Softwr

Software · head to head

Peanut vs Brightwheel

Peanut logo

Peanut

Software

Connect with moms who get it

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Brightwheel logo

Brightwheel

Software

The all-in-one childcare app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Peanut peanut Plus prices are not published and are shown only inside the app, varying by country; 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: Peanut covers Mom matching, Brightwheel covers Daily activity reports.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Peanut and Brightwheel actually diverge.

Attributes where Peanut and Brightwheel differ
AttributePeanutBrightwheel
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsIos, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20172015

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

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

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
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • English language support

What people use each for

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

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

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Peanut

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

Brightwheel

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

Which should you pick?

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

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 Peanut or Brightwheel better?
Neither clearly leads. Peanut 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, Peanut or Brightwheel?
Peanut starts at Free and Brightwheel at Free.
Does Peanut or Brightwheel run on more platforms?
Peanut runs on Ios, Android. Brightwheel runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Peanut for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Peanut best used for?
Peanut is most often used for meeting other mothers at a similar stage nearby, joining support groups for newborn care, toddlers and related topics, asking parenting questions anonymously through incognito mode. Of those, meeting other mothers at a similar stage nearby and joining support groups for newborn care, toddlers and related topics are not what Brightwheel is typically brought in for.
What can Peanut do that Brightwheel cannot?
Peanut covers Mom matching, Group discussions, Direct messaging, Event planning. Brightwheel covers Daily activity reports, Parent messaging, Photo and video sharing, Attendance tracking. Both handle Cloud deployment, Ios support, Android support, English language support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Peanut

More on Brightwheel

Keep looking

Other head to heads