Shared co-parenting platforms such as OurFamilyWizard, TalkingParents, AppClose and 2houses are built for both parents to join, so their main features depend on the other parent taking part. Oya Shield is different: it is a private record one parent keeps alone, with no shared account and no invitation, and the other parent never needs to install or agree to anything.
These are two kinds of product doing two different jobs. Which one suits you depends on whether you need to communicate with the other parent or keep your own account of what happens.
The two kinds of app
- Shared co-parenting platforms. Both parents use the same system for messaging, a shared calendar and shared expenses. What happens there is generally visible to both. Examples: OurFamilyWizard, TalkingParents, AppClose, 2houses.
- Private documentation apps. One parent keeps a record on their own account. Nothing depends on the other parent, and nothing is visible to them. Oya Shield is one of these.
What “without the other parent” really means
People search for this for different reasons. The other parent may have refused to sign up, may simply never get around to it, or you may not want to raise it yet. It helps to be precise about what a shared platform can do in that situation.
A shared platform’s core value is the shared part, so it needs a second person. Some platforms will not let you start until both accounts are connected. Others let you sign up first, or offer limited one-parent use, such as entering your own information or sending something to a parent who has no account. Those details vary by product and plan and change over time, so check with the provider. In every case, shared messaging and a shared calendar only do their job once the other parent takes part.
A private record has no second person to wait for. It works on the day you start, and it keeps working if the other parent never joins anything.
What Oya Shield does with one parent
- Entry log. Title, details, category, importance, date, the children involved, how you know, and photos.
- Expense ledger. Shared costs split by percentage or fixed amount, with receipts attached.
- Visible edits. On the device where you make a correction, the original wording stays in the entry’s history.
- PDF reports. A dated report you can give to whoever you choose.
- Share with a professional. A read-only view of chosen entries for a lawyer or mediator, which you can end at any time.
Your records sync to your own private account, over encrypted connections. There is no co-parent account and no co-parent view. Nothing is shared unless you share it.
What it does not do
- It has no messaging. It does not replace how you talk to the other parent.
- It has no shared calendar, because nothing in it is shared.
- It never contacts the other parent.
- It is for iPhone and iPad only, on iOS 26 or later. There is no Android app and no web app for parents.
- It does not give legal advice, and no app can decide how a court will treat a record. That varies by jurisdiction.
Oya Shield is free to download. Premium is needed to create new entries, make PDF reports and share with a professional: $8.99 a month or $85.99 a year (US prices). Eligible new subscribers get the first week free through the App Store. Without Premium you can still open, read, edit and delete entries and use Export Full Record. One parent, one subscription.
When a shared platform is the better choice
A private record is not always the right answer. Choose a shared platform when:
- A court has ordered one. If an order names a platform, use it. A private record does not replace it.
- You need a monitored message channel. When the point is a neutral place where both parents’ messages are kept, that is what shared platforms are built for. Oya Shield does not do this.
- You want a shared calendar. If you both want one place for the schedule and day-to-day logistics, and you will both use it, a shared platform fits well.
You can use both
The two kinds of app are not rivals. Some parents use a shared platform for communication, sometimes because they have to, and keep a private record for the things that happen outside it, such as a late pickup, a receipt, or a school meeting. Using one does not stop you from using the other.
Other ways to keep a record alone
You do not have to use an app at all. A dated notebook needs one parent too, and so does a notes app, though it is harder to organize and to export. Other private documentation apps exist as well. Our guide on how to choose a custody documentation app sets out the questions that decide it.
Compare Oya Shield with each platform
- Oya Shield and OurFamilyWizard
- Oya Shield and TalkingParents
- Oya Shield and AppClose
- Oya Shield and 2houses
Frequently asked questions
Is there a co-parenting app that only one parent needs?
Yes, if what you need is a record. Oya Shield is a private record one parent keeps alone: no shared account, no invitation, and the other parent never needs to install or agree to anything. If what you need is shared messaging or a shared calendar, that takes a shared platform, and those are built for both parents to join.
Will the other parent be notified if I use Oya Shield?
No. There is no invitation and no co-parent account, and they are not told it exists. They cannot see what you log unless you decide to show them, for example by handing over a PDF you exported.
Is it okay to keep a private record without telling the other parent?
Keeping your own written notes about your own family life is a common, ordinary thing to do. Recording conversations is different: the rules vary by place, and some places require everyone’s consent. If a court order or agreement says anything about communication or record keeping, follow it, and ask a family-law professional if you are unsure. A private record can still reach others if you share it or if a legal process requires it.
Does Oya Shield work on Android?
No. Oya Shield is for iPhone and iPad on iOS 26 or later. There is no Android app, and no web app for parents. Because only one parent uses it, the phone the other parent has makes no difference.
This page reflects our general understanding of the shared-platform model as of November 2026; details vary by product and plan. OurFamilyWizard, TalkingParents, AppClose and 2houses are trademarks of their respective owners. Oya Shield is an independent product and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any of them.