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These days, there are apps for all kinds of tastes and needs. While some of them are made just for fun, others are immensely helpful. Therefore, the fact that there are some really effective apps specifically for co-parenting is far from surprising. No doubt, these tools won’t magically make communicating with your ex totally easy and stress-free, but they are sure to contribute to healthy and effective co-parenting.

Prior to opting for the best co-parenting app for you, it’s vital to focus on what these tools are designed for. They should:

• enhance the quality of communication;
• create the best platform for exchanging information;
• encourage frequent communication whenever necessary;
• make interaction a lot smoother and convenient.

Sharing your kid’s schedule, keeping you and your ex posted about the forthcoming events, as well as helping you keep tabs on your mutual expenses — these are some of the major functions of the most effective co-parenting communication apps. If you like the way these perks sound, you should definitely give these tools a try.

Coparently: Add Your Kids & Use 30-Day Free Trial

Coparently is an app that offers a collection of online tools to make co-parenting as convenient as possible. With Coparently, you and your ex will effectively schedule, communicate, track your shared expenses, store contact details in one secure place, discuss and remind each other of the important dates, as well as other stuff that runs the risk of being forgotten. 

What’s more, via this app, you can let your kid participate in your convos without granting them access to other (more sensitive) features. This is especially handy if you have a teenager whose opinion needs to be heard on a regular basis. Coparently costs $99 per year per parent. You can test-drive it for 30 days for free to see if it suits your needs.

Cozi: Perfect for Stress-Free Co-Parenting

Cozi wasn’t originally designed for co-parenting, but its clean interface and excellent functionality have cemented it as one of the best co-parenting tools. Accessible via iOS and Android, Cozi allows you to set up and share calendars, to-do lists, meal plans, exchange pics and tutorials, as well as shopping and expenses info.

Cozi is free of charge, but it includes in-app purchases and paid upgrades. It even allows you to keep a shared journal of your kiddo’s milestones — such a lovely feature. In other words, if you can communicate with your ex in a friendly manner and no longer secretly want to kill them, Cozi is a great app for the two of you to interact whenever necessary. 

Google Calendar: You Can Use It for Co-Parenting

Google Calendar is a great tool to use at work, but did you know that it’s also super convenient for coordinating schedules with your ex? Just set up a calendar and allow your ex to edit it, and you’re done. Google Calendar makes scheduling regular events and setting automatic notifications really easy. To begin using the app, all you need is a Gmail account and your favorite device. Google Calendar is easy to use both on your PC and any mobile device of your preference. 

Our Family Wizard: Created Expressly for Co-Parents

This tool was designed by a divorced couple to help like-minded co-parents communicate effectively for the sake of their kids. The Our Family Wizard app allows you to create your own separate account and share it with as many users as you need. 

Via this app, you and your ex will manage all stages of your shared parenting agreement in one single space — naturally, without having to see each other in person too often. The ToneMeter feature checks your messages and suggests alternatives for the ones containing negative tone and i.e. potentially argument-provoking. Such a smart idea! 

2Houses: Effective & More Affordable Than Other Tools

This app is used by nearly 200,000 families in more than 160 countries throughout the globe. No wonder it’s that popular: it’s among the best ways to interact with your kid’s other parent when other ways of communication aren’t an option. 2Houses assists you in organizing your schedules, keeping track of the upcoming events and activities, as well as exchanging all the necessary details about your kids, such as school or medical appointments.

The app features a great messaging tool and a handy document storage space available both on your computer and mobile gadgets. 2Houses costs $9.99 per month. The cost is per family, not per parent, which makes the app a lot more affordable compared to its counterparts. Furthermore, you can test it out for free during 14 days prior to deciding if you’re ready for an annual membership plan or not. Super convenient!

Cutting to the Choice: It’s All Up to You 

In a perfect world, co-parenting would be a pleasure cruise, filled with flexibility, patience, understanding, and a never-ending compromise. If that more or less describes your co-parenting experience, then you deserve some kind of a reward — or at least a praise for all the effort you’ve put into the whole thing.

If your co-parenting journey is far from perfection, don’t let this fact discourage you. Keep working on it, but don’t forget to make the most of the available instruments to enhance your communication and scheduling experience. No doubt, divorce is not the best thing that ever happened to you. But your ultimate mission here is to arm yourself with all the necessary tools to move on as quickly and painlessly as possible.

So, have you tried any of the co-parenting apps listed above? If you have, which of them is your top favorite and why? Perhaps, you have some worthy additions to complement our selection? Let us know about them in the comments below. Your feedback is very important. And don’t forget to save out blog in your bookmarks, that is if you want to keep track of the latest tech news and expert app reviews.

TikTok (also known as musical.ly) is a free iPhone and Android-oriented social networking application that lets you browse, film, and post music videos of your lip-synching, singing, dancing, or just talking. Via TikTok, you can jazz up your videos with various filters, soundtracks, and plenty of special effects. Similar to other social networking apps, TikTok provides such features as following, liking, and commenting.  

Having long outperformed Instagram and boasting 1.5 billion total downloads as of today, TikTok is making firm steps towards dominating the app scene. By all means, the best way to get to grips with the app is to produce your own personal or business-related posts. However, if you’ve never used similar platforms before, navigating TikTok can be rather challenging. Does that sound familiar to you? No worries, we’ll help.

So, if you’ve recently downloaded this addictive app and are now looking for a handy guide on using TikTok, you’ve come to the right place. To assist you in conquering TikTok, we’ve boiled the app down to a quick set of tips on how to use it. Enjoy reading this post and don’t forget to bookmark our blog to keep your fingers on the pulse of what’s new on the tech horizon. Chill’N’Chat is where the latest news and top app reviews are posted on a regular basis. 

Getting Around with TikTok: Your First Steps

Start with installing TikTok. You can register with it instantly via your existing Facebook, Gmail, or Twitter profile, or create a unique login-and-password combo. If you prefer using your phone number to register with TikTok, the app will create an automatic screen name for you. Whenever you want to change that screen name, follow the easy steps described below.

Upon logging in, you will notice the feed of video suggestions right away. First and foremost, tap the Me icon in the bottom right section of your account screen to make the necessary tweaks to your profile. After that, tap the Edit Profile button and complete the usual profile setup procedure: alter your screen name if necessary, upload a profile pic/video and tell the TikTok world more about yourself. 

If you’re up for it, you can link your Instagram or YouTube page to your TikTok page. That’s especially helpful marketing-wise if you’re registering a business account. By default, all TikTok profiles are public, i.e. your profile information is accessible to anyone, along with the videos you upload. To make your profile a bit more to yourself, head to the privacy settings and customize them to your liking. Don’t forget that to enjoy all the perks of TikTok, you’re going to need to get yourself a pair of top-notch headphones. 

Browsing Through Videos & Connecting with Other Users

Now that your account is all ready and polished, you can return to the page with video suggestions and browse through them. Similar to other social media apps, TikTok will send you user and video suggestions. Feel free to watch these videos and start following the users whose content you fancy the most. Once you start following and connecting with other TikTok members, your feed will swiftly adapt to your preferences. 

Upon watching videos on Instagram or Facebook, you can display your reaction to them by liking and sharing them with others. TikTok is exactly the same in this respect. Feel free to take action whenever you’re up for ‘liking’ or commenting on any video that catches your eye — the heart icon, as well as the speech bubble icon, are always at your service. If sharing a video is your intention, tap the corresponding icon, and your sharing settings will launch. 

If you love someone’s video and want to browse through its author’s other creations, swipe left to study their profile. Now, let’s switch to the topic of using the TikTok search feature. Tap the magnifying glass icon to launch the app’s search functionality. Here, you can engage in searching for both users and videos. Below the search bar, you can pillage the most recent popular videos. 

Following People on TikTok: Keep in Touch

If you want to stay in touch with particular TikTok users or have instant access to their latest videos, you can start following them. To do that, tap their profile image icon and a plus sign right above the heart button on their video. Looking for someone specific on TikTok? Make the most of the search bar and the ‘Users’ filter. 

In addition to this, scanning users’ TikCode helps greatly in finding them. This feature is especially handy if you’re a brand aiming to promote your TikTok business account both online and offline. Also, finding someone via their TikCode is super easy when you meet them in person and decide to add them on the go. 

Looking for your own TikCode? Find it by tapping the 4-square icon in the top right part of your screen. If scanning someone else’s TikCode is what you need, head to the search section and tap the square icon near the search bar. Upon launching the scan screen, center the camera over the code you’re scanning, and the process will initiate in mere moments. The user’s profile will launch instantly.  

Uploading Your Video Creations on TikTok: Post Away

So, are you eager to post your first videos on TikTok? We have a few recommendations for you. Start with tapping the plus sign in the bottom section of your profile screen. After the camera launches, you will see a red recording button on the screen. You can either begin recording instantly or upload a song first — just to make your lip-syncing or dancing synchronize perfectly with the music. In either case, adding a soundtrack to your video later is never a problem.

Similar to Snapchat, TikTok gives you the possibility to apply plenty of AR features to your video posts, changing the way you (and your surroundings) look, as well as adding various effects. Some TikTok effects are even created specifically for your cute little pets — just to make them appear even sweeter and funnier in your video creations. To look through the effects available within the app, tap Effects in the below left part of the screen and have a browse. By using the Speed button, you can either record your video in slow-mo or speed it up. 

In the right upper section of your TikTok recording screen, you will find the Beauty icon. Tap it if you want to look your best in your videos and adjust the available settings to your preference. Below the Beauty icon, you will find the selection of numbered Filters. Last but not least, don’t forget to use the TikTok timer. It’s especially helpful, for it helps you create your videos without pressing down the record button non-stop. That’s exactly what assists the app users in creating their signature dancing vids.  

Explore the Nitty-Gritty of Recording TikTok Vids 

Whenever you’re ready, tap and hold the TikTok record button and take action. Keep in mind that even if you’ve recorded just a fraction of the intended video, you can always record the rest of it later to eventually fuse the whole thing together. 

Not very much into holding the record button all the time? The TikTok timer feature will allow you to position your gadget (and yourself in front of it) during the countdown before the automatic recording launches. Yes, it’s that easy and convenient.

Making Final Tweaks & Adding Video Captions 

After you’ve finished recording your TikTok video, feel free to add songs, stickers, and various filters to it, as well as carry out other enhancements to make your content even more engaging. Furthermore, you can even add text on top of your TikTok creation — that’s what we call freedom of choice. When you’re through, tap Next and switch to adding a caption, relevant tags, or references to other users. 

Furthermore, you can adjust privacy settings for the video, switch comments on or off, as well as regulate other users’ reactions. Once you’re done tweaking your video, you can choose to download it to your mobile phone’s gallery. Tap ‘Save to Album’ if that’s what you’d like to do. Alternatively, if you’re not ready to upload your vid yet, tap the Drafts button to get back to it later. 

Extra Tips: Making Video Duets and Participating in Challenges

Found a music video featuring your favorite song? How about joining the person who has created it? Use TikTok to make a duet video with that person. Just tap the Share button next to the video you want to duet with, then tap ‘Duet’, press record and sing along, have a blast dancing, or do whatever your heart desires to your favorite song. If you’re not interested in dueting with anyone, tap the ‘Duet/React Off’ button prior to uploading your video.

Similar to other social networks, on TikTok you will sometimes see videos with challenges. A challenge is when one of the TikTok users encourages you to film yourself engaging in something strange or funny e.g. pouring a bucket of freezing ice-cold water over your head. Of course, you won’t win anything if you participate in the TikTok challenges. However, hashtagging your video challenges might assist you in getting more followers or views. Therefore, it’s a smart promotion move as well.

Experimenting with TikTok: Engage & Entertain

Although now TikTok may seem very new and unfamiliar to you, pretty soon you will get to grips with how it works, for it’s practice that makes perfect. Whether you use TikTok as a platform to increase brand awareness or as a fun time-waster, make sure you engage in lots of experimentation, practice, and exploration. 

As you’re thinking over your first video ideas, find a few more tips on using TikTok below.

• Enjoy zesting up your TikTok video creations with a variety of special effects available within the app in plenty.
• Use your favorite songs in your video posts. If you’ve browsed your TikTok feed already, you’ve probably noticed that most videos have sound effects in the background. 
• Let your sense of humor run wild when creating your TikTok videos. Most people use the app for fun, after all.
• If you’re promoting a business on TikTok, research on other brands’ profiles, draw inspiration from their posts, implement the best practices, and create your own unique approach.

Feeling a bit more inspired to brush up on your TikTok skills now? Good for you! Always remember that Chill’N’Chat is the place where you will find the latest news about your favorite applications, as well as the best tips and hacks on how to use them. Have questions about TikTok? Ask them in the comment section below. Our experts will get back to you with answers asap.

It’s all been about finally ditching the idea of walkie-talkie. The phones became smaller, then bigger but stronger. The newly emerged etiquette requires texting before calling on the phone since both can be done within the same messenger app. But suddenly it turned out that the idea of the walkie-talkie, with one participant talking at a time, is still required, and probably even less than before.

The first reason for that is obvious. The devices we have are equally good for texting and speaking our messages, but the human part of us finds it easier and quicker to speak than to type. So one-way voice messages are the feature supported in most messengers, and clouds are capable to store centuries of the spoken word.

The second is about ethos again. Most of us have busy days, and duplex communication needs to be scheduled suitable for the two participants. Exchanging voice messages, just the opposite, lets each of the two find the best time to listen and to answer, regardless of what the other is doing at the moment.

It’s so demanded now that even Apple has Internet-based Walkie-Talkie mode built into watchOS 5. As for phones, neither iOS nor Android comes equipped with apps for that from the start. But there are always third-party apps for that. The only inconvenience is that all the participants need to have the app installed. The rest is pure convenience we love this class of devices for. So, here are the best walkie-talkie apps for Android and iOS.

Zello

(Android, iOS, Windows Phone)

So far, it’s the default online walkie-talkie for both private and group communication. Its easy interface and rich features show right as you enter the app. This app is free and available for most platforms (even for Windows Phone, doomed and abandoned).
It’s been around for years; so whatever you want to talk about, you’ll find a channel on this in your language. And if suddenly there isn’t one, you can create your own.

The app is quite flexible in settings. For example, you can adjust the volume for any participant of the chat. That can be useful, because each participant has a unique manner of speaking.

As soon as participants of the chat open the app, they receive the messages from the chats they are in. That guarantees that no message will be lost, even if you open it much later. The service is also capable of sending texts, pictures, and alerts.

Voxer

(Android, iOS)

Well, though this app looks like a typical messenger of 2010s, inspired by WhatsApp and its likes, it’s still a walkie-talkie, and its features are about as rich as those of Zello. It’s an alternative one, better for private chats or closer groups of friends and colleagues. In the free version, it supports private chats and groups. Public channels are not supported. On the other hand, it offers encryption for all the messages you send and receive.

Its premium tools set includes useful features like instant voice-to-text transcription, quoting earlier messages from chats (including other ones), hands-free manner of usage, and so on. The subscription is $3/mo or $30/yr; quite affordable for business needs.

Two Way

(Android, iOS)

If you just need the basic functionality of walkie-talkie, that’s the app. No extras like images or texting; app stores are full of conventional messengers for that. It also doesn’t support choosing individual contacts from your list.

But old-school radio enthusiasts will appreciate this due to familiar feelings. Instead of direct voice messages, you select your area (country, region, and so on) and send your messages to everyone within it. All the other Two-Way users will be able to hear you and reply. For private chats there are other ways: instead of speaking to a certain user, you can find an unused channel with Key Pad and transfer there. There are enough channels to have a private talk; strangers may interfere if they suddenly select the same number, but chances are they won’t.

Walkie-talkie — Communication

(iOS)

This app is exactly what it says on the tin. The app, just like the previous one, uses the channel system. When you set up communication with your friends or colleagues, you need to download the app and select the channel to use. On this channel, you can exchange voice messages in walkie-talkie mode. They are sent as soon as recorded.

This simple app doesn’t leave much for you to adjust, except for minor things like the background color. Though, probably, if you don’t need the power of overcrowded Zello, you may opt for this consciously. It’s available for iOS only, so it’s a good addition to the Apple Watch walkie-talkie feature.

Marco Polo

(Android, iOS)

It’s a rather unusual app, because it’s meant for sending video messages in walkie-talkie mode. Of course, it’s a step away from the original idea. But if that’s just what you need, Marco Polo is a perfect option. Positioned as a solution for those who cannot afford syncing their time for communicating, it’s all about video.

Of course, it has Snapchat-like bells and whistles, meant to make videos more emotional. So you can add texts, stickers, and filters. It goes a bit beyond our original topic, still, the app is worth some attention if you prefer one-way communication.

Walkietooth

(Android)

This one is quite unusual too, and it’s not about its video capability only, but about getting close to the real walkie-talkie mode as well. We mean that dependence on the Internet connection immanent for all the apps above. Instead of relying on Wi-Fi or cellular connection only, Walkietooth makes use of any other way of sending data. It can send voice messages via local Wi-Fi networks, via Bluetooth, or via direct device-to-device connection.

With this app you can use your old smartphone as a baby monitor, installing it on both devices and positioning them in different rooms. Its video capabilities will be especially useful here.

This versatility is also useful in the countryside, with no stable Internet connection. For example, it’s great for a motorcycle or bicycle party, with all the members quite close to each other. Of course, it’s a niche solution for certain situations, but if that’s the case with you, it’s worth considering. Alas, it’s an Android prerogative, and there aren’t any analogs as functional on iOS.

Last but Not Least

Except for the last app, all of those above don’t make your smartphones function as real walkie-talkies. It’s a hardware limitation: while real WT’s have their own standalone transmitters and receivers powerful enough to function independently, smartphones are bound to cellular or Wi-Fi networks. Keep that in mind, while planning your usage of these apps.