Capture Family Stories and Memories: Top Storyworth® Alternatives in Canada

In today’s fast-paced world, preserving family memories has never been more important.

In the United States, Storyworth® has become a beloved way for families to capture meaningful stories from their loved ones. Each week, a new question is emailed to the storyteller, who types or dictates their response. After a year, Storyworth compiles all the stories into a beautiful hardcover book — a keepsake designed to be passed down through generations.

But for families in Canada, Storyworth isn’t the only option. This article explores some of the best Storyworth alternatives available in Canada, with a special focus on Remento, along with a few Canadian-based services that help families document their legacies in unique and heartfelt ways.

Context: Why Preserving Family Stories Matters

From the vibrant cities of Toronto and Vancouver to the wide-open spaces of the Prairies and the Atlantic coast, family stories form the fabric of our shared identity. Preserving these stories is more than a sentimental gesture — it’s a bridge between generations and a lasting record of who we are.

Specifically, the process of documenting family stories:

• Strengthens family bonds: Fosters closer connections and understanding, enhancing familial relationships and support networks. (Learn more)
• Builds resilience in children: Learning about family stories, including past challenges and triumphs, can help children develop resilience by understanding the strength and perseverance demonstrated by previous generations. (Learn more)
• Supports enhanced cognitive function: Recalling and narrating stories engages memory and cognitive processes, potentially improving mental acuity and memory retention. (Learn more)
• Spurs validation and affirmation: Receiving acknowledgment and appreciation for one's life story can bolster self-esteem and confidence. (Learn more)
• Reduces feelings of isolation: Engaging with family through storytelling can alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation, promoting a sense of belonging. (Learn more)

By capturing these stories, we not only honor the experiences of our elders but also create a legacy of resilience, wisdom, and shared values that can inspire and guide our children and grandchildren. 

Storyworth: A familiar favourite

Storyworth has long been the most recognised name in this space. The US-based service emails your storyteller one question per week for a year, with 52 prompts total. They can type their answers directly into the email or use dictation to speak their responses.

Each story is compiled into a professionally printed book at the end of the year, which can be ordered in hardback form. The simplicity of Storyworth makes it appealing for families who prefer structure and consistency.

However, Storyworth’s dictation feature comes with limitations. While it allows storytellers to speak instead of type, the software transcribes every word exactly as it is spoken, including filler words and pauses, without punctuation or editing. That means storytellers must speak precisely how they want their words printed.

And while the book looks lovely, Storyworth does not preserve the storyteller’s actual voice. The audio is not saved, so families cannot listen back or hear their loved one’s tone, laughter, or emotion; only the written text remains.

For those who value ease and tradition, Storyworth still offers a trusted solution. But for Kiwis who want to preserve the sound and spirit of their loved ones’ stories, newer options offer something more immersive.

Learn more: Storyworth Reviews

Remento: A Leading Storyworth Alternative for Canadians

For Canadians wanting something deeper than text on a page, Remento brings storytelling into the modern age by combining warmth, technology, and design in a way that feels personal and human.

Instead of asking storytellers to type or dictate perfectly, Remento invites them to speak naturally, just as they would in conversation with family.

Then, Remento's Speech-to-Story technology turns those spoken memories into beautifully written narratives that retain the storyteller’s rhythm and tone. Families can choose between a polished narrative version or a lightly cleaned-up transcript that keeps their voice authentic.

What truly sets Remento apart is how it blends the written and spoken experience. Each hardcover book includes QR codes that link back to the original voice or video recordings, allowing readers to hear the storyteller’s voice as they read their words. For many families, that combination of permanence and intimacy is profoundly moving.

“It is one thing to read my mum’s stories,” one customer shared. “But hearing her voice tell them, that is the part that gets you.”

Every Remento journey starts with a simple invitation. Each week, storytellers receive a new question by text or email, some selected by the family and others from Remento’s expert-curated library. With a single click, they can record directly from their phone or computer, with no apps, logins, or passwords required.

Those recordings are then transformed automatically into written stories, which can be reviewed, edited, or compiled into a custom-printed book. The experience is designed to be effortless for older relatives while deeply rewarding for the family member who gifted it.

Learn more: Remento

Remento vs. Storyworth: Key Differences for Canadians

1. Storytelling method

Storyworth: Storytellers receive one email prompt each week and reply by typing or dictating their answers. It works well for those who enjoy writing or prefer a structured, text-based routine. While Storyworth does offer voice dictation, it transcribes speech exactly as spoken and does not save the audio recording, meaning tone and emotion are lost.

Remento: Instead of typing, storytellers simply speak their memories aloud on any smartphone, tablet, or computer. Remento’s Speech-to-Story technology automatically turns those recordings into polished written stories. Each one can be formatted as a cleaned transcript or as a narrative that reads like a memoir — and every recording is preserved alongside the text. The result keeps the storyteller’s natural voice, rhythm, and personality intact, without any need for writing or editing.

2. Ease of use

Storyworth: Storytellers reply to weekly emails or log in to write their answers. It’s generally easy to use, though it still involves typing or dictating responses and navigating through email prompts.

Remento: Designed for simplicity, Remento eliminates technical barriers entirely. There are no apps, logins, or passwords. The storyteller clicks a link, presses record, and begins speaking. The process is effortless — even for older relatives or those unfamiliar with technology — and can be done on any device.

3. Family involvement

Storyworth: Storyworth is mostly a solo experience. Family members can suggest questions and later enjoy the completed book, but only one storyteller participates at a time.

Remento: Storytelling is collaborative from start to finish. Families can upload photos, suggest or vote on prompts, comment on stories, and receive updates as new recordings are shared. It becomes an ongoing shared project that strengthens family connection rather than a one-person task.

4. Customization and prompts

Storyworth: Provides a fixed set of standard prompts, with the ability to add custom ones.

Remento: Offers an extensive, expert-curated library of prompts covering life stages, values, and cultural moments. Families can personalize each question, upload photos, or write their own. Every story can be tailored to the storyteller’s experiences, making it more meaningful for families everywhere.

5. Output and keepsake

Storyworth: Produces a color-printed hardcover book containing the written responses. Dictated stories appear as plain text only; the original audio is not included or saved.

Remento: Creates a full-color, customizable hardcover book that includes both the beautifully written stories and QR codes linking directly to the storyteller’s actual voice recordings. Readers can scan any page to hear the person behind the story — preserving tone, laughter, and emotion alongside the words.

Learn more about the differences between Remento and Storyworth

Remento Reviews from Canadians

• "I love doing my stories, and look forward to every Wednesday for another prompt. It’s so nice to be able to leave something of myself that the family will be able to look back on. It is the best Christmas present my Grandchildren ever gave me." - Christine L. (Melbourne)
• “I loved how easy it was to share my stories with my family, including those who live overseas.” - Sasha R. (Perth)
• "“He is like a kid at Christmas. Every time he gets one of the emails he runs to the computer. And then he talks about it for the next two days and asks for more prompts." - Jeff M. (Montreal)
• “When my dad is no longer with us, my grandkids will be able to scan that QR code and see their pop pop laugh and tell those crazy stories.” - Dyan G. (Canberra)

Read more Remento reviews

My Family Story: A DIY Webinar Approach

My Family Story is a free webinar series that will help you capture your family history and life stories. My Family Story is a joint project written by The Armchair Genealogist, and sponsored by Gardens of Gethsemani and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. The program is offered as part of the Archdiocesan Priorities and Goals to strengthen marriages and families. It is also the hope to encourage older family members to engage in meaningful conversations on topics of passing on Christian values and end-of-life preparation.

Stories To Be Told: Professional Interviewing

Stories To Be Told is focused on recording and preserving family histories through personalized interviews. They guide clients through the process of capturing meaningful stories, starting from setup and scheduling to conducting and professionally editing interviews. The service is structured to be accessible, allowing participation over various digital devices and accommodating multiple participants in the recording session. The company emphasizes the ownership of the recordings, granting copyright to the interviewee, while continuing to develop their question sets for future projects. They also provide options to receive the recordings digitally or via USB, ensuring flexibility and convenience for clients.

Legacy Productions Canada: Boutique Interviewing

Legacy Productions Canada is a boutique company dedicated to preserving personal and family history. Specializing in audio, video, and multimedia production, they help individuals and groups capture significant stories that can be cherished as lasting legacies. Their services cater not only to individuals but also to businesses and organizations, offering customized packages such as Voice Portraits and Video Portraits. By collaborating closely with their clients, they provide personalized story preservation and coaching to ensure high-quality productions that reflect each client’s unique narrative.

Founded by award-winning documentarian Peter Sibbald, the company operates out of the Greater Toronto Area. Sibbald brings over 30 years of experience in mainstream media, having worked with prominent organizations like TIME Inc. and Canadian Geographic. Legacy Productions aims to relieve clients of the challenges associated with documenting their histories, ensuring their signature stories are preserved with pride. Sibbald’s expertise in sound and motion picture is leveraged to provide comprehensive multimedia storytelling services for a wide range of audiences, from individuals to small and mid-sized businesses.

Conclusion: A gift for the future

Preserving your family's memories is a priceless gift to future generations. With these Storyworth alternatives, Canadians have excellent options to capture their unique stories and experiences. Whether you choose Remento for its user-friendly approach and beautiful books or one of the local, white-glove memoir services, the most important thing is to start preserving your family's legacy today.