Best Cozi
alternatives.
Cozi's free plan now has ads and a 30-day calendar limit. If you are looking around, here are seven options, what each one costs, and who it actually fits.
Seven options, side by side.
| App | Best for | Free plan? | Paid | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KarlCal | Families who want an assistant that does the typing, plus chores and meals | Shared calendar, chat and lists | Pro: $4.99/mo or $39.99/yr | iPhone, iPad and web only for now (Android is in the works) |
| Cozi | A simple, long-established calendar with lists and recipes | Yes, with ads and a 30-day calendar limit | Gold $39/yr; Max $79/yr | Ads and the 30-day limit until you pay; AI tools only on the $79 Max plan |
| FamilyWall | Location sharing and family messaging | Yes, core features | Premium about $45/yr (US) | Some of the best features are paywalled |
| TimeTree | A clean shared calendar and nothing else | Yes | Optional paid plan | Calendar only: not built to run the rest of the household |
| Google Calendar | Google-first families on a budget | Yes | Free | A patchwork: lists, chores and meals live in other apps |
| Apple Calendar + Family Sharing | All-iPhone households | Yes | Free | Only works well if everyone has Apple devices |
| Skylight | A kitchen wall display | Needs the device | Plus $79/yr; device about $300 | About $380 in year one, and the features most families want need the subscription |
Cozi pricing from Cozi's Compare Plans page, Skylight from Skylight's store and help center, FamilyWall from its App Store listing. Prices vary by country and sales.
More than a calendar.
Karl does the typing
Text or say it and Karl adds, moves or cancels the event.
Works with Alexa
Add events, check the day and update lists hands-free.
Chores with points
Kids see their score and a weekly scoreboard.
Meals to groceries
Plan the week and the ingredients land on the shopping list.
Family chat built in
Plans stay next to the calendar, out of the group text.
Weather on your day
Hourly forecast and rain alerts on the dashboard.
Who each one is for.
KarlCal
You type or say what is happening, and Karl adds it: "Jake has soccer Tuesday at 6:30" becomes an event. Ask Alexa the same way when your hands are full. Chores earn points the kids can see, meals turn into a grocery list, and family chat sits next to the calendar. The shared calendar, chat and lists are free; Pro is $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year.
Keep in mind: Works on iPhone, iPad and the web today. An Android app is in the works.
Cozi
The classic. A color-coded family calendar, shared shopping and to-do lists, and a recipe box. The free plan now shows ads and only looks 30 days ahead; Gold at $39 a year removes both, and the AI tools are on the $79 Max plan.
Keep in mind: Interface feels dated to some families, and the useful extras sit behind the paid plans.
FamilyWall
Covers the usual ground (shared calendar, lists, messaging) and adds a live family map with safe-place alerts. There is a free tier, and Premium is listed at about $45 a year in the US, with a 30-day free trial.
Keep in mind: Some of the best features are on the paid plan.
TimeTree
A simple shared calendar that stays free for ongoing use. Good for co-parents and extended family who just need everyone to see the same dates.
Keep in mind: It is a calendar, not a household organizer: no meal planning or chores built around it.
Google Calendar
Create a shared "Family" calendar, invite everyone, and anyone can add events. Pair it with Google Keep for shared lists. Free, and it works on everything.
Keep in mind: It is a patchwork. Nothing ties the calendar, lists, chores and meals together.
Apple Calendar + Family Sharing
Zero setup if everyone is on iPhone: shared calendars, Reminders and notes through Family Sharing. Free and built in.
Keep in mind: Only works well when the whole family uses Apple devices.
Skylight
A touchscreen calendar for the wall: about $300 for the 15-inch, plus Skylight Plus at $79 a year for meal planning, rewards and the AI assistant.
Keep in mind: Real money up front, and the features most families want need the subscription.
Good to know.
What is the best free alternative to Cozi?
Google Calendar and TimeTree both stay free for ongoing family use. KarlCal’s shared calendar, family chat and lists are free too, and Pro adds the smart tools.
Why are families leaving Cozi?
Cozi’s free plan now shows ads and only shows the calendar 30 days ahead. Removing both takes Cozi Gold at $39 a year, and the AI tools are on the $79 Max plan.
Is there a Cozi alternative with location sharing?
FamilyWall is built around it, with a live family map and safe-place alerts on its Premium plan.
Is there a Cozi alternative that works with Alexa?
Yes. KarlCal has its own Alexa skill: add, move and check events, lists and chores by voice. Search "KarlCal" in the Alexa app.
Can I move my Cozi calendar to KarlCal?
Yes. Export your Cozi calendar, then import it into KarlCal so your existing events come with you.
Try KarlCal free.
Set up your household in two minutes. The shared calendar, chat and lists are free, with no credit card.
Get it on the App Store Sign up on the web