We compared the most popular family chore apps to find which ones actually help families build consistent habits. Here's our honest ranking based on features, ease of use, pricing, and real-world effectiveness.
TL;DR: KidKarma leads for families focused on positive reinforcement and habit building. Cozi is the best free family organizer if you want calendars and lists more than chores. Greenlight and BusyKid win if you want chores tied to real money and a card for your kid.
Want to try our top pick tonight? KidKarma is free for 14 days on iPhone and Android. Kids earn points for chores, you approve with one tap, and they spend points on rewards your family picks.
14-day free trial, card required, then $4.99/month or $29.99/year. You can cancel anytime in your App Store or Google Play subscription settings before the trial ends.
Quick Picks: The Best Chore App for Your Family
- Best overall for chores and rewards: KidKarma. Points, one-tap approvals, and rewards your family picks, for kids 2 and up.
- Best for co-parents and two homes: KidKarma. Two-Home Sync is included on every plan, so both homes share one chore chart and one points balance. See how co-parents set up one chart for two homes.
- Best free family organizer: Cozi, if calendars and shopping lists matter more than chores.
- Best for chores paid in real money: BusyKid or Greenlight, both with cards for kids. See our chore and allowance app comparison.
- Best for teaching money skills without a card: Homey.
- Best for kids with ADHD: see our ADHD chore app guide.
- Best for teens: see chore apps for teens.
The 7 Best Chore Apps for Families
1. KidKarma - Best for Positive Reinforcement
Price: $4.99/month or $29.99/year (Plus). Family: $7.99/month or $49.99/year. 14-day free trial, card required. | Ages: 2+ | Platforms: iOS, Android
KidKarma uses a karma point system that makes chores feel rewarding, not punishing. Parents create tasks with point values, kids tick them off and ask for their points, and you approve with one tap. Kids then spend points on rewards your family chooses, like a movie night or extra screen time. Streaks keep them going, gentle penalties handle missed jobs without a fight, and younger kids log in by scanning a QR code, so there are no passwords to remember. If you co-parent, Two-Home Sync is included on every plan, monthly or yearly, and keeps both homes on the same chore chart and the same points balance.
Pros: Affordable at $4.99/month, 14-day free trial, focused on habits, age-appropriate chore suggestions, QR code kid login, co-parent support, no ads Cons: No grocery lists or family calendar, no free version after the trial
Try KidKarma with a 14-day free trial (card required).
2. Cozi - Best Free Family Organizer
Price: Free. Cozi Gold is a paid upgrade (App Store in-app prices from $29.99 to $59.99). | Platforms: iOS, Android
Cozi is a family organizer with shared calendars, shopping lists, and to-do lists that can double as a basic chore list. It isn't built around chores or rewards, but if your real problem is keeping everyone's schedule straight, it's hard to beat for free.
Pros: Free, great shared calendar, shopping and to-do lists for the whole family Cons: Not designed for chores specifically, no points or reward system
Using Cozi for the calendar? Plenty of families pair it with a dedicated chore app. KidKarma handles the chores and rewards side, with a 14-day free trial (card required).
3. S'moresUp - Best for Parental Controls + Chores
Price: Free core version. Premium is $9.99/month or $99.99/year. | Platforms: iOS, Android
S'moresUp is a broader household management app with chores and rewards inside it. The core version is free, and Premium unlocks the extra tools.
Pros: Free core version, chores and rewards alongside other household tools Cons: Premium costs about twice as much as KidKarma Plus
Want something simpler? KidKarma is just chores, points and rewards, from $4.99/month after a 14-day free trial (card required).
4. Homey - Best for Financial Literacy
Price: Check the App Store listing for current plans | Platforms: iOS, Android
Homey connects chores to money through allowance tracking and savings goals. It's a good fit if your main aim is teaching kids that money is earned.
Pros: Allowance tracking, savings goals, teaches that money is earned Cons: Less focused on chore habits and non-cash rewards
Prefer rewards that aren't cash, like screen time or a trip for ice cream? Try KidKarma with a 14-day free trial (card required).
5. Greenlight - Best Debit Card + Chores Combo
Price: $5.99-$19.98/month | Platforms: iOS, Android
Greenlight is primarily a kids' debit card and family finance app, with chores and allowance built in. Higher plans add investing and family safety features like location sharing. It's a good pick if money management is the main goal and chores come second.
Pros: Real debit cards for up to 5 kids, investing, chores and allowance in one app Cons: Chore features are secondary, costs more than a chore-only app, focused on finances over habits
Just need the chores to get done? KidKarma is built only for that, from $4.99/month after a 14-day free trial (card required).
6. BusyKid - Best for Chores + Real Money
Price: $4/month, billed annually | Ages: 5-17 | Platforms: iOS, Android
BusyKid turns chores into a real allowance. Kids earn money for jobs, then save it, donate it, spend it on a BusyKid prepaid Visa card, or put it toward real stocks. The subscription includes up to five prepaid cards.
Pros: Real-money allowance, prepaid card, investing and donating built in Cons: Billed yearly up front, built around cash rather than non-money rewards
Not ready for a kids' debit card yet? KidKarma lets younger kids earn points toward family rewards first. Start with a 14-day free trial (card required).
7. FamZoo - Best for Chores + Banking
Price: $5.99/month, or $4.99/month if you prepay 12 months | Platforms: iOS, Android
FamZoo combines chore tracking with family banking. Kids earn real money and learn budgeting through prepaid cards, or through IOU accounts if they aren't ready for a card.
Pros: Comprehensive money tools, prepaid cards, budgeting features, one price per family Cons: Primarily a finance app with chores added, and the iOS app was last updated in 2018
Want chores without the banking? Try KidKarma with a 14-day free trial (card required).
Comparison Table
| App | Price | Best For | Chore Focus | Reward System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KidKarma | $4.99/mo or $29.99/yr (14-day trial) | Habit building | Primary | Karma points + family rewards |
| Cozi | Free / Gold upgrade | Family organizing | Minimal | None |
| S'moresUp | Free / $9.99/mo | Household management | Shared | Points + rewards |
| Homey | See listing | Financial literacy | Shared | Real money |
| Greenlight | $5.99-$19.98/mo | Kids' banking | Secondary | Real money |
| BusyKid | $4/mo, billed yearly | Chores + allowance | Shared | Real money |
| FamZoo | $5.99/mo | Family banking | Shared | Real money |
Is There a Good Free Chore App?
Yes, but "free" usually means one of three things, and it helps to know which one you're getting:
- Free family organizers like Cozi. Great shared calendars and lists, but no points or rewards for kids.
- Free tiers of chore apps, like S'moresUp's core version. They work, but the features kids respond to most are often held back for Premium.
- Full apps with a free trial, like KidKarma's 14 days. You get every feature, then decide whether it's worth $4.99/month or $29.99/year (about $2.50 a month).
Our honest take: if your kids respond to points and rewards, two weeks with a full app tells you more than months on a limited free tier. If you only need a shared to-do list, Cozi is enough.
What Happened to OurHome?
OurHome was one of the most popular free chore apps, and older "best chore app" lists still recommend it. As of September 2026, the original OurHome family app no longer shows up in the US App Store or Google Play, and the apps using that name today come from other developers. If you're moving off it, our OurHome alternative guide covers what to switch to.
Which Chore App Fits Your Family?
Co-parents and two households
Most chore apps assume one home. If your kids split their time, look for an app where both parents see the same chores and the same points. KidKarma's Two-Home Sync does this on every plan. For custody schedules and parent-to-parent messaging, pair it with a dedicated co-parenting app. Our best co-parenting apps guide compares the options.
Toddlers and preschoolers
Young kids need tiny tasks and instant praise. KidKarma works from age 2, with a QR code login so there are no passwords to remember. Our toddler chore guide lists good first chores.
Tweens and teens
Older kids push back on anything that feels babyish. Rewards with real stakes, like screen time, outings, or money, work better than stickers. See chore systems that work for teens.
Several kids at once
Fairness is the whole battle. Pick an app that shows each child's list and points side by side. Our guide to fair chore distribution for siblings helps you split jobs without arguments.
How We Evaluated
We assessed each app on:
- Chore management effectiveness - Does it actually help kids build habits?
- Ease of setup - Can a busy parent get it running in under 10 minutes?
- Kid engagement - Do kids want to use it, or does it feel like homework?
- Pricing fairness - Is the price clear, and can you try it properly before you pay?
- Long-term sustainability - Will the system still work in 6 months?
Our Top Pick: KidKarma
For families who want a focused, affordable chore app that builds real habits through positive reinforcement, KidKarma is our top recommendation. Plans start at $4.99/month or $29.99/year, with a 14-day free trial to try every feature before you commit. There are no ads, and if you co-parent, Two-Home Sync is included on every plan, monthly or yearly, so both homes stay on one chore chart.
