Has anybody ever come to think of how far child care has come in the past, let's say, two decades? From simply calling up your neighbor's teenager for a few bucks all the way to electronically paying a certified nanny for extra childrearing.
Suffice it to say, the whole business of child care has come a long way since 1999. Nowadays, child care management systems are aplenty and we're here to discuss two of them.
Early Learning Ventures has provided this child care management software comparison with Brightwheel to help.
Alliance CORE Child Care Management System helps caretakers keep records and organize enrollment. It also helps keep users' child care state licensing up to date. This software helps center-based programs and those in a family child care home.
Brightwheel follows a similar path for child care software, only this time made specifically for preschools and daycares. Designed for teachers for administrative tasks, it streamlines tasks for high-capacity centers, making them easier for parents or guardians, too.
The next few sections are great for professionals and caregivers alike to explore the differences between the two, in order to weed out the best child care management.
Features of Alliance CORE
When comparing Alliance CORE vs. Brightwheel, it's important to consider the features available on each childcare management software. Mobile applications and features make care, communication, and management easier.
Alliance CORE is a cloud-based system that helps providers by streamlining many of the administrative processes they work through on a daily basis, including
- Online Enrollment: Our online enrollment allows for electronic registration. The easy-to-follow process means that providers are able to have their applications out to parents in minutes.
- Child/Staff Attendance: A staple of all child care management systems, the system manages your check-in/out process.
- Child/Parent/Staff Records and Documentation: Up-to-date records are important at all times. Our system alerts providers as records are coming due or are overdue.
- Caregiver Communications (multiple formats): Communicate with parents and caregivers through kiosk, email, or text messages.
- Billing/Tuition invoicing: Automate your billing process for each family.
- Multiple Reporting Capabilities (both pre-built and customizable): Whether you need a list of all payments received that week or a list of all immunizations required this month, scheduled reporting gives you the information you need in seconds.
- Wait List Management
- Schedule/Room Management
- Daily Health Checks
- Medical Information Tracking
- Provider/Parent Alerts
- Parent Engagement
- Parent Portal
- Provider Dashboards
- Provider Alerts
- Real-Time Data Tracking
- Mobile Applications/Features
- Mobile Daily Reporting
- Mobile Instant Messaging
- Touchless Check-in/out
- QuickBooks Online Integration
- State Child Care Subsidy Integration (select States)
Alliance CORE is API compatible and select states can access state child care subsidy integration. Users can receive tuition invoicing and Quickbooks online integration. CACFP data collection and tracking is also available to those using Alliance CORE.
Features of Brightwheel
Brightwheel is a management software solution for childcarers, daycares, and preschools specifically designed to streamline tasks tackled by directors/administrators and teachers at mid-to-high-capacity centers.
With Britghtwheel’s all-in-on website and app, you’ll be able to use:
- Facility Management
- Financial Management
- Independent/Private
- K-12
- Online Calendar
- Parent/Student Portal
- Special Education
- Live Chat and Dedicated Support: Get onboarded with a dedicated coach, access easy-to-follow help content, and contact us via live chat during business hours. They have the industry’s largest support team and are here to support you, your staff, and your families.
- Professional development resources: Join live weekly webinars for free, and access a library of training videos, and blog articles that are all tailored to help you and your staff stay informed and up to date on how to best deliver quality early education.
- Online provider community: Join the Brightwheel customer-only Facebook community group for admins, foster relationships and learn from other early education experts.
Alliance CORE Development and Support
Alliance CORE deploys through the cloud, SaaS, and web-based forums and various mobile applications as well. It is accessible on mobile devices, such as Androids, iPhones, and iPads.
Support when using Alliance CORE is available through email, the help desk, and FAQs they've posted. We have also made our forum and Knowledge Base available to users. Alliance CORE provides 12+ hours of phone support if you wish to ask an employee any questions.
The support team meets providers where they are in terms of their technology experience and “holds their hand” as much as needed to ensure they feel supported while learning this new technology.
Alliance CORE follows a mantra of “if it’s going to take you more than 2 minutes to figure something out on your own, to just call us instead.”
Users can attend live online training through Alliance CORE. Alliance CORE holds webinars, provides documentation, and uploads videos to help equip those using the software.Brightwheel Development and Support
Brightwheel deploys through the cloud, SaaS, and web-based forums. The software can be deployed on Mac and Windows desktops. Brightwheel software is accessible on mobile devices such as Androids, iPhones, and iPads.
Brightwheel is available through email, the help desk, FAQs they have posted. Their forums and knowledge base are available for users with questions. To speak with an employee, you can also call Brightwheel or use their online chat.
Brightwheel offers live online training. The software offers webinars, videos, and documentation to users.
Alliance CORE vs. Brightwheel Pricing
We understand that pricing can play a large part in one's decision. Both Alliance CORE and Brightwheel offer free trials to help decide what is the better fit for you.
Alliance CORE provides a foundation on which providers can save time and money, smoothly run their business, and allow them to focus on why they got into the child care business in the first place – caring for and educating children.
Alliance CORE
Cost of standard CCMS (Child Care Management Software) package
Licensed Enrollment Capacity | Cost |
|---|---|
0-30 | $25/mo |
31-60 | $50/mo |
61+ | $100/mo |
Enrollment Support | Billing Support | Sign-In and Out Support | Communication | Daily Reports Form Uploads/Storage | Payroll Support |
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Resources/Costs NOT Included in Basic CCMS Package | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Training Costs (if applicable) | One-time onboarding fee | N/A |
Technology Access/Resources | Alliance CORE is a cloud-based system, compatible and accessible on all devices. Google Chrome is the recommended web browser for accessing Alliance CORE. | N/A |
Supplemental/Optional Materials | A Merchant Account can be established with a third-party Payment Processing Company that we’ve integrated our Alliance CORE system with in order to process electronic payments. | Service fees tied to Merchant Account and number of electronic transactions, dependent on the payment method used |
Cost for Bilingual Editions | N/A (we currently use Google Translate in order to translate our system to a language other than English) | N/A |
Brightwheel
Cost of standard CCMS (Child Care Management Software) package
Brightwheel is offering a special discount to participants of this program. To ensure you receive the discounted rates below, you need to inform them that you are a Child Care Management Software (CCMS) Initiative participant when you sign up.
$600 to $1500 annually, based on enrollment
Enrollment Support | Billing Support | Sign-In and Out Support | Communication | Daily Reports Form Uploads/Storage | Payroll Support |
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Resources/Costs NOT Included in Basic CCMS Package | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Training Costs (if applicable) | When you sign-up, one of our onboarding coaches will personally walk you through everything Brightwheel can do to help your center succeed. This will include dedicated and group-based trainings. You will also have access to easy-to-follow help content, including training videos, articles, and frequently asked questions. | Free |
Technology Access/Resources | Brightwheel is compatible with your mobile, tablet, and desktop device. You can download the app from Apple iTunes or Google Play store. You can also access it via a web browser. | N/A |
Supplemental/Optional Materials | Join live weekly webinars and earn a certificate of attendance. See what’s upcoming and explore our on-demand library Continue to build your knowledge and help your childcare center succeed with Brightwheel’s eBooks and in-depth guides Download tools and templates to help you save time while managing your childcare center or preschool Stay inspired through Brightwheel’s blog that is tailored to help you and your staff to help you run an amazing early education center Leverage this resource center to stay COVID-19 compliant and keep your families and staff healthy. | Free |
Cost for Bilingual Editions | N/A | N/A |
Pros and Cons of Alliance CORE
Alliance CORE is ELV’s proprietary Child Care Management System (CCMS) that we created from scratch. Alliance CORE is a cloud-based system that is compatible with any device. Customer support allows for flexible software use for each specific situation. Users are able to customize Alliance CORE to best suit their needs.
Pros
- Cloud-based System
- Compatible with any device
- ELV is a not-for-profit organization
- ELV offers Partner, not Product, approach
- Customized support, not a one-size-fits-all approach
- Live Customer Support available weekdays, 6:00am-6:00pm (MST)
- Budget-conscious and efficient
- System customization available
- Licensing Compliant
Cons
Alliance CORE does not have a provider/staff calendar component to track and manage daily meetings, but it does offera provider events feature that allows providers to set up events and track attendance to those events.
Pros and Cons of Brightwheel
Pros
Brightwheel is easy to navigate (layout is very user-friendly) and allows users to control the settings easily. Brightwheel has an option for auto-generating reports that can be used for FSA reimbursement and tax purposes when claiming dependent care cost on your taxes.
Cons
One of the few cons would be the pricing because if $15 is too much for the consumer, then this won't be the best option.
The lack of in-person training can be a no-no for some people.
Going without any browser-based extension might be a problem as well and no on-premise deployment can be a bother.
Making the Best Decision
There are pros and cons to any child care management software. There are features that are unique to each software. Now that we've looked at the childcare software management comparison of Alliance CORE vs. Brightwheel, you can begin to decide which is the best option for you.
The Alliance CORE child care management system by Early Learning Ventures, a not-for-profit organization, makes running your business easier. We partner with our providers every step of the way through one-on-one client support. Our experienced team works with providers of all technical skill levels, building comfort with the system one step at a time – all with the personal connection that comes from a small team.
We encourage you to schedule a demo with us today to talk about your decision. You'll speak with an Early Learning Ventures representative about the specific needs your program is looking for regarding administrative support and any benefits that we can provide you with that you may not have access to currently. We are happy to help you make your decision!
Early Learning Ventures is here to help and has provided resources to help you understand all elements of a child care management system. It is also helpful to take a look at when common licensing violations are revealed on our page to gain a greater understanding of why what we do at Early learning Ventures is important. We are here to help you make the best decision for your business when it comes to selecting a childcare management system.Are you looking for more child care management information? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Child Care Management.
Our child care management system makes running your child care program simple and efficient. Get back to what's most important. You shouldn't have to spend more time on the administrative tasks than you do with children and staff.
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Or schedule a demo with us to learn more about how our child care management system, Alliance Core, can streamline your administrative processes.
Do you run an early childhood association made up of child care providers? If so, check out our Ultimate Guide to Shared Service Alliance.
Header image courtesy of Jumpstory.
