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Software · head to head

Brightwheel vs Swapcard

Brightwheel logo

Brightwheel

Software

The all-in-one childcare app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Swapcard logo

Swapcard

Software

The smart event platform

From
$610/one-time
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; Swapcard pricing requires custom quote; starting price of $610 does not include per-attendee charges which can add significant costs
  • They diverge on capability: Brightwheel covers Daily activity reports, Swapcard covers AI matchmaking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Brightwheel and Swapcard actually diverge.

Attributes where Brightwheel and Swapcard differ
AttributeBrightwheelSwapcard
Starting priceFree$610/one-time
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierYesNo
Founded20152013

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Swapcard

  • AI matchmaking
  • Lead capture
  • Event mobile app
  • Exhibitor management
  • Analytics
  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot
  • Zapier

Both cover

  • Web support
  • 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 Swapcard
  • Parent communication with photos and daily reportsnot Swapcard
  • Billing and tuition collection from familiesnot Swapcard
  • Staff scheduling and ratio trackingnot Swapcard
  • Learning assessments and developmental recordsnot Swapcard

Swapcard

  • Event planningnot Brightwheel
  • Ticket salesnot Brightwheel
  • Attendee managementnot Brightwheel
  • Virtual eventsnot Brightwheel
  • Event marketingnot 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

Swapcard

  • Pricing requires custom quote; starting price of $610 does not include per-attendee charges which can add significant costs
  • Smaller company with 181 employees compared to market leaders like Cvent, limiting support resources
  • Limited reporting and analytics features compared to tier-1 event platforms
  • API documentation is sparse; custom integrations require direct vendor support
  • Primarily focused on B2B events; less suitable for consumer or small events

Pricing, plan by plan

Brightwheel

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

Swapcard

$610/one-time

No published plan breakdown. See the Swapcard review.

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 Swapcard if

  • You need ai matchmaking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want lead capture.
Swapcard review

Questions people ask

Is Brightwheel or Swapcard better?
Neither clearly leads. Brightwheel starts at Free and Swapcard at $610/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Brightwheel or Swapcard?
Brightwheel has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Brightwheel and $610/one-time for Swapcard.
Does Brightwheel or Swapcard run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Brightwheel for free?
Yes. Brightwheel has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Swapcard starts at $610/one-time.
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 Swapcard is typically brought in for.
What can Brightwheel do that Swapcard cannot?
Brightwheel covers Daily activity reports, Parent messaging, Photo and video sharing, Attendance tracking. Swapcard covers AI matchmaking, Lead capture, Event mobile app, Exhibitor management. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Swapcard: What does Swapcard's pricing model include?

Swapcard pricing includes three components: a base license, usage volume (attendees and exhibitors), and add-ons. The Event Engagement Platform starts at $610 and includes mobile/web apps, AI-powered networking, virtual event capability, and exhibitor lead management.

Source
Swapcard: What event types does Swapcard support?

Swapcard supports in-person, virtual, and hybrid events including conferences, trade shows, exhibitions, webinars, and networking events.

Source
Swapcard: What are Swapcard's core platform features?

Core features include dashboard access, agenda management, streaming and audiovisual capability, abstract/paper management, lead capture tools, networking features, and audience response systems.

Source
Swapcard: How many integrations does Swapcard offer?

Swapcard connects natively to over 30 integrations including event platforms like Eventbrite, Cvent, and Bizzabo, plus CRM tools like HubSpot and mapping solutions.

Source
Swapcard: Who is Swapcard and when was it founded?

Swapcard was founded in 2013 in Paris by Baptiste Boulard, Godefroy Des Francs, and Damien Courbon. The company has raised $5.27M and serves event organizers globally.

Source
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Related pages

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