Procare Solutions Reviews

Great Software for Child Care Centers

Comments: We love this program. It provides us with one place to quickly find out so much information. Log-in and see total enrollment, enrollment by classes or ages. Tracks child information without searching through files or looking in multiple places. Tracks employee attendance and any other info you might want to add like: Date of Hire, schedules, vacation time accrued or used, etc. Many things a pre-programed, but you can personalize it yourself or request assistance from a fantastic customer service person. This makes my job so much easier, especially with continual changes to State Day Care Licensing regulations. You do have to enter each child's information when they enroll, but once and it's done. Can update any information with only a few clicks and everyone that you assign a role can see everything.

Pros:

Simplicity of use. Saves paperwork. Can be used to create reports. Easily see everyone who is still in the building (children and staff members). Records many different types of information (attendance, immunizations, medicals, state required paperwork, Food Program info for the USDA CACFP, tuition fees, and other misc info.) You can program it to add user specific information such as allergies, restricted pick-up, authorized individuals for pick-up, etc. We even have a door unit that stores fingerprints of authorized individuals for pick-up and then allows the door to unlock for entry.

Cons:

W e have had to replace the door unit after someone cracked the screen and someone just chipped the fingerprint reader which may need replaced (it is still working). This is the result of individual user misuse though and not an actual flaw of the program or hardware. There is an annual update fee, but it is well worth the cost for the time and paperwork it saves.

Awesome Software for our Daycare Center

Comments: I love the ease of use and all the features that Procare has to offer. My only issue is not being able to have parents who want to use credit cards be charged the processing fee for their charges directly. We only can offer ACH transfers now due to this issue.

Pros:

Love all the features, child log in/out, parent payments, staff hours etc.

Cons:

I wish that parents could use credit cards and get billed directly for the fees based upon what they charge on their card. Another software we used could do this and we were told that Procare can't. I wish that this could be figured out as it would make it so much more convenient as we have to use Square when parents want to use thier credit card.

Alternatives Considered: brightwheel

Reasons for Choosing Procare Solutions: Cost and features and ease of use and not friendly

Switched From: brightwheel

Reasons for Switching to Procare Solutions: Cost and ease of use and amount of features

Procare is great

Comments: Love their responsiveness and guidance for customer service

Pros:

Easy to use and understand. Ability to communicate with families.

Cons:

Doesn't offer all the record sheets that I would like as an administrator. Billing is a little complicated.

Alternatives Considered: brightwheel

Reasons for Choosing Procare Solutions: Procare had more features and more user friendly. Also better customer service.

Switched From: Curacubby

Reasons for Switching to Procare Solutions: Pricing was better than the other systems.

User Friendly

Comments: I have used Procare for 27 years and went through the major upgrade and the new Procare Solutions. They just keep getting better.

Pros:

I like the fact that the program is easy to use and has more complicated functions when needed. I was able to get rid of QuickBooks and do all my center management for students, accounts, and staff with payroll all from one program that I can also access from anywhere! I love their customer service. They are trained and can really help.

Cons:

Are too many choices a problem? So many reports that it takes time to figure out what report you want. Once you figure out the report that works the best you are set. With data reports you can configure your own reports as well.

Alternatives Considered: Kahoot!, Kangaroo and brightwheel

Reasons for Switching to Procare Solutions: I have evaluated other management programs, but they all have about the same functions and are more expensive. I would also have a big learning curve moving to a new program and moving all my data so a new program would have to really wow me.

Glad I found this company!

Comments: Procare has been great. Setup was easy, we had great support and guidance. The Extended Day Team is more organized now, our parents get invoices and information on their children more quickly. And for the price point it was well worth it especially since Procare is for these programs unlike the other system we used which had to be shoe horned to fit our needs.

Pros:

I like the fact that this has cut way down on unnecessary paperwork and additional spreadsheets just to figure out how our Extended Day and Summer Camp Programs were doing. I also like how this has gotten about 99% of our families to pay online instead of with cash or check.

Cons:

Navigating the reports to get all the information I need for the accounting department is a little cumbersome but I'm figuring it out.

Alternatives Considered: EZ School Apps and School Care

Reasons for Choosing Procare Solutions: Quickbooks was horrible. The directors of our programs are not business people and it was too cumbersome and complicated. Plus it had to be shoehorned to fit our needs which required a lot of extra spreadsheets and paperwork. Also the expense for what it did (or rather didn't do) for us was ridiculous.

Switched From: QuickBooks Online

Reasons for Switching to Procare Solutions: I found a few different companies that worked with Extended Day Programs. Working with our Program Director we decided Procare served us best in terms of what the product could do and for its price point.

My Thoughts on Procare

Comments: Overall we are pretty happy with Procare. We really appreciate the ease of getting customer support through chat. Procare support is almost always able to help me without me having to make a phone call and being put on hold.

Pros:

I like the ability to process tuition and keep track of payments.

Cons:

I don't like the way that Daily Activities are setup. I wish the app had more of a social media feel where parents could view the activity and comment or 'like' what they are viewing. A previous app we used had the activities displayed this way and we found that this better supported teacher/family engagement.

Alternatives Considered: brightwheel

Reasons for Choosing Procare Solutions: We made the switch because we wanted a product that would allow us to take payments and manage the finances.

Switched From: ClassTag

Reasons for Switching to Procare Solutions: The choice felt like the best fit for our needs.

Definitely recommend

Comments: I have used Procare for about 6 years. I like it better than other platforms I tried. Also, unfortunately, we have purchased several new tablets and the app stopped working on them. We also called the help desk and they were not able to help us.

Pros:

Once you set it up, it is easy to use. We are able to keep employee classes, timecards, student vaccinations, etc. all in one place! We also use the app so we really like the ability to communicate with our parents.

Cons:

The credit cards fees and the monthly fee can be high.

Alternatives Considered: brightwheel

Reasons for Choosing Procare Solutions: It didn't so what Procare does. I had trouble keeping track of who had been billed and who hadn't.

Switched From: Playground

Reasons for Switching to Procare Solutions: Brightwheel was more expensive monthly.

Procare is the leader in its industry, and I don't ever see that changing.

Comments: I have used Procare for over 10 years and it just keeps getting better. It makes my job as an executive over child care programs so much easier by keeping every tool I need in one place.

Pros:

Procare is a one stop shop! They do everything we need and are always adding new features. The backend reporting side of Desktop is a game changer for administrators and the app has been crucial for maintaining consistent, quality communication between staff and families.

Cons:

Nothing- we switched to another system for a year and as soon as our contract was up with the other guys, we ran back.

Alternatives Considered: LineLeader by ChildcareCRM

Reasons for Choosing Procare Solutions: We switched to BW because the original parent communication app through Procare was rough and very glitchy.

Switched From: brightwheel

Reasons for Switching to Procare Solutions: They were all lacking in the backend and reporting side of things (such as time tracking for staff and students, calculating overtime, etc.)

Procare - a daycare software that gives business owners input on new features

Comments: Just like with all the other daycare software products it may take sometime to get a hold of someone during peak hours but they always follow up and make sure you are satisfied.

Pros:

Procare is always trying to improve and add new features. Their online videos are always available and easily understood. We appreciate that when they are looking to implement something new we are able to be part of the Beta version and give feedback. Especially appreciated that Procare listens to our feedback.

Cons:

There are some simple functions that we would like (for example - a place to put our own school calendar or other notices that parents can just view when they need. Additionally, a ProCare message or email alert that a parent has uploaded a document for our review. HOWEVER, we understand that they can't always implement what we feel is needed.

Good but tweaks are welcome

Pros:

My staff has mentioned that they like the napping/diaper functions.

Cons:

Lesson planning has been a bit difficult, and for some reason it will not allow us to print the lesson plans landscape-wise. It is also somewhat difficult to find the total number of children attending at a glance.

Happy Procare User

Comments: Overall, I am very pleased and satisfied with the Procare Software. Since having the system, not only have my team and I been able to save a lot of time that was usually spent on manual entry, but we were also able to offer a convenient feature to the parents. Parents no longer have to wait to get to the front desk or call over the phone to make payments. Payments can be made via the online portal and immediately post to the account. They can also view statements and receive their monthly invoices via e-mail every month. I do wish that there was an easy way to transport information from one product to the next but I do understand the difficulty. That initial task of setting up 200+ families was tedious but once that was done I can definitely say it was worth the task! I am happy we made the switch.

Pros:

What I like most about the Procare software is the ease of use in regards to monthly billing. The option to set up contract billing every month is much easier and less time consuming than having to manually enter invoices as we once did. This features allows my staff and I to save time as well as ensure better accuracy as far as billing goes. Also, now we are allowed to have our customers pay via the online portal Procare offers as opposed to having to pay in person. This is a feature we didn't have prior to gaining the Procare software. Not only do we appreciate this convenience factor, but the customers we provide service for as well.

Cons:

Although not a big deal- the thing I initially liked least about the Procare software was the difficulty in figuring out how to navigate through certain reports. Because there are so many options it was a bit intimidating to find out how to access the various reports offered. However, I can say that the information provided by the websites customer service and videos were helpful. I do wish that there was an easy way to transport information from one product to the next but I do understand the difficulty in allowing that option.

Top Notch

Comments: We had constant issues with our families understanding their billing and the emails they were receiving. With ProCare everything is clear, concise and I am in control of what emails are going out which has helped tremendously. Summer is our busiest time as we run a summer camp and this year has been so much easier than last year. I refer to ProCare as the "Cadillac" of child care software and it has run smoothly from the first drive off of the showroom floor.

Pros:

Ease of billing for the child care services for our 120+ students.

Cons:

That's tough because I really like the system. One piece I won't use is Tuition Express as I find it far too expensive (I have worked around it to keep our accounts receivable in a pre-paid status and all payments done by ACH which keeps our expenses down.)

Alternatives Considered: brightwheel

Reasons for Choosing Procare Solutions: Parents, staff, administration and accounting functions were all very frustrating and we wanted a system that would serve our needs.

Switched From: Smartcare

Reasons for Switching to Procare Solutions: It wasn't hard to find excellent reviews from people who were using ProCare. Another company I do the accounting for uses Brightwheel and we are moving that to ProCare as well.

Make your job easier

Comments: I cannot imagine doing my job without Procare!

Pros:

I love that it is cloud based. I can sign on anywhere to help my customers and staff. I like that all of my files are paperless. It is good for tracking when a something is coming due or is past due. It offers good reports. I like that everything is in one app. I also use the Kid Reports app for and I love that all of the data is transferred automatically.

Cons:

I have been using this software since 2010 and there is always improvements that help make our job better.

Alternatives Considered: Enrollsy, Famly, Lillio and brightwheel

Reasons for Switching to Procare Solutions: Our management team researched several Procare competitors. Our team attended webinars for other products, but there was not any software that was able to provide us with everything that is offered with Procare. Other companies seemed good, but they were always lacking one or more of the platforms that are included with Procare. Our center uses the Family/Accounting, Employee Data, Vendors/Expenses, Time/Attendance Tracker, and Food Modules. The family communication Kid Report app is also used by our center. There is just not another software available that can provide the all in one service that Procare offers. I highly recommend it!

Most advanced and well managed child care management software for child care business !

Comments: Procare solutions online platform is proven to be one of the most effective child care management business platform to improve the child care experience. Child care management business is revolutionized by this software as it has automated all the manual activities and tasks throughout and has improved the efficiency and effectiveness of child care outcome with improved revenue and less expense burden on manpower cost

Pros:

The software is easy to use and understand. The training provided on utility of the software is well understood by target audience easily without much hiccups. The child care management business and system has been automated after introduction of Procare online software in mainstream business end to end. The auto capturing of attendance records of child management system in schools and day care is done easily without any manual intervention or issues. We have been able to streamlined our revenue system with this as it helps in auto calculation and collection of fees in systematic and structured way. This is one of the leading and most progressive way of best in class online child management system efficiently.

Cons:

No issues as such. Though, we request for multiple logins /child logins after buying subscription without any restriction on number of user fir using the software by multiple user profiles. Also, the trial period should be further extended so that a conscious buying decision can be made before final buy.

Alternatives Considered: Kangarootime, Child Care Daily App, Lillio and Tadpoles

Reasons for Switching to Procare Solutions: Procare solutions is the one stop child care management solution for businesses in this line and also for parents. It has immense capabilities to manage the child tracking and attendance in day care and schools effectively. It ensures the best in class child care provision to your child in streamlined manner with complete automation of involved processes and operations

Procare review

Comments: Mostly good. We wish we could get the chat answers in less than 18-24 hours. I've seen some of the suggestions, that other programs offer, but those don't seem to be available at all. I realize I do not write computer codes/programs, but many are not difficult to do. Things like bus attendance, which is probably required by law in every state.

Pros:

Payment options (except see below). The messaging and emergency alert system. The daily report option, and families LOVE that we can send pictures and videos.

Cons:

Payment options-if someone tours, then calls to register we would prefer for them to set up the payment. They cannot if we put them in Leads. We have to make them active, then wait until they pay to move them to On Hold. We had to create a 'campus' room for children when they go to another space with a therapist (we allow speech, etc.), but we now also use it for these families. Twice I have had a family overpay in their final payment (we do monthly billing, and they had it set to auto-pay, but then realized they started kindergarten prior to the end of the month-we only require a 2 week notice), I had to refund the entire payment, then they have to go back in to pay again. They both did, but I can't do much if they don't. It would help if I could refund only what needed to be refunded. The last update was AWFUL! We have families who we are told have to create entirely new emails to use it, our sign-in kiosk tablets have to re-log-in numerous times a day, and it made it harder for parents to use the QR code.

Childcare Software needs

Comments: So far our experience has been great. So glad a co-worker recommended this product. Great price, great product

Pros:

transferring data from one platform to another was super helpful. When I have had questions, online chat support has been quick to respond and the support hours are great. The start up team has been spot on as well as the videos and webinars. Like anything, there is a learning curve but it has been an easy one. I love the insights aspect, now that I know how it works. The teachers clocking in and out has been a huge time saver on my part! Child assessments is another feature that I am super excited for our teachers to use

Cons:

Need a little more flexibility with running reports when it comes to programs. Have the use of multiply forms (told this is almost ready for Beta testing). Several steps to make a student inactive.

Alternatives Considered: brightwheel

Reasons for Choosing Procare Solutions: We are a preschool in our Church and we both shared the same database. The church side was switching databases so I decided so I decided to invest in a database for the preschool only

Switched From: Elexio Community

Reasons for Switching to Procare Solutions: Few features I liked better and the price was MUCH better. This is silly but the sales person was upfront on the price before we sat thru the demo and he was very knowledgeable and friendly as all the staff has been.

Procare Solutions use with Preschool

Comments: We don't have problems. Procare offers so much for us to input and use. I find it very useful as do most of our families.

Pros:

I feel that this is a great software with alot of potential. I feel that customer service needs to be more available at the time for users. I like that when we submit suggestions, Procare listens and will have the things that we need tested for availability

Cons:

Customer service response time. Some things are important to families and waiting for someone to get back to us can be a problem with families.

Alternatives Considered: brightwheel

Reasons for Choosing Procare Solutions: I felt that we needed more than what they had to offer

Switched From: Kindertales

Reasons for Switching to Procare Solutions: More to offer

Decent basic functionality, but limited application

Comments: Serves a limited purpose, but is falling behind. We may start looking elsewhere

Pros:

The system is easy to use for basic functions- child attendance, billing, child info tracking, basic reports.

Cons:

Procare seems to be trying to expand functionality to different applications (Kids Report, etc). However, their core offerings are dated and have had few improvements to make them more functional. I submit requests for functionality, but few things ever change. Here are my top items to change, that would improve the system: Basic: 1. Mail merge document is terrible and incredibly limited. I should be able to create a licensing-compliant registration form for parents, which includes emergency contacts, allergies, medical insurance number, etc. 2. Staff timecards are poorly designed. After years of using the timecards, we stopped. Using our payroll providers timecards are a far superior experience. Editing timecards was awful, building in automation was challenging, and the check in/out was a poor experience. 3. The user interface using two different codes is onerous. All other systems we use has just one login pin. 4. There is no data viewer report to access all info in the SQL database. To create a simple pre-filled registration code, I have to download numerous data viewer reports, combine them, manipulate data, and then mail merge into a document. It's almost not worth it. 5. MyProcare is pretty terrible. It looks like a 2005 UI, has limited functionality, you can't update your own information, and customization is poor Advanced: 1. There is no API to access the SQL backend. Without integration, it severely limits what we can do with the system. 2.

Procare for Parents

Comments: Procare saves us many hours every week. We do not figure accounts or depend on spreadsheets, or even correct data entry. We do have about 5 parents that like to pay cash, but the other 50 or so families all pay with debit card or auto debit, which automatically posts to their account and updates. It helps us to look professional and current. It is also a great safety feature. Procare has a place for pictures of each child, parent, and anyone the parent authorizes to pick up their children. So we can quickly access who can pick up a child and what they look like. Everyone at my center loves Procare and it improves the quality of my business.

Pros:

Our Parents are always impressed that we are set up on a computer system for checking their children in and out. They really enjoy the fingerprint option for the most part. Some of the grandparents and a few parents do not have fingerprints that can be distinguished well enough to use, but they do have the option of using a code. Being able to look at their account, pay their account, and get their receipt emailed to them is just genius. It works perfectly, and requires no time on our part at all. The only thing we do is update the accounts on Monday morning. It truly is a great program for child care centers.

Cons:

I would have to say, for the parents that do have to use a code instead of a fingerprint, have to use 2 separate numbers; a code, and a pass code. They get used to it, but at first grumble a bit about it.

We needed HELP!

Comments: Our before- and after-school care service has realized a marked improvement in percentage of payments received due to the invoicing and statement features of Kinderlime. We are much better able to communicate about delinquent accounts and show parents and caregivers their records so that confusion or misunderstanding are eliminated and positive and cooperative customer relations are preserved.

Pros:

Kinderlime allowed me and my staff to stay in real-time connection with our attendance, communications with parents and caregivers, and billing all in one platform! I am now able to keep records and communications at hand so that I provide efficient customer service to all stakeholders, including staff. I so appreciate that Kinderlime continuously improves the platform based on input from end users (like me) and always (ALWAYS) responds to requests for help or clarification before the day ends. (I am on the east coast so a time difference is expected.) Kinderlime tech support's prompt replies and interactions through the chat function have always been helpful and thoroughly clarifying. I recommend this service without hesitation or hidden concerns. You will be very satisfied!

Cons:

The only challenge I have is that the theme and font colors are sometimes difficult to see. I have to angle my screen "just so" to see things well. The colors are very pleasant, though, so I wouldn't want them to change much.

Carpool function and Alphabetizing problem

Pros:

In the two years of use of Kinderlime there have been alot of adjustments and learning of how to best use this product to meet our needs. The customer service is always very responsive even though we are in a totally different timezone. They have also sought to resolve issues as they come up as relate to our specific organization and help direct how to use things that we have trouble with.

Cons:

I am reviewing two features as they are what I am currently working through in using the software. 1. We have been trying to implement the carpool feature to avoid individuals having multiple pins for different children they are picking up. The carpool feature is too difficult to monitor. When the caregiver is a parent, the next time that name is used as a carpool it must be added as a carpool to each sibling even if they are linked. Also, to use the carpool feature the individual must first be a parent or caregiver in the system on another child. If that status changes in any way (original parent or caregiver is deleted) the individual is also deleted from being a carpool entry in multiple other locations. There is no warning pop up indicating the individual being removed will also be removed from other locations. 2. The alphabetical sorting not traditional alpha order and does not match up to other lists causing confusion when making comparisons between other school softwares or reports that use normal alpha ordering. From what I have observed Kinderlime alpha order does not consider any commas or spaces thus greatly affecting sort order (for instance a traditional sort would consider the punctuation and spacing to show Su, John; Su, Joseph; Su, Lisa; Suki, Mary while kinderlime makes the order to be Su, John; Su, Joseph, Suki, Mary; Su, Lisa ignoring the commas and spaces looking only at the actual letters. In a longer list this is very frustrating & confusing.

Procare Cloud

Comments: I love Procare. The slow customer service can be a pain, but it is still great. The value is immeasurable for me. Our whole childcare center runs thru Procare, it is much more than a simple data base to take the place of QuickBooks. If Procare did not exist tomorrow, I would be in a world of hurt! I spend several hours a day on it, between bookkeeping, meals, lesson plans, attendance, and more. I am not sure how a daycare operates with out it.

Pros:

The cloud keeps everything updated on all our seats. That is good to know, when you log in, that the attendance and accounts are up to date. We love having pictures of kids, parents, and people allowed to pick up children, it is a great feature. The modules we have work fantastic. I have been a procare user since it was a new company, and I still think it is the best program out there for child care centers.

Cons:

GROWING PAINS! I believe Procare has grown so much, that they have lost a little personal service. It can take days to get in touch with someone, and several voicemails to get a call returned. It used to not be so. I do hope they can adjust and get the great customer service back.

It works flawlessly!

Comments: Overall, Procare Solutions has been an incredible asset to our child care business. It has helped us save time and money, while also improving our overall operations and providing a better experience for our families. I highly recommend Procare Solutions to any child care business looking to improve their operations and streamline their administrative tasks.

Pros:

Procare Solutions is an excellent software solution for any child care business looking to streamline their administrative tasks and improve their operations. As a user of Procare Solutions, I have found the platform to be highly intuitive, user-friendly, and efficient. The system is well-designed, allowing me to easily manage my child care center's daily operations, from scheduling and billing to parent communications and staff management.One of the standout features of Procare Solutions is its customer support. The team is highly responsive and knowledgeable, and they always go above and beyond to provide the support needed to solve any issues or answer any questions. Their level of professionalism and dedication to customer satisfaction is truly outstanding.Overall, Procare Solutions has been an incredible asset to our child care business. It has helped us save time and money, while also improving our overall operations and providing a better experience for our families. I highly recommend Procare Solutions to any child care business looking to improve their operations and streamline their administrative tasks.

Cons:

Overall, while there are some potential drawbacks to Procare Solutions, the platform's benefits, features, and excellent customer support make it an excellent choice for child care businesses looking for a comprehensive software solution.

Vital improvements needed to optimize use in a child care setting.

Comments: This application would be fine for use for just the basics of operating a child care center - the daily reports to families of how a child's day went, their meals, diapering, etc. However, Procare needs to make improvements around the assessment and observations piece in order to compete with other childcare applications. Strengths-based child assessments are a critically important aspect of what teachers in early care and education do in order to track children's typical and atypical development and connect families with community resources for children that may need additional supports. Without these changes, I feel pushed to find another option and inform others in my field not to bother with using Procare.

Pros:

Procare is simple to use, aside from the assessment and observation aspects.

Cons:

The assessment feature of this application is not teacher user friendly. For example, you cannot use the photo activity to also include milestones for an assessment. Instead, one must upload a photo for families to see, and then if you would like to use it for an observation for your child assessment you must additionally add an observation activity which adds twice the work. In other applications these are one in the same. Also, it may seem that having the flexibility to change the assessment to whatever language you want is advantageous, but I found it to be simply agitating and time consuming. I had to change the wording to every single milestone for the assessment I wanted. I would have been happy with a simple assessment that was already integrated into the application with no modifications necessary. Having the assessment feature more integrated into the application would make it much more user friendly. For example, being able to rate the child on the assessment within the application. The way Procare currently operates, I have to make the observations through the app, then constantly check which measures I have observed and which I haven't observed. In other applications, it automatically and EASILY shows you which measures you have and hanve't observed and you can easily view these as you rate the child within the app. Right now, I have to read through my observations on the app and then by hand on paper I have to rate the child against the measurement tool.

Changed the way we do business

Comments: We recently integrated ProCare into our childcare operations, and the transformation has been remarkable. This software has streamlined our entire workflow, making our processes more efficient and our communication much smoother. One of the standout features of ProCare is its user-friendly interface, which has made managing our daily tasks a breeze. From attendance tracking to billing and payment processing, every function is intuitively designed and easy to navigate. This has significantly reduced the time we spend on administrative tasks, allowing us to focus more on providing quality care to the children. Communication with parents has also been greatly enhanced. ProCare's messaging system allows us to send updates, share important notices, and communicate directly with parents quickly and easily. This has fostered a stronger connection with our families and has ensured that everyone stays informed and engaged. The reporting tools provided by ProCare are another major benefit. We can generate detailed reports on various aspects of our operations, giving us valuable insights and helping us make informed decisions to improve our services. Overall, ProCare has revolutionized the way we operate. Its efficiency, ease of use, and robust communication features have made it an invaluable tool for our childcare center. We highly recommend ProCare to any childcare provider looking to enhance their operations and improve their communication with parents.

Pros:

Communication ability with staff and parents.

Cons:

That the employee information does not sync the way the children's information syncs.