Managing a busy household is hard enough—between school pickups, soccer practices, birthdays, and shared meals, keeping everyone aligned can feel like a full-time job. A shared family calendar keeps everyone on the same page. In 2025, there are more options than ever: from built-in Google or Apple calendars to dedicated family apps, and even smart wall displays with AI assistants.

Here’s our take on the best family shared calendars for 2025, including how TextConcierge fits in when you want calendars and SMS to work together.

Built-in (Free & Already on Your Devices)​

Google Family Calendar​

Best for: Cross-platform families already using Gmail.
✅ Pros: Auto-creates a “Family” calendar when you set up a Google Family Group; works on any device; easy permissions.
⚠️ Cons: Lacks extras like chores, lists, or meal plans. SMS reminders require workarounds.
💰 Price: Free.

Apple iCloud Shared Calendars​

Best for: All-Apple households.
✅ Pros: Fast and private sharing; simple controls; supports public read-only links.
⚠️ Cons: Breaks down if anyone is on Android.
💰 Price: Free with iCloud.

Outlook Family Group Calendar​

Best for: Microsoft 365 users.
✅ Pros: Family group calendar lives inside Outlook; works across accounts; ties into Outlook AI scheduling.
⚠️ Cons: Setup feels more “corporate” than family-friendly.
💰 Price: Free with Outlook.com; Microsoft 365 optional.

Dedicated Family Organizer Apps​

TextConcierge Calendar Assistant​

Best for: Families who live in text threads or have members that don't want to use an app.
✅ Pros: Adds and edits events by SMS; works with any phone; optionally connect to google calendar.
⚠️ Cons: No free option.
💰 Price: $9 to $29 per month.

Pair it with Google’s Family calendar (or any shared Google calendar) so the “calendar people” see events in their native apps while everyone else can just text to add, ask, or update plans.

Cozi Family Organizer​

Best for: Calendar + lists + recipes, all in one.
✅ Pros: Trusted classic; simple to use; “Gold” tier adds month view, no ads, birthday tracker, and search.
⚠️ Cons: Free tier shows ads; utilitarian interface.
💰 Price: Free; Cozi Gold subscription available.

TimeTree​

Best for: Multiple shared calendars (kids, carpool, grandparents) with chat.
✅ Pros: Unlimited shared calendars; comments and chat per event; Premium removes ads and adds attachments.
⚠️ Cons: Can feel cluttered if too many sub-calendars.
💰 Price: Free; Premium ~$4.49/mo or $44.99/yr.

FamilyWall​

Best for: Calendar + lists + private family feed + optional live location.
✅ Pros: True “family hub” approach; Premium adds live location sharing and more storage.
⚠️ Cons: More features than some families need; subscription required for extras.
💰 Price: ~$4.99–$7.99/mo or $44.99/yr.

FamCal​

Best for: Simple, color-coded shared calendar.
✅ Pros: Lightweight; easy for non-technical relatives.
⚠️ Cons: Paid tiers are confusing; recent reviews note removal of lifetime option.
💰 Price: Free app; paid plans from a few dollars/month to ~$39.99/yr.

📱 Download: App Store · Google Play

(Also worth a look)

• Family Tools → lightweight chores + calendar combo.
• OneCal / SyncThemCalendars → great if you need 2-way sync across Google, Outlook, and iCloud.

Wall Displays (Kitchen Command Centers)​

Skylight Calendar (15″ Touchscreen)​

Best for: A big, visible family “command board” in the kitchen.
✅ Pros: Large wall display; integrates calendars; chore charts included.
⚠️ Cons: Hardware cost; you still need phones for on-the-go edits.
💰 Price: ~$320 (15″ model).

Cozyla Calendar+ 2 (AI-Powered Display)​

Best for: Families who want voice-controlled chores/meal planning + calendar.
✅ Pros: Syncs with Apple/Google; adds an AI assistant for lists and reminders.
⚠️ Cons: Premium price; newer ecosystem than Skylight.
💰 Price: ~$899.

Quick Picks​

• Already on Google/Apple/Microsoft? Use the built-in calendar first; add a wall display if you want a visible hub.
• Want calendar + lists + recipes? Start with Cozi, upgrade to Gold if you hate ads.
• Need multiple sub-calendars + event chat? Go with TimeTree.
• Want calendars + SMS access? Use TextConcierge with your Google Family calendar.
• Want a modern “family hub”? Try FamilyWall.
• Prefer a wall display? Skylight (value) or Cozyla (AI bells/whistles).

What to Look For​

• Onboarding ease: Can grandparents join without fuss?
• Cross-platform support: Mixed iPhone/Android/Windows families should favor Google, TimeTree, or FamilyWall.
• Feature set: Do you want just events, or extras like chores, meal planning, and location sharing?
• Price vs. ads: Most free apps show ads; Premium usually costs ~$4–$9/month.
• Hardware or not: Wall displays boost visibility but add cost.

Final Word​

Premium family calendar apps are $4-$9 per month, while newer wall hubs lean into AI and hardware bundles. Pairing TextConcierge with a shared Google calendar gives you texting convenience without asking anyone to download another app.

Whether you stick to a free Google Family Calendar, rely on TextConcierge for quick SMS updates, or invest in a dedicated wall hub, the best calendar is still the one your whole crew will actually use.

We ran lab tests to see how the most affordable models from Google, Amazon, and OpenAI hold up for TextConcierge’s SMS workflows.

Each model answered the same four prompts: a math check, intent classification, calendar JSON extraction, and a concise family update.

Here’s how they stack up when latency, accuracy, and per-run cost all matter.

TL;DR​

• Top accuracy: Amazon Nova Micro, OpenAI GPT-5 nano each hit 1.00 across all tasks.
• Fastest responses: Amazon Nova Micro finished in 0.37s on average.
• Lowest cost-per-run: Google Gemini 2.5 Flash Lite stayed near $0.00002 per four-prompt batch (≈0.002¢).
• Our Top Choice: For TextConcierge, most critical parts are accuracy and speed, and Amazon Nova Micro is a clear winner for both. And that is why we are switching to Amazon Nova.

Benchmark Scenarios​

Scenario 1: Quick Math Check​

A deterministic multiplication prompt to make sure each model can produce the exact numeric answer without drift.

Question asked: Answer the following strictly as digits with no extra text: 17 * 12 = ?

Expected output: 204

Scenario 2: Intent Classification​

Classify whether an inbound SMS should activate calendar handling, returning only calendar or other.

Question asked:

Classify the following SMS as 'calendar' or 'other'. Reply with exactly one word. Message: 'Can you add soccer practice for Ava on Friday at 5pm?'

Expected output:

calendar

Scenario 3: Calendar JSON Extraction​

Extract four structured fields (title, date, time, location) from an informal SMS and return strict JSON.

Question asked:

Today is 2025-10-12. Extract event details from this SMS and respond ONLY with JSON using keys title, date, time, and location. If a field is unknown, set it to null. Message: 'Family dinner next Saturday at 6:30pm at Grandma's house.'

Expected output:

{
  "title": "Family dinner",
  "date": "2025-10-18",
  "time": "18:30",
  "location": "Grandma's house"
}

Google Gemini 2.5 Flash Lite

{ "title": "Family dinner", "date": "2025-10-18", "time": "18:30:00", "location": "Grandma's house" }

Amazon Nova Micro

{ "title": "Family dinner", "date": "2025-10-18", "time": "18:30", "location": "Grandma's house" }

OpenAI GPT-5 nano

{ "title": "Family dinner", "date": "2025-10-18", "time": "6:30pm", "location": "Grandma's house" }

Scenario 4: SMS Summary Tone​

Compose a short family-friendly SMS recap covering three bullet points in under 240 characters.

Question asked:

Summarize these updates for a family SMS in under 240 characters: Liam has piano recital Saturday 3pm; groceries arriving Friday 10am; date night babysitter booked Saturday 6pm.

Expected output (example):

Liam's piano recital Saturday 3pm; groceries arriving Friday 10am; date night babysitter booked Saturday 6pm.

Google Gemini 2.5 Flash Lite

Liam's piano recital is Sat 3pm. Groceries arrive Fri 10am. Date night sitter booked for Sat 6pm.

Amazon Nova Micro

Liam's piano recital Sat 3pm, groceries arrive Fri 10am, babysitter for date night Sat 6pm.

OpenAI GPT-5 nano

Liam's piano recital: Sat 3pm. Groceries arrive Fri 10am. Date-night babysitter booked for Sat 6pm.

Conclusion​

For TextConcierge’s SMS agent, accuracy and speed matter most. Across four representative tasks, Amazon Nova Micro delivered the best balance: perfect accuracy, the fastest responses, and still negligible per‑request cost. OpenAI GPT‑5 nano matched accuracy but was far slower and pricier, while Google Gemini 2.5 Flash Lite stayed cheapest but trailed on latency and missed one summary detail.

Based on these results, we’re moving our SMS flows—classification, structured extraction, quick edits, and short summaries—to Nova Micro. We’ll keep Flash Lite as a low‑cost fallback.

Want to see the impact in your family thread? Get Started and we’ll set you up with faster replies and simpler shared calendar management in minutes.

A single shared Family calendar keeps everyone aligned without flooding your personal schedule. Here’s a simple, proven setup that blends Google Calendar with TextConcierge so app users get native reminders and everyone else can just text.

1) Create (or pick) your Family calendar in Google​

Use a dedicated calendar named “Family” so shared plans stay separate from personal or work.

Option A — Use Google’s built‑in Family calendar (if you have a Google Family Group):

• Open Google Calendar on desktop.
• Look under “My calendars” for one named “Family.” Rename if needed.

Option B — Create a new calendar named “Family”:

1. On desktop, go to calendar.google.com.
2. In the left sidebar, next to “Other calendars,” click + → “Create new calendar.”
3. Name it “Family,” set the time zone, and click “Create calendar.”
4. Share it with your partner/relatives: Settings for the new calendar → “Share with specific people or groups” → add emails → give “Make changes to events.”

That’s it—you now have a clean place for all family plans.

2) Connect TextConcierge and sync only the Family calendar​

Keep personal and work events out of your shared SMS flow by syncing just the Family calendar.

1. Text “settings” to TextConcierge and choose Calendar to get a secure link.
2. Tap Connect Google Calendar and pick the right Google account.
3. On the calendar list, toggle ON “Family” and toggle OFF personal/work calendars you don’t want in family texts.

Why this matters:

• Reduces noise in shared messages.
• Preserves privacy—personal meetings won’t show up when someone asks, “What’s on the calendar?”

For full connection steps, see the setup guide: How to configure Google Calendar integration for TextConcierge.

3) Enable write access and set “Family” as the write target​

Let anyone add or update family plans by SMS while keeping Google as the source of truth.

1. In TextConcierge → Settings → Calendar, toggle Enable write access.
2. Approve Google’s permission prompt so TextConcierge can manage events.

3. Choose “Family” as the calendar that receives new or edited events and press Save.

Detailed steps live here: Google Calendar setup guide.

4) Enjoy the best of both worlds​

• If someone uses Google Calendar, events show up natively with reminders—no extra app.
• If someone doesn’t, they can still participate by texting to add, ask, or update.

Try these:

“Add Alex’s soccer practice Saturday 3–4pm on the Family calendar.”
“What’s on the Family calendar this weekend?”
“Move Emma’s recital to 7pm on the Family calendar.”

Pro tips​

• Keep personal items on your personal calendar; keep family plans on “Family.”
• Use recurring events for routines (practice, carpools, chores) so everyone stays ahead.
• You can revisit Settings → Calendar anytime to change permissions or switch the write target.

With this setup, your Family calendar stays clean, everyone sees what matters, and planning is as easy as sending a text.

Getting TextConcierge talking to your Google Calendar takes only a few minutes. Follow this hands-on walkthrough to secure the link, grant the right permissions, and decide which calendars should respond to SMS requests.

Step 1. Request a secure setup link via SMS​

Text “settings” to TextConcierge and choose Calendar(or simply 7). We will text back a one-time, passwordless link that opens the calendar integration page.

Step 2. Start the Google connection flow (read access)​

1. Tap the link from Step 1 to open the Calendar page.
2. Select Connect Google Calendar.
3. Pick the Google account that owns the calendar you want to read.

Step 3. Approve TextConcierge permissions​

Google will show two prompts. Approve both so TextConcierge can keep your calendars in sync:

• Allow TextConcierge to view your basic account information.
• Allow TextConcierge to see your calendars and view event details.

Step 4. Choose which calendars stay in sync​

After Google sends you back to TextConcierge, you will see every calendar tied to that account—shared family calendars included. Toggle off any secondary calendars you do not want TextConcierge to fetch when you ask for the schedule.

Step 5. Enable write access when you are ready to add events​

If you would like to add, edit, or delete events by SMS, turn on Enable write access. This opens a second Google dialog requesting permission to manage your calendars.

Step 6. Pick the calendar TextConcierge writes to​

Choose which specific calendar receives new or edited events from SMS and press Save. You can revisit this setting anytime if plans change.

What happens next​

Once read access is on, text what you need and we will show the events from google calendar:

"What’s on the calendar this weekend?"
"When is Alex’s soccer practice?"

With write access enabled, you can also create and adjust plans:

"Add date night Friday 7-10pm on the family calendar."
"Move Emma’s recital from 6pm to 7pm."

You can always return to Settings → Calendar to change permissions, swap the write target, or disconnect entirely. Ready to try it? Send that settings message and we will guide you from there.

Families live in their message threads, yet most calendars still demand dedicated apps. Today we are excited to announce Google Calendar integration for TextConcierge, bringing the calendar your family already trusts straight into your SMS conversations.

Why This Matters​

• Instant answers: Text “What’s on our calendar tonight?” and get a concise response without opening an app.
• Inclusive by design: Loop in grandparents, caregivers, and kids who cannot or will not install the Google Calendar app.
• Optionally write back: Keep your Google calendar spotless by letting TextConcierge add or update events when you give the go-ahead.
• Daily summaries that stick: Schedule a quick SMS recap so the whole family knows what’s next.

What You Can Do​

TextConcierge speaks plain language, so anything you can text you can organize:

“Add soccer practice Saturday 3-4pm for Alex.”
“Move Emma’s recital from 6pm to 7pm.”
“Send me the weekend summary.”
“Cancel the Tuesday carpool event.”

Setup: Three Simple Steps​

1. Connect once: Head to Settings and tap “Connect Google.” Follow the secure Google prompt to approve access.
2. Pick your permissions: Stay read-only or enable write access if you want TextConcierge to add and edit calendar entries for you.
3. Start texting: Ask what’s coming up, add new plans, or tweak times. We will sync with Google and keep every family member informed via SMS.

Built for Real Families​

• Works even if only one person has a Google account—everyone else receives updates through SMS.
• Respects your privacy: revoke access anytime from Google or inside TextConcierge.
• Keeps your family group text focused—no juggling apps, no missed invites.

Try It Now​

Already using TextConcierge? Open Settings, connect Google Calendar, and send your first “What’s on our calendar?” text. Want more details? Visit the Google Calendar via SMS page for a full walkthrough. New here? Get Started now.

Have questions or want help rolling it out? Email us at [email protected]. We cannot wait to see what your family does with a smarter, simpler calendar.

Planning by text works best when you can tweak the details without digging through hidden menus. That’s why we redesigned the TextConcierge Settings hub to surface the controls families ask for most—right from a single page.

One Menu, All the Essentials​

• Connect services quickly: Link Google Calendar, toggle write-back, and confirm the connection status at a glance.
• Daily summary controls: Choose the send time, select how many days to preview, and pause summaries when you head out on vacation.
• Family roster visibility: See who’s on the plan, resend invites, and confirm who has SMS access.
• Usage snapshot and plan: Keep tabs on monthly message volume so you can upgrade before hitting the limit.

Designed for Busy Families​

The refreshed layout spells out what each toggle does in plain English, so family admin can adjust settings with confidence. No jargon, no endless scrolling.

Getting Around the Hub​

• Calendar & Integrations: Connect Google Calendar, manage permissions, and jump straight to the Google Calendar via SMS page for the full feature tour.
• Daily Summaries: Set your send window, pick the lookback, and preview the next summary message.
• Family Members: Invite a caregiver, confirm who has accepted, and remove outdated phone numbers.
• Account & Plan: Update billing details or upgrade your plan without leaving the page.

Try It Today​

If you’re already using TextConcierge, open the Settings link in your SMS thread or visit the dashboard to see the new layout. Not on board yet? Get Started and we’ll help you connect your family, set summaries, and link Google Calendar in minutes.

Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]. We love hearing how families bend TextConcierge to fit their routines.

You can now Get Started on our home page. We wil send you a text right away to opt-in. Once you reply with "yes" or "subscribe", we will start you free-trial. No credit card required. And send you a welcome message with some examples of texts. Looking forward to your feedback!

A tight, real-world playbook for running a family solo—without adding new apps or complicated systems. Steal what helps, ignore the rest.

The Playbook (10 Moves)​

1. One-Calendar Rule + 10-Minute Huddle
   Keep a single shared calendar. Morning or bedtime, do a quick “what’s on deck?” check: rides, money, meals, surprises.

2. Defaults Beat Decisions
   Establish uniforms (Mon/Wed = blue top), a 7-meal no-recipe rotation, and standard departure times. Fewer choices = more energy.

3. Standing Orders & Auto-Refills
   Subscribe to repeatables (snacks, detergent, toiletries). Add a monthly “restock sweep” event to top off what subs miss.

4. Kid-Owned Zones with Checklists
   Assign each child a domain (shoes, lunchboxes, pet care). Post a 3-step checklist where the task lives.

5. “Ask Windows” to Batch Requests
   Two daily slots (e.g., 7:45–8:00 AM, 6:30–6:45 PM) when kids bring asks. Cuts down all-day interruptions.

6. Doorway Launchpad
   Hooks/bins by the exit labeled per person. Pack the night before—mornings become grab-and-go.

7. If-Then Scripts for Chaos
   Micro playbooks you can follow at 10% brain power: carpool falls through, dinner implodes, practice moves.

8. Two-Speed To-Do List
   A “Today 3” for must-dos + a rolling “Parking Lot” for everything else. Unfinished items auto-roll.

9. Prewritten Help Texts (Micro-Asks)
   Save 3–5 templates that make asking easy and specific. Good help comes from good prompts.

10. 12-Minute Night Reset + Energy Anchors
    Timer on: clear entry, reset kitchen, stage tomorrow. Pair with anchors (protein breakfast, 10 breaths, 7-minute tidy).

Swipe Files (copy/paste)​

If-Then Scripts

IF carpool cancels → text [Name], then book Uber to school.
IF dinner implodes → eggs + toast + fruit; lunchboxes become dinner.
IF rain day → swap outdoor for “floor picnic + audiobook.”
IF kid sick → cancel non-essentials; text teacher for work; 20-min quiet block.
IF you’re fried → freezer meal + 30-min early lights out for all.

Help Texts

“Could you swap school pickup Thursday? I’ll cover you Monday.”
“Can you add [Child] to your Costco run? I’ll Venmo + take Saturday sports.”
“Anyone headed past [Location] at 5? Quick drop-off for me?”
“Looking for 2 hours of homework help Thu—pizza on me.”

The 12-Minute Night Reset (micro-routine)​

• 3 min: Clear entry + stage bags at the launchpad
• 5 min: Dishes into washer, wipe counters, fill water bottles
• 2 min: Lay out clothes + meds/permission slips
• 2 min: Open calendar, scan tomorrow, set alarms

Starter One-Calendar Setup​

• Create one shared calendar.
• Add 3 recurring anchors: Restock Sweep (monthly), Meal Template (weekly), Money Monday (15-min bill check).
• Turn on daily 7 AM agenda notifications (or a texted summary if you prefer SMS).

Prefer texting over apps? A simple texting assistant like TextConcierge can add events from a text (e.g., “Soccer Tue 4–5 at Miller Park”), and send a morning digest. No new app to learn—just text.

First-Week Plan (quick start)​

Day 1: Make the single calendar; enter the next 30 days.
Day 2: Set defaults (uniforms, meals, leave times).
Day 3: Build launchpads + post kid checklists.
Day 4: Write 5 If-Then scripts.
Day 5: Save 4 help-text templates.
Day 6: Turn on auto-refills + add “Restock Sweep.”
Day 7: Try the 12-minute night reset, then tweak.

Final Thought​

You just need fewer decisions, tighter defaults, and small scripts that run when you can’t.

We are excited to announce the availability of adding recurring events when you text now. For example, if you say Steve bday 8/15, it will now save Steve's birthday on Aug 15th with recurring frequency of every year. That's it. Enjoy!

In today's fast-paced world, managing a family's schedule can feel like a full-time job. Between school events, sports practices, doctor's appointments, and social gatherings, calendars quickly become a tangled mess. For many families, the struggle is real: missed appointments, overlapping commitments, and the constant headache of trying to get everyone on the same page. We built TextConcierge because we believe there's a simpler, more intuitive way to manage family life. And some of us hate installing apps on our phones.