Getting Started

What is HelmKeep?

HelmKeep is a free, open-source household chore and allowance manager. It helps families, roommates, couples, and any shared living space organize tasks, track completions, and optionally manage financial rewards. Whether you need a simple chore chart or a full-featured task management system with bidding and auctions, HelmKeep has you covered.

Create and assign tasks with due dates, categories, and rewards
Set up recurring schedules so chores auto-generate
Track completions with an approval workflow
Manage balances and allowances (optional financial tracking)
Run bidding and auctions for fair task distribution
Support multiple households from a single account

Creating an Account

To get started, visit the sign-up page and create an account with your name, email, and a password. Alternatively, you can click “Sign up with Google” to create an account using your Google identity — no password needed. Your account is not tied to any specific household yet — after signing up, you will be directed to the onboarding flow where you can create or join a household.

Tip: If you already have a password-based account, you can also sign in with Google using the same email address. Your accounts will be linked automatically, and you can use either method going forward.

Tip: If you received an invite link from someone, you can sign up first and then use the link to join their household. Email-targeted invites will appear automatically during onboarding.

Creating a Household

During onboarding, choose “Create a Household” to set up a new space. Give it a name (e.g., “The Shaw Family” or “Apartment 4B”) and you will be assigned the Owner role with full control over all settings and members.

Once your household is created, you can invite other members, configure settings, and start creating tasks right away.

Joining a Household

There are two ways to join an existing household:

Invite link: Someone in the household shares a/join/CODElink with you. Open it in your browser, sign in or sign up, and you will be added to the household.
Email invite: If an invite was sent to your email address, it will appear automatically during onboarding or in your notification bell. Accept it to join the household.

New members are automatically assigned the default Member role. An Owner or Manager can change your role after you join.

Onboarding Flow

After creating your account, onboarding guides you through the initial setup. If you have pending email invites, they will be displayed for you to accept. Otherwise, you can create a new household. Once you belong to at least one household, you are taken to the main dashboard.