Quick Summary
If you're searching for OurHome alternatives, you've probably already discovered the bad news: the original OurHome chore app appears to be dead.
What happened to OurHome? The app was unpublished from Google Play in September 2023, hasn't been updated since 2020, and users report being unable to log in due to server issues. The developers have gone silent with no communication to users who have years of family data trapped on inaccessible servers.
OurHome was one of the original family chore apps - it pioneered the points-and-rewards system that got kids actually doing chores. Millions of families relied on it. But technology moves on, and fortunately there are now several alternatives that do the job even better.
We'll be upfront: we make Sense, one of the apps in this comparison. But we've tried to be genuinely helpful here. Every family has different needs, and the "best" chore app depends on your kids' ages, whether you want allowance integration, and how much gamification helps motivate your family.
Quick Comparison
| App | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| S'moresUp | Free / $4.99/mo | Gamification & smart home integration |
| Homey | Free / $49.99/yr | Allowance with bank transfers |
| Sweepy | Free / $12.99/yr | Clean interface, family leaderboard |
| Tody | Free / ~$30/yr | Adults & cleaning routines |
| Cozi | Free / $39/yr | Basic lists + meal planning |
| Family Tools | Free | Budget-conscious families |
| Sense | Free / Premium | All-in-one with AI assistant |
The Apps
S'moresUp
S'moresUp is probably the closest direct replacement for OurHome. It uses a sophisticated "ChoreAI" system to assign, remind, and reward family members for completing tasks. Kids earn S'mores points for every chore completed, which can be redeemed for rewards you define.
The app includes a family calendar, communications "Campfire" for sharing updates, and even integrates with smart home devices - your Bosch dishwasher can literally assign the "empty me" chore to whoever's turn it is.
Strengths
- Best-in-class gamification
- Smart home integrations (Bosch, GE)
- Family communication features
- Responsive developer support
Limitations
- Can feel overwhelming at first
- Lots of features = steeper learning curve
- Some users report UI bugs
- Free tier limited after trial
Homey
Homey takes the chores-to-allowance connection seriously. It's essentially a digital chore chart where parents can issue payouts upon visual confirmation of finished chores. The standout feature: you can actually transfer allowance directly to connected bank accounts (US only).
Kids can create savings "jars" to show what they're saving for, separating money into spend, save, and donate buckets. It's as much a financial literacy tool as a chore app.
Strengths
- Real bank account transfers
- Savings goals for kids
- High level of customization
- Good for teaching money management
Limitations
- Bank transfers US only
- Interface feels dated
- Can be complex to set up
- 7-day trial may not be enough
Sweepy
Sweepy takes a cleaner, more visual approach. It automatically assigns chores daily based on preset tasks - you don't have to think about what needs doing. Each task carries 1-3 points based on difficulty, and there's a family leaderboard to spark friendly competition.
The app tracks how many tasks each person completes daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. This data removes the emotion from the "who does more around here?" argument that plagues many households.
Strengths
- Clean, modern interface
- Automatic daily task assignment
- Family leaderboard motivation
- Parental approval for kids' tasks
Limitations
- Free tier only 1 user
- Requires Google/Apple sign-in
- Less suitable for young kids
- No allowance features
Tired of Juggling Multiple Family Apps?
Sense combines chores, calendar, lists, and an AI assistant in one place.
Tody
Tody approaches cleaning differently - it tracks tasks by need rather than arbitrary schedules. Instead of "clean the bathroom every Saturday," Tody shows you which tasks are getting urgent based on when they were last done. A little mascot named Dusty teases you when things get dirty.
It's particularly popular with neurodivergent users who find the visual "dirtiness indicators" more motivating than traditional chore lists. The gamified approach makes it satisfying to "beat" Dusty by keeping things clean.
Strengths
- Need-based scheduling (not arbitrary)
- Great for ADHD/executive function
- Satisfying visual progress
- Highly rated (4.77 stars)
Limitations
- More focused on adults
- No rewards/allowance system
- Subscription required for family sync
- Can become overwhelming if over-customized
Cozi
Cozi is primarily a family calendar app, but it includes basic to-do lists that many families use for chores. You can create recurring tasks, assign them to family members, and get reminders. It's not as gamified as OurHome was, but it's reliable and widely used.
The main advantage is that Cozi combines your chore list with family calendar, meal planning, and grocery lists - so you're not juggling multiple apps.
Strengths
- All-in-one family organizer
- Meal planning included
- Established, reliable platform
- Works across all devices
Limitations
- Basic chore features (no gamification)
- No points or rewards system
- Free tier now limited to 30 days
- Won't motivate reluctant kids
Family Tools
Family Tools offers 100% free chore tracking with no ads targeting children. Kids earn reward points that unlock app customization options - a clever way to gamify without requiring parents to fund allowances.
The app notifies parents when children complete daily chores, making it easy to offer immediate praise. It's simple, straightforward, and doesn't try to do too much.
Strengths
- Completely free
- No ads
- Simple and focused
- Good notification system
Limitations
- Fewer features than paid alternatives
- Basic gamification
- Smaller user community
- No allowance integration
Sense
Full disclosure: this is our app. Sense takes a different approach - instead of just a chore app, it's an AI family assistant that handles chores alongside everything else: calendar, shopping lists, reminders, meal planning, and more.
The chore system uses points that convert to allowance. Kids can see their earnings grow, and parents can approve completed tasks before points are awarded. But what makes Sense different is that you can talk to it naturally - "Add take out trash to Jake's chores, due every Tuesday" - and it just works.
The real power is having one app instead of five. Your chores, calendar events (auto-extracted from school emails), grocery lists, and family reminders all live in one place that the whole family can access.
Strengths
- Chores + calendar + lists in one app
- Points-based allowance system
- Natural language AI interface
- Email-to-calendar automation
Limitations
- Newer app, still evolving
- AI approach is different
- No smart appliance integration (yet)
- Some features in development
Try Sense Free
See if the all-in-one approach works for your family
What Actually Matters When Choosing
1. Will gamification help or hurt?
Some kids thrive with points, badges, and leaderboards. Others find it stressful or lose interest once the novelty wears off. If your kids loved OurHome's reward system, look at S'moresUp or Sweepy. If you want something simpler, Cozi or Family Tools might be better fits.
2. Do you want real money involved?
Apps like Homey can transfer actual allowance to bank accounts. Others like S'moresUp and Sense use points that you convert to rewards however you choose. And some apps like Tody skip rewards entirely. Think about whether tying chores to money teaches financial responsibility or creates transactional behavior - families differ on this.
3. Ages of your kids matter
Apps with Google/Apple sign-in requirements (like Sweepy) work better for teens. Younger kids do better with parent-managed accounts like in S'moresUp or Sense. Tody skews adult and may not engage kids at all.
4. One app or multiple?
If chores are your only need, a dedicated app like S'moresUp or Sweepy makes sense. But if you're also juggling family calendars, shopping lists, and meal planning, consolidating into one app (Cozi or Sense) reduces the number of places you need to check.
Our Honest Take
OurHome's disappearance is frustrating, but the good news is that the alternatives are actually better. S'moresUp offers more sophisticated gamification. Homey provides real financial tools. Sweepy has a cleaner interface. And apps like Sense combine chores with everything else families need to manage.
We built Sense because we were tired of using separate apps for chores, calendar, lists, and reminders. The AI approach isn't for everyone - some people prefer traditional interfaces. But if you're looking to simplify your family's digital toolkit while keeping kids accountable for their chores, it might be worth a try.
Whatever you choose, the goal is the same: teach kids responsibility without adding more stress to already-busy parents. Pick the app that fits how your family actually works, not the one with the most features.
Ready to Replace OurHome?
Sense handles chores, calendar, and more - all with an AI assistant that makes family organization easier.