Introduction
Finding the right child care management software is crucial for running an efficient child care business. A robust software solution can streamline administrative tasks, improve parent engagement, and help you comply with regulations. However, with so many options on the market, it can be difficult to determine which software is the best fit. This guide evaluates 12 top-rated child care software providers based on key criteria to help you make an informed choice.
Methods of Evaluation
To rank and select the top child care software solutions, we evaluated each company based on features, pricing, reviews from current customers, and other important factors. Some specific evaluation methods included assessing the core functionality of each solution, ease of use, mobile functionality, tools for parents, analytics and reporting capabilities. We also looked at pricing structures and affordability for centers of different sizes. Finally, we factored in more qualitative measures like levels of customer support, reviews on third party sites, and metrics like backlinks, traffic and keyword trends to determine overall popularity and market presence.
1. Bloomerang
Bloomerang is donor management and fundraising software specifically designed for nonprofits. Founded in 2007, Bloomerang aims to help nonprofits acquire, retain and engage donors through an all-in-one CRM and fundraising platform.
Pros: Some key advantages of Bloomerang include:
– CRM (customer relationship management) tools support branding, communications and relationship building
– Robust reporting and analytics help nonprofits with strategic planning
– Flexible and customizable platform adapts to each organization’s unique needs and workflows
Cons: A potential disadvantage is the pricing, as Bloomerang is more expensive than some other nonprofit CRM options. However, it offers powerful functionality that can help larger nonprofits improve fundraising and donor retention over the long run.
Pricing: Bloomerang pricing starts at $99 per month for the basic plan, which supports up to 3 users. Additional pricing tiers are available based on number of users and additional features needed.
Some key stats about Bloomerang include:
– Used by over 5,000 nonprofits globally
– Processes over $3 billion in annual fundraising transactions
– Supports organizations with budgets ranging from under $500k to over $50 million
2. Everbridge
Everbridge is a global software company that provides critical event management, incident response, and mass notification solutions. Their solutions help keep people safe and organizations running during critical events like hurricanes, floods, active shooter situations, or IT outages. The company was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Burlington, MA.
Pros: Some of the key advantages of Everbridge’s platform include its robust emergency alerts and notifications tools that go beyond just basic childcare alerts. It also offers a single unified platform for critical event management, incident response, and business continuity. The platform scales to meet the needs of very large enterprises and organizations.
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the full capabilities of Everbridge’s platform may be more advanced than what is needed for a smaller or medium-sized childcare center or organization. The pricing could also be higher than other options for these smaller entities.
Pricing: Everbridge offers flexible subscription-based pricing plans tailored to organizations of different sizes. For smaller childcare centers with under 500 employees or clients, plans start at around $2-3 per month per person. Larger packages support unlimited users and come with additional features, support, and implementation services, starting at around $35,000 per year.
Some key stats about Everbridge’s communication and notification platform include: It has over 5,800 enterprise customers worldwide, including many Fortune 500 companies and large municipalities. The platform is capable of reaching over 550 million people across every country and continent. Everbridge claims a 99.999% delivery and success rate for their mass notifications.
3. Orchard
Orchard is a leading child care software for centers, schools and homes. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in San Francisco, Orchard provides an all-in-one platform to help child care providers manage their business.
Pros: Some key advantages of Orchard include:
– Robust features for centers of all sizes with options for rostering, attendance, billing and more
– Popular parent portal and communication tools keep parents engaged
– Integrates seamlessly with various POS systems to streamline administration
Cons: A potential disadvantage is the monthly subscription pricing which may not be suitable for some smaller home-based providers on tight budgets.
Pricing: Orchard offers simple monthly pricing based on the number of classrooms/locations. Pricing starts from $99 per month for a single location with under 10 classrooms.
Some key stats about Orchard include:
– Used by over 5,000 child care centers nationwide
– Integrations with over 20 POS systems including Procare, Kidcheck and SmartCare
– Popular parent portal allows parents to manage enrollment, payments and access daily photos/updates
4. HiMama
HiMama is a childcare management platform that helps daycares, preschools, and after school programs manage operations and communications. Founded in 2014, HiMama serves over 5,000 centers across the US and internationally. Their mobile-first solution allows caregivers and parents to easily communicate through photos, updates and messages.
Pros: Some key advantages of HiMama include:
– Mobile-first solution loved by busy caregivers
– Integrates geofencing for extra security when kids arrive/leave
– Streamlined billing and payment features
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the free version only allows one classroom and has limited features. For most small to mid-sized centers, an annual subscription will be needed.
Pricing: HiMama offers both free and paid plans. The free Basic plan includes one classroom. Annual subscription pricing starts at $9/month for the Growth plan per classroom or $12/month for the Premier plan which includes additional features like 24/7 support.
Some key stats about HiMama include:
– Serves over 5,000 childcare centers globally
– Available in both iOS and Android mobile apps
– Integrates with over 30 child sign-in/out systems
5. Eleyo
Eleyo is child care software designed to help child care centers, preschools, and after school programs manage their business. Founded in 2010, Eleyo provides an all-in-one online solution for registration, enrollment, attendance tracking, billing, payments, communications and more.
Pros: Some key advantages of Eleyo include:
– Powerful but easy to use all-in-one solution to manage your entire business from one platform
– Integrates tuition management, billing and payment processing for a streamlined experience
– Supports large multi-site organizations with centralized administration and location-level customization
Cons: One potential disadvantage is the subscription pricing model which requires ongoing costs compared to a one-time purchase of an on-premise solution.
Pricing: Eleyo offers 3 pricing tiers on a monthly subscription basis:
– Essentials: $49/month per location
– Plus: $99/month per location
– Premier: $149/month per location
Additional per-user fees may apply for large user bases.
Some key stats about Eleyo include:
– Used by over 3,000 facilities globally
– Supports multi-site and large organizations with thousands of families
– Processes over $1 billion in annual transactions
6. Procare
Procare is an industry-leading all-in-one child care management software used by over 12,000 child care facilities worldwide. In business since 1992, Procare helps child care centers manage their enrollment, billing, attendance, nutrition, staff management, communications, and more through an intuitive online platform.
Pros: Key advantages of Procare include:
– Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
– Powerful reporting and analytics
– Automated billing and payments
– Streamlined communications with parents
– Real-time attendance tracking
– Mobile app for on-the-go access
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that as an all-in-one solution, there may be features that some centers do not need and are still paying for in the monthly subscription fee.
Pricing: Procare offers flexible monthly pricing plans starting at $79 per month based on the number of classrooms/students. Pricing includes access to all core features along with support and upgrades. No long term contract required.
Some key stats about Procare include:
– Used by over 12,000 child care facilities worldwide
– All-in-one solution for enrollment, billing, attendance, and more
– Robust reporting and analytics help centers run more efficiently
7. SmartCare
SmartCare is a leading child care management software developed by SmartCare. Founded in 2005, SmartCare aims to make managing childcare centers simpler through an all-in-one platform. Their software is used in over 5,000 childcare centers across the US and Canada.
Pros: Some key advantages of SmartCare include:
– Streamlines daily tasks like meals, diapers and medications
– Parents love accessing photos and daily reports on the go
– Robust analytics help centers track benchmarks over time
– Intuitive interface adapts to different user roles
Cons: A potential disadvantage is the need for all staff and parents to adapt to a new system. There may be a learning curve when first implementing SmartCare software.
Pricing: SmartCare offers flexible pricing plans starting from $99 per month for basic features up to $299 per month for advanced analytics and unlimited user support. They also offer a free 30-day trial to test out the software.
Some key stats about SmartCare include:
– Used in over 5,000 childcare centers
– Available on iOS and Android apps for on-the-go access by parents and staff
– Integrations with over 30 partners including ProCare and KidCheck
– Serves over 500,000 children on the platform
8. Jackrabbit
Jackrabbit is a child care management software created to help child care centers, preschools, and daycares streamline their operations. Founded in 2000, Jackrabbit has grown to serve over 5,000 child care facilities across the United States and Canada. Their all-in-one platform aims to handle everything from enrollment and attendance to billing and compliance.
Pros: Some key advantages of Jackrabbit include:
– All-in-one solution to manage enrollment, scheduling, billing, communications, and more from a single platform
– Robust online parent portal allows easy communication between staff and parents
– Intuitive interface designed specifically for child care workflows
– Automatic billing and payment processing saves time
Cons: The main disadvantage is the subscription pricing model which requires ongoing monthly or annual fees. However, this includes unlimited support and upgrades to the platform.
Pricing: Jackrabbit offers monthly or annual pricing plans. Basic plan starts at $99/month or $995 annually for up to 75 children. Additional pricing tiers are available for centers with 76-150 children and over 150 children. All plans include unlimited phone and email support as well as access to new features and upgrades.
Some key stats about Jackrabbit include:
– Serves over 5,000 child care centers
– Founded in 2000 and based in Denver, Colorado
– Supported various compliance regulations including CACFP and QRIS
– Automates daily tasks for more than 500,000 children
9. KidKare
KidKare is cloud-based child care software that helps childcare centers and preschools streamline operations and stay compliant with the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Founded in 1992, KidKare has been providing CACFP software solutions for over 30 years.
Pros: Key advantages of KidKare include:
– Paperless features that modernize record keeping processes
– Flexible pricing plans to fit centers of all sizes and budgets
– Robust reporting tools that streamline CACFP regulatory compliance
Cons: A potential disadvantage is that the pricing may be higher than some other competitors depending on the specific needs and size of the childcare center. However, KidKare aims to offer flexible pricing plans to accommodate centers of all budgets.
Pricing: KidKare offers pricing plans starting at $49/month for their Essentials package. Their Premier package is $79/month and includes additional features like calendar scheduling, online payments, check uploading, and single sign-on access. All pricing displayed is on an annual contract basis.
Some key stats about KidKare include:
– Over 30,000 childcare centers use KidKare software nationwide
– Serves over 1.5 million children daily through their CACFP partnership
– Provides paperless claims processing for monthly CACFP reimbursement
10. Little Folks
Little Folks is a child care management software designed to help child care centers, daycares, preschools, and kindergartens manage their daily operations. Founded in 2009 and based in Austin, Texas, Little Folks aims to provide quality child care through an easy-to-use management platform.
Pros: Some key advantages of Little Folks include:
– Good all-in-one solution for managing smaller child care businesses
– User-friendly interface that is intuitive for both staff and parents
– Affordable pricing with usage-based plans starting at $49/month
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the software may not have as many advanced features as higher-priced competitors which could be better suited for larger child care centers.
Pricing: Little Folks offers affordable pricing plans tailored to the needs of small to medium-sized child care facilities. The basic plan starts at $49 per month and includes features for 20 students. Additional students can be added for $2 per extra student. Higher priced plans include additional features and support.
Some key stats about Little Folks include:
– Used by over 3,000 child care facilities nationwide
– Integrated digital forms, payments, scheduling, and more
– Mobile apps for both iOS and Android
– 24/7 phone and email support
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11. CampBrain
CampBrain is child care management software designed for camps, after school programs, and child enrichment centers. In business since 2006, CampBrain provides an all-in-one platform to manage registrations, communications, payments, scheduling, attendance tracking and more.
Pros: Some key advantages of CampBrain include:
– Feature-rich program management tools including online registration, email marketing, attendance tracking, and more.
– Good parent portal with messaging, billing & payment history, and account management tools.
– Mobile apps allow access to key features anytime, anywhere.
– 24/7 phone, chat, and email support from their U.S.-based customer success team.
Cons: One potential disadvantage is the software can be more full-featured than needed for some smaller programs, which may prefer a more basic/affordable option. Initial implementation and training time is also needed to fully leverage all features.
Pricing: Pricing for CampBrain starts at $99 per month for the basic plan, including features for up to 100 participants. Additional tiers include Professional ($199/mo for up to 250 participants) and Premium plans ($299/mo for unlimited participants). There are also custom enterprise plans for larger organizations.
Some key stats about CampBrain include:
– Over 10,000 camps, schools, and organizations currently use CampBrain globally.
– Available in both web-based and mobile app format for iOS and Android.
– Integrates with 50+ child payment processors including PayPal, Chase Paymentech, and more.
– Won numerous ‘Best of’ awards for camp management software.
– Hosted in the cloud with automatic software updates and backup services.
12. KidReports
KidReports is a child care management software created specifically for childcare centers, preschools, and daycares. The software provides an easy to use iPad and web based solution to streamline daily operations and reporting. Key features include daily sheets, attendance tracking, billing and payments, family portal, and more.
Pros: Key advantages of KidReports include:
– Easy to use iPad app designed for teachers to quickly report on each child’s day
– Integrates data into Daily Sheets, Notes, Allergies/Medications and more for seamless reporting
– Family Portal allows parents to access photos, daily reports, billing and more
– Affordable pricing plans suitable for centers and homes of all sizes
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the software is designed for iPad and web use only. It does not currently have a native mobile app for iPhone/Android use.
Pricing: KidReports offers affordable monthly pricing plans starting at $79 per month for up to 25 students. Additional pricing tiers are available for centers with 26-50 students, 51-100 students and unlimited students.
Some key stats about KidReports include:
– Used in over 4,000 childcare programs globally
– Integrates with 45+ state standards and curriculums like Creative Curriculum
– Available in English and Spanish
– 24/7 customer support
Conclusion
Choosing child care management software is an important decision that requires thorough research and evaluation. Consider the unique needs and workflows of your business as well as budget before selecting a solution. We hope this guide provides a useful starting point and comparison of some top options on the market today. Evaluate free trials where possible and speak to current customers of solutions you’re considering to make the choice that best supports your center’s administrative needs and goals for 2023 and beyond.