The price is on the website
You shouldn’t need a sales process to learn what software costs. Our pricing page is a price — $149/month runs a single-site center, flat, with every feature listed. Brightwheel’s pricing page is a quote request.
Comparison
LittlesLink vs. Brightwheel
Both platforms help childcare programs run the day. The differences are in how you buy: LittlesLink publishes flat monthly prices, bills month-to-month, and never takes a percentage of your tuition. Here is a fair, sourced look at both.
Information verified against published materials as of July 10, 2026.
Choose LittlesLink if…
- You want to see the price on the website — not after a sales process
- You want a flat monthly cost that doesn’t grow with enrollment
- You prefer month-to-month over an annual, auto-renewing contract
- You want to keep 100% of your tuition — no processing percentage
- You run an in-home or micro program — the $39 Home plan has no child cap
- Subsidy families and split billing are a big part of your enrollment
Brightwheel may fit better if…
- In-app tuition autopay is your #1 requirement today
- Native iOS/Android apps are a hard requirement
- You want curriculum, assessments, and payroll add-ons from the same vendor
- You need SMS text alerts today
We'd rather you pick the right tool than the loudest pitch — these are honest gaps, not fine print.
Side by side
Every Brightwheel claim below comes from their own published materials — sources are linked at the bottom of this page.
| Category | LittlesLink | Brightwheel |
|---|---|---|
| Published pricing | Flat monthly prices published on our site — $39 to $399 | Quote-only; pricing requires a sales conversation (per their pricing page) |
| Pricing model | Flat per month — no per-child fees on Home, Core & Pro | Priced by program size / enrollment capacity |
| Contract | Month-to-month | Annual term, auto-renews; cancel at least 30 days before renewal (per their Terms of Service) |
| Free trial | 14 days, full-featured, no credit card | Free basic tier; the full product is quote-priced "Premium" |
| Tuition & billing | Professional invoices, family ledgers, QuickBooks export — we never take a percentage of tuition | In-app payments available; processing fees apply (rates not published on their site) |
| Daily logs, photos, messaging, calendar | Included on every plan | Included |
| Kiosk check-in | Any tablet or browser becomes a kiosk — nothing to install | App-based QR + PIN check-in |
| Pickup authorization & release history | Enforced by the app, with an exportable release log | Approved-pickup management |
| Incident reports with parent sign-off | Core plan and up | Included in Premium |
| Live staff-to-child ratio dashboard | Pro plan and up | Included in Premium |
| Subsidy ledger & split billing | First-class features on Pro and up — built for blended families and subsidy caseloads | Subsidy dashboard |
| CACFP food program | Export add-on ($25/mo); included on Network | Included |
| AI drafting assistant | Built in — drafts parent communications; a human always reviews and approves | No comparable published feature (as of July 2026) |
| Curriculum & assessments | Not offered — bring the curriculum you already use | Available as paid add-ons |
| Payroll | Not offered — works alongside your payroll provider | Gusto-embedded paid add-on |
| Mobile experience | Mobile-first web app — nothing to install, works on every device day one | Native iOS & Android apps |
| Text (SMS) alerts | Email notifications today | Included |
| Support | Direct support from a team that knows your center; priority on Pro & Network | Help center and scheduled support calls |
Where LittlesLink wins
Growth is never taxed
Capacity-based pricing means a bigger program pays a bigger bill. With LittlesLink, enroll ten more children and your bill doesn’t change — Home, Core, and Pro have no per-child fees.
No lock-in
LittlesLink is month-to-month: if we stop earning your business, you stop paying. Brightwheel’s published Terms of Service specify an annual term that auto-renews unless cancelled at least 30 days before renewal.
Your tuition is yours
We never take a percentage of the money families pay you. Billing works through professional invoices, ledgers, and QuickBooks export — your money moves the way it already does. In-app processors charge percentage fees on every tuition payment.
In-home programs get a real plan
The $39/month Home plan is a full product — parent portal, daily logs, kiosk check-in, billing — with no cap on the number of children. Not a stripped-down free tier that funnels you into a sales call the moment you need billing.
No add-on fatigue
Every feature listed on a LittlesLink plan is included in its flat price. If you’re comparing an "all-in-one," ask for the all-in total — including curriculum, assessments, and payroll add-ons — in writing.
Where Brightwheel is genuinely stronger
An honest comparison cuts both ways. Here's what they do that we don't — yet or by design.
In-app tuition autopay
Brightwheel processes tuition payments in-app (with processing fees). LittlesLink handles billing through invoices and QuickBooks export today. If card autopay is your single most important requirement, we’d rather tell you that honestly.
Native mobile apps
Brightwheel ships iOS and Android apps. LittlesLink is a mobile-first web app: nothing for parents or classroom tablets to install, updates arrive instantly, and add-to-home-screen gives an app-like icon. Different approach — we think it’s the right one for busy centers.
Curriculum, assessments & payroll bundle
Brightwheel offers these as paid add-ons on top of its subscription. LittlesLink focuses on running your center and plays well with the curriculum and payroll providers you already use.
Thinking about switching?
Bulk import is built in, Pro includes assisted migration, and our white-glove Advanced Migration service can move your enrollment, family, and attendance data for you. Try LittlesLink alongside your current system free for 14 days.
Sources
- Brightwheel pricing page (quote-based)
- Brightwheel Terms of Service (contract term & renewal)
- Brightwheel help center — Premium plan contents & add-ons
- Brightwheel help center — payment processing fees
Brightwheel is a trademark of its respective owner, which is not affiliated with LittlesLink. Competitor information reflects publicly available materials as of July 10, 2026 and may have changed. Spot something out of date? Email [email protected] and we'll fix it.