Looking for a ChoreMonster Alternative? The App Shut Down.
ChoreMonster was a favourite for years, but it has been defunct since 2018 - no longer updated and no longer reliably available to download. The closest replacement for most families is Kikaroo: a free chore and reward app that keeps what made ChoreMonster work - points, rewards, and parent approval - and covers ages 4 to 18. Setup takes about 5 minutes.
New to Kikaroo? Read our full explainer on what Kikaroo is and how it works.
By Kikaroo Team ยท Last updated: July 2026
This guide is maintained by the team that builds Kikaroo. We update it as the chore-app landscape changes.
Key Takeaways
- ChoreMonster has been defunct since 2018 - no updates, no reliable download
- Kikaroo keeps the same idea: reward effort with points instead of nagging
- Parent approval before kids redeem rewards - just like ChoreMonster had
- Real rewards you choose, instead of virtual monsters kids outgrow
- Works for ages 4-18, actively maintained, with a fully free tier
Why You Can't Find ChoreMonster Anymore
ChoreMonster launched in 2012 and quickly became one of the best-known chore apps for kids. The idea was simple and it worked: kids completed chores, earned points, spun a reward wheel, and collected cartoon monsters along the way. It ran on positive reinforcement instead of nagging, and parents approved rewards before kids could redeem them.
The catch today is that the app is gone. As of 2018, ChoreMonster is defunct - it stopped being updated and is no longer reliably available on the App Store or Google Play. If you loved it, here's what you're actually looking to replace:
The app shut down
ChoreMonster has been defunct since 2018. It's no longer maintained and won't reliably install or run on a modern phone.
No updates or support
With no team behind it for years, there are no bug fixes, no new features, and nobody to contact if something breaks.
You want the reward loop back
The part that worked - kids earning points toward something and staying motivated - is worth keeping. You just need a live app that still does it.
Positive reinforcement, not nagging
ChoreMonster rewarded effort instead of punishing misses. That approach is the whole point, and it's what a good replacement should keep.
Parent stays in control
Kids couldn't cash in rewards without a parent's approval. Any replacement should give you that same final say.
It was free
ChoreMonster didn't cost anything to use. A fair replacement should have a genuinely usable free version, not a trial in disguise.
Why Kikaroo Is the Closest ChoreMonster Replacement
Kikaroo is built on the same idea that made ChoreMonster work: reward kids for doing their chores, keep it positive, and let parents stay in charge. The difference is that Kikaroo swaps virtual monsters for real rewards you choose - and one app covers your whole family, from a 4-year-old to a 16-year-old.
Live and actively maintained in 2026
Unlike ChoreMonster, Kikaroo is updated regularly and fully supported. It installs and runs on current iPhones and Android phones, with a real team behind it.
Real rewards instead of virtual monsters
You define rewards based on what motivates your child - screen time, pocket money, a trip, a treat. Real rewards keep working as kids grow, where cartoon monsters tend to lose their appeal after the early years.
reward
One app for the whole family, ages 4 to 18
ChoreMonster was aimed at younger kids. Kikaroo starts just as simply for a 4-year-old but keeps working for teenagers earning allowance, so you don't need to switch apps as they grow up.
Free tier with no cap, like ChoreMonster was
Kikaroo's free tier has no limit on kids or chores and needs no card. If you want extras like checklists, premium is $2.99/month, but the core chore-and-reward loop is free.
"My kids grew up on ChoreMonster, so when it stopped working I thought we'd lost the one thing that got them doing chores. Kikaroo picked up right where it left off - same points-and-rewards idea, but now my teenager uses it too."
Kikaroo vs ChoreMonster: Key Facts
| Kikaroo | ChoreMonster | |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Live, actively updated | Discontinued (since 2018) |
| Free plan | Core features, no cap | Was free (no longer available) |
| Premium price | $2.99 / month | — |
| Age range | 4-18 | Younger kids (~5-12) |
| Reward type | Custom real-world rewards | Virtual monsters + reward wheel |
| Parent approval | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | iOS, Android | iOS, Android, Windows (unsupported) |
| App Store rating | 4.9 โ | — |
Comparing other apps? See our Homey alternative guide, Nipto alternative guide, BeTidy alternative guide, Cozi alternative guide, Heima Chores Tracker alternative guide, or read our best chore apps for kids guide.
How to Replace ChoreMonster with Kikaroo
There's no data to migrate from ChoreMonster, so you simply set up Kikaroo fresh. It takes less than 10 minutes. Here's how:
- Download Kikaroo Free on the App Store and Google Play. Create a parent account, takes about 60 seconds.
- Add your children Add each child's name. Done in seconds.
- Create your chore list Recreate the chores your family was doing in ChoreMonster. Takes 2-3 minutes. Assign point values per chore.
- Set your rewards Define 2-4 real-world rewards your children can redeem points for. This is where Kikaroo differs most from ChoreMonster - instead of virtual monsters, you pick what's actually meaningful to your child.
- Show your kids the app Kids see their chore list, complete tasks, and watch their points grow toward a reward they chose. That's it.
Where Kikaroo Isn't the Same as ChoreMonster
We'd rather set the right expectation than oversell. A few things are deliberately different:
- No cartoon monsters to collect. If your child was mainly hooked by the monster characters themselves, Kikaroo will feel more straightforward.
- No random spin-wheel. Rewards in Kikaroo are things you choose and your child works toward on purpose, not a game of chance.
- Real rewards, not virtual currency. This is the point - but it does mean you decide what the rewards are, rather than the app handing out coins.
- Built for a wider age range. The design leans a little more grown-up than ChoreMonster's, so it still fits a teenager.
If the monster-collecting game was the whole appeal for your child, Kikaroo is a simpler, reward-focused take on the same idea. If what worked was the points, the rewards, and staying out of the daily nagging - that's exactly what Kikaroo is built to do.
Common Questions About ChoreMonster Alternatives
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What happened to ChoreMonster?
ChoreMonster launched in 2012 and became one of the most popular chore apps for kids, using collectible monsters and a reward wheel to make chores feel like a game. As of 2018 it is defunct - no longer updated or reliably available on the App Store or Google Play. That's why families who loved it now look for a replacement. -
What is the best ChoreMonster alternative?
Kikaroo is the closest replacement for most families. It keeps what made ChoreMonster work - points, rewards kids care about, and parent approval before redeeming - in an app that's actively maintained and covers ages 4 to 18. The free tier has no cap on kids or chores. -
Is there a free app like ChoreMonster?
Yes. ChoreMonster was free, and Kikaroo has a fully usable free tier with no limit on kids or chores and no card required. An optional premium plan is $2.99/month and only adds extras like checklists, never the basics. See our best chore apps for kids guide for how the free options compare. -
Does Kikaroo have monsters and a reward wheel like ChoreMonster?
No. Kikaroo skips the cartoon monsters and the random spin-wheel in favour of real rewards you choose - screen time, pocket money, a trip, a treat. Real rewards keep motivating kids as they grow, where cartoon characters tend to lose their appeal after the early years. -
Will ChoreMonster come back?
There's no sign of it returning, and it hasn't been maintained for years. If you're still relying on it, it's worth moving to an app that's actively supported so you don't lose your setup when it stops working on a new phone. -
How is Kikaroo different from ChoreMonster?
ChoreMonster was built around virtual monsters for younger kids. Kikaroo uses real-world rewards and covers ages 4 to 18, so one app works from your youngest through the teenage years. Both share the same core idea: reward effort instead of nagging. -
What did ChoreMonster do well?
It made chores feel like a game with collectible monsters and a reward wheel, used positive reinforcement instead of punishment, and required parent approval before kids redeemed rewards. Kikaroo keeps those same principles with a reward system that scales past the younger years. -
How do I move my family from ChoreMonster to Kikaroo?
Download Kikaroo, add your children, recreate your chore list, and set a few rewards. There's no data to migrate from ChoreMonster, so it's a fresh setup that takes about 5 to 10 minutes. -
Is Kikaroo good for teenagers?
Yes. Kikaroo works up to age 18. Because it uses real rewards like allowance and screen time rather than cartoon monsters, it keeps working for teens - one of the gaps families hit with ChoreMonster's younger-kid design. See our best chore apps for teens guide.
Start today. It's free.
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Free to download ยท No credit card required ยท Core features free forever