ChildPlus vs Parent
ChildPlus
procaresoftware.com
Parent
parent.appSide by side
| Figure | ChildPlus | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $291.67/mo | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 4 |
| Spec score · Early Childhood Education Software | 8.5 (#15) | 8.7 (#11) |
| Attendance and check-in | Yes | Yes |
| Enrollment management | Yes | Yes |
| Family communication | Yes | Families receive real-time updates, photos, videos, secure messages, forms, permissions and billing information in the app. |
| Founded | 1985 | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | LinkedIn lists Copenhagen, Denmark as headquarters; Parent also lists offices in Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, the UAE and the 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. | The Exclusive plan lists Zoom, QuickBooks, Zoho, Sage, WhatsApp, Gmail and Office 365 integrations; Stripe powers payments. |
| Lesson planning | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile apps | both | Parent’s materials list the app as available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. |
| Purpose | ChildPlus is an all-in-one management system for Head Start programs that helps manage data, streamline operations, and support compliance. | Parent is a childcare management platform for providers to manage records, communication, billing, and children’s learning journeys. |
| Security | Procare states that its cloud-hosted products use US data centers, and that its Desktop and Online platforms are SOC 2 Type 2 certified. | Parent’s security page states that it is SOC 2 Type II compliant and lists MFA, TLS 1.3 in transit, AES-256 at rest, and role-based access controls. |
| Support | ChildPlus customer support is available by phone, email, online chat, and support form during listed weekday hours. | Official terms describe onboarding, training, troubleshooting and ongoing support through in-app live chat and email. |
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
Parent
- BasicPrice not published
- ExclusivePrice not published
- Basic PlanPriced on request
- Exclusive PlanPriced 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.
Parent
Parent is a childcare management platform for providers handling enrollment, family communication, attendance, billing and children’s learning journeys. It is built for childcare centers, including enterprise groups, franchises and organizations with multiple branches. Educators can record meals, naps and diaper changes, share photos and videos, and prepare daily summaries. Families and staff can use a newsfeed and in-app messaging, with automatic translation in 198+ languages. Enrollment features include centralized digital waitlists, custom forms, digital signatures, and QR code or link sign-ins. The product also supports lesson planning, check-in, billing and payments. Parent names integrations including WhatsApp, Gmail, Office 365, Zoom, QuickBooks, Zoho and Sage. It is available through a browser-based web app and Android and iOS apps. The maker, Parent, is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark and was founded in 2015. The paid service has pricing on request and offers a 14-day trial; there is no free plan. Listed Basic and Exclusive plans have no listed prices.