ChildPlus vs illumine
ChildPlus
procaresoftware.comillumine
illumine.appSide by side
| Figure | ChildPlus | illumine |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $291.67/mo | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 6 |
| Spec score · Early Childhood Education Software | 8.5 (#15) | 9.3 (#2) |
| Attendance and check-in | Yes | Yes |
| Enrollment management | Yes | Yes |
| Family communication | Yes | Yes |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Wilmington, Delaware, United States |
| Integrations | ChildPlus supports DRDP assessment integration and CLASS scoring data tracking; its optional VPN database access can be used by knowledgeable IT staff to develop integrations with other software. | Illumine advertises more than 50 accounting and payment integrations, including Gusto, Stripe, PayPal, Tally, QuickBooks, NetSuite and Paychex. |
| Lesson planning | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile apps | both | both |
| Security controls | Procare says its platforms offer multi-factor authentication and role-based permissions, and that its cloud-hosted products use US data centers with geographic redundancy. | Its security policy describes Google Cloud hosting, AES-256 encryption at rest, TLS 1.2 or newer, MFA, role-based access, audit logs, backups and annual penetration testing. |
| Support | ChildPlus customer support is available by phone, email, online chat, and support form during listed weekday hours. | Official support includes email at [email protected] and in-app live chat, with training videos and onboarding guidance. |
Plans
ChildPlus
- Essential Learning Plan$3,500 a year
- ChildPlusPriced on request
- Premium Learning PlanPriced on request
- Standard Learning PlanPriced on request
- Starter Learning PlanPriced on request
illumine
- BusinessPrice not published
- EnterprisePrice not published
- Standard$0.99 a month
- EssentialsPriced on request
- Growth + AIPriced on request
- ScalePriced on request
In their own words
ChildPlus
ChildPlus is a management system for Head Start and other early childhood programs, covering program data, operations, and compliance. Its ERSEA tools track eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, and attendance, with customizable selection points and attendance reporting. For Program Information Reports, it records data, calculates figures, and creates submission-ready files. Staff can message families in both directions and document partnership agreements, goals, progress, and referrals.
Reporting includes more than 200 pre-built reports, customizable reports, real-time dashboards, and a Module Designer for custom tracking. The Desired Results Developmental Profile can be added to record observations and track developmental measures for children from birth to age five; DRDP integration and CLASS scoring data tracking are also listed. ChildPlus is available on Android, iOS, web, and Windows. Online access uses Safari or Google Chrome, while the desktop version lists Windows 10 Professional or Windows 11 as minimum supported systems. Pricing for ChildPlus is on request. An Essential Learning Plan is listed at $3,500 a year, with 12-month access to over 120 hours of courses and recorded webinars.