Bloomily vs. Tadpoles

Tadpoles in its own words

Tadpoles is a child care center product sold by Teaching Strategies, which announced that it acquired Tadpoles (Teaching Strategies). Its product page calls it "Childcare Management Software Built by and for Early Childhood Educators." The page describes daily reports that share "photos, videos, and up-to-the-minute information about their children's routines." Directors track classroom ratios in real time and create custom billing and payment plans. The page also describes an enrollment pipeline with forecasting tools and health screening features. A link to GOLD lets teachers gather assessment data from the same app (Tadpoles on Teaching Strategies).

On tadpoles.com, families can play videos, share photos or write to staff from their preferred email account. Directors create billing plans, share invoices and report on revenue. The teacher app stores photos and videos without Wi-Fi and uploads them once it is back (Tadpoles). The teacher app tracks attendance, naps, meals and potty breaks, and its listing says it "requires a monthly subscription" (Childcare by Tadpoles).

Where Bloomily fits a preschool or childcare center better

Arrival with a record of who came and went. Families check in at a tablet by the door with the last 4 digits of their phone, then a PIN. Or the parent app shows a code, and the kiosk reads it. Staff can always check a child in by hand (Bloomily check-in). Families are notified when their child is checked in or out (Bloomily parent app).

Daily reports built from taps. Teachers log meals with how much was eaten, naps to the minute, diapers, bathroom visits and activities. Each one is a tap on the classroom tablet (Bloomily daily reports). At 3:30 PM they finish the report and add photos. Families get it in the app and by email (Bloomily for preschools). The staff app has its own camera, so photos never touch a personal camera roll. They queue safely when the Wi-Fi drops (Bloomily photos).

Messages in each family's language. A parent sets their language once. Your messages arrive translated, and theirs come back in yours (Bloomily communication). Messages run between your team and each family.

Enrollment from your website to the first day. A parent finds you at 7 PM and books a tour from your website. They are on your list by morning. Offers, forms, deposits and waitlists follow (Bloomily enrollment). Forms carry digital signatures on any device, attached to the family's record (Bloomily online enrollment).

Tuition on your schedule. Tuition bills on your charge day, and families on autopay pay without a nudge (Bloomily for preschools). Invoices itemize tuition, fees, discounts and subsidy splits (Bloomily billing). Families pay right in Bloomily, and your center decides who covers the processing fee (Bloomily payments).

What to check if you rely on GOLD or email updates

Tadpoles has distinct strengths on its own pages. Test the ones you use.

• GOLD assessment. Teaching Strategies says Tadpoles connects to GOLD, so teachers gather assessment data in the same app. If your teachers score children in GOLD, that link may decide it. Bloomily has its own assessments: skill-based observations across six developmental domains, with photos attached (Bloomily assessments). Ask whether your funder or curriculum asks for GOLD by name.
• Email-first families. tadpoles.com says Tadpoles uses email as the primary means of communication. Bloomily sends daily reports in the app and by email, and broadcasts by push and email. Ask both companies to show the parent's view.
• Billing plans. Teaching Strategies says directors can create custom billing and payment plans. Bring one of your real tuition plans to both demos.
• Price. The Tadpoles product page offers "Request Pricing," and the teacher app needs a monthly subscription. Ask Teaching Strategies for a written quote for a center your size. Bloomily's price is on its preschool pricing page.

Moving from Tadpoles to Bloomily

Bring the list you keep today, as it is. AI help does the reading. That can be a spreadsheet, another system's export, a PDF or a photo of a paper list. Nothing saves until you approve it.

When you are ready, send each family one invite. Their child is already on their account. Keep your old system running beside Bloomily as long as you like (Switching to Bloomily).

Questions to ask in both demos

• Can families pay by autopay from a saved card or bank account, and who pays the processing fee?
• Does check-in work at a kiosk, and does pickup check the person against the authorized list?
• Can families apply online, sign forms and join a waitlist?
• Can staff clock in and out, with timesheets you can hand to whoever pays your staff?
• Can a center use the product without a GOLD or Creative Curriculum subscription?
• Does billing split a subsidy agency's share from the family's?
• What does the monthly subscription cost for a center your size?

Which one fits your center

Tadpoles may fit a center whose teachers already work in GOLD and whose families like email. Choose Bloomily when you want kiosk check-in, tap-by-tap daily reports, translated messages, enrollment and tuition autopay in one system. See Bloomily for preschools and Bloomily's preschool pricing.