Finding the best child care management software is incredibly important. With so many options providing similar features, it can be difficult to find the ideal one for your needs. The software below have varying price points and features. Finding the best one for you will depend on your must haves and your budget. Check the list below to find which software may be best for you. Some are better suited for camp and activity based child care while others are school based.

The Top 7 Child Care Management Software

  1. Brightwheel – Best for Easy of Use
  2. Kangarootime – Best for Daily Child Reporting
  3. Sawyer – Best for Camp Use
  4. HiMama – Best for Larger Class Sizes
  5. ChildWatch – Best for COVID Precautions
  6. Sandbox ChildCare Management – Best for Customer Service
  7. Kindertales – Best for Communication

1. Brightwheel – Best for Easy of Use

PRICING: Custom quote

Brightwheel offers an easy way for parents to pay with auto payment or mobile pay options. This software is easy to install and begin using. In the face of COVID-19, Brightwheel offers tons of features that help to keep your students and faculty safe. While Brightwheel does not have their pricing listed on their website, they do advertise the opportunity to try the software before purchasing. This will most likely be a trial period of some sort.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Web based
  • Automated statement collection tool
  • One-time charge option
  • Hourly rate option
  • Simple payment options for clients
  • Discount capabilities
  • Parent and staff messaging capabilities
  • Alert options
  • Scheduling capabilities
  • Custom forms
  • E-signature ability
  • Multi-site capabilities
  • Staff management and privilege capabilities
  • Payroll tool
  • State standards provided
  • Digital lesson plan sharing
  • Custom health screening
  • Reporting
  • Allergy tracking
  • Mobile app for Android and iOS

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Demonstration available
  • Distance learning approved
  • Ability to try software before purchasing
  • They offer training to learn the software
  • Has an app for the iPad

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Notifications can be delayed
  • Payments submission sometimes fails to load

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2. Kangarootime – Best for Daily Child Reporting

PRICING: Custom quote

Kangarootime offers a lot of personalization options when it comes to your forms and billing options. This can be great for any business. This software can be a bit difficult for those who aren’t as technologically inclined. But once learned, it is great to work with. Kangarootime makes daily logs for children very easy to input and manage. This can be great when you have parents who want detailed reports of everything their child has done.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Automatic billing
  • Reporting
  • Custom forms
  • Health check-ins
  • Allergy tracking
  • Immunization tracking
  • Alert options
  • Reporting
  • Digital enrollment
  • Mobile app for Android and iOS
  • Daily log tracking

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Group or personalized demonstrations
  • Cloud based
  • Responsive to feedback
  • Has an app for the iPad

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Known to be expensive
  • Can be a bit difficult for those less tech savvy

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3. Sawyer – Best for Camp Use

PRICING: $109 per month with a yearly subscription

Sawyer is ideal for camp and event services. They offer the ability for parents to sign up and pay for events online, which saves everyone time. Sawyer allows you to schedule activities and other plans for each camp or event. The only downside is that it can be difficult for parents to navigate the different events you have planned. As long as you are aware though, it’s easy to assist the parents with locating the information needed.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Online activity possibilities
  • Messaging tool
  • Family profiles
  • Custom form possibilities
  • Party package tool for certain plans
  • Mailchimp integrations
  • Automated feedback forms
  • Analytics tools for certain plans
  • Onboarding assistance
  • Multiple location abilities for certain plans
  • Online & Zoom linking
  • Mobile app for Android and iOS

REASONS TO BUY:

  • 14 day trial with certain plans
  • Custom add-on features
  • Monthly or yearly options
  • Cloud based
  • Easy to use

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Not many customization options
  • Can be difficult for parents to navigate the app
  • Customer support is only through email

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4. HiMama – Best for Larger Class Sizes

PRICING: Custom quote

HiMama is a software that was made for educators by educators. They also charge by the classroom whereas most software costs per child. They have a focus to ensure that they help educators with the most formative years of a child’s life. HiMama is well aware that childhood educators are often underappreciated and work hard to help those educators do their best.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Attendance tracking
  • Parent messaging
  • Daily log tracking
  • Reporting tools
  • Invoicing tools
  • Alerts and notifications
  • Mobile app for Android and iOS

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Has an app for iPad
  • Multiple plan options
  • Demonstration available

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • App is slow to run
  • Not many COVID related awareness features

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5. Childwatch – Best for COVID Precautions

PRICING: $49.95 a month

Childwatch offers several tools to help ease parents’ concerns regarding COVID-19. They have a kiosk that allows for check-in and out without touching to help prevent the spread of germs. They also provide a COVID tracking tool that allows you to manage the potential for students who have been in contact with someone with a positive test result. Childwatch is a great software for small, large, or home childcare businesses.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Billing and invoices
  • Immunization tracking
  • Scheduling tools
  • Daily log tracking
  • Attendance tracking
  • Touchless kiosk
  • COVID tracking tool
  • Fixed rate and Hourly option
  • Billing tool
  • Scheduling for staff and children

REASONS TO BUY:

  • 60 day guarantee
  • Training assistance
  • Discounts for multiple facilities
  • Discounts for ePay
  • Several plan options
  • Cloud based

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • No mobile app

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6. Sandbox ChildCare Management – Best for Customer Service

PRICING: $47 a month for up to 24 students

Sandbox has a goal to help you go completely paperless. Their software is straightforward and easy to use for anyone. Sandbox has been around for quite some time and it shows in their polished software. Sandbox also has outstanding customer service that is determined to ensure your business has the tools it needs to succeed. Sandbox Childcare provides several plan options based on the amount of children you have.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Attendance tracking
  • Child and staff profile management
  • Touchless kiosk
  • Daily log tracking
  • Parent messaging
  • Automation integrations
  • Immunization tracking
  • Invoicing tools
  • Online payments
  • Reporting tools
  • Online registration
  • Mobile app for Android and iOS

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Demonstration available
  • Monthly and yearly options
  • Demonstration available
  • No contract
  • Has an app for iPad

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Unable to add special events
  • No accounting integrations
  • There is a setup fee

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7. Kindertales – Best for Communication

PRICING: Free

Kindertales is designed by child care professionals for child care professionals. They also provide great reporting for keeping track of all information needed. Their forecasting feature is wonderful to help plan ahead. Kindertales key focus is open communication between parents and child care professionals. It’s important for most parents to feel like they are a part of their child’s schooling journey, that is a possibility with Kindertales.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Attendance tracking
  • Messaging tools
  • Medical tracking
  • Online registration
  • Waitlist management tools
  • Online payments
  • Daily log tracking
  • Contactless check-in and out
  • Parent and staff management tools
  • Mobile app for Android and iOS
  • Automation tools
  • Reporting and analytics tools

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Demonstration available
  • Cloud based
  • Has an app for iPad

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Customized reporting is limited
  • Reports aren’t completely accurate

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References and Links

  • https://www.softwareadvice.com/child-care/
  • https://www.capterra.com/child-care-software/
  • https://mybrightwheel.com/
  • https://kangarootime.com/
  • https://www.hisawyer.com/
  • https://www.himama.com/
  • https://childwatch.com/
  • https://www.runsandbox.com/
  • https://www.kindertales.com/