Larkling is the free forever co-parenting app built in the UK, designed from the ground up for families that don't fit the one-size-fits-all mould. Whether you're a same-sex couple navigating donor conception, a single parent doing it all on your own, a blended family coordinating across three households, or a polyamorous family with multiple caregivers — Larkling works the way your family actually works.
We launched in 2025 because we looked at the co-parenting app landscape and saw the same pattern everywhere: expensive subscriptions, per-parent billing, and platforms that assumed every family had exactly one mum, one dad, and a court order. Real life is broader and more beautiful than that — and so is Larkling.
What Makes Larkling Different
Most co-parenting apps charge £100–200 per year, per parent. Some lock basic features like messaging behind a paywall. Larkling's optional Premium tier (£6.99/month per family, not per parent) adds advanced features like unlimited AI Tone Coach checks and court-admissible PDF exports — but you'll never be forced to upgrade to keep communicating with your co-parent.
Who Larkling Is For
Larkling was built for every family structure. We don't require a "mother" and "father" — we let you define your own roles, your own pronouns, and your own family shape.
LGBTQ+ Families
Inclusive language, custom pronouns, and flexible parental roles. No gendered assumptions anywhere in the app.
Blended Families
Coordinate across 3+ adults — step-parents, new partners, grandparents. No upper limit on caregivers.
Single Co-Parents
Solo Mode lets you start using Larkling without your co-parent. Track schedules, log expenses, and journal — all on your own.
Polyamorous Families
Add as many caregivers as your family includes. Custom roles for everyone — no judgement, no limits.
Donor-Conceived Families
Flexible family definitions that acknowledge all parents — biological, social, and donor — in whatever configuration works for you.
Trans & Non-Binary Parents
Custom pronouns and identity options throughout. Your identity is yours to define — the app simply reflects it.
Key Features
📅 Shared Calendar
Colour-coded custody schedules, event sharing, custody swap requests, and pickup/drop-off logging — all timestamped and visible to everyone who needs to know.
💬 Secure Messaging
Unalterable, timestamped messages that can't be edited or deleted. Every conversation is a court-admissible record, giving you peace of mind if disputes ever escalate.
💰 Expense Tracking
Log shared costs, request splits, track payments and reimbursements. No more spreadsheets or awkward conversations about who owes what for school shoes.
🤖 AI Tone Coach
Before you send a message, Larkling's AI scans it for hostile or inflammatory language and suggests calmer, more constructive alternatives. It's like having a mediator sitting on your shoulder — helping you keep communication child-focused, even when emotions run high.
🗺️ Solo Mode
Your co-parent won't sign up? No problem. Solo Mode lets you track your custody schedule, log expenses, keep a private timestamped journal, and store documents — all independently. If your co-parent joins later, accounts can be connected seamlessly.
📁 Document Vault
Store parenting plans, court orders, medical records, and school documents in one secure place. Share selectively with co-parents, solicitors, or keep them private.
📔 Private Journal
Timestamped, geotagged entries for your eyes only. Document incidents, track patterns, and share entries with your solicitor via secure link when needed.
⚖️ Court-Ready Exports
Export tamper-proof PDF records of messages, expenses, and journals — accepted in family courts across the UK and US. Premium feature, but available when you need it most.
Built in the UK
Larkling was built in the United Kingdom, by people who understand UK family law, UK court expectations, and the specific needs of co-parents navigating the CAFCASS system, MIAM mediation, and Section 7 reports. We serve families across both the UK and the US — but our roots are here, and our understanding of what UK families face is deep and personal.
The Free-Forever Promise
We mean it. Larkling's core features — messaging, calendar, expense tracking, journal, document vault, and inclusive family setup — will always be free. No expiry date. No "grandfathered" pricing. No feature removal.
Our business model is simple: the free tier serves every family who needs basic co-parenting tools. The Premium tier (£6.99/month per family) is for those who want extra power — unlimited AI Tone Coach, court-admissible PDFs, full message history, and unlimited document storage. If Premium isn't for you, you lose nothing. Both parents can still message, share a calendar, and track expenses — free, forever.
We're able to offer this because we're a small, independent team — not a venture-backed startup burning investor cash and looking for an exit. We built Larkling because we believe good co-parenting tools should be a right, not a privilege.
The Team Behind Larkling
Larkling was founded by Nye, a UK-based developer and parent who saw how broken and exclusionary the co-parenting app market was. After watching friends struggle with apps that charged hundreds of pounds, assumed traditional family structures, and offered no support for LGBTQ+ families, the idea for Larkling was born: a free, warm, inclusive alternative that puts families first.
We're a tiny team — deliberately. No corporate bloat, no shareholder pressure, no incentives to monetise your data or lock you into subscriptions. Just a small group of people who care deeply about making co-parenting easier for every kind of family.
Ready to try Larkling?
Sign up free in 60 seconds. No credit card. No subscription. Just better co-parenting.
Get Started Free →Questions? We'd love to hear from you: hello@larklingapp.com