Best chore apps

Best chore apps for couples in 2026: an honest comparison

The iOS app for households sharing the mental load: the invisible work of remembering what needs doing at home. Tasks, shopping and events synced in real time for up to six people.

If one person in your household remembers everything that needs doing, a chore app can help move that load. Here's how the apps compare when the job is a shared home.

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Who it's for

Households (usually couples) where one person remembers what needs doing. Up to six people, and it works solo until others join.

Couples who want an app that shares the remembering, not just the tasks.

Who it isn't for

Work project management, solo GTD / Todoist-style projects, or Android-only households.

Work project management or gamified chore charts for kids.

Price and limits

Free: 10 open items, 5 shopping items, 2 household members, 5 voice captures
Carry Plus: $7.99/month, $29.99/year, or $149.99 once for Lifetime
7-day free trial on monthly and annual, no payment upfront
One purchase covers the household, Lifetime included. People who join never pay and never see a paywall

See pricing

How it works

What to look for in a chore app for couples

Who is carrying the remembering

The best chore apps show who is noticing what needs doing, not just who ticked a box. Look for activity logs, aging items, or a mental load score.

Shopping and events in the same place

Chores aren't the only home work. An app that holds the shopping list and calendar events too means fewer apps to check.

Voice capture when you notice something

If you have to stop and type out each task, you'll go back to keeping it in your head. Voice capture files things the moment you notice them.

No gamification pressure

Points and leaderboards work for some households and add stress to others. Pick an app that matches how you want to feel about housework.

One subscription for the household

The person who joins shouldn't have to pay separately. Look for pricing that covers everyone.

Compared

Best chore apps for couples in 2026, compared

These are all real apps with real users. Each one suits a different household situation.

Compared on	Carry	What each does well
Carry	For couples where one person carries the mental load. Shows the remembering (aging items, Mental Load Score). iOS only.	Pick Carry if you want to see who's doing the noticing, not just who finished the task.
Sweepy	Cleaning schedule with points, levels, and a family leaderboard. Good for motivation and kids' approvals.	Pick Sweepy if you want gamification and a cleaning-first focus. See /carry-vs-sweepy for the full comparison.
Cozi	Free shared family calendar with shopping lists, meal planner, and calendar syncing. iPhone, Android, and web.	Pick Cozi if you need a calendar-first app that works on Android and syncs with Google/Outlook. See /carry-vs-cozi for more.
Todoist	Personal and work task manager with projects and GTD features. Strong for solo productivity.	Pick Todoist for work tasks or solo GTD. For a shared home, it's not built around the mental load.
Apple Reminders	Simple shared checklist, already on your iPhone, free.	Pick Apple Reminders if a basic shared list is enough and you're all on iOS.

Get it out of one person’s head.

Free to download, up to six people. Not sure where your household stands? Start with the Mental Load Score.

Download on iOS What's your score?

Questions

Common questions

What is the best free chore app for couples?

Carry, Cozi, and Apple Reminders all have free tiers. Carry's free tier covers 10 open items, 5 shopping items, and 2 household members. Cozi is free with ads, and Apple Reminders is built into iOS. For most couples sharing everything, a paid plan will fit better. Read more about each on /chore-app-for-couples.

What's the difference between a chore app and a chore chart?

A chore chart tracks who did what. A chore app for the mental load also tracks who noticed it needed doing in the first place. Apps like Carry show aging items and activity logs so the remembering is visible, not just the checkboxes.

Do both people in the couple need to pay?

It depends on the app. In Carry, one person subscribes and up to six people get full access - the person who joins never pays. Check each app's pricing page for how it handles households.

Which chore app works on both iPhone and Android?

Cozi, Todoist, and Sweepy all work on both iPhone and Android. Carry and Apple Reminders are iOS only. If anyone in your household is on Android, pick a cross-platform app.

Can a chore app replace a chore chart for adults?

Yes, if it holds more than a fixed list. A static chore chart is fine for recurring jobs, but it doesn't capture the one-off things someone notices - which is most of the mental load. An app like Carry holds recurring tasks plus everything else the home needs.