Family Bonding Apps: 11 Ways to Feel Closer

Andrew Ronald

Simirity Founder | Father of two

7th May, 2025

It’s easy to confuse ‘family bonding’ with just being ‘connected’. Today, most families connect through a multitude of apps—from social media platforms to messaging and photo-sharing services. Yet despite having more ways than ever to stay in touch, meaningful family bonding has become increasingly challenging.

Family bonding apps offer practical ways to help your family go beyond superficial digital connections and actually feel emotionally closer, even when living continents apart. As an expat family, I’ve experienced firsthand how, despite our best intentions, weekly video calls and constant photo sharing still leave us feeling separated from those we love most. I was glad to discover that there is a better way.

In this guide, we’ll introduce 11 powerful family bonding apps grouped into 3 categories. Each category addresses different aspects of family connection—from storytelling and memory preservation to collaborative projects. Each app helps your family bond in different ways, supplementing how you stay in touch with your family today.

Jump to section:

• The Difference Between Connecting and Bonding
• Bonding Apps: Storytelling & Memory Preservation
• Bonding Apps: Sharing Experiences
• Bonding Apps: Collaborative Projects
• Choosing The Right Bonding App for Your Family
• The Positive Impact of Family Bonding Apps
  

The Difference Between Connecting and Bonding

Connection is all about information exchange, while bonding can only happen when there is some emotional resonance.

It’s possible to feel connected to people but not feel bonded.

Perhaps you’ve had family calls that were no more than exchanging information and you wished for something extra—something deeper and more fulfilling. I call such calls ‘catch-up calls’. They are practical and interesting, but pale in comparison to those far rarer, meaningful conversations.

To bond effectively, I believe the following factors need to be considered:

1. Authenticity: When people share truthful messages, warts and all, they encourage free and honest discussions.
2. Sharing Experiences: It could be recalling the past, recent activities or sharing thoughts or ideas for the future.
3. Unconditional Support: When listeners provide their unwavering and non-judgmental support, with no expectations of anything in return.
4. Emotional Closeness: You want to feel emotionally close, not detached from each other emotionally.

Together, these factors could be expressed like this:

When you only share photos from the weekend with your family or message them with quick updates, it’s clear to see from the equation above, that you are missing out on so many bonding elements.

Not another chat app—Simirity is for deeper family connections.

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Bonding Apps: Storytelling & Memory Preservation

What they do

The single greatest bonding tool is storytelling. Period.

Thankfully, sharing stories and interacting with each other based on them is something we can do even if we can’t meet family in person.

These bonding apps help your family capture and share real-life stories. Unlike regular photo apps that just store images, or social media feeds that only show glamorous highlights from life, storytelling apps encourage family members to go beyond the superficial and share the full spectrum of experiences, thoughts and ideas.

Unlike most connection apps, these bonding apps are designed to help family members open up about memories, life lessons, and family history in ways that rarely happen during weekly catch-up calls or in messages. You get to preserve these family heritage stories—using mediums such as text, photos, videos, voice recordings and more—while strengthening family bonds in the process.

Featured bonding apps

1. Simirity.com

Simirity is our family business, and we’ve made it our mission to create the perfect family bonding app to help families connect in meaningful ways.

As an expat family, we’ve experimented with all the usual apps to stay in touch, and many of those that follow, but felt there was a need for a more complete and flexible solution.

Simirity is your family’s digital scrapbook of memories.

Beyond photos, videos and voice notes, Simirity app uses real-life stories from your family’s past and present to enrich family relationships while storing cherished memories for tomorrow.

Your stories blossom into rewarding conversations that take your family beyond everyday small talk—strengthening bonds and creating moments of genuine connection that you’ll treasure forever.

Wondering how Simirity compares to common family communication apps? See our comparison guide to understand the key differences at a glance. For specific platforms, explore our detailed comparison with Facebook and WhatsApp.

Bonding Evaluation

• Inclusive family focus — Everyone gets to participate, from grandparents to grandchildren, making it a truly multi-generational experience.
• Flexible, media-rich storytelling — Share simple photos or create rich, blended experiences with text, video, audio and documents. These deeper stories foster stronger family connections than typical messaging apps and predictable catch-up calls.
• Evolving family tradition — Not just a one-off project but an ongoing habit that helps you explore your past, connect in the present, and build a legacy for future generations.
• Re-engage with your family’s past — Story anniversary reminders naturally bring old memories into current family discussions, preventing your stories from being forgotten like physical albums.
• Guided story discovery — A library of story prompts helps uncover meaningful moments you might otherwise overlook, making it easier to share the experiences that truly matter.
• Wisdom preservation — There may be no better way to bond with family members than being there to support them through the tough times in their lives. The Life Lessons feature provides a way for family members to offer support and share hard-earned wisdom, helping family connect through life’s challenges even when physically apart.
• No substitute for being together — While invaluable for separated families, digital connection can never fully replace the bonding that happens when physically together.

Simirity combines all the key features families need to strengthen bonds online.

2. StoryCorps

StoryCorps is a renowned US service that preserves authentic family stories through high-quality voice recordings.

In their recording studios, a trained StoryCorps facilitator guides families through meaningful 40-minute conversations that capture life experiences beyond what emerges in everyday interactions.

This service offers a unique opportunity to preserve a loved one’s voice and stories with professional equipment and expert guidance. It’s particularly valuable for older family members whose life experiences might otherwise go undocumented—creating not just a recording, but a priceless family heirloom.

Can’t visit a recording studio? StoryCorps offers both a mobile recording service that comes to you and a free StoryCorps app that walks you through creating meaningful interviews with similar question prompts. 

Bonding Evaluation

• Individual-focused storytelling — StoryCorps is a simple yet highly effective way to start sharing meaningful stories from one person with your entire family.
• Limited scope and format — However, it only focuses on one person at a time, is just a one-time 40-minute recording rather than an ongoing venture, and does not blend the audio recording with supporting elements (such as photos and videos) that can enhance discussions.
• One-time treasure effect — After the initial joy of listening to the recording, these audio stories often remain hidden away, rarely revisited by family members without built-in reminders or an easy-access system.

3. Storyworth

Storyworth has become a favourite for families wanting to preserve personal memoirs in print.

The concept is simple: select a family member who receives a weekly question about their life experiences, memories, or perspectives. These thoughtfully crafted prompts encourage authentic sharing that rarely emerges in everyday conversations. After a year of reflections, StoryWorth compiles their written stories and photos into a professionally bound keepsake book.

The insights you can get about your loved ones’ lives are really special—from childhood adventures to life lessons and family traditions. These stories often spark meaningful family discussions as everyone discovers new dimensions of someone they thought they knew well.

Bonding Evaluation

• Thoughtful written reflection — StoryWorth offers a structured, pressure-free way for family members (especially those who prefer writing to speaking) to share their life experiences.
• Tangible family heirloom — The physical book provides a tangible family heirloom that can be passed down through generations.
• Individual-focused approach — However, StoryWorth focuses on one person’s perspective at a time rather than involving your whole family.
• Limited ongoing engagement — While printed books feel permanent, they are missing some digital elements that help keep the stories actively circulating and inspiring discussions within your family.

4. Memories

Memories, as the name suggests, focuses on preserving family memories in a digital format.

The platform allows you to create dedicated memory boards for family members—both living and deceased—building a comprehensive family archive that grows over time. Here is an example memory board.

Each memory can combine text, photos, and videos. What makes this platform particularly valuable for family bonding is its collaborative approach—everyone in the family can contribute their perspectives by adding memories to each other’s boards..

Bonding Evaluation

• Collaborative family archive — This app effectively bonds families by creating a shared digital space where everyone actively contributes to your collective history. Instead of a short-term project, it’s an ongoing family venture that deepens connections as your archive grows.
• Missing emotional dimension — While excellent for preservation, the platform has some limitations for active bonding. The absence of voice recording capabilities means you miss the emotional resonance of hearing stories in a loved one’s actual voice.
• Requires self-motivation — Additionally, without inspiration for interesting stories, families must be self-motivated to share meaningful stories rather than just the usual highlights commonly shared in social media.
• Isolated archive — Without features like story anniversary reminders, memories can become isolated in a digital vault that is rarely visited after their initial creation. It’s a shame because revisiting old family stories can be so rewarding and often ignites new family conversations.

Bonding Apps: Sharing Experiences

What they do

These bonding apps help your family create experiences together.

Unlike storytelling apps that talk about past experiences, these tools help you do things together—whether that’s playing games, watching movies, or preparing something special for your next meet-up.

Some bonding apps create purely online experiences that bring distant family members together, while others use digital tools to enhance your in-person family time and make ordinary moments more engaging.

Featured bonding apps

1. Teleparty.com

Perhaps you watch the same Netflix series as your parents or siblings, but have to do so separately in your own homes. Great TV can be a bonding experience as you live the storyline together, but it’s not the same if you’re not watching it together and discussing it in the heat of the moment.

Teleparty allows everyone in your family to watch the same Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, HBO, Hulu and Amazon Prime show together, even when you’re continents apart.

It synchronises video playback across all your family’s devices while adding a group chat feature, letting you watch films and shows together in perfect sync.

It works in your Chrome web browser as an extension—here’s how it works.

If you want to watch it on your TV, you can always connect your computer to your TV using an HDMI cable or use Google Chromecast or Apple screen mirroring.

Unlike simply messaging about shows you’ve watched separately, Teleparty creates genuine shared moments—the collective gasps, laughs, and tears that strengthen family bonds. You’ll see each other’s real-time reactions through the chat function, creating that ‘together on the sofa’ feeling that’s often missing when families live apart.

Bonding Evaluation

• Virtual sofa experience — There’s something genuinely special about seeing each other’s real-time reactions through the chat function. It recreates that ‘together on the sofa’ feeling that’s often missing when families live apart. If you’re watching these programs anyway, why not transform them into shared family experiences? Start a family movie night tradition that everyone looks forward to.
• Natural conversation catalyst — Watching shows together creates a more natural and relaxed interaction than scheduled ‘catchup calls.’ The shows act as conversation starters, helping you discover new perspectives about each other through your thoughts on what you’ve watched.
• Depth consideration — While enjoying the latest Netflix show together can be fun, consider how deeply it connects you emotionally with your family. The strongest bonding moments typically come from content that inspires authentic sharing or relates to your family’s values and experiences. Will TV shows inspire those moments in your family, or will it just be a lighthearted way to spend time together (both have value)?

2. Jackboxgames.com

Tired of those predictable family video calls? Jackboxgames offers a refreshing alternative that creates genuine family bonds through shared laughter.

Jackboxgames is a gaming platform that can unite your family in fun, even if you live continents apart. With titles ranging from creative drawing challenges to humorous word games, these digital shared experiences create treasured moments of connection for people of all ages.

How it works

One family member purchases and hosts the games on their smart TV, Apple TV, gaming console or computer. Each player then uses their own mobile or tablet to join by visiting Jackbox.tv and entering the room code. For distant family members, simply share your screen through Zoom, Google Meet or FaceTime.

Games typically last 15-20 minutes and work best with 3-8 players. While you can purchase games individually, the Party Packs offer better value (Packs 7 and 9 are particularly good for families). Remember to activate the “family-friendly mode” to ensure all content is appropriate for ages 10 and up.

Bonding Evaluation

• Multi-generational participation — This is a very humorous way to get everyone actively participating, from grandparents to their grandkids.
• Revealing new dimensions — Playing offers a way to connect outside of those routine family conversations, and reveal people’s characteristics and skills that you might not have known about.
• Entertainment-focused connection — It’s primarily entertainment-focused, which is great for creating joyful connections but unlikely to facilitate deeper personal conversations.
• Technical learning curve — It may require patience with the technical setup and helping less confident family members get comfortable with the format.

3. Geocaching

Ever felt that family reunions often fall into predictable patterns? Geocaching transforms ordinary outings into fun treasure hunts you’ll remember for years. As a worldwide game with millions of hidden containers called ‘caches,’ geocaching turns parks, city streets and wilderness areas into playgrounds for family discovery and connection.

When my parents visited us last summer, we spiced up our usual tourist activities with geocaching adventures. We were all so shocked and delighted to find these caches cleverly hidden in plain sight—a special moment I’m so glad we shared.

Try the official Geocaching app to discover thousands of caches worldwide, or the beautifully designed Cachly app for iOS users, which offers additional features for planning family adventures.

Family Bonding Evaluation

• Outdoor family adventure — It’s a great option to enhance trips and experience something new and adventurous outdoors as a family. There are roles for everyone, from navigators to puzzle solvers and treasure finders—giving you the chance to bond as a team doing something fun.
• Memory-building experience — You’ll create special memories you can reflect on in your time apart.
• In-person requirement — You can plan ahead using the links provided, but sadly you’ve got to be together to enjoy this experience.
• Action over conversation — This is primarily action-focused rather than conversation-driven, though the shared experience often leads to more authentic discussions.

4. Airbnb Experiences

Just being together isn’t always enough to feel genuinely connected. The magic occurs when families step outside their comfort zones, creating emotionally charged moments that strengthen bonds in ways routine interactions cannot.

So what can you do to step outside your comfort zone as a family?

Airbnb, widely known for accommodation, has thousands of ideas at hand with their Experiences platform—unique activities hosted by passionate locals who share their expertise and culture with visitors.

From cooking authentic paella with a Spanish chef to learning traditional dances and Segway tours with a local, these “one-of-a-kind interactive experiences” create the perfect environment for genuine family bonding.

Family Bonding Evaluation

• Reinvigorate family time — Holidays and time together with family can easily fall into a routine. Trying something new as a family, with the help of Airbnb experiences, is a great way to bond while enjoying your time together.
• Memory-making experiences — Creates emotionally rich shared memories. The excitement of trying something new together generates powerful bonding moments you’ll reminisce about for years.
• Ignites conversation naturally — Shared activities create effortless opportunities for meaningful discussions without feeling forced.
• Sharing emotions — New experiences can light you up emotionally as you learn new skills and adapt to new situations. These emotionally rich moments are perfect opportunities for family bonding.
• Character revelation — Discover a new side to family members as you experience something new together.
• Variable accessibility — Cost varies significantly between experiences, potentially limiting participation for budget-conscious families.
• In-person requirement — Sadly, they can’t be done remotely—it’s for those precious times together.

Bonding Apps: Collaborative Projects

What they do

These family bonding apps allow family members to work together on meaningful projects that strengthen relationships while creating something lasting.

Featured bonding apps

1. Online family recipe book

A shared passion within many families is food! There is something very special about how those family recipes, passed down from generation to generation, remind us about our childhoods and those who used to prepare these meals.

A friend of mine lost his grandmother recently. Beyond all the expected grief, he was heartbroken to realise, too late, that she was the only keeper of so many beloved family meals. The regret was palpable—those recipes, techniques and kitchen wisdom were now lost forever, along with the chance to remember her by recreating her dishes.

His experience reminded me of the importance of something as seemingly simple as recipes. Thankfully, preserving recipes is remarkably simple even when you live apart from family. And it’s a great opportunity to connect with those beyond your home.

One custom-made solution is Morsel, an app that makes it easy to digitise recipes and handwritten family treasures into a digital family cookbook accessible across generations. It’s a fun, meaningful and tasty project that connects you all as you reminisce about the food you love.

Family bonding evaluation

• Connecting through family recipes — There’s something special about cooking same meals as family living elsewhere. You may live apart, but by continuing old family food traditions, you can feel connected on a daily basis.
• Kitchen lessons across generations — Recipes are great at connecting different generations. The younger generations putting in their requests for their favourite meals, and the elders enjoying getting to share what they have learned in the kitchen over the years.
• Limited emotional depth — Ultimately though, while it will stimulate discussions about the past, the focus is on food and deeper connections are unlikely.

2. Digital photo sharing albums

One of the most common ways to share moments from life with our families is by sharing photos. Photos make great conversation starters, but where’s a good place to privately share them and archive them for revisiting in the future?

One alternative to social media and messaging apps is Cluster, where groups can privately share photos and comments, and revisit them in later years. It’s a more intimate platform than social media, which gives family members the confidence to be more authentic in what they share.

Bonding evaluation

• Windows into each other’s worlds — Sharing photos is an easy way to stimulate discussions that involve all generations of your family—making you all feel included in each other’s lives.
• Safe space for authentic sharing — The privacy element encourages more genuine family moments, creating more meaningful exchanges than those in public-facing social media platforms.
• Building your visual heritage — You’re essentially building a visual legacy, that can bond your family today, and allow future family insights into your lives and characters.
• Limited to what can be photographed — It focuses on visual storytelling, which limits the scope of what your family might share. Children’s parties, weekend’s away and social occasions will likely be shared. But what about stepping back in time and exploring your family’s past? What about all those experiences that don’t have any photos? What about thoughts, ideas and hopes for the future?
• Missing storytelling guidance — There are no active guides or prompts that inspire family members to share different types of moments from life. Over time, you might see many of the same types of photos and not gain insights into other aspects of loved ones’ lives.

3. Digital time capsule

Did you bury time capsules when you were a child? Little boxes filled with treasures and notes, sealed up for some future version of ourselves to discover. Though there is something very appealing about the tactile nature of touching family objects buried in the past, there are also limitations that digital time capsules overcome.

With a digital time capsule, your family creates a collection that captures the stories behind the moments that matter in the current year. Instead of just objects, you can include photos alongside memorable experiences, voice recordings of you and your children recounting tales, or videos of family events.

One of the key benefits of keeping this capsule in the cloud is that everyone in your family can contribute, no matter where they live. Your brother in Sydney, your parents back in London, and your cousins in Toronto—all adding their pieces to this shared family legacy.

What makes this so special is that it brings your family together today, while creating something that will touch the hearts of family members you may never even meet. Connecting your family across both distance and time.

One straightforward solution is Dropbox Family, which gives up to six family members 2TB of shared storage to build your digital legacy together.

Family bonding evaluation

• Family project with purpose — It creates a rare shared family project with real meaning. Everyone, from children to grandparents, can contribute in their own way. Having a common purpose naturally leads to deeper conversations than your usual weekly catch-up calls.
• Present-focused sharing — Time capsule content will help your family connect as you share moments from your day-to-day lives. That’s really valuable. It won’t however have you exploring your family’s past, which is a shame, as so many valuable experiences will be missed.
• Freedom without guidance — Dropbox is essentially a blank canvas that offers complete creative freedom, but that might feel overwhelming initially. It’s entirely up to you and your family to get creative about what you share.
• Digital filing cabinet feel — Unlike dedicated story apps, you’ll end up with a collection of separate files rather than a flowing narrative. Families must click through folders to piece together the complete story, which might dampen the excitement of exploring the time capsule.
• Technical effort required — It might feel a bit like work, all that uploading of documents and files.

Choosing The Right Bonding App for Your Family

Choosing a family bonding app shouldn’t be overwhelming. To simplify your decision, we’ve mapped the available options based on two key factors:

1. Emotional Depth: How deeply the app fosters meaningful connections beyond surface-level interactions.
2. Feature Breadth: How versatile the app is in serving different family bonding needs.

The ideal bonding app for your family depends on your specific situation. Do you need depth in one area, or would your family benefit from a versatile solution that addresses multiple bonding dimensions?

Why we created Simirity

Simirity is a family business. As an expat family ourselves, we felt emotionally distant despite regular calls, messages and photo sharing. We created Simirity to solve our own family’s challenge—how to feel truly connected despite living continents apart.

Rather than juggling multiple bonding apps, we wanted one comprehensive family-friendly app that combines storytelling, experiences and collaboration. Simirity uniquely addresses what matters most: creating genuine emotional closeness within families, even when they live apart.

Ready to strengthen your family bonds in more meaningful ways? Try Simirity for free and experience the difference a purpose-built family bonding app can make.

The Positive Impact of Family Bonding Apps

I believe a happy life closely correlates with how well you bond with others.

Family are the first people we connect with in life, and for many, they are the most important. As much as we love our family members, bonds can weaken over time if you don’t find a way to invest in the relationship.

The bonding apps in this article are an opportunity to invest in your family and reap the rewards.

1. Great for healing distance—Perfect for families who feel emotional separation and want to take meaningful steps toward feeling closer.
2. Great for deepening connections—Ideal for families with already thriving relationships who want to discover new things about each other and support each other through life.

Here are some benefits you can expect to see if your app is doing a good job:

• More laughter and positive emotional exchanges during interactions.
• Conversations that go beyond surface-level updates to more meaningful topics.
• More spontaneous communication outside of scheduled calls.
• Family members sharing more vulnerable or authentic experiences.
• Children showing greater interest in family heritage and traditions.
• A growing sense of belonging and support within your family.
• Reduced feelings of guilt or disconnection from those you can’t be with.

With so much to gain, why wait another day?

Simirity connects generations through the power of storytelling

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