Support FAQ
Support CenterSearch every answer on one page, or choose a topic to narrow the list.
Professional Portal
Create a professional account and securely work with client-shared records.
How To Use The BestInterest Professional Portal
Open client-shared records, search messages, manage your profile, and understand Professional Portal access and notifications.
The BestInterest Professional Portal keeps each client’s approved records in a separate, read-only workspace. Start at pro.bestinterest.app and sign in with a secure email link or Google.
Open a client workspace
The Clients page lists your connected clients and pending invitations. Select View [client name] to open the records that person approved.
If both parents in a family connect with you, the family can appear once with a separate View button for each parent. Each parent controls their own connection and sharing permissions.
Choose All clients to close the workspace and return to the client list. Use Refresh clients when a recent invitation or access change does not appear.
Review shared record categories
The category choices at the top of a client workspace match that client’s sharing permissions. Depending on what the client approved, you may see:
- Messages
- Calendar
- Expenses
- Tasks
- Documents
- Journal
- Calls
- Reports
For new or updated permissions, each selected category includes private and shared records, notes, and attachments from the approving account. Older connections may retain narrower access until the client updates permissions. A connection to one parent does not provide access to the other parent’s private information.
Journal entries are available only when the client explicitly selects Journal. Coparent Coach conversations and unsent drafts are unavailable. You can review records and use the available copy, print, report, and download actions, but you cannot edit client records.
Search and move through records
Open Messages to search the selected parent’s messages. Clear the search to return to the full message history.
Use Previous page and Next page to move through longer histories. Calendar controls move between months, and Print agenda opens a printable calendar view. Solo calendars open on private events. For a collaborative calendar with both types available, use the Private/Shared view control to choose which records to review.
Available documents, message attachments, call recordings, and transcripts include their own download actions. The portal checks access again before preparing a download.
For report steps and limits, see How Professional Portal reports and downloads work.
Manage your profile
Open the account menu in the upper-right corner and choose Edit profile. You can update your name, professional type, organization, phone number, or profile image. These details appear on client invitations you send.
The same account menu includes Clients, Notifications, and Sign out.
Manage activity digests
Open Notifications from the account menu to manage activity digests. A digest contains client names and activity counts for approved categories without including record content.
When email delivery is available, you can turn digests off or choose hourly, daily, or weekly delivery. You can also choose the timezone and, for daily or weekly delivery, the delivery time and day.
If the page says email delivery is unavailable, digest delivery has not been enabled at that time. This does not indicate a problem with your account, and you can continue reviewing records in the portal.
When access changes
A client can change categories or revoke access. The portal clears affected records and checks current permissions before showing them again. Refresh the client list if the portal asks you to review updated access.
Changes block future viewing and downloads. Files or reports already downloaded to another device remain outside BestInterest and cannot be recalled.
Related articles
How Do Professional Portal Invitations And Client Access Work?
Invite a client, accept a client's invitation, and understand how each client controls Professional Portal access.
Professional Portal connections require action from both people. Either person can start the invitation, and the client always controls which record categories become available.
When a client invites you
- Open the invitation email and follow the secure link within seven days.
- Sign in to the Professional Portal using the email address that received the invitation.
- Complete your professional profile if you have not already done so.
- Choose Review and connect from the invitation link, or accept the pending client request on the Clients page.
The client chooses the categories before sending the invitation. Records appear after you accept the connection.
You can decline a pending client request from the Clients page. Declining does not create a connection or share records.
Invite a client from the portal
- Open the Clients page.
- Choose Invite a client.
- Enter the client’s email address and an optional introduction.
- Choose Send invitation.
The portal confirms that the invitation email was sent. The client opens the invitation in their BestInterest parent account, chooses what to share, and approves the connection. Nothing appears in your portal until the client completes those steps.
If an invitation email cannot be delivered, confirm the address first. If the address was wrong, send an invitation to the correct address. While an invitation to the same address is still pending, the portal will not send a duplicate. Wait for it to expire, then send a new invitation.
Use the invited email address
Invitations are tied to the recipient’s verified email address. If the portal says an invitation is unavailable, sign out and sign in with the exact address that received the invitation.
Opening a secure email sign-in link in the same browser usually completes sign-in automatically. If you open it on another device, enter the same email address when prompted.
If the invitation link expired
Invitation email links expire after seven days. Sign in with the invited email address and check the Clients page for a pending request. If no request appears, ask the sender to send a new invitation.
How clients control access
Each client selects the record categories they want to share. A selected category includes that account’s private and shared records, notes, and attachments. Journal and Calls are optional and are not selected by default. A client can later change categories or revoke access.
Existing connections retain their previously approved private/shared limits until the client updates permissions. Opening a permission screen or accepting an existing invitation does not broaden those limits.
If access changes while you are using the portal, the affected workspace is cleared. Refresh the client list to load the current permissions.
Related articles
How Do Professional Portal Reports And Downloads Work?
Generate verified reports, print calendar agendas, download approved files, and understand report limits and expiration.
The Professional Portal creates verified reports from the record categories a client has approved. Reports remain tied to that client’s current permissions.
Generate a verified report
- Open the client from the Clients page.
- Choose Reports.
- Select Messages, Expenses, Tasks, or Calls.
- For Calls, choose Solo phone calls or In-app calls.
- Enter the start and end dates.
- If the client approved private records for that category, choose whether to include them.
- Choose Generate verified report.
A report can cover up to one year. If the selected period contains too many records, shorten the date range and try again.
Check report status
Pending reports refresh automatically every 15 seconds for up to five minutes. If automatic refresh pauses, choose Refresh reports.
Completed reports show a download action. Failed reports show an error so you can correct the dates or try the request again.
Understand the monthly allowance
You can complete up to 10 reports for each represented client account per calendar month. The month follows the client’s timezone. The Reports page shows how many reports remain and whether any are still being prepared.
Failed reports release their reserved place in the allowance. Professional report use is separate from the client’s subscription report allowance.
Print calendars and download files
Calendar information uses Print agenda instead of a generated report. Open Calendar, choose the month, and select Print agenda.
Documents and approved attachments download from their record. Depending on the shared categories, this can include document files, message attachments, call recordings, and call transcripts.
When a download is unavailable
The portal checks current access before every report or file download. A download can become unavailable if the client revokes access, changes the approved categories, or the report expires.
Reports expire 90 days after they are created. An expired report remains visible in report history without a download action.
Files and reports already downloaded to another device remain outside BestInterest and cannot be recalled.
Related articles
How Do I Create A BestInterest Professional Portal Account?
Create your Professional Portal account, complete your profile, and securely access records that clients choose to share.
The BestInterest Professional Portal gives attorneys, therapists, mediators, parenting coordinators, coaches, and other professionals a secure place to review information their clients choose to share.
Create your account
- Visit pro.bestinterest.app.
- Enter your professional email address and select Continue, or choose Continue with Google.
- If you use email, open the secure sign-in link that BestInterest sends you. You can open it in the same browser or on another device; the portal completes sign-in automatically. If the link cannot be completed, the page offers Get a new sign-in link. Tap Continue to have a fresh link sent for that browser.
- Complete your professional profile with your name and professional type. You can also add your organization and a phone number clients can use to reach you.
- After saving your profile, you can add an optional profile image.
You can create an account before a client invites you. Creating an account does not by itself provide access to any client records.
Connect with a client
A client can invite you, or you can send an invitation from the Professional Portal after completing your profile. The client chooses which record categories to share and must approve access before anything appears in your portal. See How Professional Portal invitations and client access work for both invitation paths.
When an invitation arrives, sign in with the email address associated with the invitation and follow the prompts to accept it.
Edit your profile
Open the account menu in the upper-right corner and choose Edit profile. You can update your name, professional type, organization, phone number, or profile image. Your profile details appear on invitations you send to clients.
Sign in again later
Return to pro.bestinterest.app and use either a secure email link or Google. If an email link no longer works, return to the sign-in page and request a new one.
For additional help, contact the BestInterest support team.
Related articles
Getting Started
Set up BestInterest, choose how to use it, and learn the core tools.
App Won't Open, Appears Offline, Or Is Not Syncing
Fix a stuck startup screen, connection error, or delayed BestInterest update without risking duplicate records or the wrong account.
Start with the Service status and known issues page. A posted issue can save you from repeating device-level steps. If no issue is posted, continue below; the status page does not rule out a problem affecting one account or device.
If BestInterest is stuck while opening
- Confirm another website or app can use the internet on the same device.
- Switch between Wi-Fi and cellular data. If you are on public Wi-Fi, finish any browser sign-in page first.
- Close BestInterest completely and reopen it.
- Check the App Store or Google Play for a BestInterest update.
- Restart the device, then open BestInterest again.
If a VPN, content filter, or restricted network is active, try a trusted connection that does not use it. Do not disable a security control you rely on; changing networks is enough for this test.
If the app says it is offline or cannot connect
Wait until the device has a stable connection, then retry the action once. Some BestInterest operations require a current connection and cannot finish while the request is interrupted.
If one screen fails while the rest of the app works, leave that screen, reopen it, and use its Retry action when one appears. Repeated taps can create duplicate requests after a slow response, so allow the first attempt time to finish.
If recent information is not showing
Check these before recreating anything:
- Confirm you signed in with the original Apple, Google, phone, or email method. A different method can open a separate, empty account.
- Reopen the affected screen after the connection returns.
- Check whether the screen shows a pending, generating, failed, or delivery status. Follow the focused guide for that status.
- Ask the other person to confirm which account or family they updated if the missing item is shared.
Recent messages, calendar changes, tasks, expenses, and reports do not all use the same delivery path. A delay in one feature does not prove that every BestInterest service is unavailable.
Use these focused guides when they match the problem:
- Logged in but account or messages are missing
- Why didn’t my coparent get my message?
- Report or export failed or is stuck
- Subscription or upgrade is not showing
Before reinstalling
Confirm you know the original sign-in method and can access its Apple, Google, phone, or email account. Reinstalling does not recover an account opened with the wrong sign-in method.
Do not delete the BestInterest account, unlink a coparent, or recreate missing records as an offline troubleshooting step.
Contact support
If the problem continues, contact support and include:
- iPhone or Android and operating system version
- BestInterest app version
- the feature or screen affected
- the approximate time and time zone
- whether Wi-Fi, cellular data, or both were affected
- the exact error or status shown
Do not include passwords, verification codes, private messages, journal entries, or other coparenting content unless support specifically requests a safe way to provide it.
Is The BestInterest App Available On The Web?
Use nearly all BestInterest features in a computer or tablet browser, with a few device features available only in the mobile apps.
Yes. Visit app.bestinterest.app from a computer or tablet browser and sign in with your BestInterest account.
You can use nearly all BestInterest features on the web. Some device-level features require the iPhone or Android app, including:
- App Privacy Lock, which uses the device’s passcode or biometrics
- Restore Purchase for an active App Store or Google Play purchase
- Push notification delivery and system notification settings
On the web, the Restore Purchase action explains that purchases can be restored in the iOS or Android app.
You can also install BestInterest from the App Store on iPhone or Google Play on Android and sign in with the same account.
Does BestInterest Support Families With Multiple Children?
Discover how the BestInterest app streamlines co-parenting for families with multiple children, making communication and scheduling easier for everyone involved.
Yes. BestInterest supports one child or several children in the same family.
Add each child
Open Settings > Family & Children and tap Add a child you share custody of. In the sheet, add the child’s name, birthday, and pronouns, then tap Add Child. BestInterest uses those details to personalize Coach and Message Shield for your family.

Keep messages and records organized
BestInterest does not assign messages or Journal entries to a child automatically. Include the child’s name in the message when context matters.
In the Journal, add a tag with the child’s name when you want to organize events for that child. On eligible Protect plans, Magic Tags can suggest tags. You can then search Journal entries by tag.
You can use the Parenting Calendar, Tasks, Binder, and other shared tools for the whole family while keeping each child’s details in Family & Children.
Can I Use BestInterest Even If My Coparent Doesn’t Want To?
Discover how BestInterest enhances communication in co-parenting, offering AI-powered features that work independently, ensuring privacy and ease of use.
Yes! One of the unique features of BestInterest is that it works independently of your coparent’s participation. Your messages will appear as standard SMS texts on their end, and they won’t know you’re using an app unless you choose to tell them. This allows you to benefit from our AI-powered features even if your coparent is not using BestInterest.
How Do I Create A BestInterest Account?
Install BestInterest, pick a sign-in method (phone, Apple, Google, or email), then walk through the setup steps: conflict check-in, Solo or Collaborative Mode, profile, coparent, children, and notifications.
BestInterest has no separate sign-up form. You choose how you want to sign in, and the app creates your account on first use. After that, a short setup flow collects the details the app needs.
Install the app
Search for BestInterest in the App Store (iPhone and iPad) or Google Play (Android) and install it. You can also open it in a browser at app.bestinterest.app.
Choose a sign-in method
The first screen offers four buttons:
- Continue with Phone Number
- Continue with Apple (shown on iPhone, iPad, and the web version)
- Continue with Google
- Continue with Email
Pick one and stick with it. Each method makes its own account, so switching to a different button later opens an empty account instead of yours. The app warns you with a Different Login Method dialog if it notices the change. See Why did signing in create a new empty account? if that has already happened.
Register with an email address
- Tap Continue with Email. The Create Account form opens.
- Fill in Email Address, Password, and Confirm Password. The password needs at least 8 characters with an uppercase letter, a lowercase letter, and a number.
- Tick the checkbox to agree to the Terms. Review Terms of Service and Review Privacy Policy open each document in place.
- Tap Create Account.
Already registered by email? Tap Sign in to an existing account at the bottom of the form.
Register with a phone number
- Tap Continue with Phone Number. The Phone Sign In form opens.
- Enter your phone number and tap Send Code.
- On the Enter Code screen, type the code from the text message and tap Verify. Resend code appears after a short countdown if it never arrives.
Apple and Google need no extra form. Tap the button, approve the request on your device, and you land in setup.
Complete setup
Each step saves as you go, and the Back arrow lets you revisit earlier steps.
- Conflict check-in. Tap a number from 1 to 10 on the scale between Mostly peaceful and Highly conflicted. Your answer stays private and tunes your coaching.
- Choose Your Setup. Tap Solo Mode (you use BestInterest on your own) or Collaborative Mode (you and your coparent use it together). Solo Mode shows a Meet Boundary Line note first; tap Sounds good to move on. Not sure? Compare the two modes.
- Your Profile. Enter Your Name. The form also asks for Your Email or Your Phone when your sign-in method did not supply one. Tap Next Step. Tap Have a professional referral code? if a therapist, attorney, or mediator gave you one.
- Privacy Pledge. Read it and tap Next Step.
- About Your Coparent. Enter Coparent’s Name and, if you want, Coparent’s Phone. Tap Next Step, or Skip to leave it blank.
- Coparent Connection (Collaborative Mode only). Tap Get My Invite Code and send the code to your coparent, or type the code they sent you. Tap Skip if they are not ready. Details are in How to invite my coparent.
- Your Family. Add each child’s name so coaching fits your family, then tap Next Step. Skip works here too.
- Set Your Pace. Tap Hourly Digest (Recommended), Daily Summary, Real-Time Notifications, or Disable Notifications.
- You’re ready to go! Answer How did you hear about BestInterest? and tap Let’s Get Started.
After setup
The app opens on Home. How to use the BestInterest Home screen shows where the tools live. Anything you skipped can be finished later: coparent linking and Boundary Line under Settings > Coparent Connection, children under Settings > Family & Children, and your own details under Settings > Personal Profile.
If a sign-in attempt fails or loops, work through Why can’t I log in?.
Account & Sign-in
Fix sign-in or account issues and manage your phone number, password, and account data.
Account Recovery, Verification Codes, And Sign-In Errors
Recover access when a password reset email is missing, an SMS code fails, or Apple or Google sign-in does not complete.
Start with the same sign-in method you used when you created your BestInterest account: Continue with Apple, Continue with Google, Continue with Phone Number, or Continue with Email. Using another method or another address can open a separate, empty account instead of your saved account.
If you are signed in but your information is missing, follow Logged in but account or messages are missing before changing anything.
Password reset email did not arrive
Password reset applies only to accounts that use Email and Password.
- On the sign-in screen, choose Continue with Email, then tap Forgot Password.
- Enter the exact email address used for the account and tap Send Password Reset.
- Check spam, junk, promotions, and any filtering or forwarding rules for that mailbox.
- Search the mailbox for BestInterest and allow a few minutes for delivery.
For privacy, BestInterest shows the same confirmation whether or not an account exists for the address. If no message arrives, check for a typo and consider whether you originally used Apple, Google, a phone number, or a different email address.
If a reset link is invalid or expired, return to Forgot Password and request a new email. Open the link from the newest reset email and complete it once.
SMS code did not arrive or does not work
- Confirm the phone number and country code shown in BestInterest are correct.
- Make sure the phone can receive ordinary SMS messages and has a cellular connection.
- Wait for the Resend countdown to finish. BestInterest pauses resends for 30 seconds to reduce accidental duplicate requests and provider rate limits.
- Tap Resend, then enter the code from that new request.
An earlier SMS can arrive after a replacement request. The older code does not match the current verification session. If BestInterest says the code is wrong or expired, request another code instead of repeatedly submitting the same one.
If the app says there have been too many attempts, wait a few minutes before trying again. Repeated requests can extend the delay.
Apple sign-in does not complete
- Tap Continue with Apple, the same method used for the original account.
- Complete the Apple sheet instead of closing it. If you canceled it, start again.
- Check the internet connection, install any BestInterest update, then retry.
- If Apple uses a private relay address for BestInterest, keep using Continue with Apple. Typing another email address can open a different account.
If the error continues, contact support with the exact error text. Do not create a replacement account to test another method.
Google sign-in does not complete
- Tap Continue with Google and select the same Google account used before.
- Complete the Google account chooser instead of closing it.
- Check the internet connection, install any BestInterest update, then retry.
- If several Google accounts are on the device, confirm the selected address before continuing.
If BestInterest says an account exists with a different sign-in method, return to the sign-in screen and use that original method.
A sign-in request times out or shows a connection error
Switch between Wi-Fi and cellular data, close and reopen BestInterest, and try once more. A timed-out provider request may still finish late, so check whether the app signed in before starting another attempt.
For broader startup or connection problems, see App won’t open, appears offline, or is not syncing.
Contact support without sharing a secret
Contact support if you still cannot recover the account. Include:
- iPhone or Android
- BestInterest app version
- the sign-in method you originally used
- the approximate time of the failed attempt
- the exact error message shown
Never send support your password, password reset link, SMS code, or Apple or Google verification details.
How Do I Change My Phone Number?
Update your messaging number in Personal Profile, or change a phone number used for sign-in under Password & Security.
Where you change your phone number depends on whether you also use that number to sign in.
Change your messaging phone number
If you do not sign in with your phone number:
- Open Settings > Personal Profile.
- Tap Edit next to Your Phone Number.
- Tap Continue on the warning, enter the new number, and save.

Changing this number may affect delivery of your coparent’s messages, so check it carefully before saving.
Change the phone number you use to sign in
If you sign in with your phone number, Personal Profile shows it as read-only. You can change it yourself:
- Open Settings > Password & Security.
- Tap Change Phone Number.
- Enter the new number and tap Send Code.
- Enter the verification code sent to the new number.

What if I cannot update my phone number in the app?
Each phone number can belong to only one BestInterest account. If another account already uses the number, Personal Profile may show Failed to save. Please try again. The sign-in change flow instead says This phone number is already linked to another account.
Check whether you previously created another account with that number. If you still need help, contact support so we can investigate without disrupting another account.
How Do I Delete My Account?
Delete your BestInterest account in the app, understand what happens to your data, or request deletion if you cannot sign in.
Deleting your account removes your access immediately. Your profile and personal app data will be deleted or anonymized, and the action cannot be undone.
Delete your account in the app
- On Home, scroll down and tap Settings.
- Scroll to the LEGAL section and tap Delete My Account.
- Tap Request Confirmation Code. BestInterest sends a 6-digit code to your account email address.
- Enter the code, choose a reason, and tap Delete My Account.
- Review the final confirmation and confirm the deletion.



What happens to your data
BestInterest deletes or anonymizes your profile and personal app data, including:
- Your private messages, journal entries, coach history, and call logs
- Account settings and preferences
- Phone number assignments, including your Boundary Line number
- Parenting plans and uploaded files
Some records can remain after your account is deleted:
- Your coparent may retain their own copies of shared records.
- Generated reports remain available until their expiration date.
- BestInterest retains limited internal records for security, support, and legal obligations.
- Accounts belonging to professionals or other support team members remain active.
Deleting your account does not cancel an Apple, Google Play, or RevenueCat Billing subscription. Cancel through the provider that billed you before deleting your account.
If you create a BestInterest account again later, you will need to set it up again. Your phone number and email address are not permanently blocked from creating a new account.
If you cannot use the app
If you cannot sign in or prefer to request deletion manually, fill out the account deletion form.
Coparent Connection
Invite or connect with a coparent, use Solo Mode, and manage phone-number setup.
Solo Mode FAQs
Help using Solo Mode, which allows you to use the BestInterest coparenting app without your coparent.
Q: Does my coparent need to use Solo Mode or use the BestInterest app?
No. Solo Mode lets you use BestInterest privately without your coparent joining. If you add Boundary Line, their texts can flow through Message Shield and your replies can use Tone Guardian.
Q: What happens if my co-parent tries to call my Boundary Line number?
With Boundary Line in Solo Mode, your BestInterest number can be used for text messaging or phone calls. Learn more about our calling features.
Q: Will my coparent know I am using BestInterest?
No, unless you tell them that you are using BestInterest, there is no way to discover that you are using it.
Q: How do I switch between Solo and Collaborative Mode?
Open Settings > Coparent Connection. See How do I switch between Solo and Collaborative Mode? for the steps and what changes to your coparent connection.
Why Does BestInterest Need My Coparent's Number?
Boundary Line needs your coparent's phone number to deliver messages by SMS while they continue using ordinary texting.
For many of our customers, it’s hard to get their co-parent to agree to anything — let alone using an app together to reduce conflict. That’s why we developed Boundary Line for parents using Solo Mode.
With Solo Mode, you use BestInterest by yourself. Boundary Line adds SMS communication: when you send a message to your co-parent, we deliver it to them as a text. They won’t know you’re using an app unless you choose to tell them.
To make this possible, BestInterest assigns you a new dedicated phone number — one your co-parent can use to text you. You simply tell them you have a new number where they can reach you. This keeps all communication flowing through the app, where it can be organized, documented, and protected by our AI filter.
We will never message your co-parent without your knowledge.
Entering their number does not alert or notify them in any way. You stay in full control of when and how communication begins.
Even if you’re not ready to message yet, saving your co-parent’s number helps us prepare your account in case you decide to start later.
Does BestInterest Support Having Multiple Coparents?
Discover how BestInterest simplifies co-parenting for shared responsibilities, while we work on expanding support for more complex family dynamics. Your feedback matters!
Currently, BestInterest is designed for co-parents who share parenting responsibilities with one other person.
If you have multiple children with different co-parents, you can create separate BestInterest accounts and use Collaborative Mode with each co-parent. However, Solo Mode isn’t currently supported for multiple co-parenting relationships.
We know this setup doesn’t meet everyone’s needs just yet — and we’re actively exploring ways to support more complex family dynamics in future updates. If this limitation is impacting your experience, we’d love to hear from you. Please reach out and let us know how this feature could support your co-parenting journey.
How Do I Invite My Coparent To Join?
Use Boundary Line to text a coparent who will not join, or invite them to connect with you in Collaborative Mode.
With Boundary Line in Solo Mode, you can communicate with your coparent without them needing to use the app. All you need to do is ask your coparent to change the phone number they use to reach you.
However, if your coparent is interested in using the app with you, we offer Collaborative Mode, where you both use the app. Simply follow these steps to enable it:

- Open Settings > Coparent Connection
- Tap “Switch to Collaborative Mode” if you see that button.
- Tap Get My Invite Code
- Send the code to your coparent. If their number is saved, the card offers to text it for you.
- Your coparent downloads the app, chooses Collaborative Mode during setup, and enters your code on the Coparent Connection step. They can also enter it later under Settings > Coparent Connection.
- Once those steps are completed, your accounts are connected!
Your coparent can start with the free plan; they do not need a paid subscription to connect with you. See plans and pricing for current feature availability.
What Phone Numbers Do You Support For Coparent Communication?
Learn which coparent phone numbers Boundary Line supports and what to do when SMS service is unavailable in your country.
A coparent phone number is only required if you want to use Boundary Line in Solo Mode. We support phone numbers in the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, and many more. For countries we do not support, consider using Collaborative Mode, which has global support.
Will My Ex Know My Message Is Coming From An App?
Discover how the BestInterest app enhances coparent communication, ensuring messages appear as regular SMS while keeping your conversations organized and child-focused.
No. When you send a message through the BestInterest app, and your coparent is not a user of BestInterest, they will receive your just like a regular SMS message. There is no branding or indication that the message was sent from an app. They will not know it is being sent by you using an app.
When they reply, their message will be processed by BestInterest and displayed in the app.
Your ex will not know it was sent through BestInterest unless you choose to tell them. This allows you to manage your communication in a more organized and child-focused way, while ensuring that your coparent continues to receive messages in a familiar format.
If your coparent decides to join BestInterest, both of you can communicate directly within the app in Collaborative Mode, but until then, it will look like a regular SMS on their end.
Why Does BestInterest Say My Coparent's Number Is Already Used?
Learn why BestInterest shows Number Already In Use and how to continue safely in Solo or Collaborative Mode.
If you enter your coparent’s phone number in Solo Mode and see Number Already In Use, the number is already associated with another BestInterest account or another user’s coparent entry. BestInterest does not automatically remove a number from an existing account or family because doing so could disrupt someone else’s access or messages.


If your coparent uses BestInterest
Use Collaborative Mode to connect your accounts instead of entering their number as a Solo Mode coparent:
- Open Settings > Coparent Connection.
- Follow the instructions to switch to Collaborative Mode and invite or connect with your coparent.
You do not need to enter your coparent’s number in the Solo Mode phone field when you are connecting your accounts.
If you want to stay in Solo Mode
The number may have been entered as a coparent number on another account. For example, while testing the app, your coparent may have entered their own number instead of yours.
Ask them to open Settings > Coparent Connection and check the coparent number they entered. It should be your number, not their own. They should only change it if they recognize the mistake and are sure the replacement is correct.
If the number may belong to an old account, an account you do not control, or another family, do not try to work around the restriction. In the Number Already In Use dialog, tap Contact Support, or contact support. Include your account email, your coparent’s number, and the exact message you see. Support can verify the account state before deciding whether the number can be changed safely.
You can also tap More Info in the dialog to reopen this guide.
Messaging & Notifications
Send and review messages, manage delivery, filters, alerts, and attachments.
Message Shield For Email: Setup And Troubleshooting
Set up a private forwarding address, verify manual forwarding, and troubleshoot email imports without contacting your coparent.
Availability: Message Shield for Email is available in BestInterest version 3.2 or higher and requires Protect.
Message Shield for Email brings incoming coparent email into your private BestInterest timeline. Message Shield can soften harmful language before you read it, and the imported messages can be organized and searched with your other records. BestInterest does not email your coparent.
Setting up Email Shield requires Protect. If Message Shield for Email does not appear under Settings > Communication Settings, update BestInterest to version 3.2 or higher and reopen Settings.
If Protect later becomes inactive, an enabled Email Shield channel can continue importing original wording without Message Shield filtering. Restore Protect or remove the forwarding rule in your email provider if you do not want unfiltered email imported.
Set up Email Shield
- Open Settings > Communication Settings > Message Shield for Email.
- Enter your coparent’s primary email address. Add up to two other addresses your coparent uses.
- Confirm the email address where your coparent’s messages arrive. BestInterest starts with your account email, but you can replace it with another mailbox.
- Wait briefly while BestInterest saves each valid field automatically and creates your forwarding address.
- Tap the bordered forwarding address to copy it.
If the screen says the app cannot display the current consent, update BestInterest before continuing. If the setting is still missing in version 3.2 or higher, contact support.
Verify the email address you forward from
Automatic provider rules do not require this BestInterest verification step. Manual forwarding does.
- Under Where will you forward messages from?, tap Send Verification Code.
- Enter the six-digit code sent to that email address and tap Verify. The code expires after 30 minutes.
If you change the forwarding mailbox, wait for the new address to save before requesting a code. Verification applies only to the currently saved mailbox.
Set up Gmail forwarding
- In Gmail settings, add your private BestInterest address as a forwarding destination.
- Return to BestInterest and tap Confirm Gmail Forwarding when the button appears. It opens Gmail’s authenticated confirmation page.
- In Gmail, create a filter for every coparent address you entered in BestInterest and forward matching messages to the private address.
Gmail forwards only new matching messages and excludes messages it classifies as spam. If your coparent starts using another address, add it in both Email Shield and the Gmail filter.
For another email provider, create an equivalent rule that forwards new messages from the configured coparent addresses. You can also forward one message at a time from your currently verified forwarding mailbox.
Check whether forwarding is working
The Email Shield screen shows Waiting for the first forwarded message until one arrives. It changes to A forwarded message has arrived after BestInterest accepts a message.
If a message is missing:
- Confirm that the original sender address exactly matches one of the coparent addresses saved in Email Shield.
- Confirm that your provider rule uses the current private forwarding address.
- Check spam and provider-side forwarding logs. Gmail does not forward spam through a filter.
- Open Email Shield and review any paused, queued, safety-limit, or unexpected-sender status.
- Forward a new test message from the configured sender. Adding a rule does not import older email.
Messages stopped by a safety limit are not shown as unfiltered messages. The originals remain in your email account. If the status continues after the displayed reset time, contact support and include the approximate send time and sender domain without copying private message content into the request.
Reset the forwarding address
Tap Reset private email address to invalidate the old address immediately. Update every provider rule with the replacement address.
Imported email remains private to you, including in Collaborative Mode. See Message Shield settings for how filtered and original wording appear in BestInterest.
Can My Coparent See My Message Drafts?
No. Your coparent cannot see message drafts or Tone Guardian feedback. Only the final message you choose to send is shared.
No. Drafts are never shared with your coparent.
This includes:
- What you type before requesting a Tone Guardian review
- Tone Guardian’s feedback and proposed rewrite while you review it
- Changes you make while reviewing the suggestion
- Drafts you save to finish later
What Can My Coparent See?
Your coparent can see only the final message you choose to send. If you use a Tone Guardian suggestion, they see that wording only after you choose it as the final message and send it. They do not see that it began as a suggestion.
If you close Tone Guardian without sending, save the message as a draft, or discard it, nothing is added to your shared message history.
BestInterest and Tone Guardian process the draft so the app can save it or provide feedback. That processing does not share the draft with your coparent or add it to the co-parenting message record.
What Happens When Tone Guardian Is Off?

For a normal new text message, turning Tone Guardian off makes the compose button read Send Message and sends immediately. When Tone Guardian is on, that button usually reads Review Message and opens the review first. Existing drafts, ready replies, image-only messages, accepted quick responses, and other review-bypass cases may still show Send Message even when Tone Guardian is on. You can change the setting in Settings > Tone Guardian.
Learn more about Tone Guardian or adjust your Tone Guardian settings.
What Is A System Message?
Learn why BestInterest creates system messages, which activity they describe, and what happens when you tap one.
A system message is created automatically by BestInterest. It appears in a different color from messages written by you or your coparent.

System messages can tell you about:
- Missed calls or calls that could not connect because no minutes remained
- Schedule changes and calendar approvals from your coparent
- New shared tasks or expenses
- Shared Binder changes
Tap a system message to open the related screen when an action is available, such as a calendar change waiting for approval. Other system messages open a System Message detail sheet.

A system message was not typed by your coparent, although it may describe an action they took in a shared part of BestInterest.
Can I React To Messages In BestInterest?
Find out why BestInterest shows reactions sent from other platforms but doesn't let you send them, keeping your communication clear and court-appropriate.
Yes and no.
When a coparent who is not a BestInterest user sends you a reaction—like “liking” your message—we do display and notify you of that reaction in your message list. But BestInterest does not support sending reactions (sometimes called “tapbacks”). Here’s why:
- Reactions aren’t reliable across platforms. Each phone or app handles reactions differently. Some coparents might see “So-and-so liked your message”, others see just a 👍, and sometimes the reaction doesn’t appear at all. It’s not a dependable form of communication.
- Reactions don’t translate well to court. Family courts rely on written communication. A reaction like a heart or thumbs up can be ambiguous. Did they agree with you? Did they just want to acknowledge the message? A clear “Yes” or “Okay” will always carry more weight than an emoji.
- They can fuel unnecessary conflict. In high-conflict coparenting, even small gestures can be misinterpreted. A “laugh” reaction might be taken as sarcasm. A “thumbs down” could escalate tension. BestInterest focuses on reducing conflict, not adding fuel to it.
- They can create confusion. It’s far too easy to send the “wrong” reaction by accident. One slip of the finger can change a neutral communication into an offensive one, causing conflict where there doesn’t need to be any.
- Our priority is clarity and documentation. Every message in BestInterest is designed to be clear, court-ready, and unambiguous. Written responses ensure that your communication is both understandable to your coparent and easy to present in legal or professional settings.
Bottom line: BestInterest shows you reactions sent from outside platforms so you don’t miss anything—but we don’t support sending reactions. Instead, we encourage short, clear written replies that keep your communication reliable, court-appropriate, and focused on your child.
Will BestInterest Send Messages On My Behalf?
BestInterest empowers coparents with AI-driven suggestions while ensuring you maintain full control over your messages for effective, child-focused communication.
No, BestInterest will never send messages on your behalf. While the app provides AI-powered suggestions and feedback to help you craft thoughtful, child-focused responses, you are always in control of what gets sent.
Here’s how it works:
- When you compose a message, BestInterest’s Tone Guardian may suggest ways to improve the tone or clarity to ensure your communication stays constructive and avoids conflict. However, you are the one who reviews and ultimately decides whether to send the message.
- If Message Shield filters an inappropriate message from your coparent, BestInterest will show you the important, child-centered content. You can still view the original message if you choose, but nothing will be forwarded or sent automatically.
BestInterest is designed to give you tools to manage coparenting communication effectively, but you maintain full control over what is shared.
Can My Coparent's Message Appear In The Notification?
Yes. Turn on Show Message in Alert to include message text in push and email alerts. Leave it off if you do not want message content in previews.
Yes. By default a new-message alert keeps the text out, but one switch puts message content into your lock screen and email alerts.
What the alert says by default
A standard push notification reads New message from coparent with the body A new message is available. When BestInterest flags a message as urgent, the title changes to Urgent message from coparent. Either way, you open the app to read the words.
Turn on Show Message in Alert
- Open Settings > Message Notifications. The screen is titled Notifications.
- Under NOTIFICATIONS, turn on Show Message in Alert (its caption reads Display filtered message in notifications).

The switch is always on the screen, whatever your plan and whatever your notification frequency. It only matters while Push Notifications or Email Notifications is on; with both off, nothing is sent for it to change.
For the rest of this screen, including sounds, per-device delivery, and notification types, see Message notification options. If you cannot find Settings, see Where to find Settings.
Which message text appears
BestInterest normally uses the message text prepared for display after Message Shield has reviewed it. If that display text is unavailable, the notification service can fall back to the original message. Leave Show Message in Alert off if you do not want message content on your lock screen or in notification email. You can still open the message in the Messages tab and expand Original Message, as described in How to read and send messages.
A few system notices that quote your coparent, such as an expense flagged for discussion or a Binder change, also hold back the quoted text until you turn the switch on.
Digests and email
The switch shapes every kind of message alert:
- Instant delivery: the alert body is the message text selected for the notification, with the fallback described above.
- Hourly, Daily, or Weekly digests (chosen under SMART SILENCE on the same screen, Protect and higher): the body is the newest unread message, followed by a count such as (and 2 more messages). With the switch off, a digest reads You have 3 unread messages from your coparent’s name.
- Email Notifications: the email includes a line that starts Here is [name]‘s filtered message, followed by the text selected for the notification. With the switch off, the email repeats the generic wording.
Your phone’s own lock-screen preview setting still applies on top of this. If iOS or Android is set to hide previews, the text stays hidden until you unlock.
How Does BestInterest Help Me Avoid Arguments?
Discover how BestInterest leverages AI to enhance your communication. Filter negative language and receive coaching for child-focused, constructive replies.
BestInterest uses AI to filter out emotionally charged or negative language from messages before you see them. It also provides real-time coaching on your replies, helping you craft constructive, child-focused responses. By focusing communication on what’s important, BestInterest minimizes the chances for escalation.
Will I Get My Ex’s Texts On My Phone And The App?
Where messages arrive depends on whether your coparent uses BestInterest, texts your Boundary Line number, or texts your personal number.
Where a message arrives depends on which number or service your coparent uses:
- In Collaborative Mode, messages sent by your linked coparent in BestInterest arrive in the Messages tab.
- In Solo Mode, SMS sent to your Boundary Line number arrives in the BestInterest app. Boundary Line is available with Connect, Protect, and Protect Plus.
- SMS sent to your personal phone number stays in your phone’s regular messaging app. BestInterest cannot forward those personal-number texts into the app.
You should not receive a duplicate in your regular SMS app when the message was sent through BestInterest or to your Boundary Line number. A separate SMS appears on your phone only when your coparent sends it to your personal number.
Keep future messages in BestInterest
Give your coparent your Boundary Line number, or ask them to use the BestInterest app with you in Collaborative Mode. Messages they continue sending to your old personal number remain outside BestInterest.
You can find and share your Boundary Line number under Settings > Coparent Connection.
Calls
Set up Boundary Line and video calls or troubleshoot calling.
Why Isn't Boundary Line Available In Collaborative Mode?
Boundary Line is built for Solo Mode. Learn what changes when you switch to Collaborative Mode and use in-app audio and video calls instead.
Boundary Line was designed for Solo Mode, so one parent can use BestInterest even when their coparent does not use the app. It gives the Solo Mode user a BestInterest phone number while the other parent continues using ordinary texts and phone calls.
If you switch from Solo Mode to Collaborative Mode, you will lose your Boundary Line and its assigned phone number. You will gain secure in-app audio and video calls between your linked BestInterest accounts.
When your coparent is willing to use BestInterest with you, in-app calling provides a better experience because both parents can place or receive audio and video calls inside the app. If your coparent is not ready to join, remain in Solo Mode to keep using Boundary Line.
Related articles
Calendar, Tasks & Expenses
Organize schedules, parenting plans, responsibilities, and shared costs.
What Is A Disputed Transaction?
Learn what a disputed transaction means in BestInterest and how it appears in your balance, history, and reports.
A disputed transaction is a shared expense or reimbursement that a co-parent marked as needing discussion. The transaction is not deleted, but BestInterest does not treat it as agreed while the dispute is open.
What you see in the app
- Agreed Balance: The disputed amount is not included in the balance showing what either parent currently owes.
- Yellow disputed box: The box shows how many transactions are disputed and their total recorded amount.
- Transaction history: The transaction remains visible with a Disputed status. Open it to see who disputed it and the reason they provided.
- Monthly totals: The disputed amount is identified separately from agreed expenses.
What appears in exports and reports
Disputed transactions remain in expense exports and verified expense reports so the record stays complete. They are labeled Disputed and are excluded from the Agreed Balance and agreed category totals while the dispute is open.
How a dispute is resolved
The person who disputed the transaction can open it and choose Resolve Dispute. Once resolved, the transaction returns to the agreed ledger and is included in the balance calculations again.
If a transaction needs discussion, use the dispute reason to explain the specific amount, split, or charge that needs review. Your co-parent will see that reason in the transaction details.
Reports, Exports & Records
Find, document, export, and share messages, calls, journal entries, photos, and files.
How To Use The Custody Binder
Learn how to organize important child and household information, choose what to share, attach files, and find Binder items quickly.
The Custody Binder keeps important child and household information in one searchable place. You can use it for contacts, insurance details, school information, medical information, and related files. For a feature overview and plan comparison, see the Custody Binder product page.
Add a Binder item

- Open More Tools > Binder and tap Add to Binder.
- Choose a built-in card type, a family custom card type, or Document to upload or scan a file.
- Choose Private or Shared. New items are private by default.
- Add a title and select a category.
- Choose the children the item relates to. All is selected by default, or you can select one or more individual children.
- Fill in the available details and add optional notes.
- If Magic Tags are available with your plan, leave them on for automatic tag suggestions or turn them off for this item.
- Tap Save.
Built-in card types include Contact, Insurance, School Details, Doctor Visit, Prescription, and Allergy. Their field names are already set up for you; you add or edit the values.
Choose what your coparent can see
- Private items are visible only to you.
- Shared items are visible to your connected coparent.
- Only the person who created an item can change it between Private and Shared.
- Your coparent can edit a shared item you created only when Allow my coparent to edit Binder items I create is enabled in Binder Settings under Settings > Custody Binder.
- Shared items have an update history so both coparents can see when the item changed.
Tags, Magic Tags, and favorites are always personal to your account. They help you organize the Binder without changing what your coparent sees.
Find an item
Tap Search in the Binder to search titles, details, and notes. You can also narrow the results by:
- Favorites
- Personal tags
- Category
- Child
- Private or Shared visibility
Tap the Favorites tag in Search to show your favorite items immediately.
Plan access and Selected Binder PDFs
Manual Binder items and Selected Binder PDF exports are included on the Free plan. When you create a Selected Binder PDF, you choose the items to include. The PDF contains their current details, your personal tags, and an attachment index; original attached files remain separate.
Connect and higher plans add file uploads and custom card types. You can choose a file already on your device, take a photo, pick an image from your photo library, or scan a document.
Protect and higher plans add optional Binder Magic Tags. Magic Tags suggest private organizational tags for an uploaded file. They do not extract facts into Binder fields, and the suggestions are not shared with your coparent.
Edit or manage an item
Open an item or use its menu to see the actions available to you. Depending on the item and your permissions, you can:
- Edit its title, category, children, details, or notes
- Add or open an attached file
- Add personal tags or mark it as a favorite
- Make it Shared or Private
- View update history
- Delete it
Custom card types
Connected families can create reusable card types in Binder Settings under Settings > Custody Binder, or from Add to Binder > Manage Card Types. A custom card type appears in the Add to Binder menu for both you and your coparent.
Custom card types are a Connect feature. Existing family card types remain visible in the menu, and BestInterest will show the plan prompt if your current access does not include using or managing them.
Older documents in the Binder
Older Shared Docs are carried forward automatically. BestInterest migrates eligible files into regular shared Binder items. After migration, you can edit or delete a document you own; a document created by your coparent follows the same shared-editing permissions as other Binder items. If a document has not yet been migrated, choosing Edit prepares it for editing. Preserved frozen snapshots stay read-only.
New Binder items require a category, and editable items let you update their category and child selection.
Are The Original Texts My Ex Sends Me Saved In The App?
Discover how the BestInterest app securely saves original texts from your ex, allowing you to access unfiltered messages for reference and documentation.
Yes, the BestInterest app saves the original texts your ex sends, even if they’re filtered. You can view the complete, unfiltered message if needed, and these original texts are securely stored for reference or documentation purposes. This ensures you have a full record, which can help track communication patterns or provide required documentation.
If you would like instructions on how to find this original message, please read our guide on finding original messages.
Billing & Plans
Understand trials and subscriptions, restore purchases, cancel, or request a refund.
How Do I Cancel My Subscription?
Cancel a BestInterest subscription billed through Apple, Google Play, or RevenueCat's hosted web checkout.
If you decide that BestInterest is no longer needed, cancel through the provider that billed the subscription. Using BestInterest on an iPhone does not by itself mean Apple billed you. Check your purchase receipt or subscription list if you are unsure. Canceling one provider does not cancel a separate subscription with another provider.
Here are the steps to cancel your subscription:
For iOS (Apple) Users:
- Open the Settings app on your device.
- Tap your name, then select Subscriptions.
- Find BestInterest in your list of subscriptions.
- Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm when prompted.
For Android (Google Play) Users:
- Open the Google Play Store on your device.
- Tap on Menu > Subscriptions.
- Select BestInterest from your list of active subscriptions.
- Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm your choice.
For Web Billing Users:
- Find a BestInterest RevenueCat Billing confirmation, renewal, or invoice email sent to the address used at checkout.
- Open the Manage subscription or Customer Portal link in that email.
- In the portal, select your BestInterest subscription, choose Cancel subscription, and confirm. Check that it shows the subscription will end after the current billing period.
- If you cannot find the email or open the portal, contact BestInterest support with your BestInterest account email. Include an invoice or receipt number if you have one.
Canceling stops the next renewal. It does not delete your BestInterest account or automatically refund a previous charge. For trial, expiration, restoration, and refund details, see How do free trials, upgrades, cancellations, and plan expiration work? and How do refunds, purchase restoration, and billing problems work?.
Privacy & Safety
Control what you see and share while protecting your privacy and emotional safety.
Can You Help If My Coparent Gaslights Or Lies?
Discover how BestInterest’s Coparent Journal and uneditable message history provide a reliable record of interactions, empowering you to combat gaslighting effectively.
With BestInterest’s Coparent Journal and uneditable message history, you have a clear, time-stamped record of all interactions. This can help counter gaslighting by allowing you to review and present an accurate record of events, if needed. While our system cannot always detect when someone is lying, we can point out when your coparent is using manipulative language.
What Happens When My Ex Sends Me A Nasty Text? Do I Still Have To Read It?
Use Message Shield to see the child-focused content, leave the original hidden, or send it to a trusted professional without reading it.
You do not have to read harmful or emotionally charged wording to find the child-focused information in a message.
Message Shield, included with Protect and Protect Plus, filters hostile or off-topic content and shows you the parts relevant to your children. Turn on Mediator Voice under Settings > Message Shield to have incoming messages restated in a calm, third-person voice.
Leave the original hidden
When a message has been filtered, open it and the child-focused body is labelled Filtered Message. The exact wording remains under Original Message, hidden behind Tap to view original message by default.


You can reveal it later, or leave it unread. The original remains stored for your records either way.
Ask a professional for help without reading it
Open the message and tap Send to Team. Choose a therapist, coach, attorney, or another person on your Professionals Team, and BestInterest forwards the original wording to that person. You do not need to reveal it first.

If your team is empty, the app offers to take you to Settings > Professionals Team to add someone.
Can BestInterest Help If I'm Coparenting With An Abuser?
Navigating co-parenting in high-conflict situations can be challenging. Discover how BestInterest's features can support effective communication and emotional well-being.
Yes, BestInterest is specifically designed to help co-parents navigate high-conflict or challenging relationships, including those involving emotional abuse. The app’s features can provide significant support in these situations:
1. Filtered Messaging
BestInterest’ uses AI’s Message Shield to filter and neutralize harmful language, ensuring you only see messages that are child-focused and constructive. If your co-parent sends hurtful messages, the app will filter out unnecessary content, helping to reduce emotional distress and keep communication respectful.
2. Message Review & Coparent Coach
With the Coparent Coach feature, you’ll receive guidance on how to respond in ways that avoid escalation. The app also reviews your outgoing messages, offering suggestions to keep communication calm and focused on your child’s needs.
3. Documentation for Accountability
BestInterest securely saves all communication, making it easy to generate Verified Reports if needed. This documentation can be valuable for showing patterns of behavior if legal action becomes necessary.
4. Controlled Notifications
Set boundaries on when and how often you receive messages, with immediate alerts for true emergencies. This control helps you manage communication on your terms, reducing the stress of constant notifications.
BestInterest offers tools that can support you in setting healthy boundaries, maintaining calm communication, and protecting your peace.
How Secure Is My Communication On BestInterest?
Discover how BestInterest safeguards your messages with robust encryption and secure storage, ensuring your communication remains private and trustworthy.
All messages sent through BestInterest are encrypted, ensuring that your communication remains private and secure. We use industry-standard data protection protocols, similar to your bank, so only you and any professionals you authorize have access to your interactions.
How does BestInterest protect my messages?
- Encrypted in Transit: All messages sent through BestInterest are encrypted using Transport Layer Security (TLS). This ensures that your data is protected from interception while being transmitted between devices and our servers.
- Secure Storage: Messages are stored in a secure database, protected by advanced encryption protocols. This means your communication history remains private and is accessible only to you and your co-parent through your accounts.
Why does BestInterest prioritize message security?
Maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of your messages is critical for fostering trust and ensuring your communication is a reliable record for legal and personal purposes. By encrypting messages and securely storing them, we protect your data from unauthorized access or tampering.
