Shared Steps vs TalkingParents
TalkingParents is a US co-parenting platform built around records that courts accept, including recorded calls. Shared Steps is a UK app for families after mediation, built for running an agreement day to day. 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
TalkingParentsCharged per parent
- Monthly
- $14a month for two: $7 each on Essentials, in US dollars
- Yearly
- About $155a year for two: $7 a month each, 8% off when paid yearly
30-day trial
At a glance
- Yes:
- Partly:
- No:
- Not stated:
| Feature |  Shared Steps | TalkingParents |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price | £7.99 a month or £69.99 a year | From $7 a month per parent (US dollars); no prices in pounds found |
| One subscription covers both parents | Yes: Either parent subscribes; the other is covered | Partly: Plans are per parent, and each parent can choose a different plan |
| Free trial | Yes: Start with a free trial | Yes: 30-day trial; no free plan since 30 March 2026 |
| Planning together | ||
| Shared calendar | Yes: Month, week and day views, with regular rotas | Yes: Shared calendar with recurring events |
| Agreeing changes | Yes: Proposals; the calendar changes only once you both agree | Partly: The other parent is notified of edits; an approval step isn't described |
| Shared costs | Yes: Log a cost with its receipt, agree it, see who owes what | Partly: Accountable Payments need a US bank account |
| 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: Info Library and Vault |
| Talking to each other | ||
| Messaging | Yes: Messages with replies, reactions and search | Yes: Timestamped messages that can't be edited |
| Tone check before sending | Yes: A private calm check that runs on your phone and never blocks a message | Partly: Sentiment Scanner and Writing Assist on the Ultimate plan only |
| Calls without sharing numbers | Yes: Voice, with video if you both switch it on; your own call hours | Partly: Phone and video calls, all recorded and transcribed; phone calls need a US or Canadian number |
| 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 | Not stated: Not stated on its website |
| Mediators and professionals | Yes: Your mediator sees only the review requests you send | No: No third-party access for legal professionals |
| Records and devices | ||
| Court-ready records | No: Built for day-to-day co-parenting, not for gathering evidence | Yes: Certified Unalterable Records, as PDFs or printed (prints aren't posted abroad) |
| Web app | No: iPhone and Android | Yes: Web, iPhone and Android |
| Made for UK families | Yes: Made in the UK, with UK prices | Partly: Available in the UK, but calls by phone number and payments are US and Canada only |
Where TalkingParents is strong
- Built around records it says courts in all 50 US states accept.
- Every call is recorded and transcribed, which some parents want for accountability.
- Each parent can choose their own plan, and fee waivers are available.
Where Shared Steps is different
- Made for UK families, with prices in pounds and nothing that needs a US phone number or bank account.
- Calls aren't recorded. You each set your own call hours and can pause calls whenever you need to.
- One subscription covers both parents.
- Changes are proposals, and the calendar only changes once you both agree.
Which is right for you?
TalkingParents may suit you if
your situation is high-conflict and you want every call and message recorded as evidence, or your case is in the US.
Shared Steps may suit you if
you're in the UK, have reached an agreement, and want a calmer place to run it rather than a record built for court.
Hear when it's outQuestions
Does TalkingParents work in the UK?
TalkingParents says it is available in the UK and Ireland, but its own FAQ says phone calls only work with US or Canadian numbers and payments need a US bank account. Video calls work wherever they're available.
Is TalkingParents still free?
No. TalkingParents says the app needs a paid subscription from 30 March 2026, with plans from $7 a month per parent after a 30-day trial.
Does Shared Steps record calls?
No. The sound and any video of a call pass live between your phones and are not recorded or kept. Shared Steps keeps only who called whom, when, and for how long.