KeyMoments › Guide › Memory book app
A memory book for your child: app, paper or shared album?
You have the photos, thousands of them. What’s missing is the story behind them: who was there, what your child said, why that day mattered. Here we compare the usual options and show what matters in a private family album.
The four usual options compared
- A paper memory book: lovely to hold and no technology needed. But there is only one copy, photos have to be printed first, and it’s hard for the family to write along.
- A shared photo album: quick to set up, and everyone sees the pictures. There is little room for the story, and the pictures stay one long stream.
- A group chat: everyone is there right away. But photos get lost in the conversation, and anyone can save and forward them.
- A memory book app: photos, text, voices and milestones are kept in order, and the family writes along. You need a suitable device, though, and it often costs a subscription.
What matters most in the end is that you keep going. The best option is the one you’re still using in year three.
A private family album: six questions before you choose
Whichever app you’re looking at, these questions help:
- Account: Do I need a new account with an email and password?
- Storage: Where are the photos kept, and are they encrypted?
- Access: Can I decide for each person whether they can write, comment or only view?
- AI: Are photos sent to a service on the internet, and do I have to agree first?
- Ads: Are there ads or tracking? You’ll find this on the App Store under “App Privacy”.
- Later: Can I export everything, and what happens if I cancel?
What a memory book needs over many years
- Order: a separate book for each child, arranged by year of life, so you can still find everything years later.
- Little effort: an entry should take a minute, for example with photo suggestions or spoken notes.
- More than photos: voices, videos and the funny things your child says are often the best part later on.
- A goal: one day the book should belong to your child, and it should be possible to print it.
How KeyMoments does it
KeyMoments is our own app, so please read this section as our own description:
- Photos: The app recognises your child in your photos and videos, right on the device, and suggests entries.
- Family: Grandma, Grandpa and the other parent write along, and you set the rights for each person.
- Private: No separate account, no ads, no tracking. Photos are on your device and in your own iCloud, end-to-end encrypted.
- Texts: By default Apple’s AI writes on the device. Only with the optional KeyMoments Plus and your consent do reduced-size photos and notes go to the AI Claude.
- Later: From the 16th birthday your child can take over the book. A photo book and export as a web page are included in the subscription.
What KeyMoments can’t do
- Apple only: It runs only on iPhone and iPad with iOS or iPadOS 26 (iPhone 11 and newer). Android users can only view single entries through a link in the browser.
- Eight countries: KeyMoments is on the App Store in Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
- Subscription: The first month is free, then €1.99 a month for the first child and €0.99 for each additional child. Invited people pay €0.99 a month.
- iCloud: Photos and videos take up space in your iCloud.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start a memory book?
Ideally in the first weeks, but it’s never too late. With an app you can add older photos afterwards.
What happens if I cancel the subscription?
Your books stay, and you can still view them, but you can’t add anything new.
Can grandparents join without an iPhone?
Only partly: they can view single entries through a link in the browser. Writing along only works on iPhone or iPad.
Read more: Frequently asked questions · Help