All-in-one daycare management system for billing, messaging, check-ins, and parent communication — at a fraction of the cost. Built specifically for daycare owners who want more control and less overhead.
Trusted by daycare centers nationwide
One platform to replace all your disconnected tools. No integrations needed.
QR codes and PIN-based check-ins for contactless, fast attendance tracking. Works on any tablet or phone.
SMS + in-app chat with parents. Send daily photos, updates, and important announcements instantly.
Automated invoicing, ACH, and credit card payments. Recurring billing, late fees, and subsidy tracking.
Real-time attendance dashboard. Ratio compliance alerts, absence patterns, and automated reporting.
Share photos, meals, nap times, and activities with parents. Build trust through daily transparency.
Staff scheduling, role-based access, punch tracking, and compliance documentation in one place.
Reduce late payments by 60% with automated reminders via SMS, email, and in-app notifications.
Complete child records including allergies, medications, emergency contacts, and authorized pickups.
Stop overpaying for daycare software. CareNext gives you everything Brightwheel does — with more control and lower costs.
| Feature |
Brightwheel
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $50–$100/mo | $200–$400/mo |
| Setup Fee | $500–$1,500 one-time | Ongoing fees forever |
| Digital Check-In/Out | ✓ | ✓ |
| Parent Messaging | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automated Billing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| You Own Your Data | ✓ | ✗ |
| No Per-Child Fees | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dedicated Support | ✓ | ✗ (Chat only) |
| Annual Savings | Save $1,200–$3,600/yr | $0 savings |
Ready to cut your software costs?
Switch to CareNextGive parents the visibility they crave, without the complexity. A beautiful mobile experience that keeps them engaged and informed all day.
Real-time photos and activity updates sent directly to parents throughout the day.
Direct messaging with teachers. Read receipts, emoji reactions, and photo sharing.
Know exactly when your child ate, napped, and what activities they enjoyed today.
Pay tuition directly from the app. Auto-pay, receipts, and payment history all in one place.
Art Time with Miss Julie
Just nowWe're not trying to extract maximum value from your business. We're trying to help you run it better.
Brightwheel charges $200–$400/month with fees that grow as you grow. CareNext is flat-rate, predictable, and affordable from day one.
Your data, your system, your rules. No vendor lock-in. Export everything anytime. You're never at the mercy of a pricing increase.
Not a generic childcare app. CareNext is tailored to your workflows — your forms, your reports, your parent communication style.
We handle the entire migration. Your data, your parent contacts, your billing — all transferred within 24 hours. Zero disruption.
No chatbots. Speak directly with your dedicated account manager who knows your daycare by name. Phone, text, or email — we're here.
Enroll more children without watching your bill skyrocket. Our Growth plan covers unlimited children at one predictable flat rate.
"We switched from Brightwheel 6 months ago and save $250/month. The dashboard is so much cleaner and our parents love the daily photos feature."
"Setup took less than a day. My staff picked it up immediately and parents can not stop talking about how easy it is to check in their kids. Best decision we made."
"Billing used to take me 4 hours a week. Now it's fully automated. CareNext paid for itself in the first month just from time saved."
No per-child fees. No hidden costs. No surprises. Just simple pricing that makes sense for your business.
Join 500+ daycare owners who switched to CareNext and never looked back. Setup takes less than 24 hours, and we handle the entire migration.