Question 1

Do I have to buy anything?

Accepted Answer

No. HouseLife runs on the iPad or Android tablet you already have — no new screen, no mount, no card reader. If you have a spare tablet in a drawer, you already own the hardware.

Question 2

Which devices does it work on?

Accepted Answer

Any modern web browser: iPad and iPhone (iPadOS/iOS 15 or later), Android tablets and phones, and Windows, Mac or Chromebook laptops. There is no app-store app — you add it to the home screen so it opens full screen. Reminder notifications on iPhone and iPad need iOS 16.4 or later and HouseLife added to the Home Screen.

Question 3

Will it work with the calendar I already use?

Accepted Answer

Yes, one way. Paste your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar's private address in Settings and its events are copied into HouseLife, including repeating and all-day events. Each linked calendar shows when it last synced, with Sync now and Reconnect buttons. Changes made in HouseLife are not sent back to those calendars, but you can subscribe to HouseLife's own calendar link from your phone.

Question 4

Can my partner and older kids have their own login?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Create an invite link in Settings, send it to them, and they sign up with their own email. Everyone sees the same calendar, shopping list and photos, and anyone can be removed again.

Question 5

Is it safe for kids?

Accepted Answer

Children can be added as simple profiles — just a name, emoji avatar and colour, no email or photo. A parent (Admin) decides what each person can do: Child logins can view the calendar, tick their own chores and add to shopping, and ticked chores wait for a parent to approve them. There are no ads, no chat with strangers and no public profiles. Accounts must be created by an adult (18+).

Question 6

What does it cost?

Accepted Answer

HouseLife is free during early access. Planned household pricing is AUD $5 a month or AUD $49 a year, with the same family features on either plan. These are not live prices yet; live payments have not been switched on.

Question 7

How does HouseLife compare to Cozi or Skylight?

Accepted Answer

Cozi includes shared calendars, shopping lists and recipes, with an ad-free experience on Cozi Gold. Skylight combines family planning with a dedicated touchscreen you buy. HouseLife brings a shared calendar, chores and rewards, meals and seasonal recipes, shopping, kids’ craft ideas and a veggie garden guide together without ads or a dedicated screen purchase. Australian school terms and public holidays are built in. HouseLife is still in early access, and its AUD $5/month or AUD $49/year pricing is planned, not live.

Question 8

Can I switch without giving up my existing calendar?

Accepted Answer

You can keep using Google, Apple or Outlook and link a supported private calendar address in Settings. HouseLife imports events one way, so edits in HouseLife do not change the original calendar. There is no automatic Cozi or Skylight account migration: meals, chores and shopping lists need to be set up separately. Explore the demo before deciding to switch.

Question 9

Is our family's data private?

Accepted Answer

Household access and member roles protect your family’s data, and photos are stored privately. Private event details are visible only to their creator and Admins; shared displays show Busy. We do not sell your data or show ads. Admins can export household data and request household deletion in Settings, with 14 days to cancel deletion. Non-Admin members can delete their own account without deleting the household.

Question 10

Can I print the week out?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The fridge sheet puts dinners, events, chores and bin night on one printable page, straight from the browser on any computer or tablet.

Question 11

Is it made for Australian families?

Accepted Answer

Yes. School term and public holidays are built in for every Australian state and territory, bin night reminders match your council rotation, and all prices are in AUD.

Feature	HouseLife	Cozi	Skylight Calendar
Getting started	A supported tablet, phone or laptop you already own	App and website; no dedicated screen needed	Buy a dedicated touchscreen for the wall experience; mobile app available
Advertising	Ad-free, including during early access	Free plan; Cozi Gold offers an ad-free experience	A dedicated-display product, not an ad-supported free calendar app
Household cost	Free early access. Planned: AUD $5/month or AUD $49/year	Free plan or paid Cozi Gold; check current local pricing	Hardware purchase; some features included, optional paid features
Calendar & shopping	Shared calendar and shopping list	Shared calendar and shopping lists	Calendar, tasks and grocery/custom lists
Meals & recipes	Meal planner, usual meals and seasonal recipe book	Recipes and meal-planning features; availability varies by plan	Meal-planning features; check current plan inclusions
Chores	Chores, parent approval, points and rewards	To-do and chore lists	Chore charts and tasks
Beyond the calendar	Kids’ crafts, veggie garden guide and printable fridge sheet	See their feature list for current extras	See their feature list for current extras
Australian families	State and territory school terms and public holidays built in	Check local holiday support before choosing	Check local holiday support before choosing
Things to consider	New and in early access; Home Screen installation rather than an app-store app	Established app and web experience	Purpose-built screen with a ready-made hardware experience

Turn your spare tablet into the family's command centre.

Why families choose HouseLife

Family time. Not ad space.

Keep the screen. Skip the purchase.

More of family life, together.

Everything a busy household needs

Month, week & day

Bring your calendars

Everyone's own login

Chores & rewards

Meals & recipes

Shared shopping

Fridge sheet

Private by design

Veggie garden guide

Kids’ craft corner

See it in action

Thinking of switching?

Getting started

Advertising

Household cost

Calendar & shopping

Meals & recipes

Chores

Beyond the calendar

Australian families

Things to consider

Try the fit before you make the move.

Planned pricing

Monthly

Yearly

Join the early-access list

Questions people ask