Start your family, free.
A guardian creates the family on the web in about two minutes. Then you invite the people your kids already know and trust. Nobody else can find you or join.
Starting a new family
- Open ourdot.app/app
On any phone, tablet or computer. Nothing to install.
- Enter your email
We send a 6-digit code. It's in the subject line, so you can read it from the notification. There's no password to remember.
- Choose "Start a family"
Name your family, add your name, and what the kids call you (like Mom, Dad or Grandma Jo).
- Confirm you're a parent or legal guardian
Only guardians can start a family, and you agree to the beta consent for your kids.
- Invite your people
From the Family tab: kids, a co-guardian and trusted adults like grandparents. Each gets a link to tap. Before your first kid invite, you'll handwrite and sign a short consent note on any paper and send a photo of it (a children's privacy law requirement, done once).
Joining a family someone else started?
Tap the invite link they sent you. Sign in with your email, and the invite fills in for you. If it asks, choose "I have an invite code."
Setting up a child
Kids don't need their own email. Use yours with a plus sign and their name, like you+leo@gmail.com. Their sign-in codes land in your inbox, and OurDot never stores a child's own email.
Works with Gmail, Yahoo, Proton and Fastmail. iCloud Mail doesn't support plus addresses, so use another email you check.
Who you can invite
- Kids, with an age range: under 13, 13 to 15, or 16 to 17.
- Co-guardians, who get the same controls you have.
- Trusted adults like grandparents, aunts, uncles and close friends. They see family posts and family chat, but never message a child one-on-one.
Common questions
Does it cost anything to start a family?
No. OurDot is free for every family, with no ads and no in-app purchases.
Can I create an account without an invite?
Yes, if you are a parent or legal guardian starting a new family. Everyone else, including kids, grandparents and co-guardians, joins through a guardian’s invite.
Do I need to download anything?
No. OurDot works in any web browser at ourdot.app/app. The iPhone app is on its way to the App Store, and you can add the web version to your home screen today.
Can I use OurDot on a computer?
Yes. Sign in at ourdot.app/app from any computer. Your family, messages and settings are the same everywhere you sign in.