Side-by-Side Comparison

Kidtime vs AppClose

AppClose was the 'free' option for years — but it ended its free tier on January 1, 2026 and now charges $107.88/yr per parent. Kidtime offers a real free tier, AI Tone Scan in chat (which AppClose doesn't have), and 15+ built-in custody schedule templates — at competitive pricing with a modern UI.

AppClose isn't free anymore

Pivoted to a paid subscription on January 1, 2026 — $107.88/yr per parent (~$216/yr for a pair). Most existing 'AppClose is free' content online is now stale.

AI Tone Scan

Kidtime has it (reviews your message before you send and suggests a softer rephrase). AppClose has no AI tone-scanning features at all.

Free tier still exists

Kidtime still has a genuinely free tier (calendar, templates, basic chat). AppClose no longer does — subscription required to use the app.

Full feature comparison: Kidtime vs AppClose

Side-by-side breakdown of what each app actually offers. Where AppClose wins, we say so.

FeatureKidtimeAppClose
Free tier
Kidtime wins
Yes — calendar, custody templates, basic chat
No (free tier removed January 1, 2026)
Free trial of premium
Competitor wins
7 days, no credit card
60-day free trial, no credit card
Pricing modelTie
Per parent, transparent flat pricing — meaningfully less than AppClose
$8.99/mo = $107.88/yr per parent (single tier)
Custody schedule templatesPre-built schedules so you don't enter handoffs by handTie
15+ built-in (50/50, 60/40, 70/30, 80/20 variants)
15 pre-built templates
Auto-generated custody analytics
Kidtime wins
Yes — percent, hours, overnights, days
Basic schedule view only
AI Tone Scan in chatReviews messages before send and suggests softer rephrases
Kidtime wins
Included in premium
None — no AI tone features
Unalterable messagingTie
Yes — every message timestamped, can't be edited or deleted
Yes — secure, time-stamped, encrypted
Audio / video calling
Competitor wins
No
Yes — encrypted calling, no caller location shared
Expense tracker + payments
Competitor wins
Expense tracking + reimbursement requests
Expense Log + ipayou® payments
Communicate with non-app usersDocument conversations with people who refuse to install the app
Competitor wins
No
AppClose Solo — text/email with documentation
Attorney / mediator accessTie
Free attorney portal access on premium — view-only, ongoing
Circles — invite unlimited third parties (attorneys, mediators, family)
Data export
Kidtime wins
Full Excel export — notes, chat, custody — all tiers
Records export + certified affidavits via subpoena
UI / modern feel
Kidtime wins
Modern, opinionated UI
Frequently described as dated
User base
Competitor wins
Newer entrant (2-year-old domain, growing fast)
1M+ Google Play downloads — largest in category
Mobile appsTie
iOS + Android + web, real-time sync
iOS + Android + web

Pricing and feature details researched from AppClose’s official site. Last verified April 2026.

Which one should you pick?

Pick AppClose if…

  • You need to communicate with a coparent who refuses to install any app — AppClose Solo handles that uniquely
  • Audio/video calling between coparents inside the app is important to you
  • You want the largest installed user base in the category (1M+ Google Play downloads)
  • 60-day trial vs Kidtime's 7-day matters to you for evaluation

Pick Kidtime if…

  • You want AI Tone Scan in chat — AppClose has no AI tone features at all
  • You want a real free tier so you can use the app indefinitely without paying — AppClose ended theirs in January 2026
  • You want auto-generated custody analytics (percent, hours, overnights, days), not just a calendar view
  • You'd rather a modern, polished UI than AppClose's frequently-criticized dated interface
  • You're shopping post-Jan-2026 and have realized AppClose's 'free forever' positioning across the web is now outdated

Frequently asked questions

Is AppClose really not free anymore?

Correct. AppClose ended its free tier on January 1, 2026 and now charges $8.99/month ($107.88/yr) per parent. There's a 60-day free trial, but ongoing use requires a subscription. Most blog content and reviews you'll find online still say 'AppClose is free' — that's now stale.

How much cheaper is Kidtime vs AppClose?

AppClose is now $107.88/yr per parent (~$216/yr for a coparent pair). Kidtime's premium is meaningfully less per parent than that, plus Kidtime has a free tier so you can try the calendar and custody templates indefinitely without paying anything. AppClose has no equivalent free tier anymore.

Does AppClose have anything Kidtime doesn't?

Three things: AppClose Solo (lets you document conversations with people who don't have the app installed via text/email), encrypted audio/video calling between coparents, and a 60-day trial vs Kidtime's 7-day. If any of those are deal-breakers, AppClose is the right tool. Otherwise, Kidtime covers the same daily co-parenting workflow with AI Tone Scan and a modern UI on top.

Will my coparent need to pay if I switch from AppClose to Kidtime?

No. AppClose now requires every parent to subscribe (no free tier), so if you're already on AppClose you're both paying. Kidtime has a real free tier — your coparent can join the calendar and chat without paying anything. Your premium features (analytics, AI Tone Scan, attorney access) still work for you.

Is Kidtime as established as AppClose?

Honest answer: no. AppClose has been around longer and has 1M+ Google Play downloads — the largest installed base in the category. Kidtime is the newer, modern entrant. Trade-off: Kidtime ships with features AppClose doesn't have (AI Tone Scan, auto-generated custody analytics, free attorney portal) and a polished UI, but you're trading some incumbent track record for that.

Try Kidtime free

Free tier covers the calendar, custody schedule templates, and basic chat. Premium adds AI Tone Scan, full custody analytics, and attorney portal access — with a 7-day trial.