After 12+ years of being a trusted family organizer, Cozi shocked its user base in May 2024 by suddenly restricting free accounts to only 30 days of calendar access. This meant families could no longer view events beyond next month or add future appointments without paying $40/year.
The backlash was immediate and intense. Longtime users felt betrayed. Parents who had relied on Cozi for years suddenly found themselves locked out of their own family schedules.
The Problems That Drove Families Away
1. The Surprise Paywall
"Been using cozi for years and now can't see past the next 30 days unless pay for upgrade - rendering it useless unless you do!"
- Trustpilot review, 2024What hurt most wasn't the pricing itself, but the lack of grandfathering for existing users. Families with years of data suddenly faced losing access to their schedules.
2. Technical Issues Getting Worse
Even before the paywall, Cozi users were frustrated with:
- Constant app crashes that lost unsaved changes
- Shopping lists that randomly reordered themselves
- Inconsistent features between iPhone, Android, and web
- Lost Alexa integration for grocery lists
3. Poor Customer Support
When families reached out for help, they found:
- Email-only support with days-long response times
- No phone number to call for urgent issues
- Unhelpful responses that didn't solve problems
"Cozi switched to a paid model with no notice. Very poor customer service."
- App Store review, 2024What Families Found in Sense
Frustrated Cozi users didn't just want another calendar app - they wanted something that understood how busy families actually operate. Here's what drew them to Sense:
Email Integration That Actually Works
Instead of manually entering every appointment, families can forward emails and watch Sense automatically extract:
- Doctor appointments with locations and times
- School events with all the details
- Sports schedules and practice changes
- Travel confirmations with flight details
Smart Organization Without the Work
Sense learns your family's patterns and helps organize information automatically. No more spending Sunday nights manually entering the week's schedule.
Built for Modern Families
While Cozi feels stuck in 2010, Sense was designed for how families coordinate today - through email, texts, and apps, not just manual calendar entries.
Making the Switch
The transition from Cozi to Sense is straightforward. Most families find that Sense's email-forward approach actually reduces the work of family organization rather than adding to it.
Plus, Sense offers a genuinely free tier that doesn't restrict basic functionality - because we believe every family deserves access to good organization tools.
Ready to Try Something Better?
If you're tired of fighting with your family organization app instead of it helping you, Sense might be the solution you've been looking for. Join thousands of families who've already made the switch.