What Happened to Cozi?
The May 2024 crisis that broke family trust.
12 Years of Trust
Cozi became the go-to family organizer. Millions of families stored years of calendar data, recipes, and family memories.
May 2024: The Shock
With almost no warning, Cozi restricted free accounts to view only 30 days of calendar events. Pay $39/year or lose access to your future plans.
One Week to Migrate
Users with 5-10 years of data were given just one week to export and switch. For many, this was impossible.
"Been using cozi for years and now can't see past the next 30 days unless pay for upgrade - rendering it useless! Disgraceful customer service, akin to blackmail!!"
— Trustpilot review, May 2024
Why Families Are Switching
ChoreSplit addresses every Cozi frustration—plus adds features they never had.
Surprise Paywall (May 2024)
Cozi: "Can't see past the next 30 days unless pay for upgrade - rendering it useless! Disgraceful, akin to blackmail!!" — Trustpilot
ChoreSplit: Our free tier is real. No sudden restrictions. No bait-and-switch. Ever.
Chores Are Secondary
Cozi: Cozi focuses on calendar and shopping. Chores feel like an afterthought with no fairness features.
ChoreSplit: Chores are our primary focus. Fair distribution algorithm, gamification, and real rewards built-in.
No Fairness Algorithm
Cozi: Manual chore assignment only. You decide who does what, leading to arguments about fairness.
ChoreSplit: Automatic fair distribution. Our algorithm handles the "who does what" fights for you.
One Week Migration Notice
Cozi: "Only provided one week notice to transfer all existing entries to another calendar" — May 2024 user
ChoreSplit: Any future changes: 90+ days notice minimum. Your data is yours.
No Kid Engagement
Cozi: Basic task completion with no motivation features. Kids see chores as boring obligations.
ChoreSplit: Streaks, leaderboards, badges, and point multipliers. Chores become a game kids want to play.
Trust Destroyed
Cozi: "After 12+ years of being a trusted family organizer, Cozi shocked its user base. Longtime users felt betrayed."
ChoreSplit: We publish our pricing promise publicly. Transparent from day one.
Feature Comparison
See exactly how ChoreSplit compares to Cozi.
| Feature | ChoreSplit | Cozi |
|---|---|---|
| AI Features | ||
| AI Photo Verification | AI-powered (200 credits/mo) | Not available |
| AI Project Generation | Included | Not available |
| AI Task Suggestions | Included | Not available |
| Gamification | ||
| Point System | Points → Real money | Not available |
| Streaks | Daily/weekly streaks with bonuses | Not available |
| Family Leaderboards | Family leaderboards | Not available |
| Achievement Badges | Achievement badges | Not available |
| Point Multipliers | Point multipliers for streaks | Not available |
| Money & Cards | ||
| Kids Debit Card | Stripe-powered Visa | Not available |
| ATM Access | Fee-free ATM network | Not available |
| Spending Controls | MCC-based merchant controls | Not available |
| Savings APY | Competitive | Not available |
| Credit Building | Coming soon | Not available |
| Investing | Coming soon | Not available |
| Family Features | ||
| Unlimited Kids | Unlimited | Family accounts |
| Multi-Household | Full support | Not available |
| Co-Parent Access | Equal access for both parents | Yes |
| Custom Rewards | Any reward type | Not available |
The ChoreSplit Promise
We won't pull a Cozi. Here's our public commitment:
- Free tier always includes full chore management + calendar sync
- No surprise paywall changes (90 days notice minimum)
- Existing users get grandfathered pricing
- Transparent feature breakdown upfront
- Public roadmap so you know what's coming
Pricing Comparison
Transparent pricing. No surprises.
| Pricing | ChoreSplit | Cozi |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $5flat rate | $0-$9.99 |
| Annual Cost | $60 | $0-$39.99 |
| Per-Child Pricing | No - Unlimited kids | No |
| Free Trial | 30 days | Varies |
| Notes | Flat rate, all features included | Freemium with aggressive paywall |
Switch in 15 Minutes
No complicated migration. Just sign up and go.
Sign Up Free
Create your ChoreSplit account. 30-day trial, no card required.
Set Up Your Family
Add family members, create chores, set up rewards. ~15 minutes.
You're Done
Kids start earning points. Cancel Cozi when ready.
The Bottom Line
Cozi betrayed 12 years of user trust in May 2024. If you want a family chore app that won't pull a surprise paywall—with fair chore distribution and gamification Cozi never had—ChoreSplit is the honest alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Cozi in May 2024?
Cozi suddenly restricted free accounts to view only 30 days of calendar events. Users with 5-10 years of family data had just one week to migrate or pay $39/year. The backlash was massive and immediate.
Will ChoreSplit do the same thing?
No. Our commitment: Free tier always includes full chore management + calendar sync. Any future changes get 90+ days notice. Existing users get grandfathered pricing. We publish this publicly.
Cozi has shopping lists and meal planning. Does ChoreSplit?
No—we focus on chores and rewards. But Google Keep, AnyList, and Paprika are excellent for shopping and meals. We integrate with your calendar; use whatever shopping or meal planning app you prefer.
I have years of data in Cozi. How do I switch?
Cozi doesn't export chore data (just calendar via ICS). Set up fresh in ChoreSplit—takes about 15 minutes. Your kids will start building new streaks immediately.
How is ChoreSplit's chore system better than Cozi's?
Cozi treats chores as basic to-do items. ChoreSplit has a fairness algorithm that automatically distributes chores, gamification to motivate kids, and real money rewards via debit cards. Chores are our core focus, not an afterthought.
Is ChoreSplit really free?
Our free tier includes full chore management, calendar sync, and basic rewards. Premium adds advanced gamification and debit cards. No surprise restrictions—you'll always know what you're getting.