Playground vs Brightwheel is a question many centers are asking again since Procare bought Playground. This guide puts what each company says publicly side by side, then shows a third option with its price on the page: MyKidReports.
The short version
- Price: Playground and Brightwheel both ask you to contact them for pricing. MyKidReports is free up to 5 children, then $0.99 per child per month.
- Bank payments: neither publishes its fee on its pricing pages. MyKidReports charges a flat rate of 49 cents per bank transaction, never a percentage.
- News: Procare bought Playground on 14 September 2026 and said “nothing changes today”. Prices after the deal have not been announced.
- Switching: we move your data for free. Most centers are live in 5–10 business days.
Playground vs Brightwheel vs MyKidReports at a glance
| Playground | Brightwheel | MyKidReports | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published price | No. “Contact vendor for pricing” (Capterra) | No. Premium pricing is “customized for each program” | Yes. $0.99 per child per month, free up to 5 children |
| Free plan | Capterra lists a free version | Yes, for one staff member and fewer than 20 students | Yes, up to 5 children, every Pro module free for 14 days |
| Bank (ACH) fee | Not published | Not published (“standard service fees apply”) | Flat rate of 49 cents per bank transaction |
| Owner | Procare, since 14 September 2026 | Brightwheel | MyKidReports |
| Data move when you switch | Ask your rep | Ask your rep | Free, done by our team |
| Help filling your center | — | — | A website that brings in families, Google and map listings, tour booking |
Playground and Brightwheel details are from their Capterra listings, Brightwheel’s own blog and help center, and Procare’s press release, read on 2 November 2026. MyKidReports details are from our pricing page on the same day.
Playground after the Procare deal
On 14 September 2026, Procare Solutions announced it had acquired Playground. Procare told customers “nothing changes today” and that there is “no action required”. It has not said anything about prices, contracts or timelines. If you use Playground and are comparing it with Brightwheel, ask for any price or contract change in writing before your next renewal. Read: Playground alternatives after the Procare deal →
Brightwheel vs Playground: the real difference
Playground covers the parent portal, messaging, attendance, payment processing, billing and daily reports (Capterra). It is now part of Procare.
Brightwheel covers parent messaging, billing, attendance and lesson planning. Its free plan suits very small programs. Bigger centers move to Premium, which is quoted per program, with curriculum, assessments and payroll sold as add-ons.
The catch for a growing center is the same with both: you can’t see the price until you contact sales, and you can’t see what each tuition payment will cost you in fees.
Why centers pick MyKidReports instead
You see the price first. $0.99 per child per month. A 60-child center pays $59.40 a month. No setup fee, no contract.
Fees that don’t grow with tuition. A flat rate of 49 cents per bank transaction. A $250 payment and a $2,500 payment cost the same. Card payments are 2.79%.
Check-in that works at the door. Parents tap Check in/out in the app and scan the QR code at the door, or enter their 4-digit code at the kiosk. Staff use room tablets. See check-in →
Billing that runs itself. Recurring invoices, ACH and card autopay, late fees, sibling discounts, subsidy co-pay splits and year-end tax statements. See billing →
Help filling your rooms. Grow my business gives you a website that brings in families, Google and map listings, and tour booking. See our childcare marketing tools →
What you’ll pay in the first year
| Children enrolled | Playground | Brightwheel | MyKidReports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Contact sales | Custom quote (Premium) | $29.70 a month · $356.40 a year |
| 60 | Contact sales | Custom quote (Premium) | $59.40 a month · $712.80 a year |
| 100 | Contact sales | Custom quote (Premium) | $99.00 a month · $1,188 a year |
What are you actually paying for your childcare software? With MyKidReports it’s a flat rate of 49 cents per bank transaction, the lowest in the industry. At a 1% fee, 60 families paying $1,000 a month cost you $600 a month; at 49 cents they cost $29.40. (1% is an example rate, not any one company’s.)
MKR Pro is billed in groups of 10 children; over 100 children is a custom Enterprise quote.
Switching from Playground or Brightwheel in 5–10 business days
You don’t rebuild anything by hand. Export your records, send them to us, and our team moves rosters, billing history, attendance and parent contacts for free. We train your director and teachers, and both systems run side by side for a few days before you cancel.
- Playground alternatives after the Procare deal
- Switching from Brightwheel: export, cancel and move
- Procare vs Brightwheel vs MyKidReports
Playground vs Brightwheel: questions directors ask
Is Playground or Brightwheel cheaper?
Neither publishes a price, so you can only compare written quotes for your enrollment. Ask both for the bank payment fee in writing too. MyKidReports publishes its price: $0.99 per child per month and a flat rate of 49 cents per bank transaction.
Who owns Playground now?
Procare. Procare Solutions announced it acquired Playground on 14 September 2026 and said nothing changes today. It has not announced price or contract changes.
Does Brightwheel have a free plan?
Yes. Brightwheel says its free plan is for one staff member and fewer than 20 students (its blog, updated 18 August 2026). Larger centers need Premium, which is quoted.
What is the easiest software to switch to from Playground or Brightwheel?
One that moves your data for you and lets you test it first. MyKidReports moves your data for free, most centers are live in 5–10 business days, and you can try every Pro module free for 14 days.
Start in one of two ways
Start a 14-day free trial, or book a 1:1 demo. On the demo we look at your center, show you what we do better, and plan your switch with you.
Start your 14-day free trial →Book a 1:1 demo →
Sources, read 2 November 2026: Capterra listings for Playground and Brightwheel; Procare press release on PR Newswire, 14 Sep 2026; Brightwheel blog “How much is Brightwheel Premium?” (updated 18 Aug 2026); Brightwheel Help Center “Premium overview” (3 Aug 2026). Their details can change, so check with each company before you decide.