5 Best Childcare Platforms With Public Catalogs in 2026
Compare the 5 best childcare platforms with public program catalogs in 2026. Find software that simplifies enrollment and manages daycare and camps in one place.
Key takeaways
- Bloomily is the only platform on this list that includes a built-in website builder, public program catalog, and both year-round childcare and summer camp management in a single system.
- A public program catalog lets parents browse sessions, check availability, and register online without calling your center, keeping your enrollment pipeline active around the clock.
- All-in-one childcare platforms like Bloomily eliminate manual data entry by automatically syncing enrollment, billing, and attendance when a parent completes registration.
- Procare, Kangarootime, Lillio, and Playground each lack at least one of the three core capabilities—built-in website builder, camp support, or all-inclusive pricing—that Bloomily provides.
- Directors using Bloomily report saving over 10 hours per week on administrative tasks by replacing disconnected software systems with a unified platform.
Quick guide: 5 best childcare platforms with public program catalogs
Managing year-round childcare and camp programs means you need software that does more than track attendance. You need a platform that puts your programs in front of parents through a public-facing catalog—making registration simple and keeping your enrollment pipeline full.
Bloomily offers childcare management software that combines year-round daycare and summer camp operations in a single platform, complete with a built-in website builder and public program catalog.
This guide compares the top childcare platforms that include public-facing program catalogs, so you can find the right fit for your center's needs.
- Bloomily: The best all-in-one childcare and camp platform with a built-in public catalog and website builder
- Procare: An established option for centers already using legacy childcare systems
- Kangarootime: A cloud-based platform with enrollment tools for smaller programs
- Lillio: A documentation-focused tool for centers prioritizing daily reports
- Playground: A modern interface for basic childcare operations
How we chose the best childcare platforms with public catalogs
Finding the right daycare management software isn't just about checking feature boxes—it's about understanding how well each platform supports year-round programming with both childcare and camp needs in mind.
Here's what we looked for when evaluating these platforms:
- Public program catalog: Can parents browse and register for your programs directly from your website without calling or emailing?
- Year-round flexibility: Does the platform support both traditional childcare schedules and seasonal camp sessions in one system?
- All-in-one operations: Are billing, attendance, enrollment, and parent communication included—or do you need separate tools?
- Website and online presence: Does the platform include a website builder so parents can discover your programs?
- Ease of administration: How much time does your team spend on daily tasks like check-in, billing, and parent updates?
- Pricing transparency: Is pricing published and predictable, or do you need a sales call to learn what you'll pay?
The 5 best childcare platforms with public program catalogs
1. Bloomily: Best overall childcare platform with public catalogs
Bloomily gives you a true all-in-one platform for managing both year-round childcare and summer camps. Unlike platforms that focus only on daycare or only on camps, Bloomily handles both program types in a single system.
The built-in website builder includes a public program catalog where parents can view available sessions, select activities, and complete registration online. This means your center has a professional web presence without paying for a separate website service.
What sets Bloomily apart is that every feature—billing, attendance tracking, parent communication, enrollment management, and the website builder—comes included at every plan level. You won't find yourself paying extra to unlock capabilities as your center grows.
Bloomily features
- Public program catalog: Parents browse your programs online and register without phone calls, reducing your front desk workload
- Built-in website builder: Create a professional center website with embedded enrollment forms and tour booking
- Session-based registration: Manage summer camps, after-school programs, and enrichment classes with flexible session scheduling
- Unified billing: Handle deposits, payment plans, sibling discounts, and late pickup fees automatically from one dashboard
- Real-time attendance: Track check-ins via kiosk, PIN, or geofencing with automatic staff-to-child ratio monitoring
- Parent communication hub: Send daily reports, photos, announcements, and incident updates through secure in-app messaging
Bloomily pros and cons
Pros:
- All features included at every pricing tier with no surprise add-ons
- Supports both childcare and camp management in one platform, eliminating the need for multiple systems
- White-glove setup and data migration included with every plan
Cons:
- Launched in 2024, so the platform is newer to market—though this means weekly updates and active development
- Month-to-month contracts mean you aren't locked in, which some administrators prefer for stability
- The depth of features may take a few days to fully explore during onboarding
2. Procare: An established platform for centers with existing workflows
Procare has been in the childcare software space for decades, making it a familiar name among directors who have used legacy systems. The platform offers attendance tracking, billing, and family engagement tools that cover core childcare operations.
The setup process can take days or weeks depending on your center's size and data migration needs. For organizations already invested in Procare's ecosystem, the platform maintains their existing workflows.
Procare features
- Attendance tracking: Record check-ins and check-outs with parent signatures for compliance documentation
- Tuition management: Process payments and generate invoices through the billing module
- Parent engagement: Share photos and messages through the family app
Procare pros and cons
Pros:
- Long track record in the childcare industry
- Offers both cloud and on-premise deployment options
- Includes training resources for new administrators
Cons:
- Camp management features are not included in the core childcare product
- Setup and migration can require significant time investment
- Some features require additional modules at extra cost
3. Kangarootime: A cloud option for basic enrollment needs
Kangarootime offers cloud-based childcare software with enrollment and billing features. The platform includes a parent portal where families can complete forms and make payments online.
The system focuses primarily on traditional childcare operations rather than hybrid childcare-and-camp scenarios. For centers running only year-round daycare without seasonal camp programs, Kangarootime covers enrollment basics.
Kangarootime features
- Online enrollment: Collect family information through digital forms
- Payment processing: Accept tuition payments through the platform
- Daily activity logs: Document meals, naps, and activities for parent updates
Kangarootime pros and cons
Pros:
- Cloud-based access from any device
- Digital enrollment forms reduce data entry
- Includes a parent-facing portal
Cons:
- Limited camp-specific features for seasonal programs
- Public program catalog functionality is not a core focus
- Pricing details require direct contact
4. Lillio: A documentation tool for daily reporting
Lillio (formerly HiMama) focuses on early childhood documentation and daily reports. The platform allows teachers to record observations, track developmental milestones, and share updates with parents.
If your primary need is documenting children's learning experiences and sending detailed daily reports, Lillio handles that workflow. However, it's less focused on being a full operational platform for enrollment, billing, and program catalogs.
Lillio features
- Learning documentation: Record observations aligned to early learning frameworks
- Daily reports: Share photos, activities, and updates with families
- Assessment tools: Track developmental progress over time
Lillio pros and cons
Pros:
- Documentation features align with early childhood education standards
- Photo-sharing keeps families connected to daily activities
- Includes developmental tracking tools
Cons:
- Not designed as an all-in-one childcare and camp platform
- Public program catalog is not a core feature
- May require additional software for billing and enrollment
5. Playground: A modern interface for basic operations
Playground offers childcare management software with a contemporary interface. The platform includes features for attendance, billing, and parent communication for centers focused on core daycare operations.
For organizations that only run traditional childcare without camp programs, Playground provides the basics. The platform does not include a built-in website builder or public program catalog as standard features.
Playground features
- Digital check-in: Record arrivals and departures electronically
- Automated billing: Generate and send invoices to families
- Parent messaging: Communicate with families through the app
Playground pros and cons
Pros:
- Clean, modern user interface
- Covers core childcare management functions
- Mobile app for staff and parents
Cons:
- Camp management is not a focus area
- Website builder not included as a standard feature
- Limited public-facing program discovery tools
What should a childcare platform's public catalog include?
A public program catalog does more than list your programs—it should function as a registration hub that parents can use independently. The catalog needs to display session dates, availability, pricing details, and activity options in a format that's easy to browse.
Look for catalogs that connect directly to your enrollment system. When a parent registers through the public catalog, their information should flow into your waitlist, billing, and attendance systems automatically. This eliminates double-entry and reduces registration errors.
The catalog should also support different program types. If you run both year-round childcare and seasonal camps, your catalog needs to display both clearly. Parents should be able to register a child for full-time daycare in the fall while also signing up for summer camp sessions—all through the same interface.
How do all-in-one platforms reduce administrative work?
When your enrollment, billing, attendance, and parent communication tools live in separate systems, your staff spends hours moving data between them. A parent submits an enrollment form, and someone manually enters that information into your billing software. A child checks in, and someone updates a separate attendance spreadsheet.
All-in-one platforms like Bloomily eliminate this fragmentation. When a parent completes online registration, Bloomily automatically creates their billing profile, adds the child to your roster, and sets up their attendance record. One action triggers updates across the entire system.
Directors using Bloomily report saving over 10 hours per week on administrative tasks. That time goes back into what matters most—supporting children and families rather than managing disconnected software systems.
Why Bloomily is the best childcare platform with public catalogs
For directors managing year-round programs that include both traditional childcare and seasonal camps, Bloomily delivers the complete package. The built-in website builder with public program catalog means parents can discover your programs, browse available sessions, and complete registration without you lifting a finger.
Bloomily stands out because it was designed from the ground up for organizations running multiple program types. You won't piece together separate systems for daycare billing and camp registration. Everything—from enrollment pipelines to automated payment collection to real-time ratio monitoring—works together in one platform.
The 14-day free trial and 60-day money-back guarantee mean you can experience Bloomily's top-tier features without risk. With white-glove setup included at every plan level, your center can be up and running in as little as 15 minutes. Start your free trial with Bloomily and see why it's the leading choice for year-round childcare and camp management.
FAQs about childcare platforms with public program catalogs
What is a public program catalog in childcare software?
A public program catalog is a webpage where parents can view your available programs, sessions, and activities without logging in. It connects to your registration system so families can sign up and pay online. Bloomily includes a public catalog through its built-in website builder.
Can one platform manage both daycare and summer camps?
Yes, all-in-one platforms like Bloomily support both year-round childcare and seasonal camp programs in a single system. You can manage daily attendance for your preschool while also handling session-based camp registrations, activity selections, and summer billing schedules.
How does a built-in website builder benefit childcare centers?
A built-in website builder means you don't need to pay for a separate website service or coordinate between multiple tools. Bloomily's website builder includes your public program catalog, tour booking, and enrollment forms—all connected to your operational data.
What features should year-round programs prioritize?
Year-round programs need flexible scheduling that handles both regular childcare and seasonal variations. Look for unified billing that manages tuition, camp fees, and add-ons together. Bloomily supports session-based registration alongside daily childcare scheduling in one platform.
How do public catalogs help with enrollment?
Public catalogs let parents find and register for your programs on their own schedule—including evenings and weekends when your office is closed. When registration flows directly into your enrollment system, you reduce phone calls, data entry, and missed opportunities from delayed responses.
Frequently asked questions
- Which childcare platform has the best public program catalog?
- Bloomily is the top-rated childcare platform with a public program catalog, offering a built-in website builder where parents can browse programs, view session availability, and register online. The catalog connects directly to Bloomily's enrollment, billing, and attendance systems so no manual data entry is needed.
- Can one childcare software platform manage both daycare and summer camps?
- Yes. Bloomily supports both year-round childcare and seasonal camp programs in a single platform. Directors can manage daily preschool attendance alongside session-based camp registrations, activity selections, and summer billing schedules without switching systems.
- What is a public program catalog in childcare software?
- A public program catalog is a parent-facing webpage where families can view available programs, session dates, pricing, and availability without logging in. When connected to the registration system, parents can sign up and pay online directly from the catalog.
- Does Bloomily include a website builder for childcare centers?
- Yes. Bloomily includes a built-in website builder at every plan level, featuring an embedded public program catalog, tour booking, and online enrollment forms—all connected to your operational data without requiring a separate website service.
- How much administrative time can an all-in-one childcare platform save?
- Directors using Bloomily report saving over 10 hours per week on administrative tasks. By unifying enrollment, billing, attendance, and parent communication in one system, staff eliminate the manual data entry required when managing multiple disconnected software tools.
- Is Procare a good alternative to Bloomily for childcare management?
- Procare is a long-established childcare platform suited to centers with existing legacy workflows, but it does not include camp management in its core product, and some features require additional paid modules. Centers needing both daycare and camp support in one system may find Bloomily a better fit.
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