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The Best Apps to Help Busy Families Stay Organized

How to manage the daily grind and keep everyone on track

Vicky McDonald
 | 

Published on: March 20, 2025

mom using cell phone app to organize home and life
Photo:
iStock

Juggling family schedules, chores and endless to-do lists can feel like a full-time job! Thankfully, there are some amazing apps out there designed to help families stay organized and make daily life a little easier. From keeping track of appointments to managing meal plans and even assigning chores, these apps can bring some much-needed order to the chaos.

We’ve rounded up some of the best apps that can help your family stay on top of everything, and make managing your family feel more, well, manageable.

Cozi Family Organizer

A top choice for families, Cozi helps manage schedules, appointments, to-do and shopping lists all in one app. It also allows family members to share calendars and tasks, making it easy to stay on the same page. Cozi will help you manage school events, practice schedules, dentist appointments, vacations and so much more! 

OurHome

Gamify your family organization with this fun app. Designed for family management focusing on chores, shopping lists and family schedules, this app allows you to assign tasks to family members and set due dates, create repeating schedules, add reminders or apply late penalties. There is even a parental approval feature to help keep younger kids on track. The app includes a point-based rewards system, encouraging kids to complete chores by earning points, which can be exchanged for agreed-upon rewards.

mom using app to organize household
Update your shared household grocery shopping list to avoid running out of essentials. Photo: iStock

Trello

While often associated with the business world, Trello is a versatile project management app that works great for organizing family tasks. You can create boards for different activities (such as meal planning, school projects or vacation planning) and collaborate with family members to keep everything on track.

FamilyWall

FamilyWall is an all-in-one family communication app that helps manage the chaos of family life by sharing everyone’s schedules and activities, tracking grocery lists, planning for dinner, managing to-dos and even locating kids when they are outside. This app also allows you to manage household bills and expenses, helping kids learn about money management and budgeting. It’s perfect for keeping everyone updated and organized with real-time notifications.

dad using app to organize household
Get that date night on your shared calendar today! Photo: iStock

Google Keep

“I know I was going to tell you something ...” If that sounds like you (or your family members), Google Keep might be just what you are looking for. This simple, yet powerful, note-taking app syncs across all devices. You can use it to create quick grocery lists and reminders, or brainstorm activities. It’s perfect for jotting down notes on the go and sharing them with family members. Never forget that brilliant idea again! 

Microsoft To Do

Microsoft To Do is a simple and effective app for managing tasks and to-do lists. You can create separate lists for various family activities, from meal planning to home projects, and sync them across devices. You can share lists with the whole family, helping everyone contribute and stay on track.

young mom using app to organize family and home life
Keep everyone on the same page with an organizing app. Photo: iStock

Habit Owl

Getting kids to do chores can be a drag. Between the nagging, reminding and feet-dragging, sometimes it hardly feels worth it. But Habit Owl is here to help! This app turns chores into a game where kids will learn responsibility and earn rewards, making family routines smoother and more enjoyable. You can assign, track and manage chores for your child, and the app will even send reminders, ensuring chores are completed on time. It’s almost like having a personal assistant. Yes, please! 

TaskRabbit

Sometimes you just need someone else to take something off your plate. Do you have shelves sitting on the floor that need to be hung? Do you dread assembling that new desk from Ikea? TaskRabbit might be what you’ve been hoping for. This app helps outsource household tasks you might not have time for, like cleaning, furniture assembly or even help moving. By connecting with local “Taskers,” you can make sure things get done around the house without taking on everything yourself, saving time and reducing stress. 

More way to help your house run smoothly: 

Editor’s note: This article was first published several years and was updated most recently in March 2025 by ParentMap’s associate editor, Kari Hanson, with new apps. 

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