Compare childcare apps
AppBuild.diy compared with 5 providers and the option to vibe code your own app: prices, fees, contracts and whether you get your own branded app.
Best for: childcare businesses that want their own branded app on the App Store, Google Play and the web, starting free with 0% AppBuild commission on paid plans.
Some providers below hold sector certifications (for example HIPAA, GDPR tooling, NHS or Ofsted). AppBuild does not claim these, so check what your sector requires.
Your business. Your own app.
A look inside AppBuild: branded app starter, contact and directions example, loyalty rewards example, push notification example.
See childcare apps
Providers in this comparison
FamlyNursery management + parent app
BrightwheelChildcare management + parent app
Ovivio (formerly Blossom Educational)Nursery management + parent app
TapestryOnline learning journal (EYFS)
ProcareChildcare management
- Vibe coding
Build from scratch with Lovable, Claude, Base44 or similar tools
Price and features at a glance
| Provider | Type | Starting price (as published) | Your own branded app | Order / booking fees | Contract / trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 AppBuild.diy | Branded app builder for local businesses | Free (up to 10 users); $49/month or $299/year; $99/month or $499/year | Yes — App Store, Google Play and web | 0% AppBuild commission on paid plans; Stripe card fees apply | No contract; free plan |
| Vibe coding | Build from scratch with Lovable, Claude, Base44 or similar tools | Variable: AI subscriptions / credits, plus hosting, database and any paid services as usage grows. Free allowances may apply; not a fixed all-in price. | Bespoke branding and features; store packaging and submission require additional setup | Depends on your chosen payment provider and services; processing fees still apply | Depends on the tools and services you choose; free tiers may have limits |
| Famly | Nursery management + parent app | Foundation £79/month (£948/year) excl. VAT, per setting; Premium £159/month; Professional £209/month | Shared (Famly app); "whitelabel branding" only on Custom plan (contact sales) | Integrated payments; fees not stated | Month-to-month, one month's notice; 2-week free trial; no setup fees |
| Brightwheel | Childcare management + parent app | Not published (quote by capacity/locations) | Shared (brightwheel app) | Processing fees on tuition payments; example 2.7% card, $0.50 ACH (third-party: vanderbilt.edu center tuition page) | Not stated |
| Ovivio (formerly Blossom Educational) | Nursery management + parent app | Essentials £89/month monthly or £79/month billed annually, excl. VAT; Professional £149/£129; Business £199/£179 | Shared parent app on standard plans; "unique parent app" on Multi-Site (custom pricing) | Not stated | Trial/contract not stated |
| Tapestry | Online learning journal (EYFS) | £68/year (up to 6 children) to £1,200/year (up to 400 children), excl. VAT | Shared (free Tapestry relative apps for iOS/Android) | None stated | Free trial available; annual subscription |
| Procare | Childcare management | Not published ("Request Pricing") | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
How AppBuild differs
- vs Famly: Famly parents use the shared Famly app unless the setting is on the Custom plan; AppBuild gives every plan its own store listing.
- vs Brightwheel: Brightwheel pricing is quote-only and tuition payments carry processing fees; AppBuild takes zero commission (Stripe fees only).
- vs Ovivio: Ovivio reserves a "unique parent app" for Multi-Site custom pricing; AppBuild includes a branded app from Pro at $49/mo.
- vs Tapestry: Tapestry is an EYFS learning journal; AppBuild covers marketing, push and bookings, so the two can run together.
- vs Procare: Procare is quote-only management software; AppBuild publishes prices from free.
Where AppBuild is strong
- Your own branded app on the App Store, Google Play and the web, starting free with every feature for up to 10 users.
- A simple branded app for appointments, updates and push reminders at a published price.
Where others may suit you better
- Not a clinical or patient-records system.
- AppBuild does not claim HIPAA, NHS, Ofsted or similar certifications. Check what your sector requires.
Key features by provider
| Provider | Market | Key features | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Famly | UK, Ireland (also other markets) | Parent messaging, daily logs, observations, invoicing, sign in/out, rotas (Professional); GDPR, Ofsted-ready, EYFS | famly.co |
| Brightwheel | US | Billing and payments, check-in, parent messaging, daily reports, lesson planning | mybrightwheel.com, mybrightwheel.com |
| Ovivio (formerly Blossom Educational) | UK | Parent app, Tax-Free Childcare integration (Business), multi-site | ovivio.com |
| Tapestry | UK | Observations, EYFS assessment, parent sharing, all features on every tier; GDPR | tapestry.info |
| Procare | US | Billing, attendance, parent engagement | procaresoftware.com |
| Vibe coding | Depends on your chosen tools | Full design freedom. Ordering, bookings, loyalty, permissions and integrations must be built, tested and maintained. Native push, certificates and store submissions need additional technical work or a service such as AppBuild. | lovable.dev, claude.com, base44.com |
Gaps in published data: Brightwheel and Procare pricing not published; Brightwheel fee example is third-party.
Build from scratch with AI, or start with AppBuild?
Lovable, Claude, Base44 and similar tools are a genuine alternative in any industry. A bespoke build gives you more control over the design and business logic. AppBuild offers a shorter route to launch for supported business needs, with ready-made capabilities you can add without building each one yourself.
| Consideration | AppBuild.diy | Vibe coding |
|---|---|---|
| Time to market | Start with ready-made pages and features; configure your content and services. Store review still takes time. | A prototype can be quick; production testing, payments, permissions and store preparation add work. |
| Costs | Published plan price, plus applicable payment processing, store-account and third-party service costs. | Variable: AI subscriptions / credits, plus hosting, database and any paid services as usage grows. Free allowances may apply; not a fixed all-in price. |
| Flexibility & ease of use | Add supported capabilities such as loyalty, bookings and ordering through the builder; less freedom than a fully custom product. | Bespoke layouts and logic; each new capability needs implementation, testing and ongoing maintenance. |
| Push & app stores | AppBuild provides push and app infrastructure, subject to setup requirements and store approval. | Native push certificates, signing and store submissions are technical work, not automatically solved by generating a website. |
| Ongoing responsibility | Shared business-app framework and managed infrastructure; you manage your business content and settings. | You are responsible for security, data access, updates and the services behind your app. |
These approaches can work together: build your bespoke experience with AI, then use AppBuild to wrap your app and add supported native capabilities such as push notifications. Wrapping does not automatically add AppBuild’s business features to your custom app.
Tool pricing and allowances vary: Lovable pricing · Claude pricing · Base44 pricing. Check the services your project actually needs.
AppBuild pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/month | Up to 10 app users. Your own app on iPhone, Android and the web. |
| Business | $49/month or $299/year | Up to 1,000 app users. 0% AppBuild commission on orders. |
| Business Pro | $99/month or $499/year | Unlimited app users. 0% AppBuild commission on orders. |
Card processing fees are charged by Stripe on top of any plan and are not set by AppBuild. Full details on the pricing page.
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Last checked 7 October 2026. Competitor prices come from their own public pages, linked below each table. Where a price isn't published we say so. Spotted something out of date? Tell us via support.