Best shared calendar apps for families to use
Keeping track of family schedules, school events, and important dates can feel like a full-time job.
From managing work calendars and chore checklists to coordinating grocery lists and family activities, staying organized is essential for a smoothly running household.
That’s where shared calendar apps come in—a game changer for busy parents looking to streamline their family’s daily life.
With the right family calendar app, the whole family can stay on top of upcoming events, meal plans, and important tasks, all while reducing the mental load of managing everyday life.
Whether you’re syncing schedules across multiple mobile devices, creating collaborative lists for shopping and chores, or tracking personal and work calendars separately, these apps offer key features designed to meet every family’s needs.
In this post, we’ll explore the best shared calendar apps for families, highlighting their intuitive interfaces, collaborative features, and premium options, so you can find the perfect tool to seamlessly coordinate your family’s life and make room for the moments that matter most.
Best Shared Calendar Apps for Families to Use
Managing a family’s busy schedules can be overwhelming, especially when balancing family events, school activities, work schedules, and everyday life.
Thankfully, shared calendar apps have become a game-changer for busy parents and their family group.
These apps help the whole family stay organized with family schedules, task lists, grocery lists, and important dates.
Below is a list of the best family calendar apps, their key features, and how they can seamlessly coordinate your family’s life.
1. Cozi Family Organizer – Best Family Calendar App for Collaborative Features
Cozi Family Organizer is one of the most popular shared calendar apps for families. Designed specifically for family use, it offers:
Color-coded calendar for different calendars (school events, family gatherings, work calendar).
Shopping lists and collaborative lists for groceries and household items.
To-do lists for chore checklists and important family documents.
Meal plans with the ability to import recipes and save favorite recipes for future use.
Family journal to capture your family’s best moments.
Intuitive interface that makes it a great way to manage the mental load of busy parents.
Free version with essential features, while Cozi Gold, the premium version, offers additional features like real-time location updates, reminders, and a family’s needs tailored experience.
Cozi is available on Apple products, Android devices, and a web browser, making it accessible anytime and from anywhere.
2. Google Calendar – Best Free App for Seamless Integration
Google Calendar is a smart calendar app that integrates well with Apple Calendar, Outlook Calendar, and iCloud Calendar. It’s perfect for families who already use Google Workspace.
Collaborative features allow family members to manage separate calendars for personal life and family schedules.
Ease of use with a color-coded calendar for tracking different family events.
Integration with Google Tasks for managing to-do lists and shopping lists.
Accessible on mobile devices, Apple products, and via a web browser.
Free app with a premium offer through in-app purchases for business users.
You may also want to see How to set working hours in Google Calendar.
3. Skylight Calendar – Best for Visual Planning
For families who prefer a paper calendar feel but want a tech upgrade, the Skylight Calendar is a great way to display family schedules visually.
Syncs with Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, and Outlook Calendar.
Displays family events, work schedules, and upcoming events on a large touchscreen.
Helps busy schedules stay organized with task lists and important dates visible at a glance.
Ideal for families with young children who benefit from visual reminders.
4. Apple Calendar – Best for Families with iPhones
For families deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem, Apple Calendar offers seamless coordination.
Works perfectly with iCloud Calendar and Apple products like iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks.
Collaborative lists and reminders help with task lists, grocery lists, and family activities.
Integration with Siri allows voice commands for adding important events and reminders.
Privacy policy prioritizes user security, ensuring personal calendars and family group information remain safe.
5. Microsoft Outlook Calendar – Best for Work-Life Balance
Microsoft Outlook Calendar is an excellent shared calendar app for families with parents managing both personal and work schedules.
Separate calendars for work, personal life, and family schedules, all in one place.
Syncs with Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, and Cozi Calendar for a seamless experience.
Offers a day trial and a premium plan for additional features like task lists, reminders, and family group collaboration.
Additional Features to Consider
Best baby monitors, breast pumps, toddler car seats, and travel cots can be tracked in shopping lists or to-do lists.
In-app purchases allow for premium features such as real-time location tracking, import recipes, and chore checklists.
Best beauty advent calendars and best pushchairs can be added to collaborative lists for seasonal planning.
Conclusion
Managing a family’s busy schedule doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
With the right shared calendar app, you can simplify your family’s life, keep everyone on the same page, and create more time for the things that matter most.
Whether you need a color-coded calendar for tracking school events, work schedules, and family gatherings, or a collaborative space for grocery lists, chore checklists, and meal plans, there’s a solution for every family’s needs.
From the feature-rich Cozi Family Organizer to the seamless integration of Google Calendar and the visual appeal of Skylight Calendar, each of these apps is designed to help busy parents reduce their mental load and stay organized.
And with free versions, premium plans, and intuitive interfaces, it’s easier than ever to find a tool that works for the entire family.
By choosing the right app, you can turn the chaos of everyday life into a seamlessly coordinated family routine—making room for more best moments, fewer missed important events, and a happier, more organized household.
Important: This post is for informational and educational purposes only. This post should not be taken as therapy advice, financial advice or used as a substitute for such. You should always speak to your own therapist or financial advisor before implementing this information on your own. Thank you!
