Quick Overview
- 1#1: Brightwheel - All-in-one mobile platform for child care centers to manage attendance, billing, communication, and parent engagement.
- 2#2: Procare Solutions - Comprehensive childcare management software with child tracking, accounting, and family billing features.
- 3#3: Jackrabbit Class - Cloud-based management solution for daycare and preschool operations including scheduling, invoicing, and reporting.
- 4#4: HiMama - Early learning platform for documenting child development, sharing updates with parents, and streamlining daily operations.
- 5#5: Lillio - Streamlined childcare software for attendance tracking, payments, lesson planning, and staff management.
- 6#6: EZCare - Affordable childcare center software handling child records, billing, staff scheduling, and compliance reporting.
- 7#7: Sandbox Software - All-in-one childcare management system with online registration, invoicing, and parent portal access.
- 8#8: Childcare Sage - Cloud-based solution for daycare management including attendance, invoicing, and family communication tools.
- 9#9: Tadpoles - Parent communication app for sharing daily reports, photos, and updates in early childhood programs.
- 10#10: Famly - Childcare app for managing attendance, payments, observations, and parent-teacher communication.
Tools were ranked based on their feature depth, user experience, reliability, and overall value, ensuring they cater to diverse needs such as child development tracking, staff management, and compliance reporting.
Comparison Table
Selecting the right daycare management software is key to optimizing operations, from parent communication to tracking kids' activities. This comparison table breaks down tools like Brightwheel, Procare Solutions, Jackrabbit Class, HiMama, Lillio, and more, highlighting their core features, standout benefits, and potential fit for different center sizes. Readers will gain actionable insights to match software capabilities with their unique workflow and needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brightwheel All-in-one mobile platform for child care centers to manage attendance, billing, communication, and parent engagement. | specialized | 9.5/10 | 9.7/10 | 9.3/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 2 | Procare Solutions Comprehensive childcare management software with child tracking, accounting, and family billing features. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 3 | Jackrabbit Class Cloud-based management solution for daycare and preschool operations including scheduling, invoicing, and reporting. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.8/10 | 7.9/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 4 | HiMama Early learning platform for documenting child development, sharing updates with parents, and streamlining daily operations. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 5 | Lillio Streamlined childcare software for attendance tracking, payments, lesson planning, and staff management. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 6 | EZCare Affordable childcare center software handling child records, billing, staff scheduling, and compliance reporting. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 7 | Sandbox Software All-in-one childcare management system with online registration, invoicing, and parent portal access. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 8 | Childcare Sage Cloud-based solution for daycare management including attendance, invoicing, and family communication tools. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 9 | Tadpoles Parent communication app for sharing daily reports, photos, and updates in early childhood programs. | specialized | 8.3/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 10 | Famly Childcare app for managing attendance, payments, observations, and parent-teacher communication. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.9/10 |
All-in-one mobile platform for child care centers to manage attendance, billing, communication, and parent engagement.
Comprehensive childcare management software with child tracking, accounting, and family billing features.
Cloud-based management solution for daycare and preschool operations including scheduling, invoicing, and reporting.
Early learning platform for documenting child development, sharing updates with parents, and streamlining daily operations.
Streamlined childcare software for attendance tracking, payments, lesson planning, and staff management.
Affordable childcare center software handling child records, billing, staff scheduling, and compliance reporting.
All-in-one childcare management system with online registration, invoicing, and parent portal access.
Cloud-based solution for daycare management including attendance, invoicing, and family communication tools.
Parent communication app for sharing daily reports, photos, and updates in early childhood programs.
Childcare app for managing attendance, payments, observations, and parent-teacher communication.
Brightwheel
specializedAll-in-one mobile platform for child care centers to manage attendance, billing, communication, and parent engagement.
Real-time family engagement app with secure photo/video sharing and daily sheets
Brightwheel is a comprehensive all-in-one childcare management platform tailored for daycare centers, preschools, and early childhood programs. It handles essential operations including attendance tracking, billing and payments, lesson planning, and child assessments. The software excels in parent engagement through a mobile app that shares real-time updates, photos, videos, and daily reports, fostering strong family connections.
Pros
- Seamless parent communication with instant updates, photos, and messaging
- Robust billing and payment integration with QuickBooks and automated invoicing
- Comprehensive child portfolios and developmental tracking tools
Cons
- Higher pricing tiers can be costly for very small centers
- Steep initial setup and learning curve for advanced features
- Occasional mobile app performance issues during peak usage
Best For
Mid-sized daycare centers and preschools seeking an intuitive, mobile-first platform for streamlined operations and enhanced parent involvement.
Pricing
Tiered plans starting at $109/month for up to 30 children (Essential), scaling to $199+/month for larger centers, billed annually at ~$12/child/month.
Procare Solutions
specializedComprehensive childcare management software with child tracking, accounting, and family billing features.
Procare Payments: Seamless, integrated child care billing and payment collection with direct deposit and automated invoicing
Procare Solutions is a veteran childcare management software tailored for daycare centers, preschools, and before/after-school programs, offering end-to-end tools for enrollment, attendance tracking, and family billing. It features a mobile app for parents to handle check-ins, updates, and payments, alongside staff tools for scheduling and compliance reporting. With over 35,000 customers, Procare emphasizes reliability, security, and scalability for growing child care businesses.
Pros
- Comprehensive billing and payment processing with built-in autopay
- Robust parent and staff mobile apps for real-time communication
- Extensive reporting and state compliance tools
Cons
- User interface feels somewhat dated compared to modern competitors
- Pricing scales with center size, potentially costly for very small operations
- Initial setup and training require time investment
Best For
Medium to large daycare centers needing strong financial management and compliance features.
Pricing
Starts at $129/month for QuickCare (up to 50 children), with Enterprise plans at $1.37-$2.75 per child/month plus one-time setup fees; custom quotes for larger centers.
Jackrabbit Class
specializedCloud-based management solution for daycare and preschool operations including scheduling, invoicing, and reporting.
Advanced online registration with waitlists and skill-based class progression tracking
Jackrabbit Class is a cloud-based management platform primarily designed for class-based programs like gymnastics, dance, swim lessons, and enrichment centers, offering tools for online registration, scheduling, billing, and attendance tracking. It supports family portals for real-time updates, automated payments, and reporting to streamline operations. While effective for structured class environments, it adapts moderately well to daycare needs like parent communication and child tracking but lacks robust features for drop-in care or daily preschool routines.
Pros
- Comprehensive class scheduling and online registration reduce administrative workload
- Strong reporting and family portal enhance parent engagement
- Scalable billing with automated invoicing and payments
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-class-based daycare operations
- Limited support for ad-hoc drop-in attendance or napping/schedule tracking
- Pricing scales with student volume, which can be costly for small centers
Best For
Daycare centers focused on structured classes, enrichment programs, or preschool schedules rather than flexible drop-in care.
Pricing
Custom pricing starting around $125/month for small centers, scaling to $1-2 per active student/month plus setup fees.
HiMama
specializedEarly learning platform for documenting child development, sharing updates with parents, and streamlining daily operations.
Interactive parent app delivering daily reports, photos, videos, and milestone updates in real-time
HiMama is a cloud-based childcare management software tailored for daycare centers, preschools, and early learning programs. It handles essential operations like attendance tracking, staff scheduling, billing, and curriculum planning while emphasizing parent-teacher communication through a dedicated mobile app. The platform also enables digital child portfolios with photos, videos, and developmental observations to document milestones and share insights with families.
Pros
- Excellent parent communication via mobile app with real-time updates and photo sharing
- Comprehensive child documentation and portfolio tools for tracking development
- Streamlined daily operations including attendance, scheduling, and basic billing
Cons
- Pricing can be expensive for very small centers (per-child model)
- Reporting and customization options are somewhat limited
- Integrations with third-party tools are not as extensive as some competitors
Best For
Daycare centers and preschools prioritizing strong parent engagement and child progress documentation over advanced administrative automation.
Pricing
Per-child per month pricing starting at around $10/child, with tiered plans (Basic, Pro, Enterprise) and custom quotes for larger programs.
Lillio
specializedStreamlined childcare software for attendance tracking, payments, lesson planning, and staff management.
The family-facing mobile app for instant sharing of personalized daily reports, photos, and developmental insights
Lillio is a comprehensive childcare management software tailored for daycare centers, preschools, and family child care homes, offering tools for attendance tracking, billing, staff scheduling, and curriculum planning. It emphasizes parent engagement through a dedicated mobile app that shares real-time updates, photos, videos, and developmental portfolios. The platform also handles compliance reporting, invoicing, and child assessments to streamline daily operations and support early childhood education best practices.
Pros
- Robust parent communication app with real-time sharing of observations and updates
- Integrated billing and payment processing that reduces administrative workload
- Comprehensive child portfolio tools for documenting milestones and sharing with families
Cons
- Pricing can become expensive for larger centers or those needing premium add-ons
- Occasional mobile app glitches and sync issues reported by users
- Limited advanced customization options for reports and workflows
Best For
Small to medium-sized daycare centers and preschools prioritizing strong parent-teacher communication and child documentation.
Pricing
Starts at $25/classroom/month for basic plans, with Essentials ($50/classroom/month) and Premium tiers; scales by number of children/classrooms and requires custom quotes for enterprises.
EZCare
specializedAffordable childcare center software handling child records, billing, staff scheduling, and compliance reporting.
Integrated parent portal with photo sharing, daily reports, and two-way messaging
EZCare is a cloud-based childcare management software tailored for daycare centers, preschools, and after-school programs. It handles child enrollment, attendance tracking, automated billing and invoicing, staff scheduling, and parent communication through a dedicated portal and mobile app. The platform also supports compliance reporting, meal planning, and incident tracking to simplify daily operations and ensure regulatory adherence.
Pros
- Comprehensive all-in-one tools for enrollment, billing, and attendance
- User-friendly interface with mobile app for parents and staff
- Strong parent communication features including real-time updates
Cons
- Reporting customization is somewhat limited
- Pricing can add up for multi-location centers
- Customer support response times vary
Best For
Small to medium-sized daycare providers seeking an intuitive, feature-rich platform without complex setup.
Pricing
Starts at $65/month for Basic plan (up to 50 children), $95/month for Standard, $125/month for Premium; per location with custom quotes available.
Sandbox Software
specializedAll-in-one childcare management system with online registration, invoicing, and parent portal access.
Visual daily sheets and activity logs that parents can view and comment on in real-time via the app
Sandbox Software (mysandbox.net) is a cloud-based childcare management platform tailored for daycare centers, preschools, and after-school programs. It handles essential tasks like attendance tracking, automated billing, staff scheduling, and parent communications through a centralized dashboard and mobile app. The software emphasizes compliance with state regulations, child progress tracking, and real-time updates to streamline operations for providers.
Pros
- Intuitive attendance and check-in/out with QR codes and PINs
- Robust parent portal for real-time updates and payments
- Automated billing and financial reporting for efficient accounting
Cons
- Limited integrations with third-party tools like QuickBooks
- Mobile app can be slow during peak hours
- Customization options are somewhat basic for larger centers
Best For
Small to medium daycare centers seeking a straightforward, all-in-one solution for daily operations and parent engagement.
Pricing
Starts at $4.95 per child/month (minimum $99/month), with tiered plans up to enterprise custom pricing.
Childcare Sage
specializedCloud-based solution for daycare management including attendance, invoicing, and family communication tools.
Advanced parent engagement app with push notifications, daily reports, and secure photo/video sharing
Childcare Sage is a cloud-based daycare management software that simplifies operations for childcare providers through features like child enrollment, attendance tracking, and automated billing. It includes a parent portal and mobile app for real-time updates, communication, and photo sharing, along with staff scheduling and compliance reporting tools. Designed for small to medium-sized centers, it emphasizes ease of use and parent engagement to enhance daily workflows.
Pros
- User-friendly parent app with real-time notifications and photo sharing
- Automated billing and invoicing with multiple payment options
- Strong compliance reporting and customizable forms
Cons
- Limited integrations with third-party tools like QuickBooks
- Advanced reporting features require some setup time
- Pricing scales quickly for larger centers
Best For
Small to medium-sized daycare centers prioritizing parent communication and streamlined daily operations.
Pricing
Starts at $129/month for up to 50 children; tiered plans up to $299/month for 150+ children, with custom enterprise options.
Tadpoles
specializedParent communication app for sharing daily reports, photos, and updates in early childhood programs.
Real-time parent app with push notifications for photos, videos, milestones, and daily sheets, fostering strong family-center connections.
Tadpoles is a cloud-based childcare management software tailored for daycares, preschools, nannies, and after-school programs. It excels in streamlining daily operations like attendance tracking, meal and nap logging, activity documentation, and sharing real-time updates, photos, and videos with parents via a dedicated mobile app. Additional features include billing, invoicing, staff scheduling, and compliance reporting to help providers manage their centers efficiently.
Pros
- Highly intuitive mobile apps for parents and staff enabling real-time communication
- Comprehensive daily reporting with photos, videos, and developmental notes
- Scalable pricing and strong focus on parent engagement tools
Cons
- Limited advanced HR and payroll integrations compared to enterprise solutions
- Reporting analytics lack depth for large-scale operations
- Occasional delays in customer support response times
Best For
Small to medium-sized daycares and preschools that prioritize simple, visual parent communication and daily child tracking over complex enterprise features.
Pricing
Starts at $8 per child per month (billed annually), with tiered plans up to $12 per child for premium features and volume discounts for 100+ children.
Famly
specializedChildcare app for managing attendance, payments, observations, and parent-teacher communication.
The integrated parent app for real-time updates, messaging, and payments that boosts family involvement
Famly is a comprehensive childcare management platform tailored for daycare centers, nurseries, and preschools, offering tools for attendance tracking, billing, staff scheduling, and child development observations. It features a highly rated parent app that enables real-time communication, photo sharing, and secure payments between families and staff. The software emphasizes compliance reporting and simplifies daily operations to help providers focus on child care.
Pros
- Intuitive parent and staff mobile apps for seamless communication
- Strong attendance, billing, and child progress tracking tools
- Excellent for regulatory compliance and reporting in childcare settings
Cons
- Pricing can be high for very small providers
- Limited advanced customization options
- Customer support response times vary
Best For
Small to medium-sized daycare centers and nurseries prioritizing parent engagement and streamlined daily operations.
Pricing
Per-child subscription starting at around $1.49 per child per month, with tiered plans and custom quotes for larger centers (pricing varies by region).
Conclusion
The 10 tools reviewed offer robust solutions for daycare management, with key focus on organization, communication, and efficiency. Brightwheel earns top honors as the leading choice, boasting an all-in-one mobile platform that simplifies core tasks. Procare Solutions and Jackrabbit Class stand as strong alternatives, each excelling in distinct areas like accounting or scheduling to cater to varied operational needs.
Take the first step toward smoother operations—explore Brightwheel to experience its comprehensive features and transform how you manage your childcare center.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison