Lillio, formerly HiMama, is a well-reviewed childcare management platform whose biggest strength is parent communication. It holds a 4.6 out of 5 rating from more than 3,600 reviews on Capterra, and fewer than 1% of those reviews are 1 or 2 stars.
The trade-offs show up in billing, app performance, and pricing transparency. Lillio does not publish its prices, and the reviewers who say they left cite billing support or customer service.
This Lillio childcare management software review covers what Lillio does, how it rates across review sites, what directors and parents like and dislike, how it compares with Brightwheel, Procare, and Storypark, and what to know about switching to or from it.
Best for
Directors evaluating Lillio (formerly HiMama)
Covers
Ratings, scores by category, strengths, complaints, support, pricing, and alternatives
Based on
Capterra, GetApp, G2, the App Store, and Google Play
Updated
November 2026
Key takeaways
- Lillio holds a 4.6 out of 5 rating from more than 3,600 reviews on Capterra, and fewer than 1% of those reviews are 1 or 2 stars.
- Its communication features are its highest rated, while attendance tracking and payment processing score lowest, at 4.2.
- Complaints center on app performance, photo handling, logins, and billing.
- Lillio does not publish prices, and all four of its products are listed as custom quote.
- Payments run through a Stripe integration, per Capterra's integration listing.
What is Lillio?
Lillio is childcare management software for preschools, daycare centers, Montessori programs, and home daycares. It was founded in Toronto in 2013 as HiMama by Ron Spreeuwenberg and Alana Frome, and it changed its name to Lillio on November 15, 2023.
The company said the new name reflected its move from a parent communication app into a broader early education company, and that the HiMama name often felt exclusionary to the families it served.
Today Lillio is organized into four product areas:
Center management
Daily reports, parent messaging, attendance, registration and waitlist, billing and payments, lesson planning, menus, and calendars
Lillio Learning
Curriculum built on FunShine Express lesson plans and kits
Lillio Academy
Online professional development courses for educators
Family engagement
The parent side of the Lillio app, which is free for families
Owners, teachers, and parents all use the same Lillio app, and each person's login unlocks a different view. Capterra lists Lillio as available in Canada and the United States.
Lillio ratings at a glance
Here is how Lillio rates across the main review platforms as of November 2026.
| Platform | Rating | Number of reviews | Notes |
| Capterra | 4.6 out of 5 | 3,622 | Owners, directors, teachers, and parents |
| GetApp | 4.6 out of 5 | 3,623 (same network as Capterra) | Daycare is the main use case, at 97% of reviewers |
| G2 | 4.7 out of 5 | 79 | Listed as Lillio (formerly HiMama) |
| Apple App Store (Lillio app) | 4.9 out of 5 | About 37,000 ratings | Mostly parents |
| Google Play (Lillio app) | 4.5 out of 5 | About 10,500 reviews | 500,000+ downloads |
Capterra and GetApp share the same 3,600+ reviews, so they are one pool, not two. Capterra notes that Lillio's reviewers include parents as well as teachers, directors, and owners, which is worth keeping in mind when you weigh them as a director.
Lillio's own website cites a 4.9 star rating and says it has been "reviewed by 35,000+ happy customers." Those are Lillio's own figures.
Lillio scores by category
Capterra and GetApp break Lillio's rating into categories and individual features. The overall scores are even, but the feature ratings show where Lillio is stronger and weaker.
| Category or feature | Rating | Source |
| Ease of use | 4.6 | Capterra and GetApp |
| Customer service | 4.6 | Capterra and GetApp |
| Value for money | 4.6 | Capterra and GetApp |
| Features | 4.4 | Capterra and GetApp |
| Alerts and notifications | 4.6 | GetApp feature rating |
| Communications management | 4.5 | GetApp feature rating |
| Daily reports | 4.5 | GetApp feature rating |
| Billing and invoicing | 4.3 | GetApp feature rating |
| Parent portal | 4.3 | GetApp feature rating |
| Payment processing | 4.2 | GetApp feature rating |
| Attendance tracking | 4.2 | GetApp feature rating |
Communication features lead the list, which fits Lillio's roots as a parent communication app. Attendance tracking and payment processing score lowest, at 4.2.
Rating distribution
Of Lillio's 3,622 rated reviews on Capterra, 2,388 are 5-star and 1,015 are 4-star. Another 187 are 3-star, 29 are 2-star, and only 3 are 1-star.
That puts about 94% of reviews at 4 or 5 stars. The complaints below are real and recurring, but they come from a small share of reviewers.
What reviewers like about Lillio
Capterra groups the most common positive themes, and three stand out by volume:
Daycare communication
727 reviews mention it, and 94% of those are positive
Direct messaging with teachers
297 mentions, 94% positive
Real-time activity notifications
204 mentions, 96% positive
Beyond those, directors and teachers praise a few practical things:
Ease of use
The most frequent comment across roles, from teachers to directors
Daily reports
Logging meals, naps, diapers, and activities for one child or a group at once
Photos and videos
Parents value seeing their child's day, especially during the first weeks of care
Onboarding and support
GetApp's summary says onboarding support is often cited as a strength
All-in-one pricing
One Capterra reviewer chose Lillio because a monthly fee included all options and parent invoicing
Common Lillio complaints
The negative themes are narrower, but they appear consistently:
App performance
157 Capterra reviews mention slow or glitchy performance, and 84% of those are negative, with video loading called out most
Photo handling
127 reviews mention difficulty zooming into photos, and a Google Play reviewer questioned needing a subscription to download photos teachers uploaded
Login problems
53 reviews mention persistent login or access issues
Messaging controls
Some users note that the director is copied on messages, and others want more control over alert timing
Billing
One director reported billing fixes taking months and left Lillio, and another called the invoicing system outdated
Pricing
Several reviewers describe Lillio as expensive, and one mentioned pay-per-class pricing and a pushy sales process
Offline use
A teacher reported re-entering data by hand after losing connection
The pattern is similar to other platforms that started in parent communication. The family-facing features earn the strongest reviews, while billing and back-office tools draw most of the criticism.
Lillio customer support
Lillio's website describes its support team as real people who answer the phone, and lists a toll-free line (1-800-905-1876) and a direct support line (1-844-975-1275). Capterra lists email, phone, chat, a knowledge base, and a 24/7 live rep among Lillio's support options.
Lillio also says new customers get a dedicated resource to help train staff and parents during setup.
Lillio's customer support score is 4.6 on Capterra and GetApp. GetApp's summary describes support as responsive and helpful, while a minority report slow responses and unresolved billing or refund issues.
Lillio app reviews
The Lillio app is shared by staff and families, so app store reviews mostly reflect parents.
| Apple App Store | Google Play | |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.5 |
| Number of ratings | About 37,000 | About 10,500 |
| Downloads | Not shown | 500,000+ |
| Developer | Hi Mama Inc. | Hi Mama Inc. |
Parents on both stores praise the window into their child's day: lesson plans, books read, meals, naps, and photos. Some say it made the transition into daycare easier.
The critical app reviews mention paying to download photos, slow data entry during busy activities, and a few missing details, such as meal times or a one-tap nap timer.
Lillio pricing
Lillio does not publish prices. Capterra and GetApp list all four Lillio products, Center Management, Lillio Academy, and the two Lillio Learning curriculum options, as "custom quote."
What is public:
- The app is free for parents, and centers pay for the software
- Pricing is customized based on a center's needs and size, according to Lillio
- A free trial is available, per Capterra
- Payments run through a Stripe integration, per Capterra's integration listing
Because there is no public rate card, ask for a written quote that covers every module you need, payment processing fees, and how the price changes as enrollment grows. Our guide to Lillio (HiMama) pricing and alternatives covers this in more detail.
Lillio vs competitors: enrollment, billing, and attendance
Directors comparing Lillio usually look at Brightwheel and Procare. Here is how they compare on publicly available ratings for enrollment, billing, and attendance tracking.
| Lillio | Brightwheel | Procare | |
| Capterra rating | 4.6 (3,622 reviews) | 4.7 (3,257 reviews) | 4.6 (2,809 reviews) |
| Enrollment | Registration and waitlist included in Center Management | Enrollment tools included | Waitlist and capacity tools, per Capterra reviewers |
| Billing | Billing and payments through a Stripe integration; billing and invoicing rated 4.3, payment processing 4.2 | Built-in billing and payments; payment processing rated 3.8 | Payments through Tuition Express; billing and invoicing rated 4.5 |
| Attendance tracking | Rated 4.2 | Rated 4.2 | Attendance management rated 4.7 |
| Daily reports and communication | Communications 4.5, daily reports 4.5 | Communications and daily reports 4.3 | Daily reports 4.5 |
| Published pricing | Custom quote | Free plan for small programs; Premium is quote-based | Custom quote |
On these public ratings, Procare scores highest for attendance and billing, Lillio leads on communication features, and Brightwheel's weakest score is payment processing. None of the three publishes a full rate card for its paid plans. For a broader look at the three, see our Brightwheel vs Lillio vs Procare comparison, our Procare reviews roundup, and our Brightwheel reviews roundup.
Lillio vs Storypark
Storypark is a New Zealand-based platform built around learning documentation, where educators create learning stories and portfolios that families can keep. It comes up often as a Lillio comparison, especially for programs that care most about documenting learning.
| Lillio | Storypark | |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Canada | New Zealand |
| Main focus | Center management, family communication, curriculum, and staff training | Learning stories, child portfolios, and family engagement |
| Capterra rating | 4.6 (3,623 reviews) | 4.6 (346 reviews) |
| Ease of use | 4.6 | 4.5 |
| Customer service | 4.6 | 4.7 |
| Functionality | 4.4 | 4.3 |
| Value for money | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Published pricing | Custom quote | Starting at $1.79 per user per month, per Capterra; Education plan charged per child per month |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes, 30 days |
| Family access | Free for families while enrolled | Free Family plan, and families keep their child's portfolio |
The choice usually comes down to focus. Lillio covers more of center operations, including billing and registration, in one system. Storypark is centered on learning stories and family portfolios, with published per-child pricing and a slightly higher customer service score.
Is Lillio one of the best apps for childcare providers?
For many centers, yes, particularly when parent communication and daily reports are the top priority. Lillio's communication features are its highest-rated, and its overall Capterra rating sits alongside Brightwheel and Procare.
When directors compare the best apps for childcare providers, these factors tend to decide the outcome:
Parent communication
Daily reports, photos, and messaging that families actually open
Billing depth
Autopay, subsidy tracking, invoice edits, and clear processing fees
Attendance and compliance
Check-in, ratios, and reports your licensing agency accepts
Enrollment
Online registration, waitlists, and lead follow-up
Pricing transparency
Whether you can see the cost before a sales call
Switching support
How much of your data the vendor moves for you
Lillio scores well on the first point. How it performs on the others depends on your center's billing setup and how much you value published pricing.
Lillio alternatives comparison: migration ease
Migration ease is a common question for centers looking at Lillio alternatives, in both directions.
Moving onto Lillio
Lillio publishes a guide for centers switching from Procare, and says new customers get a dedicated onboarding resource. One Capterra reviewer moved from Procare because of fee increases. Another reviewer found recurring contact imports from Salesforce difficult, so confirm how imports work if you run a separate CRM (customer relationship management) system.
Moving off Lillio
Several competitors publish step-by-step instructions for exporting rosters from Lillio's Reports module, which suggests core child and family data can be exported. Two points are worth checking before you switch:
- Billing history and ledgers: confirm which billing reports you can export, and in what format
- Photos and daily reports: one Capterra parent noted there is no simple way to download all of a child's data, so give families notice to save what they want
Best Lillio competitors with easy data import or migration
Most major Lillio competitors advertise migration help. Based on what each vendor publishes:
| Platform | What the vendor publishes about switching |
| illumine | Dedicated human onboarding, data migration assistance from your current system, and staff training |
| Brightwheel | A dedicated onboarding team and a page on switching from Lillio |
| Playground | Imports your existing roster for new programs as an added service |
| Famly | Self-serve import, with help articles on exporting from other providers, including Lillio |
| MyKidReports | Free data migration from platforms including Lillio, with a typical switch of 3 to 5 business days |
Vendor claims about migration are worth testing. Ask each one which records they import for you, which you enter yourself, and how long the switch takes. Our article on childcare software migration myths covers what to expect, and our best Lillio alternatives roundup compares the main options.
Where illumine fits
illumine is an AI-native childcare management platform used by more than 4,000 centers across 60+ countries, rated 4.5 on G2 from more than 100 reviews. It is built for centers that want Lillio-level parent communication alongside stronger back-office tools:
- Parent communication with AI-assisted daily reports, so teachers spend less time writing updates
- Billing with automated invoicing, autopay, and subsidy tracking
- Enrollment tools and multi-site management for operators running more than one center
- Dedicated human onboarding, data migration help, and staff training
Read our direct Lillio vs illumine comparison, or see how switching to illumine works.
Disconnected tools are a common reason centers switch platforms. Guidepost Montessori, which moved its US network to illumine, described what came before:
"Previously, many processes relied on manual work across disconnected tools, from updating data between systems to calculating seat availability through spreadsheets and custom solutions. It worked, but only because people were holding it together." Matthew Sears, Senior Vice President, Technology, Guidepost Montessori, in illumine's Rethinking Montessori Operations white paper
Why trust this article
This article is built from public sources only: Lillio's website and announcements, verified review data from Capterra, GetApp, and G2, the Lillio listings on Google Play and the Apple App Store, and public product and pricing pages from Brightwheel, Procare, and Storypark. We have not used Lillio or the other platforms hands-on.
Review summaries on Capterra and GetApp are partly generated by those platforms, and we have attributed them accordingly. Figures that come from Lillio itself, such as its 35,000+ reviews claim, are labeled as Lillio's own.
Customer and expert quotes come from illumine's published white papers and are attributed to the named speaker.
Frequently asked questions on Lillio
What is Lillio?
Lillio is childcare management software for preschools, daycare centers, Montessori programs, and home daycares. It includes daily reports, parent messaging, attendance, registration, billing, lesson planning, a curriculum called Lillio Learning, and online staff training through Lillio Academy. The company is based in Toronto.
Is Lillio the same as HiMama?
Yes. HiMama changed its name to Lillio on November 15, 2023. The company said the new name reflected its growth from a parent communication app into a broader early education company. Some app store listings and help pages still say Lillio (formerly HiMama).
Is Lillio good childcare management software?
Lillio is well reviewed, with 4.6 out of 5 from more than 3,600 reviews on Capterra and about 94% of reviews at 4 or 5 stars. Reviewers praise its parent communication, daily reports, and ease of use. The most common complaints involve app speed, photo handling, login issues, billing support, and pricing.
How much does Lillio cost?
Lillio does not publish its pricing. All of its products, including Center Management, Lillio Academy, and Lillio Learning, are sold by custom quote based on a center's needs and size. The Lillio app is free for parents, and a free trial is available.
What is the difference between Lillio and Storypark?
Lillio is an all-in-one childcare management platform that covers registration, attendance, billing, and parent communication. Storypark, based in New Zealand, focuses on learning stories and child portfolios that families can keep. Both are rated 4.6 on Capterra, and Storypark publishes per-child pricing while Lillio is quote-based.
Can I export my data if I leave Lillio?
Core child and family records can be exported from Lillio's Reports module, and several competitors publish instructions for doing this. Before switching, confirm which billing reports you can export and give families time to save photos, since one reviewer noted there is no simple way to download all of a child's data.
What are the best Lillio alternatives?
Centers comparing Lillio often look at illumine, Brightwheel, Procare, Playground, and Storypark. They differ in billing depth, pricing transparency, and migration support, so compare them on the features your center relies on most and ask each vendor what data they will move for you.
