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BlogKikaroo vs Homey: Which Chore App Is Right for Your Family?
Kikaroo is the better choice for most families: it's free for unlimited family members (Homey's free tier caps at 3 users), takes 5 minutes to set up, and rewards can be anything - not just money. Homey is the right pick if you want savings jars, allowance math, and bank account integration built into your chore app. Here's the full breakdown.
Not sure what Kikaroo is yet? Read our full explainer →
By Kikaroo Team · Last updated: July 2026 · Data verified from official app listings
The Short Version
If you want simple chore tracking with rewards your kids actually care about, and you don't want your family size to decide your price, go with Kikaroo. If you want a full allowance-management system with savings jars and bank integration, and you'll genuinely use those features, Homey is built for that.
- Free for unlimited family members
- Premium at $2.99/month if you want it
- Kids aged 4 through 18
- Custom real-world rewards, not just money
- A simple 5-minute setup
- Chore tracking without the banking layer
- Named savings jars per goal
- Bank account integration (Premium)
- Custom permission roles for caregivers
- Detailed allowance math and wallets
- 3 or fewer users (free tier fits)
- A mature, feature-rich product
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | Kikaroo | Homey |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan family size | Unlimited members No cap | 3 users total |
| Premium price | $2.99 / month 40% cheaper | $4.99/month · $49.99/year |
| Setup time | ~5 minutes Simpler | Longer - jars, wallets, permissions to configure |
| Reward type | Fully custom, any real-world reward More flexible | Money-focused (allowance & jars) |
| Age range | Ages 4-18 | Ages 6+ (Common Sense Media) |
| Savings jars | ✕ | ✓ Unlimited on Premium |
| Bank account integration | ✕ | ✓ Premium |
| Custom permission roles | ✕ | ✓ Premium |
| Recurring chores & checklists | ✓ | ✓ |
| Parent approval of tasks | ✓ | ✓ |
| Platforms | iOS, Android | iOS, Android, Kindle Fire |
| Stability | ✓ | ◐ Issues flagged by Common Sense Media |
Where They Really Differ
Homey's free plan supports up to 3 family members total. A typical household - two parents and two kids - is already 4 users, so most families hit the cap the day they sign up and get pushed to Premium at $4.99/month or $49.99/year just to add the fourth person. Kikaroo's free tier has no cap on family members at all. Family size is never part of the price.
If you do want premium features, Kikaroo Premium at $29.99/year is roughly 40% cheaper than Homey Premium at $49.99/year - and the family-size policy doesn't change either way.
Homey layers savings jars, custom permission roles, wallet management, and bank linking on top of chore tracking. That depth is genuinely useful for families who run their whole allowance system through it - and overkill if you just wanted to assign chores and let a kid earn screen time. Parents new to chore apps often report Homey feels heavier than the problem it's solving, like accounting software for your household. Kikaroo stays deliberately simple: chores, points, rewards. Set up in about 5 minutes, nothing to configure that you won't use.
Homey's reward system is built around money: chores earn allowance, allowance flows into jars and wallets. That structure teaches saving toward goals, which is real value if your kids are money-motivated and old enough to care.
Kikaroo leaves the reward up to you: screen time, a movie night, a day out, a later bedtime - or pocket money, if that's what works. Younger kids especially aren't motivated by a number in a jar, but they understand "20 more points until the trampoline park." The reward stays motivating because it's something your child actually wants right now.
Honesty matters here: Kikaroo has no named savings jars, no bank account integration, and no custom permission roles for blended-family caregiver setups. If you specifically need any of those - say, a grandparent with view-only access, or automatic transfers when a jar fills - Homey Premium has them and Kikaroo doesn't. Our take: most families who switch tell us they used those features for two weeks and the chore tracking forever. Pay for depth you'll actually use.
Who Should Choose Each App
- Your family is bigger than 3 people and you don't want to pay for that
- You want chore tracking, not a family banking system
- Your kids respond to rewards beyond money: screen time, outings, treats
- You have kids under 6 - Homey is recommended for 6+
- You want a 5-minute setup with no jars or wallets to configure
- You'd rather pay $29.99/year than $49.99/year for premium
- App stability complaints put you off
- Your household fits in the 3-user free tier
- You'll genuinely use savings jars and goal-based saving
- You want bank account integration for real allowance transfers
- You need custom permission roles (caregivers, blended families)
- Your kids are money-motivated and old enough to track goals
- You want detailed allowance math handled for you
Already on Homey and thinking of switching? See our guide on switching from Homey to Kikaroo →
Common Questions
-
Is Kikaroo cheaper than Homey?
Yes. Kikaroo's core features are completely free with no cap on family members. Homey's free tier is limited to 3 users total, after which families need Premium at $4.99/month or $49.99/year. Kikaroo Premium is $2.99/month or $29.99/year - roughly 40% cheaper than Homey Premium - and family size is never part of the price. -
Does Kikaroo cap family size like Homey's free tier?
No. Kikaroo is free for unlimited family members. Homey's free tier supports up to 3 users total - a typical two-parent, two-kid household is already 4 users, so most families hit the cap on day one and get pushed to the $4.99/month Premium plan just to add the fourth person. -
Does Kikaroo have savings jars like Homey?
No. Kikaroo keeps the system focused on chore completion and reward redemption: kids earn points and redeem them for rewards you define, from screen time to outings to actual money. If goal-based saving with named jars and bank account integration is essential to you, Homey's Premium tier has that. For most families, Kikaroo's points-and-rewards mechanic covers the same motivation without the extra complexity. -
Which app is easier to set up?
Kikaroo. Setup takes about 5 minutes: create a family account, add children, assign chores, define rewards. Homey layers savings jars, custom permission roles, wallet management, and optional bank linking on top of chore tracking - parents new to chore apps often report it feels heavier than the problem they wanted to solve. -
Is Homey worth it?
Homey is worth it for families who fit inside the 3-user free tier, or who genuinely use Premium features like savings jars and bank account integration. It's overkill for families who only need chore tracking, since $49.99/year buys a lot of features most households don't touch. Common Sense Media recommends Homey for ages 6+ but flagged app stability issues in their review. -
How long does switching from Homey to Kikaroo take?
About 5-10 minutes. There's no data export from Homey, so you set up Kikaroo fresh: download the app, create a parent account, add your family members (no 3-user cap), recreate your chore list, and define your rewards. Most families are fully running the same afternoon. Our full switching guide covers the details →
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