OurDot vs Marco Polo
Marco Polo is a much-loved, ad-free way to send video messages across time zones. OurDot is built for whole families, including kids, with guardian controls.
Marco Polo's free core offers unlimited video messages with no ads, and a paid Plus plan adds more. Its terms set a minimum age of 13 and it has no guardian controls for kids. OurDot is free, works for kids of any age with a guardian, and adds a family feed, voice notes, live calls, games, lessons and meal planning.
| OurDot | Marco Polo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free core; Plus $79.99/yr individual or $159.99/yr family (since Oct 1, 2025) |
| Ads | None | None; says it doesn’t sell user data |
| Minimum age | Any age, with a guardian | 13, per its terms |
| Guardian controls | Sleep, school, game time, invite-only | None for kids |
| How you talk | Messages, voice notes, live video calls, feed | Recorded video messages ("Polos") |
What Marco Polo does well
Asynchronous video is wonderful for grandparents and families in different time zones: record when it suits you, watch when it suits them. It's ad-free, with no engagement-driven algorithm.
Where they differ
Marco Polo is designed for teens and adults. OurDot is designed for families with kids in them, with guardian roles and rules built in, and more ways to spend time together than video messages.