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Parenting · head to head

Brightwheel vs Net Nanny

Brightwheel logo

Brightwheel

Parenting

The all-in-one childcare app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Net Nanny logo

Net Nanny

Parenting

Protect your family online

From
$39.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Brightwheel has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Brightwheel pricing is quote-only, driven by enrolment capacity and number of locations, and requires filling in a multi-step form to obtain; Net Nanny no free trial available
  • They diverge on capability: Brightwheel covers Daily activity reports, Net Nanny covers AI-powered content filtering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Brightwheel and Net Nanny actually diverge.

Attributes where Brightwheel and Net Nanny differ
AttributeBrightwheelNet Nanny
Starting priceFree$39.99/year
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidIos, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook
Founded20151996

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Parenting).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Brightwheel

  • Daily activity reports
  • Parent messaging
  • Photo and video sharing
  • Attendance tracking
  • Billing & invoicing
  • Staff time tracking
  • Learning assessments
  • Check-in/check-out

Only in Net Nanny

  • AI-powered content filtering
  • Screen time management
  • App blocking
  • YouTube monitoring
  • Profanity masking
  • Location tracking
  • Social media alerts
  • Real-time reporting

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Brightwheel

  • Childcare centre attendance and check-innot Net Nanny
  • Parent communication with photos and daily reportsnot Net Nanny
  • Billing and tuition collection from familiesnot Net Nanny
  • Staff scheduling and ratio trackingnot Net Nanny
  • Learning assessments and developmental recordsnot Net Nanny

Net Nanny

  • Content filteringnot Brightwheel
  • Screen time limitsnot Brightwheel
  • Online safetynot Brightwheel
  • App controlnot Brightwheel

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Brightwheel

  • Pricing is quote-only, driven by enrolment capacity and number of locations, and requires filling in a multi-step form to obtain
  • No transaction or payment processing fees are disclosed anywhere on the pricing page

Net Nanny

  • No free trial available

Pricing, plan by plan

Brightwheel

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Messaging
    • Daily reports
    • Photo sharing
  • Plus$100/month
    • All Free features
    • Billing & payments
    • Staff management

Net Nanny

$39.99/year
  • 1 Desktop Plan$39.99/year
    • Covers one PC or Mac device
    • All Net Nanny features including monitoring, screen time management, internet filtering, app blocking
  • 5 Devices Family Protection Pass$54.99/year
    • Works on Windows, macOS, and iOS
    • Approximately 11 dollars per device annually
  • 20 Devices Family Protection Pass$89.99/year
    • Compatible with Windows, macOS, and iOS
    • Less than 5 dollars per device per year

Which should you pick?

Choose Brightwheel if

  • You need daily activity reports.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want parent messaging.
Brightwheel review

Choose Net Nanny if

  • You need ai-powered content filtering.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook.
  • You also want screen time management.
Net Nanny review

Questions people ask

Is Brightwheel or Net Nanny better?
Neither clearly leads. Brightwheel starts at Free and Net Nanny at $39.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Brightwheel or Net Nanny?
Brightwheel has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Brightwheel and $39.99/year for Net Nanny.
Does Brightwheel or Net Nanny run on more platforms?
Brightwheel runs on Web, Ios, Android. Net Nanny runs on Ios, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook.
Can I use Brightwheel for free?
Yes. Brightwheel has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Net Nanny starts at $39.99/year.
What is Brightwheel best used for?
Brightwheel is most often used for childcare centre attendance and check-in, parent communication with photos and daily reports, billing and tuition collection from families, staff scheduling and ratio tracking. Of those, childcare centre attendance and check-in and parent communication with photos and daily reports are not what Net Nanny is typically brought in for.
What can Brightwheel do that Net Nanny cannot?
Brightwheel covers Daily activity reports, Parent messaging, Photo and video sharing, Attendance tracking. Net Nanny covers AI-powered content filtering, Screen time management, App blocking, YouTube monitoring. Both handle Cloud deployment, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Brightwheel: How does Brightwheel determine pricing?

Brightwheel uses a custom pricing model based on your program's enrollment capacity, number of locations, and center status. Customers complete a questionnaire to receive customized pricing quotes.

Source
Net Nanny: How much does Net Nanny cost?

Net Nanny offers three subscription plans. The 1 Desktop Plan costs 39.99 dollars per year. The 5 Devices Family Protection Pass costs 54.99 dollars per year, or about 11 dollars per device annually. The 20 Devices Family Protection Pass costs 89.99 dollars per year, or less than 5 dollars per device per year.

Source
Brightwheel: Is there a trial or special offer for Brightwheel?

Brightwheel promotes a limited-time offer: Get 3 months free of Professional Development with qualifying new accounts. Users must submit pricing request forms for additional details.

Source
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