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Why Use TalkingParents Over Competitors
Why co-parents should use TalkingParents over communication services like OurFamilyWizard, AppClose, Cozi, and more.
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TalkingParents is the most all-inclusive co-parenting service on the market today. We are the only shared parenting platform that offers messaging, recorded and transcribed phone and video calls, a Shared Calendar, and payments in one complete service. Our top competitors either do not offer calling capabilities at all, or calls are not recorded and transcribed.
TalkingParents offers the most accessible, straightforward, and user-friendly Records system. Unalterable Records is a standalone feature that allows you to request Electronically Certified PDF Records right from the tool within the app or Printed Records straight from the website. With our service, you do not have to contact support or dig for information about obtaining a certified copy of your Records, as you do with several of our top competitors.
TalkingParents is run by real co-parents, a family law attorney, and software engineering experts. With our team’s combined knowledge and experience spanning shared parenting, family law, and technology, we have created the optimal co-parenting platform. Learn more about us.
Why use TalkingParents over OurFamilyWizard
OurFamilyWizard bills users annually, meaning you do not have the option to pay for your subscription on a monthly basis. This forces users to pay a large sum up front and then continue paying large sums with each billing cycle. At TalkingParents, our subscriptions are billed monthly, giving you the ability to pay small fees over time. Our Standard plan is only $9.99 per subscription per month, and our Premium plan is just $24.99 per subscription per month.
At TalkingParents, we offer a Free Plan that is available to all co-parents, regardless of your need or ability to prove it. Though OurFamilyWizard offers a fee waiver, users must fill out an application and provide supporting documentation to prove their need. In most cases, OurFamilyWizard says users must be working with legal aid, receive certain forms of government assistance, or have an attorney doing pro bono work for them to qualify for a fee waiver.
In order for OurFamilyWizard users to receive certified copies of their records, they must contact support to request a business records affidavit. Payment of standard minimum fees for authenticated records include a minimum search and retrieval fee of $20, a flat certification fee of $20, and a per-page copying fee of $0.18 per page. Once payment is complete, OurFamilyWizard will mail the business records affidavit to the user. With TalkingParents, you can easily request a certified copy of your PDF Records directly from the feature within the app or on the website. If you are on our Standard or Premium Plans, you have free access to unlimited Electronically Certified PDF Records, which are available almost immediately. If you are on our Free plan, it costs just $49.99 to email unlimited copies of any PDF Record for up to 24 hours. You also have the option to request Printed Records through our website.
Though OurFamilyWizard does offer an audio and video calling feature, calls themselves are not recorded or transcribed. With TalkingParents, you can get access to Accountable Calling, a phone and video calling tool that is capable of producing call recordings and transcripts, keeping all conversations documented. Click here for a one-to-one comparison of OurFamilyWizard and TalkingParents.
Why use TalkingParents over AppClose
There is no web version of AppClose, meaning users must download the app in order to access their account. With TalkingParents, our Standard and Premium plans give you access to your account through the website and mobile app, and our Free Plan gives you access through the website.
Though AppClose does offer an audio and video calling feature, calls are not recorded, and call transcripts are not available. TalkingParents is the only co-parenting platform that gives you the ability to have recorded phone and video calls, thus creating a complete immutable record of communication. Additionally, we are the only co-parenting platform that offers call transcripts.
AppClose markets their service as free, however, they do charge a fee for business records affidavits. These are only available to users upon written request and pricing could not be found online. AppClose says when their records are exported and presented as evidence in court, courts have deemed AppClose records admissible when properly authenticated. A member of the AppClose support team says, “Generally speaking, we believe that business records accompanied by a business records affidavit that conforms to the requirements of the federal or state court in which the proceeding occurs should be admissible. Our form of business records affidavit has been used in response to subpoena requests in multiple states. We charge a $150 flat fee to help cover subpoena response costs." Click here for a one-to-one comparison of AppClose and TalkingParents.
Why use TalkingParents over Cozi
Cozi is a family organizer, and while some co-parents use this platform, it is not geared towards families in shared parenting situations. Cozi lacks many of the tools that parents look for in a co-parenting service, such as a messaging feature, calling feature, shared payments feature, records feature and more. Cozi users have a shared account and login for the entire family, and the account can be deleted by anyone with this information at any time. If you are looking for a co-parenting service that provides accountability through unalterable forms of communication and coordination, Cozi is a non-option. Click here for a one-to-one comparison of Cozi and TalkingParents.
Why use TalkingParents over other co-parenting platforms
Other common co-parenting platforms on the market today do not offer full-service solutions to parents with shared custody. CoParenter and 2Houses do not offer audio or video calling, Peaceful CoParenting Messenger is for messaging only, OnWard is solely meant for coordinating expenses, and many of WeParent’s features (i.e. the calendar, schedules, and library) are alterable, allowing users to edit/delete things within these tools. WeParent also lacks audio and video calling.
TalkingParents is the complete solution for co-parents, offering the most robust selection of features that parents with shared custody desperately need. Having an application that keeps all interactions organized and documented encourages accountability and gives co-parents peace of mind should they need to go to court.
Although we are a for-profit business and not affiliated with the court system in any state or country, we have been court-recommended and approved since 2010. Judges, attorneys, mediators, court-appointed guardians, and other court professionals have seen how our tools can simplify lives and evidence. Our Unalterable Records save both parties time and money while reinforcing civility. People are more likely to interact appropriately when their communications and actions are documented without room for edits or deletion. This benefits all parties, including the children.
TalkingParents strives to provide co-parents and legal professionals with extensive information about our service through our Help Center, social media channels, Parenting Resources page, webinars, newsletters, and more. We never want you to be confused about any aspect of our platform, so if you ever have trouble finding the answers you’re looking for, please contact our customer support team immediately.