AppClose ended its decade-long free plan in January 2026 and moved to $8.99/month per parent. Here's how it compares to just parent - including where AppClose has the edge.
Written by the team at just parent. We're transparent about where AppClose wins.
A feature-by-feature comparison. AppClose has genuine strengths - we've noted them too.
AppClose added Certified Electronic Business Records in 2026, which puts it much closer to TalkingParents and OurFamilyWizard on the court-records front. If you need certified records and want a slightly lower price point than OFW, AppClose is worth considering for that specific need.
AppClose's interface is clean and familiar. For families who were already using it on the free plan before January 2026, the institutional knowledge and existing records may make staying worth the cost - switching means starting a new record from scratch.
AppClose's 2026 certification update is a genuine improvement. If a certified records provider is your primary requirement and OFW's pricing is a concern, AppClose is a credible option.
The transition cost of switching apps is real - you lose your existing message history as a living reference. If you were an AppClose free user and the $8.99/month is manageable, staying may be the lower-friction path.
Just parent still has a Real Free plan. No card, no trial, no expiry. AppClose ended its free plan in January 2026 - if cost is a constraint, this is the clearest difference.
$120/year covers both parents. AppClose charges ~$8.99/month per parent - for a family where both parents subscribe, that's ~$215/year, nearly double just parent's household price.
Calm Assist, AI Draft Helper, and Our Agreement are not available in AppClose. These are the features that reduce daily communication friction and conflict - not just documentation after the fact.
AppClose recently launched its paid tier. Pricing may change - check their site for current rates.
AppClose pricing based on published rates as of January 2026, when the free plan ended. Confirm current pricing on their website.
Three steps. Takes about 10 minutes total.
Download any records or exports from AppClose before you leave. Your history has value - even if you're not in litigation, keep a copy somewhere permanent.
Free, under a minute, no card needed. The onboarding wizard walks you through your profile, custody schedule, and basic preferences.
We send a clean invite link. Your co-parent gets a short onboarding flow. Setting up together takes about 5 minutes.
Start immediately on the free plan. Upgrade to paid ($120/year for the household) whenever you're ready.