illumine vs Brightwheel

The Ultimate Solution for Childcare Management

Feeling restricted by Brightwheel? We understand.

illumine offers everything you need in one powerful platform - no add-ons required!

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Best-in-Class Parent Engagement
Brightwheel Features Icon
Integrated CRM
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Seamless Billing
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Brightwheel Hero Info Image
Loved by 3000+ Customers

Why illumine is the Smarter Choice Over Brightwheel

#1

Rated all-in-one
childcare solution

35hrs

Saved each month on administrative task

99.9%

Uptime & 24/7 monitoring
we don’t crash

illumine’s secret weapons

You won’t find on Brightwheel
1

One Unified Platform: Say Goodbye to Multiple Tools

illumine replaces the chaos of juggling multiple tools with one powerful solution—integrated CRM for inquiries, seamless attendance tracking, and automated billing. Say goodbye to high costs and complexity. Scale effortlessly with an all-in-one system that’s built to grow with your business.

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2

Hit Enrollment Targets with illumine

Effortlessly manage childcare inquiries with illumine’s integrated CRM. Capture leads, automate follow-ups, and assign tasks—all from one centralized platform. Streamline your admissions process and hit your enrollment goals with precision and ease.

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3

Preloaded Curriculum Framework That Fit Your Teaching Style

Choose from 25+ preloaded curriculum frameworks tailored to align with your teaching approach. Customize every detail—from terminology and milestones to age-specific development areas—to create lesson plans that truly fit your center’s needs.
Create structured weekly plans, engage students with multimedia-rich lessons, and track progress in real-time.

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4

AI-Powered Communication with Custom Approval Flows

Keep parents connected every step of the way with AI-powered, multilingual communication tools. Instantly share real-time alerts, daily reports, and personalized updates across multiple channels. Deliver unlimited photos, videos, and updates tailored to diverse backgrounds—boosting parent satisfaction and engagement like never before.

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1

One Unified Platform: Say Goodbye to Multiple Tools

illumine eliminates the need for multiple software tools by integrating everything you need—built-in CRM for enquiries, efficient attendance tracking, and fool-proof billing and compliance—into one powerful solution. Reduce costs and complexity by replacing multiple SaaS tools with an affordable, scalable system that grows with your business.

Learn More
weapons image
2

Hit Enrollment Targets with illumine

Effortlessly manage childcare inquiries with illumine’s integrated CRM. Capture leads, automate follow-ups, and assign tasks—all from one centralized platform. Streamline your admissions process and hit your enrollment goals with precision and ease.

Learn More
weapons image
3

Preloaded Curriculum Framework That Fit Your Teaching Style

Choose from 25+ preloaded curriculum frameworks tailored to align with your teaching approach. Customize every detail—from terminology and milestones to age-specific development areas—to create lesson plans that truly fit your center’s needs.

Learn More
weapons image
4

AI-Powered Communication with Custom Approval Flows

Keep parents connected every step of the way with AI-powered, multilingual communication tools. Instantly share real-time alerts, daily reports, and personalized updates across multiple channels. Deliver unlimited photos, videos, and updates tailored to diverse backgrounds—boosting parent satisfaction and engagement like never before.

Learn More
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Why settle for less, when you can transform your childcare with illumine

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AssessmentsTable Tick
(25+ curriculums & preloaded milestones; AI-powered)
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Learning PortfoliosTable Tick
(Digital Learning Journals; Customization)
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Online PaymentsTable Tick
(Apple Pay, Cards, Autopay ACH & EFT; 10+ providers)
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(ACH & Cards, 3-4% fee)
Billing AutomationTable Tick
(Automated billing, late fees, one-time charges, credits)
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(Automated billing, late fees, credits)
Fee RemindersTable Tick
(Automated in-app and email reminders)
Limited (Manual reminders)
Company BillingTable Tick
(Bill corporates instead of parents)
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CRMTable Tick
(Capture inquiries, marketing campaigns, etc.)
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(Only waitlist)
Tour SchedulingTable Tick
(Shareable calendar for booking tours)
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IntegrationTable Tick
(Facebook & Website integration)
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MarketingTable Tick
(Email automation for leads)
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MessagingTable Tick
(Private & Group)
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(Direct chat with teacher)
Concerns & NotesTable Tick
(Share concerns, escalate, pickup/drop notes)
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LeavesTable Tick
(Manage student & staff leaves)
Limited (No staff leave requests)
Photo/Video GalleryTable Tick
(Unlimited sharing, high quality)
Limited (Manual download)
Incident ReportingTable Tick
(Customizable, with approval process)
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Safety & Security
GDPR Compliance
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Role-Based Access
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(Manage roles and permissions)
Limited (Standard roles)
Custom Roles
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(Create as needed)
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Center Management
Multi-Center Management
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(Manage multiple from one login; Real-time analytics)
Limited (Switch between centers)
Control Center
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(Centralized management; Bulk operations)
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Dashboard
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(Real-time multi-center info)
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Staff Tools
Messaging
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(Real-time chat, announcements)
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Forms
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(Custom and standard; Dynamic forms with approval flow)
Limited (No dynamic forms)
Attendance & Capacity
Capacity Planning
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(Attendance forecast and capacity projections)
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Flat-Rate PricingTable TickTable Tick
Per-Classroom PricingTable TickTable Tick
Supports Multiple Payment ProvidersTable Tick
(10+)
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Online PaymentsTable Tick
(Apple Pay, Cards, ACH)
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(ACH & Cards)
Company-Based BillingTable TickTable Tick
Free Data MigrationTable TickTable Tick
Free TrainingTable TickTable Tick
Unlimited UsersTable TickTable Tick
Unlimited StorageTable TickTable Tick
Automatic Software UpdatesTable TickTable Tick
Customizable Pricing PlansTable TickLimited
Discounts for Annual BillingTable TickTable Tick
Refund PolicyTable Tick
(30-day money-back guarantee)
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Transparent PricingTable TickLimited

illumine is the #1 rated childcare management software by customers

Brightwheel Testimonial Author

Amelia J Brown

Owner, Falcon British Nursery

“Compared to other companies, illumine is head and shoulders above for responsiveness and communication”

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Brightwheel Testimonial Author

Rajesh kumar

Director, Kids Kingdom Group

“illumine has improved the way we run our nurseries. we are in firm control of our financial health and parent satisfaction has greatly improved.”

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Brightwheel Testimonial Author

Cassidy Goodwin

Cofounder, Reggio Center, Kuwait

“We really like that we can customise the features to our centre and can choose what we need in our centre. I’m also very happy with the 24/7 support”

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I’m ready

How do I migrate from Brightwheel to illumine?

The good news is that it only takes 3 hours to switch to illumine. If you are a large enterprise and have custom needs, talk to our friendly sales team.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the main differences between Brightwheel and illumine?
Both Brightwheel and illumine offer comprehensive childcare management solutions. However, illumine provides an all-in-one platform with features like a built-in CRM for lead management, automated billing, and AI-powered parent communication tools, which may not be as integrated in Brightwheel.
2. How do their pricing structures compare?
3. How does illumine improve parent communication compared to Brightwheel?
4. Who handles billing better?
5. Are there differences in lesson planning and assessment capabilities?
6. Which platform is more scalable for growing childcare centers?
7. How do Brightwheel and illumine handle data security?
8. Is illumine scalable for growing childcare centers?
9. Does illumine offer better onboarding and support?