Side by side
CircleUp vs Gibbon
Both stand on school management software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan iPhoneWeb
CircleUp brings administration, scheduling, communication, and payment tools together for group organizers. Consider the family cap and online payment fees when selecting a plan.
Visit CircleUp
Free plan Open source LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2
Gibbon brings school management and learning tools into a shared platform, with a free plan and extensible modules. Schools should be prepared to host it themselves and use a current stable version in production.
Visit GibbonThe facts
| CircleUp | Gibbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Yes |
| Runs on | iPhone, Web | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Starter: $23 a month | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 5 | 2 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | getcircleup.com | gibbonedu.org |
| On school management software | #5 of 49 | #1 of 49 |
CircleUp: what it does well
- Calendar includes recurring events and automated reminders.
- Class tools include waitlists and a gradebook.
- Families control what they share in the directory.
- Free plan supports up to 10 families.
- Cash and check payments have no CircleUp fee.
What to know first
- Free plan supports up to 10 families.
- Paid plans start at $23/mo.
- Online Stripe payments incur a 0.5% CircleUp fee.
- Android app is listed as coming.
Gibbon: what it does well
- Free plan includes attendance and gradebook.
- Configurable access for teachers, students, parents, and administrators.
- Planner supports lesson planning and curriculum mapping.
- Modules include BigBlueButton and Moodle integration.
What to know first
- Schools manage their own hosting.
- Transport management is not included.
- Older versions are not directly supported.
- v30 requires PHP 8.0 and MySQL 8.0 minimum.
Alternatives to CircleUp Alternatives to Gibbon The whole list