.webp)
If you run a preschool or childcare center and are thinking about moving on from TimeSavr, this guide is here to help.
TimeSavr has been a helpful tool for many centers over the years. But as your center grows and families expect easier, more connected ways to stay informed, it makes sense to explore new options.
We’ve put together this guide to show you a few friendly and trusted tools that other educators and directors are using in 2025. Use this guide to find a platform that fits just right for your team, your families, and the children you care for.
TimeSavr Pros and Cons
Top 5 TimeSavr Alternatives and Competitors
1. illumine – A Friendly All-in-One Platform
illumine was created to keep preschool teams and families connected every single day. It combines everything you need in one simple platform: classroom updates, parent messages, billing, and more.
Teachers love it because they can spend less time juggling different apps and more quality time with the children. At the same time, center directors appreciate how it helps them focus on growing their centers instead of getting stuck in administrative work like billing and enrollment paperwork.
Why choose illumine over TimeSavr?
- Everything in one place: from enrollment to billing to learning updates and communication
- Helps with planning: makes lessons and observations quicker with smart tools
- Keeps families close: share photos and updates in real-time
- Grows with you: works for one center or many
- Shows your progress: simple dashboards to track how your center is doing
- Easy to adjust: works with your center’s unique needs and values
Things to keep in mind:
It doesn’t come with built-in payroll or hiring tools.
illumine Review
Trusted by 3,000+ preschools across 50+ countries, illumine grows with you—whether you're opening your first classroom or managing multiple centers.
It combines all your essentials in one place:
✔ Registrations and billing
✔ Real-time parent updates
✔ Classroom tools and messaging
No more platform-hopping!
2. Procare Solutions – Built for Larger Centers
Procare is one of the most well-known names in childcare management software, with over 30 years of experience serving large daycare chains and franchise groups throughout North America.
What sets Procare apart is its strong focus on back-office operations—it provides particularly robust tools for handling tuition payments, monitoring staff hours, creating detailed reports, and maintaining compliance with licensing requirements.
For established centers that already have their basic systems in place but want more powerful administrative control and financial oversight, Procare remains a top-tier solution worth considering.
Procare Pros and Cons
Key Features:
- Easy check-in and staff scheduling
- Tracks tuition, payroll, and certificates
- Helps with licenses and safety compliance
- Basic parent communication and record keeping
- Can be used on desktop or online
Procare Review
If your center already handles a lot of paperwork and staff, Procare gives you strong tools to stay on top of it all. Just remember, it may take a little more time to learn and might need some extra tools for classroom support.
3. Brightwheel – Simple and Parent-Friendly
Brightwheel is loved for being easy to use. Teachers can quickly send updates, take attendance, and message parents. It works especially well for smaller centers.
It’s a favorite for its ease of use as it’s designed with teachers in mind, making it quick to log activities, send updates, and take attendance, without much training.
Parents enjoy the real-time updates and friendly interface, and many small and mid-sized centers say Brightwheel helps them save time while keeping communication strong. It doesn’t have every feature under the sun, but what it does, it does well—and simply.
Brightwheel Pros and Cons
Key Features:
- Share daily activities and photos
- Manage billing and attendance in the app
- Basic lesson tracking
- Simple check-in/out for kids
- Set staff access based on roles
Brightwheel Review
Brightwheel is a good choice for centers that want something easy, friendly, and focused on daily communication. Just keep in mind it may not offer everything larger centers or fast-growing programs might need.
4. Lillio (Formerly HiMama) – Focused on Learning
Lillio is built to support the classroom experience.
Originally known as HiMama, this platform helps educators create daily reports, share milestones, and organize lesson plans that connect with early learning frameworks.
It’s especially useful for teachers who want to keep families involved in the learning journey. While it doesn’t handle every aspect of center management, it shines when it comes to supporting learning and showing parents how their child is growing.
Lillio Pros and Cons
Key Features:
- Tracks learning and progress
- Lets teachers send messages and photos to families
- Comes with a curriculum you can edit
- Check-ins and payment features
- Tools for staff and attendance
Lillio Review:
Lillio is a caring tool for centers that focus on early learning. It gives teachers what they need to share meaningful updates with parents. While it may not cover all admin or enrollment needs, it shines in the classroom.
Useful Read: 5 Best Lillio Alternatives and Competitors Globally in 2025
5. Famly – Great for Diverse and International Centers
Famly is a flexible platform designed with both teachers and administrators in mind. It’s widely used in Europe and increasingly in other parts of the world, including Canada. While not as commonly adopted across Canadian centers as tools like TimeSavr, Famly is available and offers many features that suit a Canadian preschool’s day-to-day needs.
What does Famly do? It handles billing, reports, parent messages, and lesson plans with an easy-to-use design. It adapts to your center's way of working and speaks multiple languages. This makes it perfect for schools with families from different cultures or centers with global connections.
Famly Pros and Cons
Key Features:
- Make your own forms and workflows
- Send updates in different languages
- Keep daily notes, logs, and checklists
- Handle billing and payments
- See progress with helpful dashboards
Famly Review
Famly is a thoughtful pick if you work with many kinds of families or need a flexible system that fits your values. It may not have the latest smart tools or the widest support network, but it offers a strong core for diverse centers.
Comparing Global TimeSavr Alternatives: Key Aspects
Disclaimer: All information above is from May 2025. Plans and features might change, so it’s always good to check with each provider.
Which TimeSavr Alternative Is the Best?
Every center is different. What works for one might not work for another. Here are a few ideas to help you decide:
- Want one tool that does it all and helps you grow over time? illumine is a strong choice for centers looking for an all-in-one, future-ready platform.
- If your focus is on admin and finance, Procare can support centers with those needs.
- For smaller teams exploring a digital option, Brightwheel offers basic features to support communication and daily tasks.
- If your program is centered around learning and family updates, Lillio offers classroom tools that educators can appreciate.
- If you work with multilingual families or need flexibility in communication, Famly provides options to support diverse needs.
Final Thoughts
Each of these platforms can help your center in different ways. But illumine stands out because it supports your entire journey—from the moment a family signs up to the day a child graduates.
✅ Keeps parents involved and updated in real time
✅ Helps teachers plan and share learning with ease
✅ Makes admin tasks simple and quick
✅ Grows with your center—no matter how big or small
We care about the same things you do: helping teachers do their best, keeping families informed, and making life better for every child in your care. That’s what makes illumine more than just a tool—it’s a partner in your mission.
Other Useful Reads: Lineleader Alternatives | Kinderpedia Alternatives | Tadpoles Alternatives | Educore Alternatives
.svg)
.webp)