BusPlanner vs School Bus Manager
BusPlanner
busplanner.com
School Bus Manager
schoolbusmanager.comSide by side
| Figure | BusPlanner | School Bus Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | $82.50/mo |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 4 |
| Spec score · School Bus Routing Software | 8.4 (#4) | 8.7 (#2) |
| Purpose | BusPlanner is an all-in-one platform for student transportation operations across North America. | School Bus Manager takes rider data from student information systems to create bus routes and trips with directions, stop times, and maps. |
| Rating on Capterra | 5.0 out of 5 from 1 review | 5.0 out of 5 from 2 reviews |
| Route planning | BusPlanner Pro provides route creation, editing, optimization, automated processes, multi-user access, and scalable routing. | The product can optimize or modify routes in seconds and includes turn-by-turn directions and stop times. |
| Security | BusPlanner states that it uses administrative, technical, and physical security measures to protect personal information. | The company says mobile-to-site traffic uses SSL/TLS encryption and customer data is hosted on Amazon Web Services. |
| Support | BusPlanner offers live technical support by phone and says its customer experts provide direct assistance. | Sales and support are available Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm EST. |
| What it does | BusPlanner is an all-in-one student transportation platform for school districts, combining routing, dispatch, GPS, fleet and parent communication tools. | School Bus Manager plans and optimizes school transportation routes, tracks vehicles and riders, and supports attendance and communications. |
Plans
School Bus Manager
- Lite$990 a year
- Plus$1,790 a year
- Standard$3,990 a year
- EnterprisePriced on request
In their own words
BusPlanner
BusPlanner is a student transportation operations platform for school districts and transportation teams. BusPlanner Pro supports route creation, editing, optimization, automation, multi-user access, and scalable routing. BusPlanner Info connects with student information systems through scheduled two-way API integration. GPS+ provides live bus tracking, reporting, student ridership information, and driver navigation. Parents can receive boarding, drop-off, delay, and change alerts through the Chipmunk app, which also shows real-time bus location. The Turns driver app supplies turn-by-turn directions and records student boardings and drop-offs with scan-in and scan-out. Portals provide parents, staff, drivers, dispatchers, and operators with routes, stops, schedules, manifests, ETAs, and delay information. Dispatch tools support real-time route reassignment, AI-powered route splitting, updated stop reports, and parent notifications. BusPlanner Pro is Windows-based; the wider suite supports cloud or self-hosted deployment, as well as Android, iOS, web, and API access. Pricing is available on request.
School Bus Manager
School Bus Manager turns student rider data into bus routes and trips with directions, stop times, and maps. Users can optimize or modify routes, then use load-balancing tools to find overlaps, adjust stops, and reassign riders. Attendance tools record who is present and monitor who is onboard, while route data can roll forward from year to year. Rider data can be imported from CSV or XLSX files and Department of Education files. ChildPlus users can export report 1527 for import; compatibility is stated for version 4.6.0.0 or later. Android and iOS Driver Console and Parents App features include live vehicle tracking, attendance, ETA notifications, and real-time rider and vehicle locations. The service is available on Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows. A full 15-day trial has no limitations, credit card requirement, or contract. Annual plans begin with Lite at $990 a year for up to 500 riders, plus a 199 USD first-year startup fee. New subscriptions and renewals require a 12-month minimum commitment, with no prorating or refunds.