Hedah vs Skylight: a software family calendar vs a dedicated screen
These are two different purchases. One buys you a screen. The other uses a screen you already have. We make Hedah, so read the "where the hardware wins" section as carefully as the rest.
The two routes
Hardware plus app — Skylight, Hearth, FamDisplay and Mango Display all sell a dedicated display with a companion app. You buy the panel, then pay an annual subscription for the service behind it.
Software only — Hedah runs on an iPhone or iPad your household already owns. There is no panel to buy and no additional dedicated screen purchase.
What the software route is better at
Cost of entry: there is no screen to buy. Portability: the same calendar is on a phone in a pocket, not only on a wall. Setup time: it is an app install, not a mount and a cable run.
Where the hardware route wins
A dedicated panel can be wall-mounted, is always on, and is genuinely single-purpose — nobody picks it up to watch a video. If the household wants a permanent fixture in a hallway, a dedicated screen does that job better than a tablet on a charger.
What both do
A shared family calendar. Both routes answer "what is happening today", which is the job that matters. Hedah adds a chore chart, meal plan, grocery list and photo board alongside the calendar.
On pricing
Hardware and subscription prices change, so we are not quoting them here — check the vendor pages. The structural difference is that the hardware route has a device cost and the software route does not. Hedah is free to download.
Common questions
Is there a Skylight alternative that does not need new hardware?
Yes. Software family calendars run on a phone or tablet the household already owns. Hedah is one, and it runs on iPhone and iPad.
How much does Skylight cost compared to software alternatives?
Skylight and Hearth are hardware plus app: you buy the screen and then pay an annual subscription. Software alternatives have no screen cost. Prices change, so check the vendor pages.
Is a dedicated screen better than an iPad?
It depends. A dedicated screen can be wall-mounted and always on, which matters if the household wants a permanent fixture. An iPad is portable, already owned, and can be locked to one app.