Childcare is a business that can be quite fun because you are always around kids. On the flip side, it can get quite challenging as you have a lot of tasks in the office to organize, which can get quite overwhelming.
For this reason, Daycare software helps you with tasks that can get quite hard to manage. This article will look at the best free daycare software you can use for your business.
The majority of the daycare software below has free plans for freemium options, which will offer basic software. You can then upgrade to paid plans as your nursery grows.
Famly.io Nursery Management Software
Famly.io is one of the most popular pieces of daycare software on the market, and rightly so. It’s cloud-based and offers an all-in-one solution to childcare businesses that assists them with tasks such as:
-Check-ins/outs
-Tracking Activities
-Payments
-Sending Invoices
-Communicating with parents
You can also create profiles for all the children and add information, such as any notes about their health, progress, or any other type of notes you need.
Not bad right? And, as Famly is on this list, they also have a free plan.
Although it is a little hidden. If you go to their pricing table, you need to scroll to the bottom to find the free plan. It also has some great features and very few limits, so it’s an option you should at least consider.
Illumine
The next best free daycare solution is Illumine.
Illumine offers a great tool, and just going by the free version’s features is probably the best on this list. However, the main limitation of the free version is that there is only room for 10 kids before you are forced to upgrade.
Still, Illumine has multiple powerful apps that might be the right solution for you, and even the paid plans start from just $0.50 per child, so that’s nothing too bad at all.
The first app it has is the parent communication app; this app allows you to manage the children’s data and keep the parents in the loop. The other app is the teacher communication app which is used to manage your team of teachers.
There is also a web application and a phone admin app. Each app is designed specifically for its own purpose, which means they all have some great features.
On the free plan, you also get 20 GB worth of storage which is quite nice too.
So, if your daycare manages under ten kids or you don’t mind paying a little cost, then Illumine could be an option to consider.
Cheqdin
Cheqdin is another great free daycare software and is only marginally behind Illumine. It’s in a quite similar situation as Illumine, as it offers a range of powerful features to help you manage your daycare effectively, but has a limit of 15 registered children.
The features are quite good too, as you can manage:
Bookings
Registrations
Invoices
Parent Communication
However, the support is quite limited for the free version, as you would probably expect. That being said, you do get free email support, so it’s not like you would be left completely in the dark.
Other than that, the features are quite good too, but probably not as good as our first two options.
Brightwheel
The next best free daycare software is BrightWheel.
BrightWheel has two pricing plans, but the free one includes:
See Attendance
Daily Reports
Photos
Teacher & Parent apps
Invoicing & Bill pay
Reporting
You can have up to 20 registered children and only one staff member. The features are pretty solid, as seen above, some will argue that it should have been higher up this list, but I feel like the 5th spot serves it right as there is no messaging unless you upgrade to the pro version.
There also is no email support; you only have access to the free online help center, webinars & blogs.
It’s fairly good, considering it’s free, but if it wants to push up higher on this list of free daycare software, it needs to make some improvements. On a list of paid daycare software, it may have been higher too.
Connect Childcare
Has built a robust reputation by offering top-tier, integrated software solutions specifically designed for the childcare sector. This software effectively addresses the numerous administrative tasks that childcare providers face daily.
Among the comprehensive suite of tools it offers, there’s a keen focus on planning, observation, and assessments, offering features that align with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. This assists educators in delivering well-structured learning programs and tracking the children’s developmental progress more accurately.
HiMama
is a leading provider of daycare software, bringing a suite of digital tools to the early education sector. The software enables child care centers to streamline administrative tasks, enhance parent communication, and document children’s learning and development.
One of the key highlights of HiMama is its user-friendly mobile app.It allows real-time updates to be sent to parents, keeping them informed about their children’s daily activities, meals, nap times, and more. Additionally, the platform supports online invoicing and payments, simplifying billing processes for centers and parents alike. HiMama’s focus on building strong relationships between parents and educators sets it apart in the industry.
Procare Software
Procare Software delivers an all-in-one daycare management solution that simplifies a range of administrative tasks, from attendance tracking to billing and parent communication.
Procare’s software is renowned for its integration with hardware solutions like door security systems and touchscreen devices, enhancing the safety and efficiency of childcare centers. The digital attendance feature, including biometric check-in, provides an additional layer of accountability. Procare’s Cloud data hosting ensures that all data is securely backed up and accessible from anywhere, anytime.
The parent communication features of Procare are also top-tier, with the ability to send real-time updates and process online payments, making it a comprehensive solution for childcare management.
