What Does a Family App Cost? Work Out the Yearly Price
By Erik Nilsen · Kroni6 min read
Turn every plan into one yearly cost for your whole household. Take the price from the app store you'll actually buy from, and use the same currency for every option. Only compare once you know a plan covers what you need. A per-child app can come out cheaper or more expensive than a family plan. That depends on how many kids you have, which billing period you pick and what the renewal costs.
Below you'll find the method step by step, a filled-in example with made-up numbers and a blank worksheet you can copy.
Step 1: Write down the price where you'll actually buy
App prices can differ between the App Store and Google Play, between countries and over time. So the number you work with should come from the right place:
- Right store: the store your family's phones or tablets use.
- Right country: your own store account, with the price as it's shown there.
- Date: note when you checked. A price with no date is hard to trust next month.
- Plan name and period: monthly, yearly or a one-time purchase.
- What the plan covers: per child, per adult or the whole family.
- Free trial and renewal: when the trial ends and what you'll pay after that.
Don't convert prices from websites in other countries into your own currency. Exchange rates, taxes and store prices rarely line up exactly, so you end up comparing numbers that don't match.
Step 2: Convert to a yearly cost for the whole family
Once the prices are in the same currency and from the same store, turn each one into a single yearly figure:
- Per child, monthly: monthly price × 12 × number of kids
- Per child, yearly: yearly price × number of kids
- Family plan, monthly: monthly price × 12
- Family plan, yearly: the price as listed
If the first year has an introductory price, work out year 1 and year 2 separately. The renewal amount is what decides how much the app costs over time.
Worked example with made-up numbers
The numbers below are fictional and given in "units" (U), not dollars. They are not the price of any real app.
- Plan A: 10 U per child per month
- Plan B: family plan at 300 U per year, covers several kids
| Number of kids | Plan A per year | Plan B per year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 × 12 × 1 = 120 U | 300 U |
| 2 | 10 × 12 × 2 = 240 U | 300 U |
| 3 | 10 × 12 × 3 = 360 U | 300 U |
| 4 | 10 × 12 × 4 = 480 U | 300 U |
In this example, Plan A costs less for one or two kids, and Plan B costs less from three kids up. Now say Plan B has an introductory price of 200 U for the first year and renews at 300 U. Year 1 looks better than year 2, and year 2 is the number your budget needs to handle.
Step 3: Check the features before you decide
A plan that's missing something you need isn't cheap for your family, whatever it costs. Make a short list of must-haves:
- How many kids and adults will use the app?
- How many tasks will be active at the same time?
- Should an adult approve tasks before a child gets paid?
- Do you need savings goals or rewards you've agreed on together?
- Will the kids use one shared family device or one each?
- Which language should the app be in?
Be realistic about how many tasks you'll actually keep up with. The list of what kids can help with at home can give you ideas, but not every suggestion will fit every child in your family.
Don't assume an extra device means an extra subscription. Read the plan's terms and check whether the store's family sharing applies before you add an extra cost to your math.
Filled-in example (fictional)
This family is made up: two adults and three kids who share one tablet. Figures are in units (U).
| Field | Plan A (example) | Plan B (example) |
|---|---|---|
| Date checked | September 1 | September 1 |
| Store and country | Same store, home country | Same store, home country |
| Price per period | 10 U | 300 U |
| Billing period | Month | Year |
| Per child or family | Per child | Family |
| Kids covered | 1 per subscription | Several |
| Adults covered | 2 | 2 |
| Relevant limits | None listed | None listed |
| Trial ends | September 15 | September 15 |
| Renewal amount | 10 U per child per month | 300 U per year |
| Yearly cost, year 1 | 360 U | 200 U (introductory price) |
| Yearly cost, year 2 | 360 U | 300 U |
| Missing anything we need? | No | No |
| Fits the budget? | Yes | Yes |
Blank worksheet: copy and fill in
The "Example" column shows how to fill it in. In the App 1 and App 2 columns, enter the prices exactly as the store shows them on the day you check.
| Field | Example (fictional) | App 1 (store price) | App 2 (store price) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date checked | September 1 | ||
| Store and country | Same store, home country | ||
| Currency shown | Same for both | ||
| Plan name | Plan B | ||
| Price per period | 300 U | ||
| Billing period | Year | ||
| Per child or family | Family | ||
| Number of kids covered | Several | ||
| Number of adults covered | 2 | ||
| Relevant limits (kids, tasks) | None listed | ||
| Trial ends | September 15 | ||
| Renewal amount | 300 U per year | ||
| Yearly cost, year 1 | 200 U | ||
| Yearly cost, year 2 | 300 U | ||
| Missing anything we need? | No | ||
| Fits the budget? | Yes |
Think budget, not just the lowest number
The lowest number on the sheet doesn't make an app the best choice for you. Ask three questions instead:
- Does the year 2 cost fit your family budget?
- Does the plan cover all the kids and tasks you'll really use?
- Have you set a reminder before the free trial turns into a paid subscription?
Choosing an app can also be a good moment to talk with your kids about how subscriptions work. The article on explaining subscriptions to kids shows a simple way to do it. The cost itself is still the adults' responsibility.
How to add Kroni to the worksheet
If you're considering Kroni, the free version covers one child and five active tasks. If you have more kids or need more active tasks, there's a family option. Take the price, period and terms from your own app store as they appear on your account the day you check, then enter them in one of the columns above. Also keep in mind that the app tracks a virtual balance. Parents pay any real allowance in cash, by bank transfer or through a mobile payment app outside Kroni, and that money isn't part of the subscription cost.
What you can do this week
- Copy the worksheet.
- Check prices in the right store and write down the date.
- Work out year 1 and year 2 for the number of kids you have.
- Tick off the features you must have.
- Set a reminder a couple of days before any free trial ends.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I compare a per-child price with a family plan?
- Multiply the per-child price by the number of kids, and by 12 if it's monthly. Use the family plan's yearly price as it is. Both prices should come from the same app store in the same currency, then compare the yearly totals.
- Can I convert a price from another country into my own currency?
- It's better not to. Prices vary between stores and countries, and a converted price is rarely exact. Use the price shown in the store on your own account and note the date you checked.
- Is the cheapest option always the best?
- No. First check that the plan covers the kids, tasks and features you need, and that the year 2 cost fits your budget. A cheap plan that's missing something you need isn't good value.
