A Procare alternative sized for a single site
Ashby is a Procare alternative when you want daycare management without enterprise sales motion. Free software, $1.00 per successful collection, self-serve signup for US in-home providers and small licensed centers.
Procare is the category’s deep billing and multi-site standard. Ashby is for operators who do not need that footprint — and who refuse a hidden price.
When Procare still wins
Complex multi-site reporting, franchise controls, and heavy subsidy ops are Procare’s home field. If that is your world, stay there — or evaluate Kangarootime and Smartcare-class stacks.
This page is for directors who searched “Procare alternative” because the quote process, footprint, or fit for a small roster does not match how they actually work.
What Ashby optimizes for
A teacher with a tablet. Rooms and ratios for one location. Tuition that settles to you. Parents on a phone-first app. Setup measured in minutes.
- Self-serve — no demo gate
- Software $0; Ashby $1 per successful card/ACH collection
- Attendance, enrollment, billing, parent app, compliance in one product
- Subsidy and CACFP workflows without pretending we are your general ledger
- Privacy architecture: no T3 to AI providers; human approval on AI drafts
Pricing you can compute
Incumbents often hide software and processing behind a quote. Ashby publishes the split: free software, $1 to Ashby per successful collection, Stripe’s fee to Stripe. Cash and agency CCAP shares are $0 to Ashby.
Also comparing Brightwheel?
Many small programs compare Brightwheel first. See ashbycare.com/alternatives/brightwheel for that path. Lillio (HiMama) shows up when curriculum documentation is the main job — we name that honestly too.
Start free — no demo
Create an account and set up yourself. See pricing on ashbycare.com/pricing: software $0, $1 per successful collection.