Side by side
Nursery in a Box vs SmartNursery
Both stand on early childhood education software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Paid WebiPhoneAndroid
Nursery in a Box brings core nursery administration and family communication together across web and mobile apps. Its paid tiers are divided by child count, with VAT excluded from listed prices.
Visit Nursery in a Box Free trial Web
SmartNursery covers daily nursery administration from records and attendance through staffing, billing, and funding. Check the child-capacity pricing, annual-plan terms, and multi-site quote before choosing it.
Visit SmartNurseryThe facts
| Nursery in a Box | SmartNursery | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | A free trial |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Web, iPhone, Android | Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Small Nursery: £149 a month | SmartNursery annual: £2.50 a year |
| Plans published | 3 | 2 |
| Maker | Nursery in a Box | SmartNursery |
| Website | nurseryinabox.com | smartnursery.co.uk |
| On early childhood education software | #63 of 86 | #59 of 86 |
Nursery in a Box: what it does well
- Covers enrollment management and family communication
- Includes attendance and check-in tools
- Handles billing and payments
- Web, iOS, and Android availability
- Plans cover up to 55, 120, or more children
What to know first
- No free plan
- Prices exclude VAT
- Small plan limited to 0–55 children
- Paid plans start at £149/mo
SmartNursery: what it does well
- Real-time attendance monitoring
- Tracks funded 15- and 30-hour claims
- Creates invoices from sessions and charges
- Includes staff rota and ratio planning
- UK-based email and phone support
What to know first
- No free plan
- Listed capacity is 25 children
- Multi-site pricing requires an enquiry
- Data export window is typically 30 days after termination
Alternatives to Nursery in a Box Alternatives to SmartNursery The whole list