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Parenting & Family · head to head

Kidslox vs Brightwheel

Kidslox logo

Kidslox

Parenting & Family

Simple parental controls for all devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Brightwheel logo

Brightwheel

Parenting & Family

The all-in-one childcare app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Kidslox one paid account controls up to 10 devices; Brightwheel pricing is quote-only, driven by enrolment capacity and number of locations, and requires filling in a multi-step form to obtain
  • They diverge on capability: Kidslox covers Screen time management, Brightwheel covers Daily activity reports.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kidslox and Brightwheel actually diverge.

Attributes where Kidslox and Brightwheel differ
AttributeKidsloxBrightwheel
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, MacWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20132015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Parenting & Family).

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 Kidslox

  • Screen time management
  • App blocking
  • Content filtering
  • Location tracking
  • Website blocking
  • Schedule management
  • Usage reports
  • Multiple device support

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

Both cover

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

What people use each for

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

Kidslox

  • Locking a child's phone instantly or on a bedtime schedulenot Brightwheel
  • Blocking adult content, in-app purchases and specific appsnot Brightwheel
  • Tracking a child's location with geofenced arrival and departure alertsnot Brightwheel

Brightwheel

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

Where each one falls short

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

Kidslox

  • One paid account controls up to 10 devices
  • The free trial lasts only 3 days
  • Kidslox must be installed on every device you want to control
  • Kidslox requires an internet connection to operate at all
  • The Android app requires Device Administrator, VPN, Accessibility and Location permissions to filter content, take screenshots and show location

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Kidslox

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Screen time limits
    • Basic app blocking
    • Content filtering
  • Premium$9.99/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Location tracking
    • Advanced filtering

Brightwheel

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Kidslox if

  • You need screen time management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac.
  • You also want app blocking.
Kidslox review

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

Questions people ask

Is Kidslox or Brightwheel better?
Neither clearly leads. Kidslox starts at Free and Brightwheel at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kidslox or Brightwheel?
Kidslox starts at Free and Brightwheel at Free.
Does Kidslox or Brightwheel run on more platforms?
Kidslox runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac. Brightwheel runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Kidslox for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Kidslox best used for?
Kidslox is most often used for locking a child's phone instantly or on a bedtime schedule, blocking adult content, in-app purchases and specific apps, tracking a child's location with geofenced arrival and departure alerts. Of those, locking a child's phone instantly or on a bedtime schedule and blocking adult content, in-app purchases and specific apps are not what Brightwheel is typically brought in for.
What can Kidslox do that Brightwheel cannot?
Kidslox covers Screen time management, App blocking, Content filtering, Location tracking. Brightwheel covers Daily activity reports, Parent messaging, Photo and video sharing, Attendance tracking. Both handle Cloud deployment, Web support, Ios support, Android support.
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