There are dozens of baby diary apps, each making different promises. Below you'll see honestly what they can and can't do for parents in the Netherlands in 2026.
What decides the choice
Not every parent wants the same thing. What matters most to you:
- Language. Do you want an app in Dutch, or is English fine?
- Sharing. Should your co-parent be able to contribute? Will the grandparents follow along?
- Price. Free, freemium or fully paid?
- Privacy. Where are the servers? Are there ads?
- Features. Just photos, or video, milestones, drawings and school reports too?
The options side by side
1. Ouderliefde: in English and Dutch, with co-parent and grandparents
Who it's for: Parents in the Netherlands and Belgium who want a private digital diary in English or Dutch, including co-parent support and easy sharing with grandparents.
Strengths:
- Interface in English and Dutch
- Co-parent can fully contribute (same timeline)
- Grandparents follow along via their own secure link, which you can revoke at any time
- Time capsule: a letter delivered automatically on a date you choose, such as the 18th birthday
- AI-generated captions in English or Dutch
- No ads, European servers
Limitations: a new platform (launched in 2026), with a smaller user base than established apps.
Price: Free (up to 20 memories) · Plus €3.49/mo · Premium €5.49/mo
More details in our article on free baby diary apps in the Netherlands.
2. Baby Diaries: for those who want a printed photo book
Who it's for: Parents who want to order a printed photo book at the end of the year.
Strengths:
- Dutch app with a large user base (200,000+)
- Beautifully designed photo books to order
- Reliable and proven
Limitations: No co-parent support, grandparents can't easily follow along, and the business model is built on physical books rather than subscriptions.
Price: Free app, photo books paid per order
3. Tinybeans: international and well established
Who it's for: Internationally minded parents, or families who already have a network on the platform.
Strengths:
- 4 million users worldwide, a proven platform
- Large community
- Photo books to order
Limitations: Entirely in English, ads in the free version, servers in the US, limited co-parent features.
Price: Free (with ads) · $2.99–$4.99/mo
More in our article on Tinybeans alternatives for parents in the Netherlands.
4. Google Photos: storage without a diary
Who it's for: Parents who only want to store photos and already have a Google account.
Strengths: Free (up to 15GB), automatic backup, good search.
Limitations: No diary features, no milestones, no stories. Viewers need a Google account. More in our article on why Google Photos falls short for photos of your children.
Price: Free (up to 15GB) · €1.99–€9.99/mo for more storage
Comparison table
| App | Language | Co-parent | Grandparent link | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ouderliefde | Dutch | ✓ Full | ✓ Secure link | ✓ No ads |
| Baby Diaries | Dutch | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tinybeans | English | Limited | Account needed | ✓ With ads |
| Google Photos | NL/EN | ✗ | Account needed | ✓ 15GB |
Which app suits you
Parents in the Netherlands who want to combine milestones, context and sharing with family will get furthest with Ouderliefde. Baby Diaries wins if a printed photo book is the goal. If you're already part of an international network, Tinybeans is the obvious choice.
All four have a free starter plan. Try them out and see what fits the way you take photos and want to keep memories.
Also take a look at our detailed comparison of Ouderliefde, Tinybeans and Baby Diaries for more details.
Want to try Ouderliefde for free?
Every new account starts with 7 days of Premium, completely free: unlimited photos and videos. No payment details needed.
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