What kind of phone does my parent need for a check-in app?
An iPhone or an Android phone works, and so does a tablet or computer with a web browser. With Hammock365, your parent does not have to download anything: you text her a link, it opens in her phone's browser, and her button is waiting. The daily check-in and the missed check-in text are free, forever.
Updated September 13, 2026
Device by device
| Device | What works |
|---|---|
| iPhone | The App Store app needs iOS 16 or newer. The texted link opens in her browser too. |
| Android phone | The Google Play app needs Android 8.0 or newer. The texted link opens in her browser too. |
| iPad, tablet, Chromebook, Mac or Windows | Any modern browser at app.hammock365.com |
Some families set Mom up on a tablet or laptop at home while the kids use their phones. She does not need the same kind of phone you have. A mix of iPhone and Android is the most common setup, and everyone shares one family group.
What she needs besides the device
- A way to get the link. It comes by text, or you can open it on her phone yourself.
- A login. When she opens the link, her name is already filled in. She types any email she can get into and picks a password. The email is only used to sign in and to reset a forgotten password. No email of her own? Make her a free Gmail address, or tap Continue with Google or Continue with Apple on her invite screen to use the account already on her phone. Or open her link on her phone while you are together and set it up with her.
- The store app, if you want things to pop up on her phone. With the app and notifications allowed, her medication reminders and your nudges pop up. On an iPhone: Settings, Notifications, Hammock365, Allow. In the browser nothing pops up. Her due medicines show on her screen when she opens it, and on the paid plan your nudge reaches her as a text.
What about a flip phone or a landline?
Hammock365 runs on iPhone, Android and web browsers. A phone that cannot open a web link is not on that list. A tablet at home can be her check-in device instead. So does Mom need a smartphone? She needs a smartphone, a tablet or a computer with a web browser.
For a senior with only a landline or a flip phone, a free daily call program may fit better. Some sheriffs and Area Agencies on Aging run them. See free daily check-in calls for seniors.
Her screen, on any device
A big I'm Okay button, a red I Need Help button, Ask a question, and a large-type menu that follows the phone's text size setting. Six one-tap call contacts sit on her screen too.
The honest limit
Hammock365 is not an emergency service. It texts family. If it is an emergency, call 911.
Try Hammock365 free.
The daily check-in, the missed check-in text and the emergency card are free forever. No card, no trial clock.