Side by side
| StoryWorth | Mulam | |
|---|---|---|
| How questions arrive | One a week by email or text (can be set from daily to monthly) | One every morning at 9, in the app |
| How your parent answers | Writes by email reply or on the website, adds photos; can tell stories on a phone call, written up for the book (more phone options on Color and Unlimited) | Speaks, sends a photo or writes, in the browser on a phone or tablet; joins from a link with no password |
| Who follows along | Family on the account get each story by email and can comment | The whole family hears each answer the same day, replies and asks follow-up questions |
| Languages | Service in English and Spanish; stories can be written in any language | App in English or 10 others in English letters (incl. Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali); voice answers in any language |
| The book | Hardcover included (two on Unlimited); extra copies $39–$99; free e-book and audiobook download | Digital (PDF) book, $19 or $14.99 on Pro; no hardcover yet |
| Outside the US | Books ship from the US or Europe; shipping charged, import fees possible | Nothing to ship; works wherever there is internet |
| Beyond stories | Family Calls and guided phone interviews on higher plans | Memory games made from your parent’s answers; culture games for grandchildren |
| Price (USD) | $69 Basic, $99 Color or $199 Unlimited (renews at $99) for a year | Free to start; Pro $4.69 a month or $36.99 a year for the whole family |
| Refunds | Full refund within 30 days if no book has been printed | Full refund within 7 days of a subscription purchase |
Where StoryWorth is better
- The printed book. A hardcover is included in every plan. Mulam has only a PDF book today.
- A parent who likes writing. StoryWorth is built for a written memoir, with photo layouts and, on the Color plan, a built-in proofreader.
- No smartphone needed. Your parent can reply to an email, or tell a story on any phone, even a landline. Mulam needs a smartphone or tablet.
- A one-off gift. You pay once for a year and can schedule the gift email for a birthday or Mother’s Day.
Where Mulam is better
- A parent who would rather talk. Voice is the default answer, and the family keeps the recording in your parent’s own voice.
- Another language. Your parent can use the app in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Kannada, Bengali, Tagalog, Swahili, Yoruba or Arabic, and speak in whichever language they think in.
- Families in different countries. Nothing ships, and everyone hears each answer the same day, from wherever they live.
- A conversation, not just a book. Grandchildren can reply and ask more, and your parent’s answers turn into memory games about their own life.
- Price. It is free to start, and Pro is $36.99 a year for the whole family.
Which one to choose
- “My mom loves writing and I want a book on the shelf by next Christmas.” StoryWorth.
- “My dad will talk for an hour but won’t type a sentence.” Mulam, or Remento if you need a hardcover (see StoryWorth alternatives).
- “My parents live in India and speak Telugu at home.” Mulam.
- “My grandmother has a landline and no smartphone.” StoryWorth’s phone calls, or Storii in the countries it covers.
- “I want the kids to actually talk to their grandparents.” Mulam.
You can also use both: StoryWorth for the book, and Mulam for the everyday questions, the voice and the grandchildren.
Questions people ask
Is Mulam cheaper than StoryWorth?
Yes, but they are priced differently. StoryWorth costs $69 to $199 for a year, with a hardcover book included. Mulam is free to start, then $4.69 a month or $36.99 a year for the whole family, and its PDF book costs $19 ($14.99 on Pro). Mulam has no hardcover.
Can my parent answer StoryWorth by voice?
Yes, on a phone call, and StoryWorth writes the story up for the book. More phone options, such as guided interviews and Family Calls, come with the Color and Unlimited plans. On Mulam, speaking is the default way to answer every question.
Does StoryWorth work in other languages?
StoryWorth says it offers its service in English and Spanish, and stories can be written in any language on its website; its printer supports most languages. Mulam’s app comes in English and ten other languages written in English letters, and parents can answer by voice in any language.
Can I get a printed book from Mulam?
Not yet. Mulam makes a designed digital book (a PDF you can keep, print at home or send to a printer). If a hardcover is what matters most, StoryWorth, Remento or Meminto include one.