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Parenting · head to head

Brightwheel vs Peanut

Brightwheel logo

Brightwheel

Parenting

The all-in-one childcare app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Peanut logo

Peanut

Parenting

Connect with moms who get it

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; Peanut peanut Plus prices are not published and are shown only inside the app, varying by country
  • They diverge on capability: Brightwheel covers Daily activity reports, Peanut covers Mom matching.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Brightwheel and Peanut actually diverge.

Attributes where Brightwheel and Peanut differ
AttributeBrightwheelPeanut
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidIos, Android
Founded20152017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Peanut

  • Mom matching
  • Group discussions
  • Direct messaging
  • Event planning
  • Expert Q&As
  • Fertility support
  • Pregnancy groups
  • Menopause community

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • English language support

What people use each for

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

Brightwheel

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

Peanut

  • Meeting other mothers at a similar stage nearbynot Brightwheel
  • Joining support groups for newborn care, toddlers and related topicsnot Brightwheel
  • Asking parenting questions anonymously through incognito modenot 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

Peanut

  • Peanut Plus prices are not published and are shown only inside the app, varying by country
  • Faster friend-finding requires the paid Peanut Plus subscription rather than the free swipe flow
  • All profiles must pass selfie verification before use

Pricing, plan by plan

Brightwheel

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

Peanut

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Profile creation
    • Matching with moms
    • Group access
  • Peanut Plus$19.99/month
    • All Free features
    • Unlimited messaging
    • Advanced filters

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 Peanut if

  • You need mom matching.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android.
  • You also want group discussions.
Peanut review

Questions people ask

Is Brightwheel or Peanut better?
Neither clearly leads. Brightwheel starts at Free and Peanut at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Brightwheel or Peanut?
Brightwheel starts at Free and Peanut at Free.
Does Brightwheel or Peanut run on more platforms?
Brightwheel runs on Web, Ios, Android. Peanut runs on Ios, Android.
Can I use Brightwheel for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Peanut is typically brought in for.
What can Brightwheel do that Peanut cannot?
Brightwheel covers Daily activity reports, Parent messaging, Photo and video sharing, Attendance tracking. Peanut covers Mom matching, Group discussions, Direct messaging, Event planning. Both handle Cloud deployment, Ios support, Android support, English language 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
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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