AppClose alternative
Looking for an AppClose alternative now that it's no longer free?
After more than a decade as a free app, AppClose moved to a paid subscription on 1 January 2026. It's a capable product and it charges per parent. CalmHandoff keeps the essentials free for both of you, and when you want more, one subscription covers you both.
What changed at AppClose
- AppClose's free tier ended on 1 January 2026.
- It now sells one plan per parent: $7.99 a month on the web, or $8.99 a month if you subscribe in the app.
- Prepaying brings it down to $83.88 for a year, or $143.76 for two years, per parent.
- Free accounts are still offered to parents facing financial hardship and to survivors of domestic violence, along with military and veteran discounts.
What a family pays
Two parents for one year, on AppClose's cheapest option (one year prepaid)
- AppClose
- $167.76
- CalmHandoff
- $0 on Free, or $119 a year for the whole family
What AppClose charges
Their own published plans, per parent. We compare against the cheapest of these, not the dearest.
Monthly (web)
$7.99
per parent, per month
Monthly (in-app)
$8.99
per parent, per month
One year prepaid
$83.88
per parent, per year
$6.99 a month equivalent
Two years prepaid
$143.76
per parent, every two years
$5.99 a month equivalent
AppClose vs CalmHandoff
| Feature | AppClose | CalmHandoff |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Ended 1 January 2026 | Yes, for both parents, with no end date |
| Who pays | Each parent, separately | One subscription covers both |
| Two parents, one year | $167.76 prepaid | $0, or $119 |
| Messages can't be edited or deleted | Yes | Yes |
| How a record is verified | Certified Business Records with a record ID; attorneys and courts verify through AppClose's site. United States only. | Hash-chained entries, timestamped daily by an independent authority; anyone can check an export at our public page, no account, any country |
| AI help with tone | Co-Parent Assist, included | Tone check and Message Shield, on Family Pro |
| Free trial | 60 days, no card | 14 days of Family Pro, then Free with no time limit |
In fairness, AppClose does these well
- A 60-day free trial with no credit card — longer than almost anyone offers
- Free accounts for hardship and domestic violence survivors: over 25,600 given out since January 2026
- Certified Electronic Business Records that attorneys and courts can verify by record ID
- Payments between parents inside the app
- A long track record, and many families already know it
Switch to CalmHandoff if
- You want a free plan that doesn't end, for both parents
- Only one of you can realistically pay
- You want anyone to be able to check a record without an account, in any country
Competitor details as published on their websites, checked 21 September 2026. Prices and features change; please confirm on their site. Sources: AppClose pricing, AppClose announcement (PR Newswire). AppClose is a trademark of its owner; CalmHandoff is not affiliated with it.
Switching takes an evening
- Step 1
Download your message history from AppClose while you still have access.
- Step 2
Create your free CalmHandoff family and add your kids.
- Step 3
Invite your co-parent. They join free, with no card.
Weighing up more than one? Compare all the co-parenting apps side by side.
Questions
Is there really a free plan? For how long?+
Yes, and it isn't a trial. Messaging on the record, a shared calendar, and your full history are free for both parents, with no end date. We make money when families choose Family or Family Pro, not by selling data or showing ads.
Does my co-parent have to pay?+
No. On every plan your co-parent joins for free. When one parent subscribes, the whole family gets the upgrade, so whoever is able to pay can, and neither of you has to ask the other.
What happens if the parent who pays cancels?+
The other parent is notified right away and can take over the subscription in one tap before it ends. If nobody does, the family moves to Free. Messages keep working, and the full history stays available to both parents.
Are the records admissible in court?+
Only a judge decides what's admitted as evidence, and no app can promise that. What CalmHandoff gives you is records that are easy to trust: messages can't be edited or deleted, each entry is linked to the one before it with a cryptographic fingerprint, and anyone, including the other side's lawyer, can check an export for tampering on our verification page. Ask your attorney how records are handled in your court.
Why no monthly billing?+
Co-parenting isn't a month-to-month thing. Billing every 6 or 12 months keeps prices lower for both of you and avoids a surprise charge landing in the middle of a hard month. You can turn off renewal anytime.
I'm switching from AppClose or TalkingParents. What about my old messages?+
Download your message history from your current app before your access changes, and keep that file somewhere safe. Your new CalmHandoff record starts the day you both join, and everything from then on is on the record.
Is it safe if there's a history of abuse?+
We designed for it. We never ask for your address or phone number, so there is nothing to show your co-parent. Your location is shared only at the moment you choose to check in, never in the background. And Family Pro's Message Shield can soften hostile incoming messages so you see the logistics first. If you're in immediate danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is free, confidential and open 24 hours: call 1-800-799-7233, or if it isn't safe to talk, text START to 88788 or chat at thehotline.org.