Calendar
Shared family calendar with Google, iCloud and Outlook sync
HouseChief's shared family calendar puts everyone's plans in one place, with a color for each person and week, month and agenda views. It syncs two ways with Google Calendar, iCloud and Outlook, so a household split between Google, iPhone and Outlook finally sees the same thing, and you choose which calendar each event is copied to. It runs in the browser on any phone, tablet or computer, and is free while in early access.
One calendar, a color for everyone
Every family member gets a color. Sam's work travel, Jordan's late meeting, Maya's piano lesson and Leo's soccer practice all sit on the same week, and you can tell at a glance who is where. Switch between week, month and agenda views depending on whether you're planning a month or just getting through Tuesday.
Because the calendar lives in one household, both parents see the same events the moment either of them adds one. There's nothing to share, re-share or accept. Kids see the calendar too, from their own view, without an email address or a password.
Two-way sync with Google Calendar, iCloud and Outlook
Each parent connects their own Google account, picks which Google calendars to show in HouseChief, and picks a calendar for HouseChief's events. Events you make in HouseChief are then pushed to Google, so they show up wherever Google Calendar does. iCloud works the same way: HouseChief walks you through creating an Apple app-specific password, then syncs two ways with your iCloud calendar. Outlook Calendar works the same way too: sign in with Microsoft, choose the Outlook calendars to show, and pick one for HouseChief's events. Personal Outlook.com, Hotmail and Live accounts work, and so do most Microsoft 365 work or school accounts.
That is the quiet fix for the mixed household. One parent lives in Google, the other in the iPhone calendar or Outlook, and HouseChief sits in the middle holding one copy of the truth. Changes sync in the background; you don't have to open the app to keep things current.
Connecting a work Outlook account? Some workplaces need their IT team to approve HouseChief first, and some company policies don't allow family events in a work calendar. If that's you, connect a personal calendar for family events, or subscribe to HouseChief's view-only link from Outlook instead (below).
Choose which calendar each event goes on
When you add or edit an event, the Calendar row lets you choose where it's copied: HouseChief only, every synced calendar, or one specific Google, Outlook or iCloud calendar, such as the Outlook calendar called Family. Change your mind later and the copy moves to the new calendar. Repeats, skipped days and edits keep working wherever it lives.
Each parent sets a default calendar for new events in Settings. It's preselected when you add an event, and it's where events from quick add, your Chief of Staff and forwarded emails go. Ask the Chief to put Saturday's game on the Outlook family calendar and its proposal carries that calendar; nothing is added until you tap Approve.
Put HouseChief on any phone's calendar
Prefer to glance at your phone's built-in calendar? Settings has a private subscription link called "Add HouseChief to your calendar app". Paste it into Apple Calendar, Google Calendar ("From URL") or Outlook ("Subscribe from web") and HouseChief's own events appear there, view-only. The feed covers 30 days back and a year ahead, and it carries events only: no lists, chores or settings.
Your calendar app decides how often it refreshes a subscription, so expect a short delay rather than an instant update. For a view that's always current, the wall display refreshes every minute.
School and sports calendars by link
Most schools, teams and leagues publish a calendar subscription link (often called an ICS or iCal link). Add it to HouseChief and those dates show up alongside your own, read-only. HouseChief refreshes feeds in the background while you use the app. If the school moves picture day, your calendar follows.
For the dates that only ever arrive in an email, use email forwarding: forward the newsletter to your family's address and the dates land in your Inbox to approve.
Repeating events, and changing just one day
Set piano for every Tuesday at 4 and it repeats. When the teacher cancels one week, skip that day or move just that one occurrence without touching the rest of the series. Simple repeats (daily, weekdays, weekly, monthly or yearly) cover most of family life: weekly practices, a monthly book club, birthdays.
Read-only links for grandparents and sitters
Grandparents picking up on Thursdays and a sitter covering a weekend don't need accounts. Make a share link from Settings and they see the schedule in their browser, read-only. Lists, notes and settings are never shown on a share link, and you can turn any link off whenever you like.
New to shared calendars? Our guide walks through setting up a shared family calendar across Google, iPhone and Outlook. More answers are in the FAQ.
Questions
How do I share one calendar between Google and iPhone users?
Use a calendar that syncs two ways with both, which is what HouseChief does. Each parent connects their own Google account or iCloud calendar (or Outlook), and events made in HouseChief are copied to the calendars they choose. Anyone else can subscribe to HouseChief's view-only link from their phone's calendar app. The step-by-step is in our shared family calendar guide.
Does HouseChief sync both ways with Google Calendar and iCloud?
Yes. Google Calendar and iCloud both sync two ways: events from the calendars you choose appear in HouseChief, and events you create in HouseChief are pushed back. Each parent connects their own accounts. iCloud uses an Apple app-specific password, which HouseChief walks you through creating. Outlook Calendar syncs two ways as well. Changes sync in the background rather than instantly.
Can I see HouseChief events in my phone's own calendar app?
Yes. HouseChief gives your family a private subscription link that works in Apple Calendar, Google Calendar and Outlook. Events show there view-only, covering 30 days back and a year ahead. Only events are included, never lists or chores. If you use two-way Google, iCloud or Outlook sync, HouseChief events also appear there as regular events.
Does it work with Outlook?
Yes, two ways, like Google and iCloud. Connect your Microsoft account in Settings, choose the Outlook calendars to show in HouseChief, and pick the one HouseChief's events are copied to. Personal Outlook.com, Hotmail and Live accounts work, as do most Microsoft 365 work or school accounts, though some workplaces need IT to approve HouseChief first and some don't allow family events in work calendars.
Can I choose which calendar an event goes on?
Yes. When you add or edit an event, pick HouseChief only, every synced calendar, or one specific Google, Outlook or iCloud calendar; changing it later moves the copy. Each parent also sets a default calendar for new events in Settings, which quick add, the Chief of Staff and forwarded emails use. The Chief can use a calendar you name, and still waits for your Approve.
Can each family member have their own color?
Yes. Every person in the family gets a color, and it follows them across the calendar, the wall display and the kids' chore columns, so you can read a busy week without reading every title. Colors are set when you add each family member and can be changed in Settings.
Can grandparents see the schedule without an account?
Yes. Make a read-only share link in Settings and send it to a grandparent or sitter. They open it in any browser, no account needed, and see the schedule only. Lists, notes and settings are never included, and you can turn the link off at any time.