Zazu vs. Mellou: a family WhatsApp group in early access, or an assistant US families can start today.
Mellou has a thoughtful idea: a WhatsApp group you and your partner share, where you both get the same information, plus a private chat each. It sends an evening brief of tomorrow, reminds you ahead of a pickup, and in its examples asks before it orders anything. It comes from Linna Labs in Finland, hosts data in the EU, and is in early access, opening in waves from a waitlist, with no price listed. Zazu is open to US families now, reads Google or Microsoft 365 email and calendars, with permission, and works in iMessage and WhatsApp. If you want a shared family group and can wait, use Mellou. If you want help in the US today, that's Zazu.
Mellou features and prices checked on November 5, 2026. They change.
The difference in one table.
What it is
An AI family assistant that notices what changed and speaks up first
A family assistant in a WhatsApp group you and your partner share, with a web app for calendar and lists
Where it lives
Inside iMessage and WhatsApp. There's no app to install
A shared WhatsApp group, a private chat with each parent, and a mobile web app. Its homepage doesn't mention iMessage
Availability
Open to families in the US today. Not yet offered in other countries
Early access from a waitlist, in waves through fall 2026. Based in Finland; the US is on its waitlist form
Reads the family inbox, Google or Microsoft 365, with permission, and picks out what needs doing
Gmail, if you choose to connect it. Its site doesn't mention Outlook or Microsoft 365
Calendars
Reads the Google or Microsoft 365 calendars you already use, and adds entries once a parent says yes
Google Calendar if you connect it, plus its own family calendar in the web app
Both parents
Talks to each parent, carries messages between them, and asks who's taking each job
Both parents share one group chat and get the same information, plus a private chat each
Speaking up first
Notices what changed and tells you what it means for your week, before you ask
An evening brief of the next day, and reminders ahead of time, like the evening before a pickup
Asking before it acts
Drafts the reply, the RSVP, the calendar entry, and always asks before it acts
In its examples it asks before ordering and waits for a yes. Its site doesn't state a general rule
Price
Nothing to pay for 7 days, then $19 a month. Cancel by sending STOP
No price listed. Pilot pricing is agreed with each pilot family, and the waitlist needs no card
Privacy
Reads with a parent's permission. Data is stored on AWS in the US, never sold or used for advertising
Hosted in the EU. It says AI models don't train on your data, and deletes it within 30 days of account deletion
When Mellou is the better choice.
You want one family group chat where both parents and the assistant see the same thing, plus a private chat each.
You live in Europe, or you want your family's data hosted in the EU.
You'd like the assistant to be able to ask an approved circle of family and friends for help.
You like the idea of an evening brief of tomorrow, and you're happy to join a waitlist for an early product.
When Zazu is the better choice.
You're in the US and want to start now. Zazu is open to US families today, with nothing to pay for 7 days.
Your family is on iMessage. Zazu works in iMessage and WhatsApp, in the chats you already use.
Your family email or calendar is on Microsoft 365. Zazu connects to Google and Microsoft 365.
There are two of you, and the hard part is who is doing what. Zazu asks both parents who's taking each job.
You want a clear rule: Zazu always asks before it acts, and drafts the reply, the RSVP or the calendar entry for your yes.
Can you use both?
You could, but they do a similar job in a similar place, so most families will pick one. Both live in the family's chats, read the email and calendars you connect, and keep both parents in step. The real differences are where you live, which apps your family uses, and timing: Mellou is in early access from a waitlist with no price listed, while Zazu is open to US families now. If you're in the US and on Mellou's waitlist, Zazu can help in the meantime.
Questions.
Is Mellou available in the US?
Through its waitlist for now. Mellou is in early access, opening to families in waves through fall 2026, and the US is one of the countries its waitlist form accepts. It's made by Linna Labs in Finland, hosts data in the EU, and its school example is Wilma, a Finnish school platform. Zazu is open to families in the US today.
Does Mellou work in iMessage?
Mellou's homepage describes a WhatsApp group you and your partner share, plus a web app you can use without WhatsApp. It doesn't mention iMessage there. Its privacy policy says conversations through WhatsApp and Apple's iMessage follow those services' own terms, so check with Mellou before you count on it. Zazu works in iMessage and WhatsApp, with no app to install.
How much does Mellou cost?
Mellou doesn't list a price. Its terms say pilot pricing is agreed with each pilot family, and that at beta release the service will be free or priced as communicated at the time. Joining the waitlist needs no credit card. Zazu has no free plan: nothing to pay for 7 days, then $19 a month, and you cancel by sending STOP.
Does Mellou read my email?
If you connect it. Mellou starts from the family's calendar and email, and its examples show Gmail and Google Calendar, connected only if you choose to. Its site doesn't mention Outlook or Microsoft 365. Zazu reads the family's Google or Microsoft 365 email and calendars, with a parent's permission, and picks out what needs doing.
Which is better for two working parents, Zazu or Mellou?
Both are built around two parents in a chat. Mellou puts you in one WhatsApp group with a private chat each, and suits families in Europe who are happy to join a waitlist. Zazu is open in the US now, works in iMessage and WhatsApp, reads Google or Microsoft 365 email and calendars with permission, and asks both parents who's taking each job.
Try Zazu.
Message Zazu and see what it notices by tonight.