My Take on FAMILEO: The Family Journal for Staying Connected!

There's nothing easier today than staying in touch with loved ones through instant messaging services or video calls! Despite this apparent ease, it's not uncommon for some family members to feel isolated: indeed, few older adults use WhatsApp or social media.

To keep your whole family connected, companies like Famileo have developed a concept of a family newsletter, which each family member can fill with their photos and updates, and it will then be printed and sent directly to the recipient. Over the past few months, I had the pleasure of testing a Famileo box and I’d like to share my thoughts on it.

What is Familéo?

👍 I loved it

• The concept of Famileo, which has captured my entire family's interest,
• Seeing my grandmother delighted and being able to chat with her about her newsletter,
• The user-friendly experience of the Famileo app,
• The affordable pricing and the option to share the payment,
• The final result of the newsletter,
• The ability to adjust the subscription according to your budget.

❌ What I Liked Less

• The quality of the paper is fairly average,
• 30 messages can feel a bit limited if there are a lot of us!

How does Famileo work?

Famileo offers to send a printed newsletter to your chosen recipient every month, twice a month, or weekly, featuring 30 messages and photos. This service can be used in various situations, but it is primarily designed to send news to your parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents.

Each family member who wants to participate can download the app or log directly onto the website, then enter their family code provided to the person who registered the family during the subscription. After that, it’s easy to create their newsletter by uploading photos and adding messages of their choice.

Every family member can join in: there is a limit of 60 individuals allowed to contribute to each newsletter. So, don’t hesitate to create a personal account to make the outcome diverse and friendly.

👉 For instance, you could send a photograph from a family gathering, a place you visited on holiday, or a moment that reminds you of your grandfather or grandmother.

Excerpt from a Famileo newsletter

The layout takes care of itself afterwards, and the newsletter is sent directly to its recipient by post, regardless of the country they live in.

💌 With the first Gazette, the recipient receives a letter explaining what it's all about. It's the perfect way to give your loved ones a genuine surprise!

📅 On your side, every family member involved in writing the newsletter will receive an email three days before it’s published, so they can finish contributing to it.

💲 Famileo offers a pooling system: everyone can contribute to the subscription easily, without needing to worry about bank transfers or exchanging money.

📱 Finally, each participating member can view the completed newsletter to stay updated on family news!

✅ Famileo is a fantastic invention that enables your entire family to stay connected, allowing older family members to receive updates from those who matter to them. Be warned, it can be a bit addictive: grandparents love receiving the newsletter and keep asking for more!

Who is the Famileo Gazette for?

A Famileo subscription is a genuine family gift. Of course, the newsletter is primarily intended for the older person it’s sent to. If they live alone, they’ll be delighted to hear about the latest adventures of their family members and will feel very connected. If they’re a couple, your grandparents or great-grandparents can discuss their newsletter together.

Finally, if your loved one lives in a residential aged care facility or an aged care home, it’s totally possible to subscribe them to this newsletter to brighten their day and show them you're thinking of them.

How much does Famileo cost?

Famileo offers three different pricing options:

These subscriptions come without commitment: you can pause or cancel your plan whenever you like.

👉 If you're on a tight budget, the monthly plan at $5.99 is a great option. It allows you to give a lovely gift without breaking the bank!

👉 If you’re part of a large family, the offer at $17.99 per month allows you to send a newsletter each week. This is perfect if many people are contributing to the newsletter, as it gives everyone the chance to post messages regularly.

In any case, you can very easily upgrade your subscription and tailor it to suit your needs and budget. Simply go to the "my account" section, then "subscription management", and click on "Change Plan". The changes will take effect from your renewal date.

What Does a Famileo Gazette Look Like?

The Famileo newsletter is like a little newspaper, A4 size (the same size as a sheet of printer paper). It starts with a front page that includes the date, upcoming holidays and birthdays, as well as the family members who contributed to this edition of the newsletter.

On the following pages, the messages follow one after the other, each time:

• A large format photograph printed in colour,
• A message written by a loved one that is easy to read (in large font),
• The name of the author of the message, clearly indicated, along with a small photo.

The first page and a random page from a Famileo newspaper

How to gift a Famileo subscription or a single box? 🎁

To gift a Famileo subscription, you have two options:

🔸 Directly subscribe the person for whom the newsletters are intended, from the website, by choosing your preferred subscription option (monthly, bi-monthly, or weekly). In this case, each person added to the family group can then choose to contribute to the payment pool if they wish.

🔸 Give a six-month gift box for $39:

This gift pack is really handy if you want to add a special touch to your present: along with six months of a monthly subscription to the newsletter, the recipient will also receive a box to store their newsletters. You can order it directly from the homepage of the website.

📚 After a year, you can also have all the newsletters printed in a lovely hardcover book. There's nothing quite like preserving those precious memories and sharing them with your loved ones!

➡️ Who should receive Famileo?

👵 The Famileo box makes a perfect gift for seniors who aren't very connected on social media and messaging apps. It's an ideal present for your parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents. It’s also a great option for your in-laws or uncles and aunts.

👩‍🦽 The Famileo journal can also be sent to a person with a disability living in a care facility, or a person in hospital for an extended period.

🌍If your family is spread across the globe, the Famileo newsletter is a fantastic way to stay connected and share your daily adventures. In fact, Famileo ships worldwide!

What do subscribers think? Discover customer reviews on Famileo!

Whether you're looking to buy a gift or treat yourself, customer reviews are a valuable indicator to see if the product meets your expectations. To help you get an overview of what people are saying about Famileo, I've summarised customer feedback from various online platforms for you.

On the Famileo site

On the homepage of the site, you’ll find video reviews that give a glimpse into customer satisfaction:

🔸 The recipients of the newsletters express their eagerness to receive the magazine each month, and the joy of feeling connected with the rest of their family.

🔸 Families who write for Famileo highlight its user-friendly nature, the joy of seeing their loved ones happy, and the delight of discovering news from the whole family each month in the newsletter.

On Famileo's Facebook Page

The platform where Famileo customers leave the most reviews is Facebook.

The excellent rating of Famileo and the large number of reviews suggest that most customers are happy with this newsletter.

💚 What Our Customers Loved

• Keeping their elders happy by providing regular updates,
• The practicality of Famileo,
• The ease of use of the app and website, even for those who aren't tech-savvy,
• The contact with the customer service, which is very efficient,
• The cost of the subscription,
• The fact that it is a French company.

Example of a positive review from the Famileo Facebook page

❌ They enjoyed it less

• The fact that the gazette doesn't allow writing in Asian characters or Arabic,
• The quality of photo printing (only affects a small number of people, and it seems they've recently changed their printing service),
• Some delivery delays due to postal services.

Example of a mixed review from the Famileo Facebook page and the response provided by another user

About Trustpilot

At the moment, there are very few reviews of Famileo on the verified review site Trustpilot. The received feedback is quite average, particularly due to a negative review from someone who had delivery issues (mostly due to the courier), which has lowered the overall rating. There are also very positive reviews, which help offset this negative experience.

Famileo on Social Media

You can find the company Famileo at:

• Instagram, featuring examples of the newsletters in photos, competitions, and feedback...

Extract from Famileo's Instagram account

• Facebook, with over 50,000 followers, where you'll find competitions, updates on the latest news from your gazette, and more.
• Twitter, for quick updates and to send your questions directly to Famileo.
• And finally, check out YouTube, featuring short and informative tutorials (on YouTube Shorts) and videos about the Famileo concept and its benefits for elderly individuals.

Can we trust the company Famileo, or is it a scam?

Famileo has been around since August 2015. The service was launched by the French start-up Entourage Solutions. According to the official site "Société.com", this company has been in existence since 2014, which gives it a solid foundation. It employs around thirty staff and boasts over 700,000 active users.

Excerpt from Société.com regarding Entourage Solutions, the company behind the Famileo service

The company takes the time to respond to its customers’ reviews and questions on Facebook and via messages, and has a customer service team that can be reached by phone, using a standard rate number. Furthermore, the quality of this support is praised by users in their Facebook reviews.

Finally, the company has won two prestigious awards in the field of entrepreneurship:

• "France is Committed" in 2017,
• "Pass French Tech" in 2019.

✅ Famileo is part of a French company, easily reachable, with a dedicated customer service team, ensuring reliability.

My Verdict on Famileo

I chose to use Famileo to stay in touch with my grandma, who lives over three hours' drive away from me. At first, it was more of a personal project, as I was worried that other family members, especially my mum, wouldn't be able to contribute content to the newsletter.

However, from the very first newsletter received, the rest of my family wanted to know how they could take part in creating this journal. I passed the family code to my sister first, then to my mother, and to my aunt and uncle. Each person chose the option that suited them best. The mobile app is very convenient for those with a smartphone: it's very intuitive and allows you to easily add photos and text, without needing any IT knowledge.

When it comes to payment, we've recently started using a pool system that allows us to share the costs. It's really convenient and works well!

My grandmother is always delighted to receive her newspaper. She enjoys flicking through it and revisiting it from time to time. When we go to visit her, she shows it to us, and it’s a fantastic conversation starter! So far, we haven’t had any delivery issues.

Source: Instagram (@labulledesevy, @odrai_et_louis, @louiseetleskids)

Some photos are truly beautiful, and the journal format isn't always ideal for showcasing them. So, I'm considering reprinting them on photo paper. I've also seen that Famileo offers to reprint the newsletters into a bound book after a year, so I might do that as well.

In the end, this subscription had an unexpected effect: besides staying in touch with my grandma, we're all now enjoying the newsletter that we can download with each issue. This keeps us informed about what's happening in the family and everyone's daily lives: it's really unifying!

✅ I highly recommend the Famileo experience, especially for families living far apart. It's an adventure to share together, easy to use, and brings all family members closer! 😉

FAQ about Famileo: I’m answering YOUR questions!

👉 In the following lines, I will answer the questions you have about Famileo. If you can’t find the answer to your queries, please feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page to contribute your thoughts. I’d be more than happy to assist you!

How to connect to Famileo?

If you already have a Famileo account, just head over to the website and log in by clicking on "My Account" in the top right corner. You can also download the app available on Android and iPhone.

If you wish to join your family who are already subscribed to Famileo, you'll need a family code, which has been sent to the person who subscribed. Then, simply scroll to the bottom of the homepage, click on "I want to join my family", and follow the instructions. You can also do this from the app!

Finally, if your senior lives in a partner facility of Famileo, they should provide you with a code that you can also enter on the website, on the homepage, in the section titled: "Does your loved one reside in a subscribed facility?".

Who prints Famileo?

When you subscribe, it’s Famileo that takes care of printing and sending out the newsletter directly. Once it’s filled with your photos and messages, you don’t need to lift a finger. 😉

How can I get a Famileo promo code?

When signing up, you can enter the promo code "COUPDEPOUCE", which gives you 70% off your first month. It applies to both monthly and bi-monthly subscriptions. This is a great option if you want to try Famileo for a month without any commitment, as it will only cost you about $1.80.

Does Famileo offer a referral program?

Yes! Famileo has introduced a referral program. All you need to do is ask your referrer for their referral code, which they would have received via email and is available in their "My Account" section. By entering this code during your registration, you'll receive one month free. Plus, your referrer’s grandparents can win prizes!

Source: Instagram (@welovecharliandcapucine, @magicaroh, @cynthiakanaie)

What happens to the personal data (photos, messages...) that we send to Famileo?

Famileo is committed to not selling your data: photos, messages, personal information... The site is ad-free and promises to stay that way. Your data is stored securely on servers dedicated to the Famileo service and is encrypted.

If you'd like to delete your data after cancelling, you can reach out to Famileo and request them to erase it. This will be done quickly and at no cost to you.

How to Contact Famileo?

You've got several options to choose from:

• Through social media, on Facebook or Instagram,
• Directly on the website using the form,
• By email at: contact@famileo.com,
• By phone at 📞02 46 84 02 82 (local call rates apply).

Is there a commitment with Famileo?

No, Famileo is contract-free. This means you can cancel at any time.

How to Cancel Famileo?

Only the family member who is the manager (by default, the one who created the subscription) can cancel it. This person simply needs to log into their account, go to the "subscription management" section, and unsubscribe.

👉 If you have any money left in your account, feel free to contact Famileo's customer service directly to discuss how you can withdraw those funds.

Are you a professional in aged care: How to become a Famileo partner facility?

Famileo offers facilities that cater to the elderly (aged care homes, long-term care services, retirement homes...) or people with disabilities a way to help their residents stay connected with their families through the Famileo newsletter. If you’re interested in this type of service, feel free to get in touch with Famileo directly, either by phone at 📞02 46 84 02 82 or via email at contact@famileo.com.

👉 At the bottom of the homepage, you'll find a link to a section titled "Famileo for Professionals", which will provide you with detailed information about the offer for establishments.

For professional establishments: What is the diary service offered by Famileo?

If you work in a facility that supports elderly or disabled residents, you can also use Famileo to quickly and easily create a newsletter to share what’s happening in your establishment. It’s a fantastic way to foster connections between your residents and their loved ones, while also showcasing your engaging activities.

I hope you've found answers to all the questions you had about the Famileo service. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments, or share your experience! 😉