Head-to-head · Early Childhood Education Software
Kangarootime vs Lillio
Kangarootime leads on 1 check, Lillio on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreKangarootime · 6.7/10
- Free planonly Kangarootime
Kangarootime scores higher on our rubric for early childhood education software: 6.7 against 6.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #10 and #11.
Kangarootime offers free plan; Lillio doesn't.
Kangarootime is the better fit for centers seeking a free entry point and automation. Lillio is the better fit for centers wanting straightforward all-in-one childcare tools.
- Kangarootime fits best
Centers seeking a free entry point and automation
- Lillio fits best
Centers wanting straightforward all-in-one childcare tools
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Side by side
| Feature | Kangarootime 6.7/10 Visit ↗ | Lillio 6.6/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 6.7 | 6.6 |
| Ranking | #10 in Early Childhood Education Software | #11 in Early Childhood Education Software |
| Best for | Centers seeking a free entry point and automation | Centers wanting straightforward all-in-one childcare tools |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Paid |
| Starting price | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile | Cloud, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Support | Email, Live chat, Phone, Tickets, Docs | Email, Phone, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Kangarootime 5/5 · Lillio 5/5 | ||
| Enrollment management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Family communication | ✓ | ✓ |
| Attendance and check-in | ✓ | ✓ |
| Billing and payments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lesson planning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Mobile apps | Both | Both |
| Child capacity | Not published | Not published |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Kangarootime is a childcare management platform for center owners, directors, educators, and families. It brings enrollment, waitlists, attendance, billing, classroom records, staff administration, family communication, and educator tools… Read the review → |
Lillio is a childcare management platform for early childhood programs, serving family childcare providers through enterprise, multi-site organizations. It brings center administration, enrollment and waitlist management, attendance,… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Kangarootime — where it wins
- Free plan covers registration, attendance, waitlists, and parent engagement
- Automates billing, payments, staffing, lesson planning, and family updates
- Supports multi-location reporting across web, iOS, and Android
Where it doesn't
- Free plan supports one program and school
- Free plan is limited to five staff members
- Listed integrations are limited to Data Feeds and KinderConnect
Lillio — where it wins
- Covers enrollment, attendance, ratios, billing, and parent payments
- Combines family messaging with photos, daily updates, and digital care records
- Supports curriculum, observations, licensing reports, and multi-site organizations
Where it doesn't
- Pricing requires contacting sales
- There is no free plan
- Its broad feature set may exceed the needs of narrowly focused programs
- Kangarootime6.7/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial
A broad childcare operations platform with a useful free starting tier.
Visit KangarootimeFull verdict → - Lillio6.6/10 · Pricing on request
An all-in-one childcare system spanning enrollment, daily care, communication, billing, and learning.
Visit LillioFull verdict →
All early childhood education software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
Last updated · How we research and update