--- title: "Playground Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra" description: "With the help of Capterra, learn about Playground Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Daycare products and more." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/220200/Playground/" page_type: "product" language: "en" --- # Playground Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on August 26, 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 Includes Free Version 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) Rating Breakdown 4.8 +− Features4.7 Value for Money4.7 Ease of Use4.7 Customer Service4.9 Rating Breakdown 4.8 Features4.7 Value for Money4.7 Ease of Use4.7 Customer Service4.9 ## Playground Reviewers Verdict Updated August 2026 AI summary - Playground suits small childcare centers, in-home providers, and microschools seeking to modernize operations and family communication. - Users most consistently value the responsive customer support, smooth transition from paper or older systems, and digital paperwork features. - It saves time daily by centralizing billing, attendance, and communication, making workflows more efficient and reducing manual tasks. - Some key downsides are slower payment processing, a learning curve for new users, and occasional scheduling or billing challenges. - Playground fits best for teams prioritizing digital records and strong support, but buyers needing advanced payment speed or complex scheduling may want to weigh alternatives. ## 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 (2,809)](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 (2,808) Value For Money 4.7 (190) Value For Money 4.5 (2,391) Customer Service 4.9 (193) Customer Service 4.6 (2,630) ## Playground alternatives [brightwheel](https://www.capterra.com/p/144060/brightwheel/) [4.7 (3,257)](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 [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/144060/brightwheel/) [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/) Highest Rated [Daily Connect](https://www.capterra.com/p/180141/Daily-Connect/) [4.8 (306)](https://www.capterra.com/p/180141/Daily-Connect/reviews/) Starting price $1.40 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 97% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/180141/Daily-Connect/) [Famly](https://www.capterra.com/p/155536/Famly/) [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 [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/155536/Famly/) [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/220200/Playground/alternatives/) ## FAQs about Playground Overview ### What problems does Playground solve? Playground solves fragmented childcare operations by replacing paper files, spreadsheets, and separate apps for attendance, billing, enrollment, payroll, and parent messaging. It helps daycare directors, preschool administrators, in-home providers, and microschool owners reduce manual invoicing, simplify family communication, speed onboarding, and gain clearer visibility into daily schedules, records, and open enrollment spots. Answer based on 158 reviews Overview ### Which roles and teams benefit most from Playground? Playground is most used by childcare owners, directors, and executive leaders who oversee center operations, family communication, and business performance. Office managers, administrators, and assistants use it to streamline billing, enrollment, and recordkeeping, while daycare and preschool staff rely on it for daily updates, attendance tracking, and parent engagement. Answer based on 194 reviews Overview ### What company size and industries is Playground built for? Playground is built for small child care operators, with 100% of reviewers from small businesses and 62% in child day care services. It also serves education management organizations at 27% and individual and family services at 3%, supporting child care centers, in-home providers, before/after school programs, and Montessori preschools for 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 student records. Differentiators include parent communication through messaging, photo updates, and daily reports, plus digital forms with electronic signatures, a parent portal, and mobile check-in/check-out. Answer based on 108 reviews Integrations ### Which third-party tools and platforms does Playground integrate with? Playground integrates with Stripe and KinderTrack, with reviewer-confirmed use for payments and child care assistance workflows. It also connects to HubSpot CRM, HubSpot Content Hub, Kisi, NetSuite, and QuickBooks, covering payments, CRM, accounting, content management, and access control across seven third-party platforms. 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 like sign-in, messaging, and paperwork, while admins typically need more time for setup, data migration, and custom reporting. 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 often describe support as responsive, easy to reach, and helpful during onboarding and troubleshooting, with real people available quickly. Some mention a learning curve, occasional uneven support, and slower scheduling for one-on-one help. 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, and classroom updates in one place. Childcare centers, in-home providers, and therapy programs often like the parent-friendly feed and quick contact access, though some teams want more messaging controls, longer SMS messages, and fuller mobile app functionality. Answer based on 73 reviews Features and Usability ### Is Playground easy to use? Playground feels easy to learn for many childcare teams, with clear navigation on desktop and mobile for daily tasks. Directors, teachers, and small providers often find setup and routine use straightforward, but some users say billing workflows feel less intuitive at first and require extra steps or onboarding help. Answer based on 54 reviews ## Who uses Playground? Based on Capterra reviews from the past 3 years ## Features AI summary Based on 3,326 Daycare reviews Capterra reviewers point to these as the top features buyers look for in daycare software: - **Parent Portal** (**50%** of reviewers rated this feature as critical) - **Data Security** (**54%**) - **Communications Management** (**46%**) Playground supports all three of the features reviewers rank highest: **Parent Portal**, **Data Security**, and **Communications Management**. Together, these capabilities help daycare providers keep families informed, protect sensitive child and business data, and manage day-to-day communication more efficiently, allowing teams to build trust with parents and keep operations running smoothly. Parent Portal 4.7 (155) 70.97% of 155 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Playground offers a centralized portal where parents can access forms, upload documents, and communicate with staff. Users think it’s user-friendly, streamlines enrollment, and keeps parents informed, with many praising its convenience and the ease of sharing updates and paperwork. Data Security 4.8 (66) 74.24% of 66 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Protect sensitive data for digital privacy 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 message families and staff, including chat, announcements, and email. Reviewers appreciate the real-time updates, ease of sending group or individual messages, and the ability to keep communication organized, while some wish for better read-receipt tracking. Daily Reports 4.6 (64) 56.25% of 64 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important A document that lists daily activities or maintains a record of all events that happened in a day Payment Processing 4.6 (134) 70.15% of 134 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important This aspect helps you collect and track payments efficiently, supporting auto-pay, credit cards, and ACH. Some reviewers find it easy and reliable, enjoy quick deposits, and like passing fees to parents, though a few note slow payouts and occasional confusion with auto-pay. 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 record, review, and report attendance using digital check-in/out, QR codes, and real-time updates. Reviewers appreciate its accuracy, ease of use, and how it simplifies compliance, though some mention a desire for easier corrections and more mobile options. Playground 40 features ### All Features - Activity Dashboard: Dashboard to view the status of ongoing processes, identify current incidents and track past activities - Activity Tracking: Track and document all activities across devices, networks, and other systems - AI Copilot: A virtual assistant that uses AI to pursue goals and complete tasks on behalf of users - Alerts/Notifications: Alerts or notifications of various types such as pop-up messages, sounds, banners, or badges - API: Application programming interface that allows for integration with other systems/databases - Attendance Tracking: With this capability, you can quickly record, review, and report attendance using digital check-in/out, QR codes, and real-time updates. Reviewers appreciate its accuracy, ease of use, and how it simplifies compliance, though some mention a desire for easier corrections and more mobile options. - Billing & Invoicing: You benefit from automated, flexible billing and invoicing that supports discounts, recurring payments, and instant digital invoices. Reviewers appreciate the time savings, organization, and transparency, though some mention initial confusion and a desire for faster processing times. - Calendar Management: Track and manage schedules and meetings via an integrated calendar - Certification Tracking: Maintain personal certifications/qualifications - Check-in/Check-out: Track the status of assets and whether they're checked in or out - Class Scheduling: Schedule in-person or online classes - Communications Management: It gives you multiple ways to message families and staff, including chat, announcements, and email. Reviewers appreciate the real-time updates, ease of sending group or individual messages, and the ability to keep communication organized, while some wish for better read-receipt tracking. - Contact Database: Centralized database of stakeholders and their contact information such as names, address, phone number etc. - Customer Accounts: Record customer information, purchase history, and other notes - Daily Reports: A document that lists daily activities or maintains a record of all events that happened in a day - Data Security: Protect sensitive data for digital privacy - Document Management: Store, manage, and track all electronic documents in a centralized location - Electronic Signature: Digitally sign online documents - Employee Management: Track employee schedules, availability, and performance across projects and tasks - Enrollments/Onboarding: Manage the enrollment and onboarding of all new members and accepted applications - Generative AI: Use AI to generate content in the form of text, images, videos, etc. - Immunization & Allergy Tracking: Manage updates to member's immunization records and track individual allergies - Incident Management: Manage and track all disruptions and incidents - Lesson Planning: Tool for educators to create, organize, and manage class lesson plans efficiently - Meal/Nutrition Management: Meal and snack planning, scheduling and distribution - Milestone Tracking: Monitor task progress and planned accomplishments to better manage project status - Mobile Access: Access software remotely via mobile devices - Multi-Language: Manage and support multiple languages - Multi-Location: Manage and support multiple locations - Parent Portal: Playground offers a centralized portal where parents can access forms, upload documents, and communicate with staff. Users think it’s user-friendly, streamlines enrollment, and keeps parents informed, with many praising its convenience and the ease of sharing updates and paperwork. - Payment Processing: This aspect helps you collect and track payments efficiently, supporting auto-pay, credit cards, and ACH. Some reviewers find it easy and reliable, enjoy quick deposits, and like passing fees to parents, though a few note slow payouts and occasional confusion with auto-pay. - Records Management: Ability to record, store, update, and retrieve information - Registration Management: Oversee and coordinate the registration of attendees, visitors, customers, events, activities, etc. - Reporting & Statistics: Collection, analysis, and representation of numerical data and generation of reports to understand various patterns - Resource Scheduling: Allocate and manage resources, such as employees, equipment, facilities, and other assets - Role-Based Permissions: Set & manage permission levels based on user roles and restrict access to only authorized individuals - Student Information/Records: Create lists of student grades, transcripts, class lists, course schedules, etc. to be shared with instructors and administration - Task Management: Create, manage and track all task activities and progression - Third-Party Integrations: Set up connections to third-party platforms to improve business processes - Wait List Management: Record, update and manage waiting lists --- Features 4.7 (194) 4.7 Based on 194 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.7 (190) 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 Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. 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 Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. 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 Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. 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 Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. 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 Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. 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 Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. 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 Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. 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 Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. 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 Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. 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/) ## Top-rated software of 2026 ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox. 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