# Playground Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra

> With the help of Capterra, learn about Playground Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Daycare products and more.

Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/220200/Playground

---

# 

 Playground Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons

Last updated on June 3, 2026

Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team.

[Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[FAQs](#faqs)[Users](#users)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Integrations](#integrations)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews)

Playground

## What is Playground?

Lower your costs with Playground, the modern child care management software that eliminates admin busywork and delights families. Our top-rated software includes essential features like billing, family engagement, digital paperwork, attendance, payroll, food program management, reporting, and more. Enjoy a 1:1 dedicated account manager and live human support with response times below 60 seconds. Join 100,000+ satisfied child care providers, teachers, and families using Playground.

## What is Playground used for?

[Daycare](https://www.capterra.com/child-care-software/)

Recognitions

Shortlist

Top alternative

Featured

Overall rating

Based on 194 user reviews

Reviews sentiment

Positive

96%

Neutral

2%

Negative

2%

Contact vendor  
for pricing

Free trial  
available

Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products...

-   Daycare / 2026

Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings...

Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings...

Do you work for Playground?[Manage this product listing](https://digitalmarkets.gartner.com/get-listed/claim-bx?url=https://www.tryplayground.com/&name=Playground)

## Compare with a popular alternative

Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status.

### Playground

4.8 (194)

VS.

[4.6 (2,807)](https://www.capterra.com/p/23486/Procare-Child-Care-Management/reviews/)

Starting Price

Contact vendor

Starting Price

Contact vendor

Free Trial

Free Version

Pricing Options

Free Trial

Free Version

Ease Of Use

4.7 (194)

Ease Of Use

4.4 (2,806)

Value For Money

4.7 (190)

Value For Money

4.5 (2,389)

Customer Service

4.9 (193)

Customer Service

4.6 (2,628)

## Playground alternatives

Highest Rated

[4.7 (3,255)](https://www.capterra.com/p/144060/brightwheel/reviews/)

Starting price

Contact vendor for pricing

Pricing Options

Free Trial

Free Version

User Rating

96%

of reviewers

rated it above 4 stars

[4.7 (264)](https://www.capterra.com/p/155536/Famly/reviews/)

Starting price

$49.00

Per User, Per Month

Pricing Options

Free Trial

Free Version

User Rating

95%

of reviewers

rated it above 4 stars

[4.6 (77)](https://www.capterra.com/p/181289/ChildPilot/reviews/)

Starting price

Contact vendor for pricing

Pricing Options

Free Trial

Free Version

User Rating

95%

of reviewers

rated it above 4 stars

[Lillio](https://www.capterra.com/p/134048/HiMama-Preschool-Child-Care-App/)

[4.6 (3,623)](https://www.capterra.com/p/134048/HiMama-Preschool-Child-Care-App/reviews/)

Starting price

Contact vendor for pricing

Pricing Options

Free Trial

Free Version

User Rating

94%

of reviewers

rated it above 4 stars

[Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/134048/HiMama-Preschool-Child-Care-App/)

[View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/220200/Playground/alternatives/)

## FAQs about Playground

Overview

### What problems does Playground solve?

Playground solves scattered childcare operations by combining attendance, billing, payroll, enrollment, paperwork, and parent messaging in one system. It reduces manual tuition collection, paper files, and back-and-forth status calls while improving real-time family updates. Childcare directors, administrators, in-home providers, and preschool or microschool staff benefit most.

Answer based on 158 reviews

Overview

### Which roles and teams benefit most from Playground?

Playground is most used by daycare owners, directors, and executive leaders who oversee enrollment, billing, staffing, and parent communication. Office managers, administrators, and administrative assistants rely on it to streamline daily operations and records, while childcare providers use it to document activities, track attendance, and share updates with families.

Answer based on 194 reviews

Overview

### What company size and industries is Playground built for?

Playground is built for small child care organizations, with 100% of reviewers from small businesses and 62% in Child Day Care Services. It also serves Education Management at 27% and Individual & Family Services at 3%, supporting child care centers, in-home providers, before/after school programs, and mostly daycare use.

Answer based on 194 reviews

Features and Usability

### What are the key features of Playground?

Playground includes core childcare management features like attendance tracking, billing and invoicing, enrollment and wait list management, and digital forms with electronic signatures. Reviewers also highlight differentiators such as parent communication through messaging, photo updates, and daily reports, plus mobile access, reporting, and a parent portal for check-in and payments.

Answer based on 108 reviews

Integrations

### Which third-party tools and platforms does Playground integrate with?

Playground integrates with Stripe and KinderTrack, with official connections also listed for HubSpot CRM, HubSpot Content Hub, Kisi, NetSuite, and QuickBooks. These integrations cover payments, child care assistance workflows, CRM and content management, access control, accounting, and financial operations.

Answer based on 22 reviews

Getting Started and Support

### How easy is it to onboard and train a team on Playground?

Playground offers in-person training, live online sessions, webinars, documentation, and videos, giving teams several ways to learn. Teachers and everyday staff often get comfortable quickly with core tasks, while admins and users setting up reports, migrations, or advanced features usually need more time, support, and practice during onboarding.

Answer based on 28 reviews

Getting Started and Support

### What customer support options does Playground offer, and how do users rate the experience?

Playground offers email/help desk, FAQ/forum, a knowledge base, phone support, and chat. Users generally describe support as fast, accessible, and helpful, with real people available quickly and strong onboarding guidance. Some mention a learning curve, occasional inconsistent experiences, slower scheduling for one-on-one sessions, and difficulty reaching a representative at times.

Answer based on 108 reviews

Features and Usability

### How well does Playground handle parent communication?

Playground keeps families informed through app messages, email, text, photos, newsletters, and classroom updates. Childcare centers, in-home providers, and therapy programs value the flexible communication options and parent-friendly mobile access, though some teams want better staff message controls, broader calling features, and fewer limits on SMS length.

Answer based on 73 reviews

Features and Usability

### Is Playground easy to use for childcare staff and parents?

Playground feels easy to learn for many childcare teams and families, with clear navigation on mobile and desktop. Directors, teachers, and in-home providers often find daily tasks like attendance, billing, and messaging simple, though some users say billing changes and first-time setup can feel confusing until habits are established.

Answer based on 54 reviews

## Who uses Playground?

Based on Capterra reviews from the past 2 years

Company size

Based on 153 reviews

100%

75%

50%

25%

Smallbusiness

Midsizebusinesses

Enterprise

Top job functions

Based on 153 reviews

Administrative

61%

Administrative

61%

Education & Learning

29%

Entrepreneurs/ Owners

3%

Health & Medical

1%

Others

7%

Top industries

Based on 153 reviews

Child Day Care Services

77%

Education Management

19%

Non-Profit Organization Management

2%

Human Resources

1%

Other

1%

## Features

Features with the highest number of reviews are displayed first. Those that have no reviews appear next, sorted alphabetically.

Parent Portal

4.7 (155)

70.97% of 155 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important

Playground offers a centralized space for parents to access forms, upload documents, view updates, and communicate. Users think it’s user-friendly and organized, making communication and paperwork easy, with many parents enjoying the convenience and quick access to information.

Attendance Tracking

4.8 (149)

70.47% of 149 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important

With this capability, you can quickly and accurately track student attendance, check in/out times, and generate reports. Reviewers appreciate its simplicity, real-time updates, and compliance with state requirements, though some mention a desire for easier mobile corrections and smoother QR code use.

Communications Management

4.8 (143)

69.93% of 143 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important

It gives you multiple ways to communicate instantly with parents and staff, including chat, announcements, and newsletters. Reviewers appreciate the ease of messaging, real-time updates, and ability to reach everyone at once, noting parents find it simple and effective.

Payment Processing

4.6 (134)

70.15% of 134 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important

You benefit from streamlined payment collection, tracking, and various payment options like credit and ACH. Reviewers appreciate the accuracy, auto-pay, and ease of use, though some mention slow payout times and wish for faster deposits and mobile processing.

Billing & Invoicing

4.7 (85)

83.53% of 85 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important

This aspect helps you automate billing, generate invoices, and keep finances organized. Some reviewers find it easy to use, time-saving, and helpful for recurring payments, though a few mention initial confusion and a desire for improvements in processing time.

Records Management

4.7 (80)

86.25% of 80 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important

Ability to record, store, update, and retrieve information

Playground 40 features

Dashboard to view the status of ongoing processes, identify current incidents and track past activities

Track and document all activities across devices, networks, and other systems

A virtual assistant that uses AI to pursue goals and complete tasks on behalf of users

Alerts or notifications of various types such as pop-up messages, sounds, banners, or badges

Application programming interface that allows for integration with other systems/databases

With this capability, you can quickly and accurately track student attendance, check in/out times, and generate reports. Reviewers appreciate its simplicity, real-time updates, and compliance with state requirements, though some mention a desire for easier mobile corrections and smoother QR code use.

This aspect helps you automate billing, generate invoices, and keep finances organized. Some reviewers find it easy to use, time-saving, and helpful for recurring payments, though a few mention initial confusion and a desire for improvements in processing time.

Track and manage schedules and meetings via an integrated calendar

Maintain personal certifications/qualifications

Track the status of assets and whether they're checked in or out

Schedule in-person or online classes

It gives you multiple ways to communicate instantly with parents and staff, including chat, announcements, and newsletters. Reviewers appreciate the ease of messaging, real-time updates, and ability to reach everyone at once, noting parents find it simple and effective.

Centralized database of stakeholders and their contact information such as names, address, phone number etc.

Record customer information, purchase history, and other notes

A document that lists daily activities or maintains a record of all events that happened in a day

Protect sensitive data for digital privacy

Store, manage, and track all electronic documents in a centralized location

Digitally sign online documents

Track employee schedules, availability, and performance across projects and tasks

Manage the enrollment and onboarding of all new members and accepted applications

Use AI to generate content in the form of text, images, videos, etc.

Manage updates to member's immunization records and track individual allergies

Manage and track all disruptions and incidents

Tool for educators to create, organize, and manage class lesson plans efficiently

Meal and snack planning, scheduling and distribution

Monitor task progress and planned accomplishments to better manage project status

Access software remotely via mobile devices

Manage and support multiple languages

Manage and support multiple locations

Playground offers a centralized space for parents to access forms, upload documents, view updates, and communicate. Users think it’s user-friendly and organized, making communication and paperwork easy, with many parents enjoying the convenience and quick access to information.

You benefit from streamlined payment collection, tracking, and various payment options like credit and ACH. Reviewers appreciate the accuracy, auto-pay, and ease of use, though some mention slow payout times and wish for faster deposits and mobile processing.

Ability to record, store, update, and retrieve information

Oversee and coordinate the registration of attendees, visitors, customers, events, activities, etc.

Collection, analysis, and representation of numerical data and generation of reports to understand various patterns

Allocate and manage resources, such as employees, equipment, facilities, and other assets

Set & manage permission levels based on user roles and restrict access to only authorized individuals

Create lists of student grades, transcripts, class lists, course schedules, etc. to be shared with instructors and administration

Create, manage and track all task activities and progression

Set up connections to third-party platforms to improve business processes

Record, update and manage waiting lists

Features

4.7 (194)

4.7

Based on 194 reviews

## Pricing

Value for money

4.7 (190)

### Starting price

Contact vendor  
for pricing

Free trial  
available

Value for money

4.7 (190)

4.7

Based on 190 reviews

## Integrations

[

HubSpot CRM](https://www.capterra.com/p/152373/HubSpot-CRM/)[

Stripe](https://www.capterra.com/p/123889/Stripe/)[

NetSuite](https://www.capterra.com/p/135757/NetSuite/)[

HubSpot Content Hub](https://www.capterra.com/p/201318/HubSpot-CMS/)[

Kisi](https://www.capterra.com/p/147727/Keyless-Door-Access/)

## Support, customer service and training options

Customer Service

4.9 (193)

Support

-   Email/Help Desk
-   FAQs/Forum
-   Knowledge Base
-   Phone Support
-   24/7 (Live rep)
-   Chat

Training

-   In Person
-   Live Online
-   Webinars
-   Documentation
-   Videos

Deployment

-   Web
-   Android
-   iPhone/iPad

Typical users

-   Freelancers
-   Small businesses
-   Mid size businesses
-   Enterprises

Customer Service

4.9 (193)

4.9

Based on 193 reviews

## User reviews

Overall rating

4.8

Based on 194 reviews

Filter by rating

5(171)

4(16)

3(3)

2(4)

1(0)

Mentioned topic

Sorted by most recent

EL

Erin L.

Behavior Analyst

Child Day Care Services

### "great customer support"

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

5.0

5.0

Features

4.0

4.0

Customer Service

5.0

5.0

Likelihood to Recommend

5/10

April 17, 2026

we are using playground in an unusual way; for therapy instead of daycare; wonderful for parent communication

Pros

The customer support with Playground is FANTASTIC! They are professional and have been able to answer any questions that I've had.

Cons

I'm still learning more about what we can do with playground for our therapy center. I primarily use the forms and media threads.

Review source

Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

Response from Vendor

April 22, 2026

Thank you for the great feedback! We’re so glad to hear our support team has been helpful and responsive. As you continue exploring more features, we’re happy to help you tailor things to fit your workflow even better. Appreciate you being part of the Playground community!

JB

Justin B.

Owner

Child Day Care Services

### "Modernizing Childcare: A Seamless Hub for Directors and Families"

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

5.0

5.0

Features

5.0

5.0

Customer Service

5.0

5.0

Likelihood to Recommend

10/10

March 12, 2026

Playground is a transformative "all-in-one" solution that successfully bridges the gap between professional business management and heart-centered childcare. It effectively replaces a fragmented mess of spreadsheets, paper checks, and clunky apps with a single, polished ecosystem that saves directors hours of administrative labor every week. While the transition period requires patience and the premium pricing reflects its high-end capabilities, the payoff in parent satisfaction and operational clarity is undeniable. It is currently one of the most forward-thinking platforms available, making it an ideal choice for centers looking to modernize and scale their operations with confidence and ease.

Pros

The standout feature of Playground is its ability to centralize every chaotic moving part of running a childcare center into one sleek, intuitive dashboard. Administrators rave about the automated billing system, which virtually eliminates the headache of chasing down late tuition by offering parents easy autopay options. Beyond the backend, the real-time communication tools are a massive win; the ability to send instant photo updates and digital daily sheets builds immense trust with families. Furthermore, their customer support is legendary in the industry, often responding to technical questions in under a minute with actual human assistance.

Cons

While the platform is incredibly powerful, the sheer depth of its features means there is a noticeable learning curve for staff members who aren't tech-savvy. Migrating years of paper files or data from older legacy systems into Playground requires a significant time investment and meticulous data entry. Some users have also expressed a desire for more granular customization in the reporting suite, as the pre-built templates don't always capture niche data points needed for specific state grants. Additionally, while the mobile app is generally stable, occasional lag during peak morning check-in times can be a minor frustration for busy teachers.

Switched from

[Kangarootime](https://www.capterra.com/p/166487/Kangarootime/)

We switched to Playground for its superior user interface and faster customer support, which resolved the navigation frustrations and technical lag experienced with Kangarootime. Its automated billing and real-time family communication tools provide a more professional, reliable experience for both our administrative staff and parents.

Alternatives considered

[brightwheel](https://www.capterra.com/p/144060/brightwheel/)

Reasons for choosing Playground

We passed on Brightwheel because Playground offers a more intuitive user interface and significantly faster customer support. Playground’s automated billing felt more seamless for our families, and its customizable reporting provided better data clarity for our specific administrative needs

Review source

Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

Response from Vendor

March 16, 2026

Thank you for such a thoughtful and detailed review. We’re thrilled to hear that Playground has helped bring so many moving parts of running a center into one organized system. Billing automation, real-time communication with families, and fast human support are all areas we work hard to get right, so it’s great to see those making a real difference for your team. You also raised some very fair points. With a platform that covers so many workflows, there can be a learning period while teams get comfortable and while data from older systems is brought in. We’re continuing to improve onboarding tools and resources to make that process smoother. We truly appreciate you highlighting both the strengths and the areas where we can grow. Hearing that Playground is helping replace spreadsheets, paper processes, and disconnected apps with a single system means a lot to our team. Thanks for being part of the Playground community and helping us keep improving.

JM

Jamie M.

Owner of Childcare

Child Day Care Services

### "We love Playground"

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

5.0

5.0

Features

5.0

5.0

Customer Service

5.0

5.0

Likelihood to Recommend

10/10

February 24, 2026

Our overall experience has been fantastic. Transitioning from another platform has been very smooth with the support from Playground.

Pros

The customer support is excellent from onboarding and beyond. We are able to communicate with staff and families through a feed, email or text. There are so many options to be sure messages are sent. Our teachers are easily able to manage the app to sign children in and send pictures and messages. Also the access to very real and excellent trainings is super convenient. They offer additional resources that can benefit our center.

Cons

I couldn't say there's anything I don't like about playground. Learning something new always takes time and patience, but the support though it has been amazing.

Switched from

[Procare Solutions](https://www.capterra.com/p/23486/Procare-Child-Care-Management/)

We tried a few different products, and Playground has been the best so far in all areas.

Alternatives considered

[brightwheel](https://www.capterra.com/p/144060/brightwheel/)

Reasons for choosing Playground

I had been doing the trainings offered through Playground for over a year. With every training, Playground had a way or solution to help with the resources discussed in the trainings.

Review source

Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

Response from Vendor

February 27, 2026

Thank you for such a thoughtful review! We’re so glad to hear that support—from onboarding and beyond—has stood out to you. Making communication flexible across feed, email, and text is intentional, and it’s great to know your team is using it effectively. We love hearing that teachers are comfortably signing children in, sharing photos, and sending updates with ease. It’s also wonderful that the trainings and additional resources have been helpful for your center. Learning a new system always takes some patience, but we’re glad the support has made the transition smooth. We’re grateful to be part of your center’s journey and are always here when you need us.

TH

Tayler H.

Administrator

Child Day Care Services

### "A Game Changer for Our Daycare!"

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

5.0

5.0

Features

5.0

5.0

Customer Service

5.0

5.0

Likelihood to Recommend

10/10

February 24, 2026

Overall, our experience has been extremely positive. Playground has helped our center improve communication, stay organized, and operate more efficiently day to day. It has simplified administrative tasks and strengthened our connection with families. We highly recommend it to any childcare provider looking for an all-in-one management solution!

Pros

What we love most about Playground is how it keeps everything organized in one place. Daily reports, attendance, billing, messaging, and paperwork are all streamlined and easy to manage. It saves our team so much time and helps us stay organized and professional. The communication feature makes it simple to keep families informed with real-time updates, photos, and announcements.

Cons

There was a small learning curve at first while getting everything set up, but once we became familiar with the system, it’s been very user-friendly and efficient.

Review source

Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

Response from Vendor

March 9, 2026

Thank you for such a thoughtful review. We’re really glad to hear Playground is helping your team stay organized and saving time across daily reports, attendance, billing, and communication with families. That all-in-one workflow is exactly what we aim to deliver. Totally fair that there can be a short learning period during setup. Once everything is configured, we’re happy to hear it’s been smooth and efficient for your team. It’s great to know the platform is helping strengthen communication with families while simplifying day-to-day admin work. We truly appreciate the recommendation!

KB

Kim B.

Director

Child Day Care Services

### "Great so far "

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

4.0

4.0

Features

4.0

4.0

Customer Service

5.0

5.0

Likelihood to Recommend

8/10

February 24, 2026

So far the experience has been positive, and I am excited to learn more that the application has to offer.

Pros

I love the enrollment process and support from the team. The options seem endless and once we keep exploring, we have more information.

Cons

There is a lot of options so it can be a bit confusing on the teachers end. I wish there could be an easier way for to choose to update information as it seems a bit more time-consuming..

Switched from

[brightwheel](https://www.capterra.com/p/144060/brightwheel/)

I liked the enrollment process on Playground versus brake wheel

Alternatives considered

[Procare Solutions](https://www.capterra.com/p/23486/Procare-Child-Care-Management/)

Reasons for choosing Playground

The enrollment paperwork work the reason I went with playground.

Review source

Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

Response from Vendor

February 27, 2026

So glad to hear the enrollment process and team support have stood out. That’s exactly where we want to make a real difference. It’s great that as you explore more, you’re continuing to discover new capabilities—that depth is intentional. We appreciate you choosing Playground, especially because of the enrollment paperwork tools. That part of the platform is built to remove friction and save time, so it’s great to know it’s delivering. Excited for you to keep unlocking more as you dive in! Our friendly support team is here to help if anything comes up!

BF

Britney F.

Owner and Operator

Child Day Care Services

### "Peace of mind in one place"

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

5.0

5.0

Features

5.0

5.0

Customer Service

5.0

5.0

Likelihood to Recommend

10/10

February 21, 2026

Pros

I love that the platform can manage my business tracking and childcare needs in one place. Their customer service is quick and helpful. I couldn't recommend Playground more!

Cons

So far no issues after a year of being with them. They have solved and worked me through any issues or limitations I've had

Alternatives considered

[brightwheel](https://www.capterra.com/p/144060/brightwheel/)

Reasons for choosing Playground

Brightwheel required a certain number of children enrolled. Playground didn't have a minimum.

Review source

Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

Response from Vendor

February 24, 2026

Thank you so much for the kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that Playground has helped you manage your business needs all in one place. It means a lot that after a full year, you’re still having a smooth experience and that our team has been able to support you through any questions along the way. We truly appreciate your recommendation and are grateful to be part of your journey!

VC

Vanessa C.

Director

Child Day Care Services

### "Extremely happy with my switch to Playground!"

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

5.0

5.0

Features

4.0

4.0

Customer Service

5.0

5.0

Likelihood to Recommend

10/10

February 19, 2026

My overall experience has been extremely wonderful! Everyone had been super helpful. They literally took me by the hand and assisted me with everything!

Pros

What I love the most about Playground is the enrollment component. It is a wonderful tool for a new and growing childcare center!

Cons

I do not like the activity listing part of the platform, however, I am sure there are tons of improvements underway to make the system so much better.

Switched from

[Tuition Express](https://www.capterra.com/p/177236/Tuition-Express/)

[Gusto](https://www.capterra.com/p/131882/Gusto/)

[Procare Solutions](https://www.capterra.com/p/23486/Procare-Child-Care-Management/)

Wanted to have everything in house in one system. I was also looking for a platform to make enrollment easier for admin as well as families.

Review source

Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

Response from Vendor

February 24, 2026

So happy to hear the enrollment tools are making such a difference for your growing center! That’s exactly where we want to create leverage for new programs like yours. It means a lot that your experience has felt so supportive. We know how much goes into launching and growing a center, and we’re glad our team could walk alongside you and make it feel manageable. We’re excited to keep building with you as you grow.

BB

Brooke B.

Director

Child Day Care Services

### "The software your center needs!"

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

5.0

5.0

Features

5.0

5.0

Customer Service

5.0

5.0

Likelihood to Recommend

10/10

February 15, 2026

Pros

Playground has everything my center needs in one place! It keeps my teachers and parents all connected. I can keep track of all my state compliance, employees, hours, payroll, and student needs in one easy to use platform!

Cons

The billing took us a little while to get used to but the support team was amazing in teaching us the best ways to utilize mass billing and as well as other needs we had.

Switched from

[Jackrabbit Dance](https://www.capterra.com/p/93349/Jackrabbit-Dance/)

Jackrabbit decided to close Jackrabbit Care and focus on their other platforms.

Alternatives considered

[Procare Solutions](https://www.capterra.com/p/23486/Procare-Child-Care-Management/)

[brightwheel](https://www.capterra.com/p/144060/brightwheel/)

Reasons for choosing Playground

The price was better and it was very user friendly. The support staff is amazing.

Review source

Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

Response from Vendor

February 24, 2026

So glad to hear Playground is covering everything your center needs in one place. Totally understand that billing can take a little time to get comfortable with and we're glad our team was able to walk you through it. If anything else ever feels complex, we’re always here to simplify it with you. Thanks for your review!

KC

Kayla C.

Daycare Provider

Education Management

### "Make the switch! It’s worth every penny!"

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

4.0

4.0

Features

4.0

4.0

Customer Service

5.0

5.0

Likelihood to Recommend

10/10

February 9, 2026

So far I think it will be a great addition to my business - keeping things organized and at my fingertips at all times.

Pros

I’m new but I love the options it provides from communication to enrollment. Also the link to attendance will make life much easier.

Cons

Nothing I have found yet per-se. Jusdt making a transition from another program and working out the kinks.

Switched from

[brightwheel](https://www.capterra.com/p/144060/brightwheel/)

To try the additional services that make them different.

Review source

Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

Response from Vendor

February 16, 2026

So glad to hear the transition is off to a strong start. It’s great that communication, enrollment, and attendance are already making things easier. Excited for you to keep discovering more as you get fully settled in. If you need any help, our friendly team is always happy to assist!

RM

Rebecca M.

Director

Child Day Care Services

### "First Time User"

4.0

Overall Rating

4.0

4.0

Ease of Use

3.0

3.0

Features

3.0

3.0

Customer Service

5.0

5.0

Likelihood to Recommend

9/10

February 4, 2026

Coming from ProCare it's definitely easier and more parent friendly. Tadpoles was our original choice but Playground has been similar.

Pros

On-boarding support was great. Time built out weekly to go over any challenges and issues. Support ongoing is minimal but available.

Cons

Not as many features as our program needs. Little difficult to update each child's day without having to do multiple steps.

Switched from

[Procare Solutions](https://www.capterra.com/p/23486/Procare-Child-Care-Management/)

Started own program and didn't like my previous experience.

Alternatives considered

[Tadpoles](https://www.capterra.com/p/118895/Childcare/)

Reasons for choosing Playground

Unable to invest in Apple products for Tadpole use.

Review source

Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

Response from Vendor

February 9, 2026

Glad onboarding felt supportive and paced, that's exactly what we strive for! As for feature gaps, we’d love to understand more about what’s missing for your program - your feedback directly shapes how we prioritize what’s next. Please reach out to our support team as we'd love to understand how we can continue to improve things for you.

[View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/220200/Playground/reviews/)

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