Shared Steps vs 2houses
2houses is a family organiser for separated parents with one subscription per family and read-only access for mediators. Shared Steps is built for families after mediation in the UK. Here's how they compare.
What the two of you pay
Shared StepsOne price per family
- Monthly
- £7.99a month for the whole family
- Yearly
- £69.99a year for the whole family
Free to try
2housesOne price per family
- Monthly
- No monthly planNo monthly plan shown: about £8.25 a month, billed yearly
- Yearly
- £99a year for the whole family
14 days free, card needed
At a glance
- Yes:
- Partly:
- No:
- Not stated:
| Feature |  Shared Steps | 2houses |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price | £7.99 a month or £69.99 a year | £99 a year (about £8.25 a month); no monthly plan shown |
| One subscription covers both parents | Yes: Either parent subscribes; the other is covered | Yes: One subscription covers both parents, children and invited third parties |
| Free trial | Yes: Start with a free trial | Yes: 14 days; a card is needed |
| Planning together | ||
| Shared calendar | Yes: Month, week and day views, with regular rotas | Yes: Custody wizard, syncs with other calendars |
| Agreeing changes | Yes: Proposals; the calendar changes only once you both agree | Yes: Accept a request or suggest an alternative |
| Shared costs | Yes: Log a cost with its receipt, agree it, see who owes what | Yes: Balance, payment requests and CSV or PDF reports |
| Shared documents | Yes: PDFs and photos stored privately for both parents, organised by child and type, with renewal reminders that can hold the scan | Yes: Contacts, medical information and documents |
| Talking to each other | ||
| Messaging | Yes: Messages with replies, reactions and search | Yes: Messages can't be deleted |
| Tone check before sending | Yes: A private calm check that runs on your phone and never blocks a message | Not stated: Not stated on its website |
| Calls without sharing numbers | Yes: Voice, with video if you both switch it on; your own call hours | Not stated: Not stated on its website |
| Privacy and access | ||
| Handover check-ins | Yes: No GPS: only the update and time you choose to send | Not stated: Not stated on its website |
| Access for your child | Yes: A simple read-only view of where they'll be | Yes: Access for children, with custom rights |
| Mediators and professionals | Yes: Your mediator sees only the review requests you send | Yes: Read-only access for mediators |
| Records and devices | ||
| Court-ready records | No: Built for day-to-day co-parenting, not for gathering evidence | Partly: Message PDFs and expense reports |
| Web app | No: iPhone and Android | Yes: Web, iPhone and Android |
| Made for UK families | Yes: Made in the UK, with UK prices | Yes: Prices in pounds; six languages |
Where 2houses is strong
- One subscription for the whole family, as with Shared Steps.
- Read-only access for mediators, and partner accounts for professionals.
- Calendar sync, photo albums and a journal, in six languages.
Where Shared Steps is different
- £69.99 a year rather than £99, or £7.99 if you'd rather pay monthly.
- Calls inside the app without sharing numbers, with your own call hours.
- A private calm check that runs on your phone before you send a message.
- Your mediator sees only the review requests you choose to send, not your plan.
Which is right for you?
2houses may suit you if
you want calendar sync, photo albums or an app in another language, or your mediator already uses it.
Shared Steps may suit you if
you want calls without swapping numbers, a calm check on your messages, and a lower yearly price.
Hear when it's outQuestions
Is Shared Steps cheaper than 2houses?
Yes. Both cover the whole family with one subscription. Shared Steps is £69.99 a year or £7.99 a month; 2houses is £99 a year.
Can my mediator see our plan in Shared Steps?
No. Your mediator only receives what one of you chooses to send as a request for a review. Your messages, plan and costs stay with your family.