KarlCal vs Skylight.
App or wall screen?
Skylight is a touchscreen that hangs in your kitchen. KarlCal is a shared family calendar on the phones you already carry. Both keep the family on the same page; they just go about it differently.
Which one fits your family?
Choose KarlCal if…
you want the family plan in everyone’s pocket wherever they are, an assistant that adds events for you, and no hardware to buy.
Choose Skylight if…
you want one big screen in the kitchen that young kids without phones can see and tap, and you like a photo frame when it is not in use.
KarlCal vs Skylight
| KarlCal | Skylight | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $0, no device to buy | About $300 for the 15-inch Calendar 2, about $600 for the 27-inch Calendar Max |
| Subscription | Free plan, or Pro at $4.99/month or $39.99/year | Core calendar works without one; Skylight Plus is $79/year for meals, rewards, Magic Import, photos and AI |
| Where you see it | Every phone, iPad and browser in the family | On the wall or counter, plus the Skylight app |
| AI assistant | Karl adds, moves and cancels events from a quick message | Sidekick AI, with Skylight Plus |
| Works with Alexa | Yes: add, change and check events, lists and chores by voice | Check Skylight for current voice support |
| Chores and rewards | Chores with points and a weekly scoreboard | Chore charts; rewards need Plus |
| Meal planning | Included, with ingredients to the grocery list | Needs Plus |
Skylight pricing from Skylight’s store and help center, October 2026. Prices vary with sales.
Credit where it's due.
- A big, always-on screen everyone walks past.
- Great for little kids who do not have phones.
- Doubles as a photo frame.
- Nothing to open: the week is just there on the wall.
Why families switch.
- No $300 device: it is on the phones you already own.
- You see the plan at work, at practice, or in the grocery store.
- Karl adds events from a text or a quick ask to Alexa.
- Want a wall screen too? Put KarlCal on an old iPad in the kitchen.
Good to know.
Do I need to buy a device for KarlCal?
No. KarlCal runs on iPhone, iPad and the web. If you want a kitchen display, an iPad on a stand works well.
Does Skylight need a subscription?
The basic calendar works without one, but meal planning, rewards, Magic Import, the photo screensaver and the AI assistant need Skylight Plus at $79 a year.
What does Skylight cost in the first year?
Roughly $300 for the 15-inch Calendar 2 plus $79 for Plus, about $379 in year one.
Is KarlCal free?
Yes. The shared calendar, chat and lists are free. KarlCal Pro is $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year.
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