The Best AppClose Alternative for Documenting Custody
AppClose is free — and works great when both parents cooperate. MyCourtDocs is what you use when they don't, or when you need real evidence for court.
AppClose
A free co-parenting app for low-conflict families. Messaging, shared calendar, expense splitting — all dependent on both parents actively participating.
MyCourtDocs
A private documentation platform for parents preparing for court. Works alone, imports evidence from anywhere, exports Bates-numbered packets tailored to your state's statutes.
Works without cooperation
Evidence import & organization
Court output
AppClose's core strengths
Pricing
When AppClose is the right tool
If you and your co-parent are cooperative, communicate respectfully, and just need a free shared calendar, expense splitter, and messaging app, AppClose is genuinely great and costs you nothing. Use it. There's no reason to switch.
When MyCourtDocs is the right tool
If you're preparing for a hearing, in active litigation, dealing with a high-conflict co-parent, documenting missed exchanges or safety concerns, or your attorney has asked you to "keep a record," MyCourtDocs is purpose-built for exactly that. Nothing about it requires your co-parent to install anything, agree to anything, or even know it exists.
Can I use both?
Yes, and many parents do. Use AppClose (or whatever the court ordered) for the day-to-day shared surface. Use MyCourtDocs as the private layer underneath — importing threads, adding incidents and evidence the shared app never sees, and generating court packets from the whole picture.
Frequently asked questions
Is AppClose really free?▾
AppClose's base app is free. It monetizes through payment processing fees (AppClose Payments) and paid add-ons. That's fine when both parents cooperate — it's why AppClose exists. But the free model only works if the other side actually uses it.
What happens to AppClose if my co-parent won't join?▾
AppClose becomes largely non-functional. There's no one on the other side of the messages, the shared calendar, or the expense splits. That's the exact gap MyCourtDocs fills: single-user documentation that produces court-ready output regardless of what the other parent does.
Can I import my existing AppClose data into MyCourtDocs?▾
Yes. Export any AppClose thread as PDF and drop it into MyCourtDocs — it becomes part of your chronological timeline alongside SMS, email, incidents, calendar events, and evidence files. Each import keeps its original hash for chain-of-custody.
Why pay $19.99/mo when AppClose is free?▾
You're not paying for messaging — AppClose already does that. You're paying for the layer AppClose doesn't build: pattern analysis, statutory-factor tagging, Bates-numbered exports, attorney sharing, and a case-strength score. That's the difference between having a chat log and having a case.
Are MyCourtDocs exports admissible in court?▾
Yes. Every export carries the file's original SHA-256 hash, capture timestamp, and Bates numbering, and comes with a template business-records affidavit your attorney can adapt to your jurisdiction.
Try MyCourtDocs free for 3 days
$19.99/month after your trial. One flat price, no per-parent fees, cancel anytime from inside the app.
Start Free TrialAppClose is a registered trademark of AppClose, Inc. MyCourtDocs is not affiliated with or endorsed by AppClose. Feature comparisons based on publicly available information as of 2026 and may change.