TidyDone vs OurHome: Which Free Chore App Fits Your Family?
Updated July 12, 2026
Both apps are genuinely free — a rarity in this category — so this comparison is about fit, not price. Full disclosure up front: TidyDone is our app. OurHome is the longest-standing free family organizer around, and for some families below, it is the better choice. Here is the honest breakdown.
The short version
Choose TidyDone if…
- · You want to verify chores before points are awarded
- · Your kids are younger or do not have their own devices
- · You want leaderboards and progress analytics
- · You prefer an actively developed product you can shape
Choose OurHome if…
- · Each kid should log in and check off their own chores
- · You want groceries and a family calendar in the same app
- · You prefer a native iOS/Android app over the browser
- · A decade-old track record matters more than momentum
Feature by feature
| Feature | TidyDone | OurHome |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — one version, everything included | Free |
| Chores with points | Yes, custom point values per task | Yes, custom point values per task |
| Rewards | Parent-defined rewards; spend points and reset or accumulate | Parent-defined rewards redeemable by kids |
| Leaderboard | Weekly, monthly, and all-time rankings | Points totals per member, no dedicated leaderboard views |
| Task verification | Parent marks tasks complete after checking — points are always accurate | Kids check off their own tasks; optional parent approval |
| Kid logins | No — parent-managed by design, kids need no device or account | Yes — every family member gets their own login |
| Recurring tasks | Daily, weekly, monthly | Flexible schedules including rotations |
| Beyond chores | Focused on chores, points, and rewards only | Shared family calendar, grocery lists, and inventory |
| Progress analytics | Completion history and patterns per child | Basic points history |
| Platforms | Any browser — phone, tablet, computer; nothing to install | iOS and Android apps |
| Active development | New product, shaped by founding-member feedback | Quiet for years; new maintainers shipped a stability update in late 2025 |
Bold text marks the stronger side of each row where there is a meaningful difference.
The real difference: who runs the system
Strip away the feature lists and the two apps disagree on one thing: who operates the chore system. OurHome gives every family member an account — kids check off their own tasks, redeem their own rewards, and manage their own view. That is genuinely great for self-sufficient tweens and teens with their own phones.
TidyDone deliberately goes the other way: one parent dashboard, no kid accounts. You assign the chores, you verify they actually happened, you award the points. Nothing depends on a child having a device, remembering a password, or resisting the temptation to tap “done” on an unmade bed. For families with kids under about ten — or families who tried self-service and watched it drift — the parent-managed model is the one that sticks.
OurHome also bundles a shared calendar and grocery lists; TidyDone stays focused on chores, points, and rewards. If you want one app for the whole household operating system, that is a real point in OurHome’s favor. If you already have a calendar you like, focus wins.
Common questions
Is OurHome still free?
Yes. OurHome remains free, and it is one of the few chore apps with no paid tier at all — the same pricing model as TidyDone. The choice between them comes down to features and philosophy, not cost.
Is OurHome still being updated?
After years of visibly quiet development, OurHome changed hands and received a stability update in late 2025 that improved its long-standing sync issues. It is in better shape than its reputation suggests, though the interface still shows its age.
Which is better for young kids?
TidyDone, in most cases. Kids under 8 rarely have their own devices, so OurHome’s per-member logins go unused while the parent runs everything anyway. TidyDone is built for exactly that parent-run pattern, with verification built into the flow.
Which is better if my kids have their own phones?
OurHome, if self-service is what you want — kids can check off their own chores and watch their points in their own account. If you would rather verify chores yourself before points land (and skip the "I totally did it" debates), TidyDone’s parent-managed model works regardless of who owns a phone.
Both are free — try ours first
TidyDone takes under 10 minutes to set up, with no credit card and no app to install. If the parent-managed model is not for you, OurHome will still be there.