just parent vs OurFamilyWizard

OurFamilyWizard is the most established co-parenting platform and the one most family lawyers recognize. It's also the most expensive. Here's an honest look at what you get for the difference.

Written by the team at just parent. We're transparent about where OFW clearly wins.

The key differences

A feature-by-feature comparison. OFW has genuine advantages - we've listed them too.

Feature
just parent
OurFamilyWizard
Free plan
Real Free plan
No free plan
Pricing model
$120/year - household
$12.50–25/month per parent
Annual family cost
$120
~$300–$600
AI Draft Helper
Paid
Limited
Tone and Message Check
Calm Assist (Paid)
ToneMeter
Cool-Off Button
Free
Our Agreement (bilateral)
Court-admissible records
Court recognition (precedent)
Growing
Very strong (established)
Lawyer / court recognition
Growing
Industry standard
Expense tracking
Calendar
iCal sync
Paid
Premium tier
Family / grandparent portal
Paid
Premium tier
Founded
2025
1999

When OurFamilyWizard is the right choice

OurFamilyWizard built this category and has been the default recommendation from family lawyers across North America for over two decades. If your lawyer asked for OFW, use OFW. The cost of switching apps mid-litigation is real; the cost of a brand-recognition mismatch in court is not worth saving $300 a year over.

OFW's ToneMeter flags inflammatory language before you send. Just parent's Calm Assist goes further - it flags the message with a specific reason and lets you edit, send anyway, or formally disagree - but OFW has been doing tone analysis for longer and has a track record to show for it.

Your lawyer asked for OurFamilyWizard

If your family lawyer or parenting coordinator specifically requested OFW, use OFW. OurFamilyWizard is the industry standard for a reason - its records are recognized in courts across North America.

Active court proceedings

You're in active court proceedings and the court already accepts OFW records in your jurisdiction. Don't switch co-parenting apps during litigation unless your lawyer advises it.

The case for just parent

Household pricing

OFW Premium runs ~$432/year for a family of two parents. Just parent is $120/year for the household. If you're not in active litigation, that's a meaningful cost difference over time.

Real Free plan

OFW has no free plan. Just parent's free tier gives you messaging, journalling, expenses, calendar, and Our Agreement at no cost. No card, no trial, no expiry.

Bilateral agreements

Our Agreement requires both parents to accept policy changes. OFW lets one parent configure settings unilaterally. The bilateral model reduces one of the most common co-parenting flashpoints.

AI tone flagging, not just a label

OFW's ToneMeter flags inflammatory language with a generic alert. Calm Assist flags the message with a specific reason and lets you edit, send anyway, or formally disagree. For families where de-escalation matters more than documentation, the difference is significant.

The real annual cost

Based on each tier including both parents. Standard pricing - OFW offers military and hardship discounts separately.

just parent1 household subscription, both parents
$120/yr
OFW EssentialsBoth parents at $12.50/mo each
$300/yr
OFW PremiumBoth parents at $18/mo each
$432/yr
OFW MaxBoth parents at $25/mo each
$600/yr

OurFamilyWizard offers military and hardship discounts. Figures above are standard published pricing as of 2026.

Neither is wrong

OurFamilyWizard built this category. It's the right choice when legal proceedings are active and court recognition is the primary concern, or when your family's legal team is already coordinating around it.

Just parent is the right choice when you want a comprehensive co-parenting tool at a household price, with AI features, bilateral agreements, and a real free plan - and you're not in active litigation that requires the OFW brand name.

If you're not sure which situation applies to you, start with just parent's free plan. There's no cost to try it, and switching later if litigation begins is straightforward.

Start free.
No card required.

Try everything just parent offers for free. Paid plan is $120/year for the household.