Chore app for kids: 9 things to check before you pick one

What should a chore app for kids do?

Three jobs matter most: show each child what is due today, let a parent confirm it was actually done, and keep a count of the money earned that both of you trust. Everything else, such as streaks, reminders and goals, is a bonus. The AAP says a chart or checklist acts as a visual reminder that keeps everyone on task and gives each child a sense of accomplishment as tasks are completed, so a good app is that chart with the arithmetic done for you.

Nine questions to ask before you choose

1. Can the kids use it themselves?

A child should be able to see what is due today and tick it off alone, on a device that fits your household. If only the parent can use it, you have a nagging tool, not a chore system.

2. Does a parent verify the work?

Self-reported chores invite arguments. Look for a step where a parent says yes, or sends it back with a note. Photo proof for jobs where “done” is a matter of opinion is a bonus.

3. Can it match how you set allowance?

Flat allowance, pay per chore, or a share of the week's chores completed. Ask whether a missed must-do chore holds the money back, and who decides.

4. Does it keep an honest money record?

Every dollar that came in and went out, visible to both parent and child. Look for entries that cannot be quietly edited.

5. Does it help with saving?

Savings goals set apart from spending money, with a clear sense of how long they will take.

6. Does it need a bank account or card?

Many parents want a record only, with the real money staying at home. Others want a debit card. Know which you are signing up for.

7. What does it do with your child's data, and does it show ads?

Read the privacy page. Look for what is collected, who handles it, and how to delete the family. A children's app should have no ads and no ad trackers.

8. What does it cost after the trial?

Check for a free trial, the price after it, and how to cancel. Apps that look free can charge later or sell data.

9. Does it work on devices you own?

Phones, tablets, computers and shared family devices. A browser-based app avoids waiting for an app store, but check that it works the way you need.

How does Family Chore Buddy answer them?

Here is what it does, in the order above. Kids sign in on a phone, tablet or computer with a PIN they choose (you link their device once with a short code), and see their day. Parents verify with a tap, or send a chore back with a note. Allowance can pay every week regardless, or only when a share of the week's chores is done, with must-do chores that hold it back if missed; paid chores and one-off bounties are on top. Every dollar is entered in a Kids Bank record that cannot be edited or deleted, only corrected in the open. Savings goals have their own pot with weeks-to-go. There are no cards and no bank to link: it is a record, and the real money stays with you. There are no ads and no trackers, and we never sell your family's data; the privacy page has the detail. New families get a 30-day free trial; after that it is a paid subscription. It works in any browser today, and an iPhone and iPad app is coming soon.

When is a paper chart enough?

If you have one or two kids, one household and no money to track, a printable chore chart is free and works well, and a picture chart suits a child who cannot read yet. An app starts to pay off with several children, a weekly allowance, or a family where two parents need to see the same record. Not sure how much to pay? Use the allowance calculator.

Common questions

Do kids need their own phone to use a chore app?

Not necessarily. Some apps run in a browser on a shared tablet or computer, and a parent can check chores off from their own phone when a child has no device.

Is a chore app better than a paper chart?

Not always. A paper chart is free and works well for one or two young kids. An app helps when you have several children, want a record of money, or the family is in more than one household.

Do chore apps hold real money?

Some link to bank accounts or cards; others only keep a record. Check which kind it is before you sign up, and what you are giving access to.

What should a children's app say about privacy?

It should say what it collects about your child, who handles it, and how to delete it, in plain words, and should not show ads to kids.