Family Odyssey vs Hearth
Hearth is a touchscreen for your wall, with an app and a monthly membership. Family Odyssey gives your family the calendar, chores with rewards, recipes and an AI helper on the phones and computers you already have.
Checked against Hearth’s own pages.See every feature
Is Family Odyssey a good alternative to Hearth?
Family Odyssey is the better Hearth alternative for families who want the family calendar, chores with rewards, recipes and an AI helper without buying a $699 screen or paying a membership to unlock chores. Hearth suits families who want a touchscreen on the kitchen wall for kids’ routines.
Pick Family Odyssey if you want
- No screen to buy: it runs on the phones you already have
- Chores and rewards on the free plan
- Beam, an AI helper you can try on the free plan
- You choose what the family sees of your calendar
- Photo memories of the things you did together
Pick Hearth if you want
- A touchscreen for the kitchen wall
- Kids’ routines on the display
- Outlook calendars
- Family photos on the display between plans
Family Odyssey vs Hearth, feature by feature
What each app offers, from each company’s own pages.
| Feature | Family Odyssey | Hearth |
|---|---|---|
| Calendar | ||
| Shared family calendar | Yes | YesOn the display and the app |
| Google and Apple calendars | ~PartlyOne on the free plan, more on Premium | YesGoogle and iCal |
| Outlook calendar | No | Yes |
| Choose what the family sees of your calendar | YesFull, title only or busy | Not listed |
| See when everyone is free | YesYour calendar shows when everyone is free | Not listed |
| Lists and meals | ||
| Shared lists | Yes | $PaidFamily Membership |
| Recipe box | Yes | Not listed |
| Meal planner | No | $PaidFamily Membership |
| Chores and kids | ||
| Chores for kids | Yes | $PaidRoutines on the membership |
| Points and rewards | Yes | $PaidStars on the membership |
| You approve a finished chore | Yes | Not listed |
| Kids join without an account or email | YesYou add them | Not listed |
| AI and memories | ||
| AI helper | YesType, talk or snap a photo | $PaidHearth Helper on the membership |
| Photo memories | YesMemory Lane | ~PartlyFamily photos on the display |
| Everyday | ||
| Website, iPhone and Android | Yes | ~PartlyThe display and a phone app |
| No ads | Yes | YesSays no ads |
How Family Odyssey and Hearth differ
Screen and price
The Hearth Display costs $699, and its routines, rewards, meal planning and AI helper need a Family Membership of $5.76 to $9 a month after a free first month. Family Odyssey runs on the phones and computers your family already has, free to start.
Chores and kids
Hearth’s kids check off routines on the wall display and earn stars. Family Odyssey has chores with points, rewards and your OK when one is done, and kids tick them off in a kids’ view on the web, with no account or email.
Calendar
Hearth syncs Google, iCal and Outlook calendars to the display. Family Odyssey brings in one Google or Apple calendar on the free plan, more on Premium, and you choose whether the family sees your events in full, by title only or just as busy.
What it costs
Family Odyssey
- Free plan
- Calendar, lists, chores, recipes, memories and Beam
- Premium
- More Beam messages and photo reads
- Ads
- None
Hearth
- Hearth Display
- $699
- Family Membership
- $9 a month, or from $5.76 a month on longer plans
- Without the membership
- The calendar, its syncing and profiles
Switching takes a few minutes
- Join freeOn the web, iPhone or Android.
- Invite family membersThen add a child: no account or email needed.
- Connect your calendarBring in your Google or Apple calendar and choose what the family sees.
Questions
What is a good alternative to the Hearth Display?
Family Odyssey is a Hearth alternative that needs no screen. The family calendar, chores with rewards, recipes and an AI helper run on your phones and computers, free to start.
Do I need a screen to use Family Odyssey?
No. Family Odyssey runs on iPhone, Android and the web, so everyone has the family’s plans in their pocket.
Is Family Odyssey free?
Yes. The calendar, lists, chores, recipes, memories and Beam are on the free plan. Premium adds more Beam messages and photo reads.
Does Family Odyssey show ads?
No, not on any plan.
Try it with your family
Free to start. One plan covers everyone.
Hearth’s features and prices come from their own pages, checked 10 November 2026: Hearth Display, Family Membership and Calendar syncing. They can change, so check Hearth’s site for today’s details. “Not listed” means we couldn’t find it on their pages.
Hearth and Hearth Display are trademarks of their owners. Family Odyssey isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by them.
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