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Quick answer: Match the app to what motivates your child. Star Chart and Kikaroo are free star or points charts; Joon is a pet game; BusyKid and Greenlight pay real money; Cozi and S'moresUp organize the whole family. Disclosure: this is Star Chart's own site.
Quick picks by family need
- Free, no subscription: Star Chart (ours) or Kikaroo's free core plan.
- Young kids: Kikaroo (from age 4) or Star Chart.
- Game lovers and ADHD: Joon (ages 6–12).
- Tweens and teens: BusyKid or Greenlight for money; Kikaroo for points.
- Real money and allowance: BusyKid ($48/yr) or Greenlight (from $5.99/mo).
- Whole-family organizing: Cozi (calendar) or S'moresUp (chores and calendar).
Chore apps compared: price, ages, rewards and approval
| App | Price (free plan / paid) | Ages | Rewards type | Parent approval | Multiple kids | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Chart (ours) | Free, every feature; no ads or in-app purchases | No set range | Stars for buddy items and parent-set rewards | Optional, per task | Unlimited | Web; installs to home screen |
| Joon | Free: 7 verified Quests/day. Premium $12.99/mo or from $89.99/yr | 6–12 | Virtual-pet game | Parents verify Quests | Yes | iOS, Android, Fire, Chromebook |
| S'moresUp | Free Intro Pack after trial. Premium $9.99/mo or $99.99/yr* | Not published | Points and parent-set rewards | Premium only | Unlimited | iPhone, Android, Mac |
| Kikaroo | Free core. Premium $2.99/mo | 4–18 | Points and parent-set rewards | Before rewards are redeemed | Unlimited | iOS, Android |
| Cozi | Free with ads. Gold $39/yr; Max $79/yr | Whole family | None (shared to-do lists) | Not published | Every family member | iOS, Android, web |
| BusyKid | $48/yr, billed annually | Cards: 5–17 | Real allowance and prepaid Visa | Chores and money | Up to 5 cards | iOS, Android |
| Greenlight | From $5.99/mo; top plan $19.98/mo | Not published | Real money and debit card | Chore reviews | Up to 5 kids | iOS, Android |
*S'moresUp's App Store listing still shows $7.99/mo and $79.99/yr; see the notes below.
How we compared: We build Star Chart. Every competitor detail here comes from providers' published websites, pricing pages, help pages and app-store listings, checked October 2026. This is not an independent hands-on test of every app, and it is not a ranking based on children's outcomes. “Not published” means we could not find the detail on the provider's own pages. Prices are in US dollars, exclude tax, and can change; confirm the amount and renewal terms at checkout.
App-by-app notes
Star Chart: virtual stars and parent-controlled rewards
Parents create child profiles, repeating tasks, weekly schedules and star values. Children unlock cosmetic items for a 3D buddy or request a real-life reward a parent sets up; requested rewards reserve stars until a parent approves or declines. Optional task approval means stars arrive only after a parent confirms the job. Every feature is free, with no subscription, ads or in-app purchase.
Getting started needs a username and parent passcode, with no email or payment. Family data is saved on the device and cloud-synced, and an internet connection is needed the first time the app loads. It runs in a web browser and installs to the home screen; store listings are not live yet. There are no loot boxes, streaks or leaderboards.
Consider it if: your child likes a buddy and reward shop and you want to control tasks, star costs and approvals. Look elsewhere if: you need real money, a card or bank transfers, or a teen wants a plain list. See how a reward chart works.
Joon: chores connected to a pet game
Joon describes a game for ages 6–12 in which parents assign Quests and children care for a virtual pet called a Doter. It lists iOS, Android, Amazon Fire tablets and Chromebooks, and says siblings can share a device or use their own. Its free version lets parents verify up to seven Quests a day; Premium, with a seven-day trial, is $12.99 a month or from $89.99 a year. Joon says it does not support allowance tracking.
Consider it if: your child wants a game to make chores engaging. Joon's ADHD positioning is the provider's description; we have not evaluated clinical outcomes.
S'moresUp: chores within a family organizer
S'moresUp's pricing page lists a free Intro Pack with core chore scheduling, a rewards wallet, and unlimited family members and devices. Premium adds chore approvals and photo proof, rotating, competitive and collaborative chores, late-penalty tools and custom reward rules. Its Google Play listing says the Premium trial runs 45 days or 450 completed chores, whichever comes first.
Pricing is inconsistent across its own channels. The pricing page says Premium moved to $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year from July 5, 2026, with earlier subscribers kept at $7.99 or $79.99, while the App Store listing still shows $7.99 and $79.99 purchases. The pricing page also introduces It's a Family Thing! as S'moresUp's next evolution. Check the amount shown at checkout.
Consider it if: shared schedules and varied chore rules matter more than one child's reward chart. Review the optional competition and penalty settings for your family.
Kikaroo: a simple points chart
Kikaroo describes a free plan with unlimited children, chores, points and rewards, and a $2.99-a-month Premium family plan that adds checklists, open chores, shareable devices and a family dashboard. It lists ages 4–18 on iPhone and Android. Parents set point values and approve rewards before they are redeemed. Kikaroo says there is no debit card or cash balance.
Consider it if: you want a straightforward points exchange without a game, across a wide age range. If siblings share one device, note that shareable devices are a Premium feature.
Cozi: shared lists and a family calendar
Cozi offers a free shared calendar, to-do and shopping lists, and recipes. Its FAQ says the free version is supported by ads and that shared to-do lists can assign chores to specific people. Gold is $39 a year (ad-free, with extra calendar tools) and Max is $79 a year (adds AI features), both billed annually. It runs on iOS, Android and the web.
Consider it if: your household wants chores alongside appointments and shopping lists, and a checklist is enough for the children. Cozi's published plans do not include a reward or points system.
BusyKid: chores, allowance and prepaid cards
BusyKid connects chores to real allowance that parents split between save, share and spend, with optional investing. It costs $48 billed annually (shown as $4 a month), includes up to five prepaid Visa cards for ages 5–17, and gives each child their own account and PIN. Both parents can approve chores and money movement. BusyKid states that it is not a bank.
Consider it if: your goal is teaching money choices and paying actual allowance. Our allowance-by-age guide can help set the amount first.
Greenlight: a family debit card with paid chores
Greenlight's plans run from $5.99 a month (Core) to $10.98 (Max), $15.98 (Infinity) and $19.98 (Family Shield); each includes debit cards for up to five kids and an app to send money and manage chores. Its chores page describes paying per chore, chore reviews, and up-for-grabs chores that teens can claim. Investing with parent approval starts on the Max plan. Greenlight does not state an age range on these pages.
Consider it if: you want chores, allowance and a real debit card in one paid banking app, especially for teens. It is more than most families need for a younger child's chore chart.
Free chore apps with no subscription
“Free” means different things across these apps, so check what is left once a trial ends:
- Free with no paid tier: Star Chart, with every feature and every child included.
- Free core with an optional upgrade: Kikaroo (unlimited children, chores and rewards; Premium $2.99 a month) and Cozi (free with ads; no rewards).
- Free with daily or feature limits: Joon (seven verified Quests a day) and S'moresUp (Intro Pack after its Premium trial; approvals are paid).
- Paid only: BusyKid and Greenlight, because they move real money onto cards.
If you want no device at all, our free printable chore chart costs nothing and is a good way to test a routine first.
Chore apps for tweens and teens
Around 11 or 12, many kids lose interest in characters and stickers, and the questions change: should chores earn real money, and how much personal data does the app need? A money app such as BusyKid or Greenlight pays actual allowance onto a card and asks parents for identity and funding details. A points app such as Kikaroo, which covers ages 4–18, keeps rewards in the family's hands without a card. Star Chart's buddy-and-stars style suits younger children best; some tweens enjoy it, but many teens will prefer money or a plain list.
Agree on the deal before choosing a tool: which jobs are expected for free, which earn extra, and when money is paid. Our guides to chores for teenagers and whether kids should get paid for chores cover those choices. If siblings span ages, test the setup with each child and see our plan for multiple kids.
Why Habitica is not a teen recommendation here
Habitica appears on many habit-app lists, but its privacy policy, checked October 2026, says the service is for users 18 or older. We exclude it for children and teens.
Chore apps for kids with ADHD
For many kids with ADHD, what helps is short, visible steps, quick feedback, and a parent check that the job is actually done. Joon is the only app here that its provider positions specifically for ADHD. Star Chart offers parent-approved tasks and short routine lists, and Kikaroo Premium adds chore checklists. Our chore app for ADHD kids guide covers what to look for in more depth.
Chore and reward apps vs. sticker or star charts
A chore and reward app tracks repeating schedules, balances and several children for you, and it can wait for a parent to approve. A paper sticker or star chart stays visible on the fridge, needs no device, and often works best for children under five. Many families start on paper and move to an app once they are tracking several kids or saving toward bigger rewards. Start with our printable chore chart, read how to make a reward chart work, or see what research says about reward charts.
S'moresUp alternatives
S'moresUp suits families who want chores, rotations, rewards and a shared calendar in one planner, and who are happy to pay for Premium approvals and advanced chore types. If that is more than you need, or the price changes put you off, choose by your main need:
- Free and simpler: Kikaroo (points) or Star Chart (stars and a buddy).
- Calendar first: Cozi.
- Real money: BusyKid or Greenlight.
- A game for ages 6–12: Joon.
See our full S'moresUp alternatives comparison.
A five-step trial before you commit
- Add three real tasks. Include a daily routine, a weekly chore, and one task that needs a parent check.
- Use your actual devices. Check whether shared or separate access works for your household.
- Test a reward or allowance decision. Make sure the child understands its value, approval and timing.
- Read the ongoing limits. Check what changes after a trial, including task, family-member and approval limits.
- Review together. Ask which parts are clear and which create more work for either of you.
Try one routine in Star Chart
Create a username and parent passcode, add a child, and choose a few tasks. Start with one realistic reward. The useful test is whether the arrangement makes sense to your family.
Explore task ideas and setup guides in the chores for kids hub.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free chore app for kids with no subscription?
Yes. Star Chart is free with no subscription, ads, or in-app purchases, and Kikaroo has a free core plan with unlimited children, chores, and rewards. Cozi is free with ads but has no built-in rewards. Joon's free plan verifies seven Quests a day, and S'moresUp keeps a free Intro Pack after its Premium trial.
How much do chore apps for kids cost?
As published in October 2026: Star Chart is free; Kikaroo Premium is $2.99/month; Joon Premium is $12.99/month or from $89.99/year; S'moresUp lists $9.99/month or $99.99/year on its pricing page; Cozi Gold is $39/year; BusyKid is $48/year; and Greenlight starts at $5.99/month. Check the price at checkout.
What is the best chore app for teens?
If earning real money motivates your teen, compare BusyKid and Greenlight, which link chores to allowance and a card. For points without a card, Kikaroo covers ages 4–18. Ask your teen which format they will actually use, and review what data each money app collects.
Which chore apps offer the most customization?
S'moresUp Premium adds rotating, competitive, and collaborative chores plus custom reward rules. Star Chart lets parents set each task's stars, repeat days, quests, approvals, and real-life rewards at no cost. Kikaroo lets parents set point values and their own reward catalog.
Can a teenager use Habitica?
Habitica's privacy policy, checked October 2026, says the service is for users 18 or older. It is excluded from our recommendations for children and teens.
Is an app better than a paper chore chart?
It depends on your household. Apps manage repeat schedules, balances, and several children, while paper stays visible without a device. Test the routine itself first; a tool cannot make an unclear task clear on its own.
Sources and further reading
- Star Chart plans and features (Star Chart)
- Joon product information and pricing FAQ (Joon)
- Joon subscription and free-plan limits (Joon)
- S'moresUp plans and pricing (S'moresUp)
- S'moresUp - Best Chores App (App Store listing) (Apple App Store)
- S'moresUp - Smart Chores App (Google Play listing) (Google Play)
- Kikaroo features and pricing (Kikaroo)
- Cozi plan comparison (Cozi)
- Cozi FAQ (Cozi)
- BusyKid features and pricing (BusyKid)
- Greenlight plans and pricing (Greenlight)
- Greenlight chores and allowance app (Greenlight)
- Privacy Policy, section 7: General Audience Services (HabitRPG, Inc.)