Best Apps Archives | Cool Mom Tech

The best group video makers for birthdays, graduation, teacher appreciation and more.

by Christina Refford | Best Apps, Father's Day Gifts, Mother's Day Gifts, Tips and Tricks

After creating a group video for my teen’s birthday during the height of the pandemic, I realized how many other occasions it would be perfect for: end-of-year teacher appreciation gifts, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduation, special anniversaries...

Tech tip: How to open your Shazam in Apple Music instead of Spotify.

by Liz Gumbinner | Best Apps, Tips and Tricks

Recently, as you may have heard (ahem) a bunch of influential musical artists have been leaving Spotify, podcasters are rethinking the platform, and plenty of listeners are canceling their Spotify Premium subscriptions. (Which is evidently not all that easy to do, but...

The best family organization apps for sharing calendars, keeping up with chores, planning meals and more

by Caroline Siegrist | Best Apps, Life and Home

Family organization apps are such a lifesaver, at least once you accept that life admin is part and parcel of modern family life. Still, we all wish there could be a bit more life and a bit less admin sometimes. So I was thrilled to take some time to research some of...

Helpful apps for your Super Bowl party…or any given Sunday.

by Cool Mom Staff | Best Apps

If you’re getting ready for the Super Bow (whoa) this Sunday, and plan on having company to make it more fun, we’ve got 7 apps for your Super Bowl party that you’ll want to download stat, from party planning help to food and drink delivery, to...

This new bedtime podcast for kids is a parents’ life saver

by Caroline Siegrist | Best Apps

I’m grateful for any tech that makes bedtime easier, so I was excited to discover Netflix Jr.’s brand new Bedtime Stories podcast — and I figured a whole lot of parents might be too. The podcast features some of my kids’ favorite characters...

This app lets you check out library books on your phone. Free. From home. Yes!

by Kate Etue | Best Apps

Lately, a lot of readers have been asking us about apps that let you check out free library books. Or, free e-books to be technical. So here’s the info on a favorite of ours, the hoopla digital app. While I love the feeling of being surrounded by stacks and...

5 of the best Santa tracker apps to prove he’s real. Because he is. So there.

by Liz Gumbinner | Best Apps, Holiday Picks

This year is definitely the year of the Santa tracker app. After, all, even the biggest Santa fans among us know that while he is vaccinated (so don’t worry kids) we want to keep him safe — and him, us. So we’re avoiding the mall and turning to some...

For last-minute online holiday invitations, Paperless Post Flyers are the best!

by Liz Gumbinner | Best Apps, Holiday Picks

If you’re a fan of Paperless Post like we are, don’t miss out on Paperless Flyers as a genius way to send out all your last-minute holiday invitations, school fundraisers, or to invite out-of-town family to the kids’ end-of-year-recitals over Zoom....

All the ways kids are using tech to make their holiday gift wishlists: 11 ideas

by Liz Gumbinner | Best Apps, Kids, Tips and Tricks, Websites We Love

I’m absolutely fascinated by the way my own kids and step kids use tech to make ongoing gift wish lists — the iOS Notes app has become the method of choice for them and so far, that’s working pretty well for us. Then I saw Jessica Bradley...

Active Arcade is a fun free app that gets the whole family up off the couch.

by Christina Refford | Best Apps, Fitness + Health, Games + Gaming

Before the holidays kick into full gear, I recommend you download one super-fun, get-off-the-couch app that also happens to be 100% free: Active Arcade. It’s entirely designed to get you moving (and maybe burning off all that pie eating) while enjoying yourself...

The best apps for road trips with kids: Map apps, entertainment apps, even restroom finder apps!

by Caroline Siegrist | Best Apps

I’m grateful for this list of the best apps for road trips with kids, because it turns out, I’m not allowed to put my kids in a hilarious sidecar by themselves during long drives. So I’ve been prepping my phone and the kids’ iPad for the long...

5 must-have apps for holiday planning. Dinner is back!

by Caroline Siegrist | Best Apps, Holiday Picks

This holiday season, I’ve been researching apps for holiday planning as one of many ways to make big holiday meals easier. Whether you enjoyed last year’s COVID-mandated reprieve from big get-togethers, or you’re just raring to baste another...

Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz

Kristen Chase + Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks

We started Cool Mom Tech in 2010 to help make our increasingly digital lives easier, more organized, more meaningful, and more fun, however old your kids may be.

We love that it's grown to become the go-to source for millions of parents who want commonsense info about tech delivered with a smile.

We even have the privilege of sharing our tips + tricks with The TODAY Show, CNN, HLN, GMA, Nightline, newspapers and magazines around the country, and our favorite -- regular parents who stop us at PTA meetings and ask us how old kids need to be to get a smartphone, and whether they really need to panic about Snapchat.

(Answer: It's complicated.)

We're so glad you're here! And we hope we can help you too.