Finding a childcare solution can be tough, but luckily, there are some awesome apps out there that make life way easier! Whether you're a busy parent or a childcare provider, these apps will help you stay organized, track progress, and communicate with everyone involved.
In this list, we're going to break down the top 10 best apps for childcare on mobile. We'll highlight the features that matter most, like scheduling, communication, and billing. Three of the most popular options are Brightwheel, Procare, and Lillio. These apps are super user-friendly and are designed to help you manage everything from daily routines to important payments.
| App | Logo | Available On | Reviews | Downloads | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. brightwheel |  | Android, iOS | 4.9/5 | 2M+ | Integrated management, Parent engagement, Streamlined workflows |
| 2. Procare |  | Android, iOS | 4.9/5 | 1M+ | Contactless sign in/out, Real-time updates, Streamlined communication |
| 3. Lillio |  | Android, iOS | 4.9/5 | 513K+ | Faster daily reporting, Streamlined family engagement |
| 4. UrbanSitter |  | Android, iOS | 4.8/5 | 296K+ | Trusted network connections, Safety and background checks |
| 5. OWNA Childcare App |  | Android, iOS | 4.2/5 | 156K+ | Daily routine tracking, Real-time updates, Seamless communication |
| 6. Bambino |  | Android, iOS | 4.9/5 | 115K+ | Trusted neighborhood babysitters, Easy booking and payment |
| 7. Illumine |  | Android | 4.6/5 | 38K+ | Digital attendance tracking, Automated billing and payments |
1. brightwheel
Streamlined communication with parents, Track attendance and learning progress
Download:
Application information
| Category | Education |
| Downloads | Over two million |
| Features | Brightwheel is an app for childcare that offers daily sheets, attendance tracking, billing, communication tools, and learning assessments to help childcare centers manage their operations, streamline workflows, and engage with parents. |
| Who It’s For | Preschools, child care centers, daycares, camps, and after-school programs |
- Tags:
- Seamless communication
- Effortless Organization
- Parent Engagement Simplified
Brightwheel is a promising app for childcare centers, offering features like check-ins, photo sharing, and communication tools. However, some users have reported frustrating issues with the app's reliability, including inconsistent push notifications, missing photos, and occasional crashes. While the app's core functionality is decent, these glitches can significantly hinder its effectiveness for both parents and teachers, making it a less than ideal solution for seamless childcare communication.
Pros & Cons
- Streamlines communication with parents
- Offers daily sheets and attendance
- Provides billing and learning tools
- Great for managing childcare programs
- Notification reliability is inconsistent
- Photos not automatically downloaded
- Limited conversation functionality
Why we chose it?
Brightwheel is my go-to app for managing my childcare center! I love how it streamlines everything from attendance and communication to billing and learning assessments. The easy-to-use interface and comprehensive features make it a breeze to stay organized and connected with parents, while saving me tons of time on administrative tasks.
✨ Read more: app for caregivers
2. Procare
Contactless sign in/out, Real-time communication with parents
Download:
Application information
| Category | Education |
| Downloads | Over 1 million downloads |
| Features | Procare is an app for childcare that simplifies operations and enhances communication between educators, parents, and children, including contactless sign-in/out, daily reports, photo and video sharing, and milestone recording. |
| Who It’s For | Early childhood educators, daycare centers, preschools, and families with young children. |
- Tags:
- Contactless Sign In/Out
- Real-Time Classroom Updates
- Professional Communication
Procare is a highly-rated app for childcare that streamlines communication between parents and staff. Users praise its intuitive design, making it easy to track children's activities, view photos and videos, and even manage payments. While some features are basic, like the payment history, the app shines with its seamless navigation between multiple children, making it a breeze to stay connected with each child's progress. The app's smooth performance and lack of major bugs make it a standout choice in the childcare app category.
Pros & Cons
- Easy communication with staff
- Simple and intuitive design
- Smooth switching between children
- Full feature support and no bugs
- Basic payment system
- Photos cannot be zoomed
- Lacks online version features
Why we chose it?
Procare is my go-to app for childcare because it simplifies so much! I love that I can easily track attendance, communicate with parents, and share photos and videos of the kids' activities, all in one place. Plus, the contactless sign-in and out feature is a game-changer, making drop-off and pick-up a breeze for everyone.
3. Lillio
Streamlined center management tools, Enhanced family communication platform
Cost:
Free Plan (Free), Premium Plan ($49/month)
Download:
Application information
| Category | Education |
| Downloads | Over half a million downloads |
| Features | Lillio provides center management, family engagement tools, simple registration and payment options, and a research-based curriculum. |
| Who It’s For | Childcare providers and families. |
- Tags:
- Center Management
- Family Engagement
- Curriculum Planning
Lillio is a comprehensive app for childcare that aims to streamline daily operations and enhance communication with families. While praised for its intuitive layout and user-friendly interface, some users have reported occasional glitches and slow data entry, making it challenging to keep up with real-time updates. Despite these hiccups, the app's potential to simplify tasks like attendance tracking, meal planning, and communication remains promising, particularly for those who appreciate its features for family engagement and its research-based curriculum. With ongoing updates and improvements, Lillio has the potential to become an even more powerful tool for childcare providers.
Pros & Cons
- Easy to understand layout
- Improved user interface
- All-in-one childcare solution
- Great features for childcare
- Slow data input speed
- App crashes and glitches
- Unreliable notification system
Why we chose it?
Lillio is my go-to app for childcare because it's super easy to use and streamlines everything from daily reports to family communication. I love how organized and efficient it makes my center, and it's totally worth the investment for the peace of mind it brings!
4. UrbanSitter
Trusted sitter network, Background checks included, Easy booking and payment
Download:
Application information
| Category | Parenting |
| Downloads | Over 296,000 downloads |
| Features | UrbanSitter is an app for childcare that allows you to find, interview, book, and pay trusted sitters and nannies within your network, all while ensuring safety with background checks and verified profiles. |
| Who It’s For | Parents seeking reliable and trusted childcare solutions, from last-minute babysitting needs to regular nanny arrangements. |
- Tags:
- Trusted network
- Easy booking
- Safety checks
UrbanSitter is a mobile app for childcare that promises to connect you with trusted sitters and nannies in your neighborhood. While users praise the concept of connecting with vetted caregivers through a network of friends and family, the app has garnered criticism for its pricing model and user experience. Some users find the monthly subscription fee, starting at $35, to be an unexpected and unwelcome surprise after investing time in searching for a sitter. Furthermore, users report frustrating glitches, repetitive prompts, and unclear navigation, making the process of finding and booking sitters cumbersome. Despite these drawbacks, many users have found reliable caregivers through the platform, highlighting the potential value of the app's core functionality.
Pros & Cons
- Connects with local sitters
- Easy to find sitters
- Background checks on sitters
- Variety of sitter types
- Hidden monthly subscription fee
- Expensive for the service offered
- Poorly designed and buggy app
Why we chose it?
UrbanSitter is my go-to app for childcare because it makes finding trusted sitters a breeze! I love that it connects me with parents I know, so I can get recommendations and feel confident about who's watching my little ones. Plus, the background checks and easy booking process are huge time-savers!
5. OWNA Childcare App
Track child progress throughout the day, View photos videos and more
Download:
Application information
| Category | Education |
| Downloads | Over 150,000 downloads |
| Features | The app provides features for both educators and parents, including curriculum programming, image and video uploads, daily routine tracking, attendance tracking, and communication tools. |
| Who It’s For | The OWNA Childcare App is a powerful app for childcare centres, educators, and parents looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to manage daily childcare activities and communication. |
- Tags:
- Curriculum Planning
- Real-Time Updates
- Parent-Educator Connection
The OWNA Childcare App is a comprehensive and intuitive solution for childcare centers and parents alike. This app for childcare streamlines communication and documentation, allowing educators to easily capture learning moments, share updates with parents, and manage daily routines. Parents can stay connected with their children's progress, receiving timely notifications about attendance, mealtimes, and activities. The app boasts a user-friendly interface, with educators praising the ease of creating learning stories and uploading photos, but suggesting improvements to notification customization for a better work-life balance.
Pros & Cons
- Excellent support for educators
- Easy to track child progress
- Notifies staff of absences
- Great for documenting childcare
- Overwhelming notification system
- Homepage navigation is confusing
- Limited photo upload capacity
Why we chose it?
I absolutely love OWNA Childcare App! It's packed with features that make managing childcare a breeze. From tracking daily routines to viewing photos and videos, it keeps me connected to my child's day. Plus, the user-friendly interface and seamless communication with the center make it a standout app for any parent.
6. Bambino
Trusted sitters recommended by neighbors, Simplified booking and payment system
Cost:
Free (Free), Premium ($14.99/month)
Download:
Application information
| Category | App for childcare |
| Downloads | Over 115,000 downloads |
| Features | Bambino connects parents with trusted local babysitters, allowing them to browse recommendations, read reviews, book appointments, and make secure payments all within the app. |
| Who It’s For | Parents looking for reliable and convenient babysitting services |
- Tags:
- Trusted Babysitters
- Easy booking
- Secure payments
Bambino is a revolutionary app for childcare that brings the convenience of a one-stop-shop to finding and managing reliable babysitters. Users rave about the app's ease of use, particularly its ability to connect parents with trusted sitters recommended by friends and neighbors. The app's built-in communication, payment processing, and GPS features streamline the entire process, allowing parents to focus on enjoying their time away. However, while the app's core functionality receives high praise, some users express concerns about the app's lack of notification settings, limited customization options, and extensive permission requests.
Pros & Cons
- Easy to find sitters
- Convenient booking and payment
- Community-based recommendations
- Flexible scheduling for sitters
- Lack of app notifications
- Limited app settings and control
- Excessive app permissions
Why we chose it?
I absolutely love Bambino for childcare! It's like having a trusted network of sitters right at my fingertips. Finding vetted, local babysitters is a breeze thanks to the app's easy search and friend recommendations. Plus, the payment system is super smooth and secure, making it a total no-brainer to book a sitter. Bambino truly takes the stress out of finding childcare, and that's why it's my go-to app!
7. Illumine
Streamline billing and payment process, Track child progress and assessments
Download:
Application information
| Category | Education |
| Downloads | Over 37,000 downloads |
| Features | Illumine is an all-in-one childcare management app offering features like billing, attendance tracking, parent communication, and child progress tracking. |
| Who It’s For | Daycare and preschool owners, teachers, and parents. |
- Tags:
- Easy payment management
- Real-Time Attendance Tracking
- Personalized Child Assessments
Illumine is a game-changer for childcare centers, offering a seamless and user-friendly platform that simplifies daily operations. Parents rave about the ease of communication and the personalized experience, praising the app's quick response times and regular updates. With its intuitive design and robust features, Illumine makes managing a childcare center a breeze, providing a platform for better communication between parents, teachers, and school administrators.
Pros & Cons
- Easy to use, simple interface
- Quick response time from support
- Regular upgrades and improvements
- Effective communication with parents
- Relatively young app, may have bugs
- Lacks Chinese language support
- IOS updates may not be synchronized
Why we chose it?
Illumine is a fantastic choice for childcare because it's packed with features that make my life as a daycare provider so much easier! It handles everything from attendance tracking and billing to parent communication and child progress reports. Plus, it's incredibly user-friendly, which means I can focus on what matters most – caring for the kids!
8. Upwards
Vetted and background checked caregivers, Easy-to-use booking and scheduling
Download:
Application information
| Category | App for Childcare |
| Downloads | Over 36,000 downloads |
| Features | Upwards connects families with vetted, licensed, and background checked caregivers, making it easy to find and book high-quality childcare services like daycares, nannies, and babysitters. |
| Who It’s For | Parents and families seeking safe, affordable, and high-quality childcare solutions. |
- Tags:
- Easy Caregiver Matching
- Safe and Vetted Caregivers
- Affordable Childcare
Upwards is a mobile app for childcare that aims to simplify the search for the perfect daycare, nanny, or babysitter. While some users rave about the ease of scheduling tours and enrolling their children, others express frustration with app crashes and glitches that disrupt the experience. While the app's real-time updates and curriculum features are highly valued, the matchmaker service has been met with mixed reviews, with some users finding it helpful while others feel it doesn't offer the promised support. Overall, Upwards offers a valuable platform for connecting families with caregivers, but its reliability and effectiveness can be inconsistent.
Pros & Cons
- Easy to schedule daycare tours
- Fast enrollment process for daycare
- Real-time picture updates and curriculum
- Great for finding daycare on your own
- App frequently crashes and is unreliable
- Matchmaker service is not worth the cost
- Poor communication and follow-up from matchmaker
Why we chose it?
Upwards is the perfect app for busy parents looking for reliable and trustworthy childcare. I love that Upwards allows me to easily find and book vetted caregivers in my area, with transparent pricing and a user-friendly interface. Plus, with Upwards, I can rest assured that my child is in good hands, thanks to their comprehensive background checks and caregiver reviews.
9. myKidzDay Parent Childcare app
Parent communication, daily updates, Touchless attendance, simplified check-in
Download:
Application information
| Category | Education |
| Downloads | Over 10,000 downloads |
| Features | myKidzDay offers daily updates, photos, videos, reminders, newsletters, incident reports, lesson plans, schedules, emergency notifications, and more for parents, while enabling childcare centers to manage attendance, meals, and communication effectively. |
| Who It’s For | Childcare centers, daycares, family care programs, early learning centers, special needs schools, preschools, camps, and school-age programs. |
- Tags:
- Real-Time Updates
- Touchless attendance
- Incident reporting
myKidzDay Parent Childcare app is a game-changer for parents seeking a seamless way to stay connected with their children's daycare experience. This app for childcare offers a user-friendly interface that allows you to easily view your child's daily activities, photos, and even communicate directly with their teachers. The myKidzDay team is known for its exceptional support, quickly addressing any concerns and providing prompt solutions, just like they did for many users who encountered temporary issues with recent updates. With myKidzDay, you'll have peace of mind knowing you're always in the loop, fostering a stronger bond with your child and their educators.
Pros & Cons
- Easy to navigate and save pictures
- Connect with teachers and see activities
- Quick response from help desk
- Problem addressed and solved quickly
- Issue with picture viewing after update
- App closing when clicking on pictures
- Occasional app glitches requiring updates
Why we chose it?
As a childcare provider, I've tried a ton of apps, but myKidzDay is hands down my favorite! It's incredibly easy to use, and I love how seamlessly it connects with parents. The real-time updates, photo sharing, and incident reporting features have been a game-changer for communication, and it's helped me build a stronger relationship with my families. Plus, the touchless attendance feature has been a lifesaver during these uncertain times! It's truly the best app for childcare out there.
10. Childcare App by iCare
Parent-teacher communication and engagement, Automated billing and online payments
Download:
Application information
| Category | Education |
| Downloads | Over 2,900 downloads |
| Features | This app provides features for parent-teacher communication, online payments, registration and enrollment, as well as helpful tools for classroom management and business operations. |
| Who It’s For | This app is designed for childcare centers and early education providers seeking to improve their operations, parent communication, and overall management. |
- Tags:
- Real-Time Updates
- Parent-Teacher Communication
- Automated attendance tracking
Looking for a seamless way to manage your childcare center? "Childcare App by iCare" is the top-rated app for childcare that streamlines everything from enrollment and payments to daily communication and classroom management. This powerful platform allows you to automate tedious tasks, gain valuable insights, and focus on providing an enriching learning experience for your children. With iCare, you can foster strong parent-teacher relationships, ensure a thriving business, and create a truly exceptional childcare environment.
Pros & Cons
- Streamlines communication between parents and staff
- Simplifies enrollment and registration processes
- Offers secure online payment options
- Provides a platform for sharing important updates
- May have limited customization options
- Potential for technical issues or glitches
- Requires internet access for functionality
Why we chose it?
I absolutely love Childcare App by iCare! It's made my life as a childcare provider so much easier. The seamless communication features let me keep parents in the loop with photos, updates, and even online payments. The user-friendly interface makes it a breeze to manage everything from enrollment to attendance, saving me tons of time. If you're looking for a powerful yet simple app for childcare, look no further!