Free alternative
OurFamilyWizard is a co-parenting communication app. If all you need is a custody schedule you can print, share, or attach to your parenting plan, CustodyBuilder does that for free. No subscription required.
This page explains what OFW does well, what it doesn't do, and when a free alternative makes more sense.
Reviewed by CustodyBuilder Editorial Team Last updated July 2026 Not legal advice
OurFamilyWizard is built around messaging and record-keeping between co-parents: a shared calendar, an expense log, an info bank for medical records and contacts, and a "ToneMeter" that flags hostile language in messages.
It's a communication platform. The core use case is ongoing co-parenting coordination after separation — not building a schedule document.
Pricing (as of 2025): roughly $100–$180 per year, per parent. Because each parent pays separately, a couple that both use it can pay $200–$360 combined annually.
CustodyBuilder generates the custody schedule itself: the rotation pattern, the calendar, the overnight count, and a PDF you can download and hand to your attorney or attach to your parenting plan.
It doesn't have messaging, expense tracking, or a tone meter. It's a schedule-building tool, and it's free.
| Feature | OurFamilyWizard | CustodyBuilder |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ~$100–$180/yr per parent | Free |
| Custody schedule builder | Basic shared calendar | Full generator (2-2-3, week-on/week-off, 60/40, custom) |
| PDF calendar export | No dedicated export | Yes — monthly and yearly PDF |
| Overnight count calculator | No | Yes |
| Parenting plan attachment | Via shared calendar notes | Downloadable PDF ready to file |
| Co-parenting messaging | Yes | No |
| Expense tracking | Yes | No |
| ToneMeter / message review | Yes | No |
| Mobile app | Yes (iOS/Android) | Web-based |
| Subscription required | Yes | No |
OFW makes sense if you and your co-parent need an ongoing shared platform: somewhere to log expenses, message each other with a record, coordinate last-minute changes, and keep everything documented in case of a future dispute.
If your goal is to build the custody schedule itself — the actual rotation pattern, the calendar, the overnight counts — OFW isn't designed for that. Its shared calendar assumes you already have a schedule and just need somewhere to display it.
Courts and attorneys want a clear schedule they can read. CustodyBuilder generates a PDF calendar you can attach directly to your parenting plan filing. OFW doesn't produce a standalone schedule document.
If you're trying to understand what a 2-2-3 schedule means for overnight counts, or how a 60/40 split breaks down, CustodyBuilder's calculator shows you exactly that. OFW assumes the schedule is already settled.
Not every co-parenting situation involves conflict. If you two can text and email like adults, you don't need a $180/year communication platform — you need a schedule document.
Before you've agreed on anything, you need to build the schedule first. CustodyBuilder helps you generate and compare options so you can bring a concrete proposal to mediation or negotiation.
Marcus and Diana are filing an uncontested divorce. Their attorney needs a signed parenting plan with a custody schedule attached. They use CustodyBuilder to generate a 2-2-3 schedule, download the PDF calendar, and attach it to their filing. Total cost: zero. They don't need OFW's messaging features because they get along fine.
Keiko wants to propose an every-other-weekend arrangement as a starting point but needs to know what that looks like in overnight percentages before her mediation session. She runs it through CustodyBuilder's overnight calculator, sees it gives her co-parent about 52 overnights per year (roughly 14%), and decides to propose a 2-2-3 instead for a more balanced outcome.
Tom is representing himself in a custody modification. The judge asks for a proposed schedule in writing. Tom builds a week-on/week-off schedule in CustodyBuilder, downloads the monthly and yearly PDF calendars, and brings them to court.
Yes, and some families do. CustodyBuilder to build and document the schedule initially, OFW to manage ongoing communication and expenses. They serve different phases of co-parenting.
FAQ
Common questions about using CustodyBuilder instead of OurFamilyWizard for custody scheduling.
CustodyBuilder is free — no trial period, no credit card, no premium tier required to download your schedule. The schedule generator and PDF export are both free.
OFW has a shared calendar where you can mark custody days, but it's not a schedule generator. It doesn't let you pick a rotation pattern (like 2-2-3 or week-on/week-off) and generate a calendar from it. You'd enter custody days manually.
The PDF calendar CustodyBuilder generates can be attached to a parenting plan as a schedule exhibit. It shows the rotation pattern, which parent has custody on which days, and overnight counts. It's not a full legal document — you'll still need an attorney to draft the actual parenting plan language.
2-2-3, week-on/week-off (7-7), 5-2-2-5, every-other-weekend, 60/40, 70/30, and custom arrangements. You can adjust start dates and parent names before downloading.
The core schedule builder and PDF export are free. The site is supported by advertising. There's no hidden paywall for the features described on this page.
If you need messaging records and you're already considering OFW, the dual-account requirement matters: expense tracking and the shared calendar only work if both parents are on the platform. CustodyBuilder doesn't require your co-parent to sign up for anything — you build the schedule yourself and download it.
If you need to build a custody schedule, calculate overnights, and download a PDF for your parenting plan — CustodyBuilder is free and built for exactly that.
If you need an ongoing co-parenting communication and documentation platform, OurFamilyWizard is worth considering. The two tools do different things.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a family law attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
Generate a dated custody calendar for any rotation pattern. Download the PDF and attach it to your parenting plan.