Sentral vs ThinkWave
Sentral
sentral.com.au
ThinkWave
thinkwave.comSide by side
| Figure | Sentral | ThinkWave |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | $2.75/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 0 | 20 |
| Spec score · School Management Software | 6.8 (#38) | 8.7 (#5) |
| Spec score · K-12 Student Information Software | 6.8 (#18) | 8.6 (#4) |
| Founded | 1998 | 1997 |
| Integrations | Sentral describes open integrations and flexible APIs for connecting learning, finance, HR, wellbeing and operational systems. | ThinkWave's blog says its gradebook integrates with Google Apps, Microsoft Teams and other digital tools. |
| Product | Sentral is a cloud-based school management platform with web-based modules for school administration, online learning and student management. | ThinkWave provides cloud-based school administration software with integrated teacher gradebooks and a free online gradebook. |
| Security | Sentral says it is ISO 27001 certified and uses encrypted cloud storage and cloud-native infrastructure. | The privacy policy states that ThinkWave uses SSL transmission encryption, password-protected accounts and Google App Engine hosting. |
| Support | Sentral offers Australian-based support by phone on weekdays from 7:30am to 7:00pm AEST, and says it responds to support tickets within one business day. | ThinkWave lists support by email for paid subscribers and publishes support videos, FAQs, and a quickstart guide. |
Plans
ThinkWave
- Free Solo GradebookFree
- School 1–15 students$17 a month
- School 16–35 students$32 a month
- Premium Gradebook — 151–175 teachers$32.95 a year
- Premium Gradebook — 126–150 teachers$33.95 a year
- Premium Gradebook — 101–125 teachers$34.95 a year
- Premium Gradebook — 76–100 teachers$35.95 a year
- Premium Gradebook — 51–75 teachers$36.95 a year
- Premium Gradebook — 20–50 teachers$37.95 a year
- Premium Gradebook — 10–19 teachers$38.95 a year
In their own words
Sentral
Sentral is a cloud-based school management platform for administration, online learning, and student management. It serves government, independent, specialised, and multi-campus schools, bringing administrative, wellbeing, finance, and engagement tools together. Schools can manage profiles, enrolments, health records, activity permissions, transport, classes, attendance, and wellbeing. Finance functions include online payments, configurable fees and discounts, reporting, and links with Xero and Microsoft Dynamics. Teachers have an app for attendance and wellbeing tasks. Parents can use an app or browser portal for notices, teacher messages, absences, payments, and interview bookings, depending on what their school enables; students can view timetables, attendance, notices, and learning tasks. Sentral describes open integrations and flexible APIs, and says schools can configure more than 35 modules. It is available on Android, iOS, web, and API. Sentral says it is ISO 27001 certified and uses encrypted cloud storage. Demographic management is available to independent schools only. Pricing is available through demo and enquiry links, with no public subscription price stated.
ThinkWave
ThinkWave is cloud-based school administration software combining student administration, grades, attendance, teacher gradebooks, and student and parent portal access. Teachers can post assignments and handouts, collect student work online, and upload files up to 25 MB each; the school system includes 100 GB of storage. It generates customizable report cards and transcripts from grades, comments, attendance, and custom student data. Grading options include points, letter, pass-fail, and custom scales, with assignment weighting and term averages. Schools can send messages and announcements by class, group, or school, including group email. ThinkWave also offers a free online gradebook. Its platforms include Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. A free 30-day trial of the school administration software includes all features. ThinkWave says it uses password-protected accounts and SSL encryption, stores data in Google Cloud data centers, and does not sell user data. Paid subscribers can get email support; support videos, FAQs, and a quickstart guide are also listed.