Skylight Calendar Alternatives I Tried & Tested

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Let me paint you a picture. Five people, three kids in different activities, one kitchen wall calendar, and approximately forty-seven sticky notes. That was us. I started with the Skylight Calendar because everyone seemed to be talking about it — and honestly? It helped. But after six months I found myself wondering if we could do even better. So I did what any slightly obsessive family organiser would do and tested everything I could get my hands on.

Over the past few months I’ve tried dedicated wall displays, free apps, and everything in between. Here’s my honest take on all of it — no fluff, no sponsored opinions.

Starting Point: Why I Used Skylight First

Before I get into the alternatives, it’s worth being fair to Skylight because it genuinely isn’t a bad product. I chose it because as a family of five with three kids in completely different activities, our schedule had become a work of chaos — multiple colours, sticky notes, a group chat nobody read. Skylight promised to pull it all into one visible place and it delivered on that.

What I liked:

• Syncs easily with Google Calendar and Apple Calendar
• Clean, visible display that everyone could read from across the room
• Simple touchscreen — even the youngest figured it out
• Handy sleep mode for nighttime
• The “magic import” feature made setup genuinely painless

Where it fell short:

• Customisation is pretty limited unless you pay for Skylight Plus
• Chore charts and meal planning are basic at best on the standard plan
• The screen goes to sleep on a fixed schedule regardless of what’s happening — mildly annoying
• For what you get, the price gives you pause

Those limitations had me curious. So I started exploring.

 

🏆 Dragon Touch — My Top Pick After Testing Everything

Okay, I’ll just say it upfront — Dragon Touch ended up being my favourite of everything I tested, and I wasn’t expecting that going in. I’d honestly never heard much about it before I started this comparison, which I think is a shame because it quietly punches well above its weight.

Dragon Touch comes in a generous range of sizes — 10.1″, 15.6″, 21.5″, 24″, 27″, and 32″ — all in Full HD. I tested the 21.5″ and it was the sweet spot for our kitchen wall. Big enough to read from across the room, not so big it takes over the whole space.

What won me over:

The setup genuinely took less than 20 minutes. Plug in, connect to Wi-Fi, download the eCalendar app, and sync your existing Google or Apple calendars. Everything just landed in one place — colour-coded by family member — without me having to manually re-enter a single event. That alone felt like a small miracle.

The chore chart with the star-based rewards system is the one my kids actually engage with. They tap off tasks themselves and watch their stars accumulate — it’s turned “has anyone emptied the dishwasher” from a daily argument into something they’re oddly competitive about. I’ll take it.

The meal planning feature is built right in — you can plan the week, save family favourites, and the dinner planner stops the daily “what’s for dinner?” spiral. And when nobody’s actively using it, it flips into a digital photo frame displaying our family pictures. Honestly lovely.

The specs worth knowing:

• 32GB storage — double what Skylight offers
• Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4G & 5G) for faster, more reliable syncing
• Syncs with Google, Apple, Outlook, Yahoo, Cozi and more
• Full HD touchscreen across all sizes
• Wall mountable in portrait or landscape (note: the 10″ can’t wall mount, and the 32″ must)
• No subscription fees
• 30-day returns, 1-year warranty (2 years if bought direct)

The honest downsides: The meal planning feature doesn’t automatically push ingredients to your grocery list — you have to add them manually, which feels like a missed opportunity. And the star rewards system can only be edited via the app, not on the device itself, which is a small but slightly annoying limitation.

Overall though? For the combination of screen size options, features, storage, and no subscription fees, Dragon Touch offers genuinely outstanding value. This is where I’d point most families first.

✨ Apolosign — The Most Innovative Option on the List

Apolosign is the newest player here and honestly one of the most interesting. They launched what they call the world’s first Dual-Mode Digital Calendar — and once you understand what that means, it makes a lot of sense.

Essentially it operates in two completely different modes. Calendar Mode is your dedicated family schedule view — colour-coded events, chore tracking, meal planning, the works. Android Dashboard Mode flips it into a fully customisable smart display where you can add widgets for weather, meals, music, your doorbell camera, stocks, whatever you want. It’s like having two devices in one screen.

What I really appreciated was the Google Gemini AI voice assistant built right in. You can ask it to set reminders, check the weather, manage tasks, or control smart home devices hands-free. For a busy kitchen moment when your hands are covered in flour, that’s genuinely useful.

What stands out:

• Dual-Mode switching between calendar and fully customisable Android dashboard
• Syncs with Google, Apple, Outlook, Yahoo, and Cozi
• Reward-based chore chart — kids earn points for completed tasks
• Google Gemini AI voice assistant built in
• Anti-glare matte glass — this is a detail I really appreciated, especially in a bright kitchen
• Auto brightness and sleep mode
• No subscription fees for core features
• Google Photos integration for screensaver — seamless and genuinely pretty
• Available in lovely wood frame finishes (Teak and Spruce Grey) — it looks like a piece of furniture, not a gadget
• Starts at $299 for the 15.6″

The honest downsides: The app is currently only supported in the US, Canada, and the UK — so if you’re elsewhere, worth checking before you buy. A few reviewers mentioned the initial image display setup was a little confusing, though the support team seems responsive. And there’s no micro SD card slot which some people miss.

The aesthetic alone sets Apolosign apart — it genuinely looks beautiful on a wall, which matters when it’s going to live in your kitchen or hallway permanently. If you want something that functions brilliantly AND looks like it was designed by someone who cares about interiors, this is the one.

Cozyla — Solid, Simple, and No Subscription Ever 🏠

You might know I ended up using Cozyla for a while — I wrote a full review here if you want the deep dive. Here’s how it stacks up in the comparison.

What struck me immediately was how unfussy it is. The rotating wall mount is genuinely clever — portrait for the calendar view, landscape for recipes or movie nights — and it’s sturdy enough that my kids adjust it themselves. The colour-coded profiles mean everyone’s schedule is instantly visible without squinting at a cluttered screen.

What it covers:

• Family calendar with colour-coded profiles
• Chore management with a kids rewards system
• Meal planning with grocery lists
• Weather, family messaging, customisable widgets
• Doubles as a digital photo frame
• No subscription fees — ever

Where it sits in the comparison: Cozyla does everything it promises cleanly and reliably. It doesn’t have Dragon Touch’s storage or size range, or Apolosign’s dual-mode innovation — but it’s a solid, dependable option especially if you love the rotating mount feature. The 30-day trial means you can test it at home risk-free which I always appreciate.

The Echo 21 Show Experience

Next up, I tested the Echo Show 21, which takes a completely different angle — it’s more of a smart home hub that happens to show your calendar. Being able to say “Alexa, add soccer practice to Thursday at 4pm” while mid-recipe is genuinely a game-changer, and for families already invested in the Amazon ecosystem it makes a lot of sense.

Three Weeks with Echo Show

The Echo Show brought smart home integration to our family schedule setup, which opened up new possibilities:

Calendar Features:

• Voice-controlled calendar management through Amazon Echo Show
• Multiple calendar views to display your schedule how you prefer
• Easy appointment creation for upcoming events
• Visual and audio reminders with smart home integration
• Ability to check the calendar from anywhere using the app on my phone

Additional Benefits:

• Built-in Alexa functionality
• 21′ Kitchen TV
• Video calling capabilities
• Kitchen timer and recipe display
• Music and video streaming
• Digital photo frame mode

The downside is it doesn’t feel like a dedicated family calendar the way the others do — it’s more of a multi-purpose device. The touchscreen isn’t as responsive as the dedicated calendar displays, and it lacks the chore chart and meal planning depth of Dragon Touch or Apolosign. But at $349.99 with no subscription it’s worth a look if voice control is your priority.

Cozyla: The Minimalist Approach

Next in my testing journey was Cozyla, which offers a refreshingly streamlined approach to family organization.

Two Weeks with Cozyla

Cozyla impressed me with its ergonomically designed rotating wall mount extension that pivots effortlessly between portrait and landscape orientations, catering to everyone’s viewing preferences and its focus on essential features:

Core Functionality:

• Clear calendar display
• Simple chore management
• Basic meal planning
• Weather updates
• Family messaging

Notable Features:

• Energy-efficient display
• Customizable widgets
• Photo sharing capabilities
• Quick-add tasks
• Family announcements

While less feature-rich than Hearth Display, Cozyla’s simplicity made it incredibly easy for every family member to use, including our youngest.

If you’re trying to decide between Cozyla and Skylight specifically, I’ve written a detailed Cozyla vs Skylight head-to-head comparison that breaks down every key difference.

Price Consideration: High-end at $399 with optional premium features.

My Experience with the Cozyla Smart Family Calendar

Using the Cozyla Digital Family Calendar has truly transformed how my family stays organized and connected. This smart touchscreen platform brings all our calendar apps together, making scheduling and sharing information a breeze for everyone in the household.

What I love most about the Cozyla calendar is its thoughtful design that includes a rotating wall mount extension. This feature allows us to switch effortlessly between portrait and landscape views, catering to each family member’s preferences. The touchscreen navigation is smooth and intuitive, giving us control over our digital tasks with ease.

The high-quality display of the touchscreen, with its Full HD resolution and responsive IPS LCD screen, coupled with the powerful RK3588 octa-core CPU, ensures that every task runs swiftly and smoothly.

Additionally, the wireless connectivity options like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have made syncing the calendar across all our devices simple and hassle-free. This feature keeps us all in the loop about our schedules and responsibilities, enhancing our overall organization.

Color coding activities for each family member has been a game-changer in tracking everyone’s commitments effectively. Each person having a unique color makes it easy to see who needs to be where and when, simplifying our planning process.

The peace of mind offered by Cozyla’s easy return policy and the absence of subscription fees have added to my satisfaction with this product. Knowing that I can easily return it if needed within 30 days of delivery is reassuring.

Hearth Display Beautiful but Pricey 💸

Hearth has the most polished interface of everything I tested — it genuinely feels like a high-end tablet and the drag-and-drop scheduling is lovely. The mobile app is best in class too, with full functionality rather than just basic syncing.

The catch is the price — $699 upfront plus subscription fees from $86/year. For some families that’s worth it for the premium experience. But given everything Dragon Touch and Apolosign offer at significantly lower price points with no subscriptions, it’s harder to justify unless aesthetics and polish are your absolute top priority.

Calendar and Schedule Features:

• Beautiful, intuitive calendar interface
• Family member color coding
• Easy drag-and-drop scheduling
• Visual timeline view
• Smart schedule suggestions

Standout Family Features:

• Built-in chore chart system
• Family member profiles
• Routine builder
• Behavior and reward tracking

Price Point: Higher initial investment at $699, but no mandatory subscription fees.

DAKboard For the Tech-Confident Among Us 🖥️

DAKboard is the nerdy option on this list and I mean that as a compliment. If you like tinkering and want a display that does exactly what you want it to do, DAKboard is your answer. The setup is more involved than any of the others — fair warning — but the customisation you get in return is unmatched. Different screens for different times of day, advanced weather widgets, news feeds. Starting at around $5/month for premium features it’s also one of the more affordable paid options.

Not Ready to Commit? Start with an App First 📲

Before spending hundreds on a wall display, it’s worth testing whether your family will actually engage with a digital system at all. Two apps worth trying first:

Mango Display — clean interface, Google Calendar sync, basic chore tracking, free basic version available.

Cozi — been around for years and for good reason. Shared calendar, to-do lists, shopping lists, meal planning, even a recipe box. Free version available. If your family gets into it, you’ll know a wall display is worth the investment.

Mango Display: The Virtual Family Hub

While primarily known for their display hardware, Mango Display offers a robust shared family calendar solution available in the App Store. The digital screen interface can help you determine if a smart family schedule system would work for your household. Mango Display integrates with other apps to keep all calendar events in one place.

Key Features:

• Clean, intuitive interface
• Google Calendar sync
• Basic chore tracking
• Family member profiles
• Shopping list sharing
• Free basic version available

The app serves as an excellent introduction to digital family organization without the hardware investment. If you later decide to purchase their display, you’ll already be familiar with their ecosystem.

Cozi: The Proven Family Organizer

Cozi has been a staple in family organization for years, and for good reason:

Standout Features:

• Shared calendar system
• To-do list management
• Shopping list creation
• Meal planning tools
• Recipe box
• Free version available with ads

What makes Cozi particularly appealing is its focus on mobile-first family organization. It’s an excellent way to test if your family can adapt to a digital system before investing in wall-mounted hardware.

Starting Small: These app-based solutions typically cost between $0-10 per month for premium features, making them a low-risk way to experiment with digital family organization. Many families find that these apps meet their needs perfectly, while others use them as a stepping stone to more comprehensive solutions like the wall-mounted displays reviewed above.

Google Calendar: The Digital Backbone

Through testing various devices, I realized that Google Calendar served as the foundation for most digital calendar solutions.

Why Google Calendar Matters

No matter which display option you choose, having a well-organized Google Calendar makes everything else work better. Here’s what I learned:

Essential Features:

• Color-coding for different family members
• Shared calendars for various activities
• Recurring event management
• Location integration
• Cross-platform availability

Best Practices I Discovered:

1. Create separate schedules for each family member
2. Use a dedicated calendar for meal planning
3. Set up a shared family calendar for common events
4. Utilize description fields for important details
5. Take advantage of notification settings

Cost Comparison — What You’re Actually Spending 💸

Device	Upfront Cost	Subscription
Dragon Touch (21.5″)	$349.99	None
Apolosign (15.6″)	From $299	None for core features
Cozyla (32″)	$809.99	None
Echo Show 21	$349.99	None
Hearth Display	$699	From $86/year
Skylight Calendar	$299	$39/year
DAKboard	~$300	From $60/year

The subscription fees add up more than you’d think. Skylight’s $39/year sounds small but over five years that’s nearly $200 on top of the device cost.

So Which One Should You Actually Get? 🏆

You want the best all-round value with maximum features → Dragon Touch. Outstanding specs, no subscription, and the size range is hard to beat.

You want something innovative that doubles as a smart dashboard → Apolosign. The dual-mode and AI voice assistant make it genuinely different from everything else on this list.

You want simple, reliable, and love the rotating mount → Cozyla. Does what it says cleanly with no ongoing fees.

You love smart home tech and voice control → Echo Show 21. Alexa integration is hard to beat.

You want the most premium polished experience and budget isn’t a concern → Hearth Display.

You like to customise everything yourself → DAKboard.

You’re not sure yet → Start with Cozi or Mango Display on your phone first to test if your family will actually use a digital system before committing to hardware.

Tips for Choosing Your Digital Calendar Solution

Based on my experience, consider these factors when selecting your family’s digital calendar:

1. Family Size and Complexity:
2. Technical Comfort Level:
3. Budget Considerations:
4. Essential Features:

My Personal Choice

After trying all these options, I settled on Cozyla as our primary family calendar display, supplemented by the Google Calendar app on our phones. The combination of customizable displays, comprehensive features, and reliable sync capabilities best suited our family’s needs.

Remember, the perfect digital calendar solution isn’t just about the hardware or software – it’s about finding a system that your family will actually use consistently. Take time to test different options, and don’t be afraid to combine solutions to create your ideal setup.

Summing it all up

The digital family calendar market continues to evolve, with new features and products regularly emerging. Whether you choose Skylight, DAKboard, Echo Show, or another solution, the key is finding a system that helps your family stay organized and connected.

Share your experiences in the comments below! What digital calendar solution works best for your family? Have you tried any of these alternatives? I’d love to hear about your journey in finding the perfect family organization system.