Comparison
CoParent Circle vs AppClose
AppClose is a popular free co-parenting app for splits and scheduling. If you're a low-conflict household it's fine — but the moment you need a court-defensible record, the missing pieces start to show up.
Why co-parents switch from AppClose
- Same free tier — better record properties. CoParent Circle's free plan covers calendar, messaging, and basic expenses with immutable history and timestamped logs.
- Court-ready report exports built in. Date-ranged PDF or CSV covering messages, schedule, expenses, and documents — designed for mediators, attorneys, and judges.
- Per-case professional access with role controls. AppClose has no dedicated professional surface.
- Full audit log on Pro. Every access by a co-parent or professional is recorded with actor, timestamp, and target.
Side-by-side comparison
Honest, current, and updated when either product ships new functionality.
| Feature | CoParent Circle | AppClose |
|---|---|---|
Free plan | ||
Paid tier | $9.99 Essentials · $19.99 Pro · $29.99 Family | Free + paid add-ons |
Shared custody calendar | ||
Calendar change requests (accept / counter / deny) | ||
In-app messaging | ||
Immutable message history (no edits, no deletes) | ||
Tone-check on outgoing messages | ||
Expense splits & reimbursements | ||
Upcoming-expense coordination | ||
Document vault with access controls | ||
Court-ready PDF / CSV reports | ||
Immutable audit log of all access | Pro plan | |
Per-case, per-resource professional access | ||
Native iOS & Android apps | PWA + native (in TestFlight) |
Switching from AppClose
There's no structured export from AppClose, so switchers typically screenshot or PDF-print the conversations they want to preserve, archive the file with their attorney, and start a fresh log in CoParent Circle. The cleaner break is usually worth it — you're trading a partial record for a complete one going forward.
FAQ
Why are people looking for an AppClose alternative?
AppClose is free and works for casual splitting and scheduling. Attorneys and judges usually ask for three things AppClose doesn't produce: an immutable message history, a full audit log of every edit and export, and structured court-ready PDF/CSV reports filterable by date and topic. CoParent Circle keeps a free plan and adds all three.
Is CoParent Circle also free?
Yes. The Free plan covers calendar, messaging, and basic expenses for one Circle — the same surface area most AppClose users actually use day-to-day. Pro ($19.99/mo) and Family ($29.99/mo) add free professional access, full audit log, change requests, and more storage.
Does CoParent Circle handle expense splits like AppClose?
Yes — default split rules per item, override on individual expenses, upcoming-expense coordination so you settle before the bill hits, running balances, and one-click settlements. The big addition over AppClose: the entire expense log is part of the same court-ready report your messages and calendar live in.
Can my attorney see only what I share?
Yes. CoParent Circle has per-case, per-resource access controls: you can grant view-only or commenting access to messages, calendar, expenses, documents, recordings, notes, or audit independently. AppClose doesn't have a structured professional-access model.
Try CoParent Circle free
Free plan covers calendar, messaging, and basic expenses. No credit card.