Coop Companion vs Flockstar
The short version
| Attribute | Coop Companion | Flockstar |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes — 1 active hatch with full day-7/14/18 reminders, roster, egg log, 4-H export | No — subscription only |
| Price | Free; Breeder $6/mo·$49/yr; Show $8/mo·$69/yr | $49.99–79.99/yr |
| Breeding pens & pedigrees | Yes | Yes (well done) |
| Hatch runs + lockdown reminders | Yes (free tier) | Yes |
| Per-pen fertility / hatch-rate history | Yes | Yes |
| Show / exhibition records (APA/ABA points) | Yes | No |
| NPIP paperwork & sales-ledger export | Yes | No |
| Egg-color program tracking (olive eggers, F1/F2) | Yes | No |
| Public pedigree pages for listings | Yes | No |
| Maturity / track record | New (2027 launch) | Established (~9.6k downloads, 3.95★) |
The verdict
If you already use Flockstar for breeding and lineage and don't need show records or NPIP tooling, it's a solid, established choice. Choose Coop Companion if you want to start free, keep show records with APA/ABA points, run an egg-color program, or generate NPIP-friendly sales paperwork — the areas Flockstar doesn't cover. Many breeders can run the whole season on Coop Companion's free tier and only pay at the second pen.
What Flockstar does well
Credit where it's due: Flockstar pivoted into breeding and does the core well — multi-pen hatch runs, per-pen fertility and hatch rates, lineage and pedigrees, lockdown reminders, and certificates. It's an established app with thousands of users and a real track record. If breeding and lineage tracking in one mature app is all you need, it's a legitimate pick.
Where Coop Companion is different
Two things set Coop Companion apart. First, the hatch tracker is free forever — one active hatch with the full day-7/14/18 candling and lockdown reminders, a flock roster, an egg log, and 4-H export, with no trial clock. Flockstar has no free tier.
Second, Coop Companion covers the parts of a breeder's year that Flockstar doesn't: show records with APA/ABA points math and certificates, NPIP paperwork (testing logs and a sales ledger with an NPIP-friendly export), and egg-color program tracking for olive-egger and other F1/F2 projects. Those are the exact gaps the market leaves open.
Who should pick which
Pick Flockstar if you want a mature, breeding-focused app and don't need show or NPIP features. Pick Coop Companion if you want to start free, you show birds and want points tracked, you sell hatching eggs and need NPIP-ready records, or you're breeding for egg color. If you're not sure, start on Coop Companion's free tier — it costs nothing until your second pen.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Coop Companion a Flockstar alternative?
- Yes — Coop Companion covers the same breeding-and-hatching core, adds a free tier Flockstar doesn't have, and adds show records, NPIP paperwork, and egg-color programs that Flockstar doesn't cover.
- Does Flockstar have a free version?
- No — Flockstar is subscription-only (about $49.99–79.99/yr), while Coop Companion's hatch tracker, flock roster, egg log, and 4-H export are free forever.
- Does Flockstar do show records?
- No — Flockstar focuses on breeding and lineage; it doesn't track show/exhibition entries or APA/ABA points, but Coop Companion does, on its Show plan.
- Can I move from Flockstar to Coop Companion?
- You can start Coop Companion free alongside anything you already use and keep records going forward. There's no cost to try it, so you can see whether the free tier and the show/NPIP features fit before committing.