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Parenting · head to head

Brightwheel vs OurFamilyWizard

Brightwheel logo

Brightwheel

Parenting

The all-in-one childcare app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OurFamilyWizard logo

OurFamilyWizard

Parenting

Co-parenting made easier

From
$9.17/month
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; OurFamilyWizard each co-parent needs a separate paid subscription, so a two parent household pays twice
  • They diverge on capability: Brightwheel covers Daily activity reports, OurFamilyWizard covers Shared parenting calendar.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Brightwheel and OurFamilyWizard actually diverge.

Attributes where Brightwheel and OurFamilyWizard differ
AttributeBrightwheelOurFamilyWizard
Starting priceFree$9.17/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidIos, Android, Web
Founded20152001

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 OurFamilyWizard

  • Shared parenting calendar
  • Secure messaging
  • Expense tracking
  • Payment requests
  • Info bank
  • Journal entries
  • ToneMeter
  • Court-admissible records

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.

Brightwheel

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

OurFamilyWizard

  • Documenting communication between separated or divorced co-parentsnot Brightwheel
  • Sharing a custody schedule, expenses and child information in one recordnot Brightwheel
  • Producing court admissible records of messages and parenting timenot 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

OurFamilyWizard

  • Each co-parent needs a separate paid subscription, so a two parent household pays twice
  • Subscriptions are sold in one year and two year terms rather than month to month
  • The Basic plan at $110 a year is receive only for calls and includes just 1 GB of storage
  • Essentials caps calling at 45 minutes a month and expense payments at 24
  • Call recording and transcription require the Max plan at $299.88 a year
  • Unlimited storage and unlimited certified records require the Premium plan or higher

Pricing, plan by plan

Brightwheel

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

OurFamilyWizard

$9.17/month
  • Basic$9.17/month
    • 1 GB storage
    • Receive-only calls
  • Essentials$12.5/month
    • 45 minutes/month video/audio calls
    • Writing assistant
    • Schedule coordination
  • Premium$18/month
    • Unlimited calls
    • Unlimited storage
    • Unlimited certified records
  • Max$24.99/month
    • Call recordings
    • Transcriptions
    • Secure recording storage

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 OurFamilyWizard if

  • You need shared parenting calendar.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want secure messaging.
OurFamilyWizard review

Questions people ask

Is Brightwheel or OurFamilyWizard better?
Neither clearly leads. Brightwheel starts at Free and OurFamilyWizard at $9.17/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Brightwheel or OurFamilyWizard?
Brightwheel has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Brightwheel and $9.17/month for OurFamilyWizard.
Does Brightwheel or OurFamilyWizard run on more platforms?
Brightwheel runs on Web, Ios, Android. OurFamilyWizard runs on Ios, Android, Web.
Can I use Brightwheel for free?
Yes. Brightwheel has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OurFamilyWizard starts at $9.17/month.
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 OurFamilyWizard is typically brought in for.
What can Brightwheel do that OurFamilyWizard cannot?
Brightwheel covers Daily activity reports, Parent messaging, Photo and video sharing, Attendance tracking. OurFamilyWizard covers Shared parenting calendar, Secure messaging, Expense tracking, Payment requests. Both handle Cloud deployment, Web support, 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
OurFamilyWizard: Is there a free trial for OurFamilyWizard?

OurFamilyWizard offers a 30-day money-back guarantee when subscribing through their website, allowing users to try and request a full refund if unsatisfied.

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
OurFamilyWizard: What is the difference between OurFamilyWizard's Essentials and Premium plans?

Essentials ($12.50/month) includes 45 minutes/month of calls and up to 24 OFWpay reimbursements, while Premium ($18/month) offers unlimited calls, unlimited OFWpay payments, unlimited storage, and unlimited certified records.

Source
OurFamilyWizard: Does OurFamilyWizard offer discounts?

Yes, OurFamilyWizard offers fee waiver programs for qualifying families, military family discounts, and allows annual billing with reduced per-month rates compared to monthly subscription.

Source
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