iPhone and Android in One Family: Using Kroni Together
By Erik Nilsen · Kroni6 min read
Yes. Your family can share the same chores even if parents and kids use different phone brands. The iPhone app and the Android app both connect to the same family. A chore your child checks off on an Android phone is the same chore a parent sees and approves on an iPhone. What matters most is that every device joins the same family, and that nobody creates a separate family on their own phone.
Below you'll find a fictional example with three devices, an overview of what's the same and what can differ, and a checklist you can run through on each device.
One family, not three sign-ups
One mistake to avoid is each adult downloading the app and starting from scratch instead of joining the family that already exists. You end up with two separate households, each with its own chores and balances.
Here's how to avoid that:
- One adult creates the family. It doesn't matter whether that happens on an iPhone or an Android phone.
- The other adult gets invited. An invited parent joins the same household and sees the same kids and chores.
- The kids are added to that same family. Children don't need their own email address, and they can use a shared family device, like a tablet in the kitchen.
Think of it as one chore chart on the fridge that everyone can read from different rooms. The chart is the same. Only the door you walk in through is different.
Example: the Parker family with three devices
The Parker family is made up for illustration. Dad, Dan, has an iPhone. Maya (11) has an Android phone. Leo (7) uses the family's shared Android tablet.
| Person | Device | Role in the family |
|---|---|---|
| Dan | iPhone | Parent, created the family |
| Maya, 11 | Android phone | Child |
| Leo, 7 | Android tablet (shared) | Child |
Dan has set up three chores. The amounts are examples only, not a recommended rate. The example assumes the family has not enabled deductions from earned rewards:
- Maya: "Empty the dishwasher," $1 in virtual balance
- Maya: "Vacuum the living room," $2 in virtual balance
- Leo: "Line up the shoes in the hallway," unpaid, part of everyday family chores
Which chores suit each child is something you'll need to judge yourselves. What should kids be able to do at home? A complete list by age can be a useful starting point for that conversation.
One chore from Android to iPhone and back
Here's what one completed chore looks like in the example:
- Maya (Android) empties the dishwasher and marks the chore as done in the app.
- Dan (iPhone) opens the app later that evening. The chore shows as done and waiting for approval, because the family has chosen to have an adult approve chores.
- Dan checks that the dishwasher really is empty, then approves.
- Maya (Android) opens or refreshes the app and sees $1 added to her virtual balance, a step closer to the savings goal she set.
Every device shows the same thing. If something hasn't appeared yet, try reopening the app or refreshing the view before assuming something is wrong.
What's the same and what can differ
The core family features are the same on both platforms. Some details still depend on the phone itself. The table separates shared family features from details to check on each device. Always check the app listing in the App Store or Google Play for what applies right now.
| Feature | iPhone | Android |
|---|---|---|
| Join the same family | Yes | Yes |
| See shared chores | Yes | Yes |
| Child marks a chore as done | Yes | Yes |
| Adult approves (if the family chose that) | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual balance and multiple savings goals | Yes | Yes |
| Rewards the family has agreed on | Yes | Yes |
| Sign-in options | May differ from Android | May differ from iPhone |
| Home screen widget | Check whether your app version and device offer this | Not covered here |
| Notifications | Must be allowed in phone settings | Must be allowed in phone settings |
Two things are worth noting:
- Sign-in: The options on the sign-in screen may look different on iPhone and Android. Use the same account your family is connected to, whichever phone you sign in on.
- Subscription and pricing: Parents having different phone brands doesn't by itself mean your family needs two subscriptions. Pricing and availability are listed in the app description in the store you use. The free version covers one child and five active tasks.
Checklist for each device
Go through the same five points on every phone or tablet. You'll quickly see whether everything points to the same family.
Filled-in example (the Parker family, fictional):
| Check | Dan, iPhone | Maya, Android | Leo, shared tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Correct family shows | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Correct child is selected | Parent sees both | Maya | Leo |
| Expected chore shows | All three | Dishwasher, vacuuming | Shoes in the hallway |
| Completed chore shows after reopening/refreshing | ✔ Dishwasher approved | ✔ Balance updated after approval | Not tested yet |
| Notifications allowed | ✔ | ✔ | Turned off on purpose |
Copyable worksheet for your family:
| Check | Device 1: ______ | Device 2: ______ | Device 3: ______ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Correct family shows | |||
| Correct child is selected | |||
| Expected chore shows | |||
| Completed chore shows after reopening/refreshing | |||
| Notifications allowed |
A good tip: on the first evening, send one chore all the way around, from the child's device to the parent's and back. That way you catch a wrong connection while everyone is still keen.
When something doesn't match
- Your child sees no chores: Check that the right child is selected on the device, and that the chore is actually assigned to that child.
- The second parent sees an empty family: Most likely a new family was created instead of accepting the invitation. Join the existing family instead.
- No notifications on one phone: Check both the notification preferences in the app and permission on that phone.
- Shared tablet: Make sure the child using it is selected before marking a chore as done, so the balance goes to the right person.
What happens in the app, and what happens outside it
In Kroni, your child marks a chore as done, and an adult approves it if your family has turned approval on. The child's virtual balance then updates. Those coins can go toward one or more savings goals or be swapped for rewards you've agreed on. The app is not a bank and doesn't move real money. When Maya wants to cash out $5 of her balance, Dan pays her himself, in cash, by bank transfer or through a mobile payment app, completely outside the app. Necessary expenses like clothes, food and school remain the adults' responsibility, whatever the balance says.
Closing a week doesn't automatically approve chores or pay out money either. An adult still decides. If you want to think through which rewards belong in your system, Reward Systems for Kids: Stars, Points or Money? What Works Best can help you get started.
The phone brand is rarely what decides whether your family system works. What matters more is that everyone is connected to the same family, and that you share an agreement on what counts as "done."
Frequently asked questions
- Can a parent with an iPhone approve chores my child marked on Android?
- Yes. Both apps connect to the same family, so a chore your child marks as done on Android is the same chore you see and can approve on iPhone. If it doesn't show right away, reopen the app or refresh the view.
- Do we need two subscriptions if the parents have different phone brands?
- No, not just because the phones are different. An invited parent joins the same household. You'll find pricing and availability in the app description in the App Store or Google Play.
- Are all the features exactly the same on iPhone and Android?
- The core family features are the same: shared chores, checking off, approval, virtual balance, savings goals and agreed rewards. Some details can differ, such as sign-in options and home screen widgets, depending on the platform and the device.
