Software guide

Kangarootime: pricing, setup & what to know

An honest owner's guide — and what it costs compared to simpler options.

Kangarootime positions itself around automating centre operations — billing, subsidies, staff scheduling, family engagement — aimed primarily at larger centres and multi-site groups.

Pricing

Quote-based; commonly discussed in the $2–$4 per child per month neighbourhood with modules and minimums on top. As always with quote-gated pricing: your number depends on the sales conversation, so get it in writing and verify what's a module vs included.

Setup

  1. Sales process → implementation plan (longer for multi-site).
  2. Billing/subsidy configuration is the core work.
  3. Staff scheduling and engagement features layer on after the financial spine works.

Strengths and trade-offs

Strengths: automation depth for big operations, multi-site management. Trade-offs: overkill for single-site owner-operated programs — you pay (in money and complexity) for chain-scale capability you may never touch.

Kangarootime vs Mitten at a glance

KangarootimeMitten
PriceQuote-based; commonly reported in the ~$2–$4 per child/mo range plus modules (verify with the vendor — pricing changes)Free ≤5 children, then $20/mo + $2/child (e.g. 20 kids ≈ $48/mo)
SetupSales call / demo, onboarding sessionsSelf-serve — live in minutes, no call required
Tuition paymentsOften takes a processing cut0% platform cut
Payroll prepVaries / add-onIncluded — hours → gross pay + stubs
AI daily notes & recapsVaries / premiumIncluded free
Your dataStored on the vendor's termsNever sold or shared; full export anytime; Canadian-built
App storeParents download an appNo download — installs to the home screen

Run your daycare on Mitten — free to start

Switching is free — we migrate your roster from Kangarootime, parents join via a link (no app-store download), and you're live in an afternoon.

Start free — no card needed →  See the live demo

Frequently asked questions

How much does Kangarootime cost?
Quote-based; commonly reported in the ~$2–$4 per child/mo range plus modules. Pricing is quote-based and changes — always confirm with the vendor. For comparison, Mitten publishes its pricing: free up to 5 children, then $20/mo + $2 per child.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Kangarootime?
Mitten is typically a fraction of the cost — free for your first 5 children, then $20/mo + $2/child, with payroll prep and AI notes included and no payment-processing cut on tuition.