The short version
- Start with the phone. Missing an enrollment call is the biggest revenue leak for most daycares. An AI receptionist (Marlie $49/mo, SkipCalls $199/yr, or childcare-specific Hazel) fixes it first.
- Then add a management platform for daily reports, billing, and parent messaging: Brightwheel, Procare, or Lillio.
- Procare's RoomRunner AI forecasts classroom openings up to 12 months out and is free for Procare Online customers.
- Prices: confirmed where vendors publish them; Brightwheel, Lillio, and Hazel price by quote and scale with enrollment.
- See also: the main daycare page, Ask Maps for daycares, and the DIY get-found guide.
All 6 tools side by side
Published vendor pricing as of July 2026. Verify current pricing directly with each vendor.
| Tool | Category | Starting price | Setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marlie | AI phone receptionist | $49/mo | ~1 week |
| SkipCalls | AI answering + missed-call text | $19.99/mo or $199/yr | ~1 week |
| Hazel | AI receptionist for childcare | Pricing by quote | ~1 week |
| Brightwheel | All-in-one management + AI | By quote (scales with enrollment) | 2-4 weeks |
| Procare | Management + AI forecasting | By quote | 3-6 weeks |
| Lillio | Educator-first management | Per-child, by quote | 2-4 weeks |
The 6 tools, one at a time
1. Marlie · AI phone receptionist
From $49/month · ~1 week to set up
What it does: Answers your center's phone 24/7, in seconds, so no parent hits voicemail.
How you'd use it: When you're with the kids or it's nap time, Marlie greets the caller, answers routine questions about hours, ages, and openings, captures the parent's info, and can book a tour. Marlie
Who it's for: Small and mid-size centers that want budget-friendly 24/7 call answering. Source: marlie.ai.
2. SkipCalls · AI answering + missed-call text
$19.99/month or $199/year · ~1 week to set up
What it does: Answers calls and, on any missed call, immediately texts the parent back and can book a tour on the director's calendar.
How you'd use it: A parent calls after hours or while you're occupied; SkipCalls texts them so they don't move on to the next center, and syncs the tour to your calendar. SkipCalls
Who it's for: In-home providers and small centers that want the lowest-cost way to stop losing calls. Source: skipcalls.com.
3. Hazel · AI receptionist built for childcare
Pricing by quote · ~1 week to set up
What it does: An AI phone receptionist built specifically for daycares and childcare centers; answers naturally, logs absences, books tours, and captures leads.
How you'd use it: Turns every call into a logged absence, a booked tour, or a captured lead, without adding front-desk staff. Hazel
Who it's for: Centers that want a childcare-specific answering setup. Pricing by quote. Source: hazelhere.com.
4. Brightwheel · All-in-one management + AI
Pricing by quote (scales with enrollment) · 2-4 weeks to set up
What it does: A full childcare management platform: billing, parent communication, learning, plus AI (Magic Writing) that auto-fills daily activity reports and helps write and translate parent messages.
How you'd use it: Teachers log the day's moments and the AI drafts each family's daily report; the platform also handles tuition autopay and two-way messaging in the family's language. Brightwheel
Who it's for: Centers that want billing, parent comms, and learning in one system. Pricing by quote. Source: mybrightwheel.com.
5. Procare Solutions · Management + AI enrollment forecasting
Pricing by quote · 3-6 weeks to set up
What it does: Childcare management with RoomRunner, an AI tool launched in May 2026 that forecasts when classroom spots will open up to 12 months ahead. RoomRunner is included free for Procare Online customers.
How you'd use it: RoomRunner analyzes enrollment, room transitions, age progression, and waitlist to flag openings before they happen; the director approves every change. Procare
Who it's for: Larger, multi-room centers with complex billing and a waitlist. Sources: procaresoftware.com; PR Newswire, May 2026.
6. Lillio (formerly HiMama) · Educator-first management
Per-child, by quote · 2-4 weeks to set up
What it does: An educator-first platform built around fast daily reports, digital portfolios, and attendance, with AI help for daily reporting.
How you'd use it: Teachers document learning and send families a daily report in minutes; billing and messaging are built in. Lillio
Who it's for: Centers focused on learning documentation and child development. Per-child pricing by quote. Source: lillio.com.
Which one should you start with?
In-home provider or small center: start with SkipCalls ($199/yr) or Marlie ($49/mo) so you stop missing enrollment calls. Add Brightwheel or Lillio when daily reports and billing become the headache.
Larger, multi-room center: Procare (by quote) gives you management plus RoomRunner's AI enrollment forecasting free, and you can still add an AI receptionist for the phone.
Learning-focused center: Lillio is built around daily reports and portfolios. Pair it with a receptionist for the phone.
Daycare owners ask us these
Which AI tool should a daycare start with?
An AI phone receptionist. Missing an enrollment call is the biggest revenue leak for most daycares. Marlie starts at $49 a month and SkipCalls is $199 a year. Add a management platform once the phone is covered.
What's the difference between an AI receptionist and a management platform?
A receptionist (Marlie, Hazel, SkipCalls) answers the phone, books tours, and captures leads. A management platform (Brightwheel, Procare, Lillio) runs the center: daily reports, billing, parent messaging, and enrollment. Many centers use one of each.
Do any of these include AI at no extra cost?
Procare's RoomRunner enrollment-forecasting AI is included free for Procare Online customers. Brightwheel's AI writing for daily reports and messages is part of the platform. Verify what's included in your specific plan.
Are these prices exact?
Where vendors publish pricing we list it (Marlie $49/mo, SkipCalls $199/yr, Procare by quote). Brightwheel, Lillio, and Hazel price by quote and scale with enrollment, so confirm a quote directly with the vendor.
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Sources
- Marlie — AI receptionist pricing ($49/mo), marlie.ai. Reviewed 2026-07-03.
- SkipCalls — daycare answering pricing ($19.99/mo or $199/yr), skipcalls.com/daycare. Reviewed 2026-07-03.
- Hazel — AI receptionist for childcare (pricing by quote), hazelhere.com. Reviewed 2026-07-03.
- Brightwheel — childcare management + AI features (pricing by quote), mybrightwheel.com. Reviewed 2026-07-03.
- Procare Solutions — management pricing (by quote) and RoomRunner AI, procaresoftware.com; RoomRunner launch, PR Newswire, May 2026. Reviewed 2026-07-03.
- Lillio (formerly HiMama) — educator-first management (per-child, by quote), lillio.com. Reviewed 2026-07-03.
Last reviewed: 2026-07-03. Prices change and quote-based pricing varies by enrollment; verify directly with each vendor. Childcare is regulated at the state level and children's data is sensitive — confirm each vendor's privacy and COPPA handling and your state licensing rules. General educational information, not licensing or business advice.