HappyGarden
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Updated October 2026

Childcare software · published prices

Daycare and preschool software compared: HappyGarden vs Brightwheel, Lillio, Procare, Playground, and Kangarootime

HappyGarden is software for early childhood programs (daycares, preschools, and home childcare) and the owners, directors, teachers, and parents who use them. Prices and features below were checked in October 2026.

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No credit card. No demo to hear the price. Free for 4 children.

Which software is right for your daycare or preschool?

It depends on your program size, your budget, and whether you want to talk to sales before you see a price. As of October 2026, Brightwheel, Lillio, Procare, Playground, and Kangarootime all ask you to request a quote or book a demo for pricing, and several offer things HappyGarden does not yet, like classroom photo feeds, card autopay, payroll, and AI assistants. HappyGarden publishes every price (Seedling free up to 4 children, Sprout $49/mo, Bloom $149/mo, Grove for multi-site). Each comparison below says who should pick which.

  • Get hours back every week. Check-in, daily notes, invoices, and parent replies stop living in five apps and a group text. Teachers teach. Directors actually leave on time.
  • Fill seats and keep them. Inquiries, waitlists, and offers in one pipeline, plus a public apply link. Families stay because they see the day, not because you sent another paper reminder.
  • Get paid without the chase. Published prices. Create invoices, credits, and payment records in the app. Online card payouts via Stripe Connect are still rolling out, and we don’t pretend they’re live.
  • Walk into inspections ready. Ratios, medications, incidents, sleep checks, CACFP, drills, licensing. The binder is already in the product.

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