription (iCal) | ||
| Document storage | ||
| Timestamped, exportable records | ||
| Separate modes for discussion vs quick logistics | In development | |
| Built in Australia |
Kindred is still in development — items marked “in development” aren’t available yet. OurFamilyWizard details are based on their publicly published information and may have changed since.
The Kindred difference
Where Kindred is different
Coaching before you send
OurFamilyWizard's ToneMeter signals how a message may read. Kindred is built around suggesting a calmer rewrite before you send, and the goal is for that coaching to ease off on its own as things settle down.
You shouldn't pay to do this alone
Plenty of parents are managing the calendar, the expenses and the record on their own, because the other parent won't engage or it isn't safe to invite them. In Kindred, solo use is free. You pay when your co-parent joins.
A tool, not just a record
OurFamilyWizard is designed first and foremost to produce a record. Kindred keeps the record, but aims to be something you'd actually use day to day once the hard part is behind you.
Built in Australia
Australian terminology, Australian services. Parenting plans and parental responsibility rather than US custody language, and links to local support like 1800RESPECT and the Family Relationship Advice Line.