Manage your center with this accessible Sandbox alternative
Good management software doesn't put the office first—it puts people first. Playground is designed to make sense to all of our users, whether administrators, teachers, or parents, and our team provides the human support you need to grow your center's community.
YOU'RE IN GOOD COMPANY
Thousands of educators all around the country rely on Playground to elevate their childcare
The intuitive alternative to Sandbox
A dashboard that's easy on the eyes isn't always easy to learn. Playground offers straightforward and cost-effective features without the steep software learning curve of Sandbox.
We’re committed to giving you a more human approach to dealing with software, getting support from our team, and serving your families.
If using center management software seems daunting, make sure you pick the company that puts people at the center of everything, from app design to customer support. Our team will support you through good times and bad, and always with a human touch—making every interaction with us special.
Playground vs. Sandbox at a glance
Overcomplicated features are recurring themes when you compare Sandbox to Playground
Playground | Sandbox | |
|---|---|---|
Free trial | 90 days | 30 days |
Free data migration | Sign-up fees | |
Daily attendance report | Only available on highest plan | |
Dedicated support team | 9am-5pm ET on Monday - Friday | |
Pay for what you use | ||
Extracurricular programs | ||
Student feeds | ||
Carpools | ||
Parent and staff messaging | ||
Photo and video sharing | ||
Contactless signing | ||
Health screening | Manually create daily logs | |
COVID-19 test result sharing | ||
Self-check-in | ||
Staff hour tracking | ||
Online bill pay | ||
Carline queue | ||
Digital forms | ||
Unlimited staff |
Playground | Sandbox | |
|---|---|---|
90 days | 30 days | |
Free trial | ||
Sign-up fees | ||
Free data migration | ||
Only available on highest plan | ||
Daily attendance report | ||
9am-5pm ET on Monday - Friday | ||
Dedicated support team | ||
Pay for what you use | ||
Extracurricular programs | ||
Student feeds | ||
Carpools | ||
Parent and staff messaging | ||
Photo and video sharing | ||
Contactless signing | ||
Manually create daily logs | ||
Health screening | ||
COVID-19 test result sharing | ||
Self-check-in | ||
Staff hour tracking | ||
Online bill pay | ||
Carline queue | ||
Digital forms | ||
Unlimited staff | ||
Disclaimer:
All information, prices, and data were last verified on 29 April 2021. To report any incorrect or outdated information, please get in touch with us. For more information on Playground features and costs, check out our pricing page. To compare Playgorund to other platforms, visit our Comparison Hub.When you call, we pick up
“Whenever I have a question, whether it be big or small, I love the fact that I can call a number and reach a real person quickly.”
TAMAR ANDREWS
Temple Isaiah Preschool
Designed to be instinctive
When it comes to childcare, we know how important time management is. That's why we designed our solution to be as intuitive as possible. Your job is to provide childcare, not learn the ins and outs of a complex software. No more hours spent reading online manuals and then teaching your staff and parents how to use each feature—our solutions explain themselves, and a member of our customer support team is always a simple message away.
Ease of use
At Playground, we know all too well that there's nothing predictable or 9-to-5 about childcare. You need to be able to count on your tech support around the clock, and that's why we provide 24/7 support across all our plans—even our free 90-day trial. Every parent, teacher, and administrator has access to direct messaging with our team, both in the mobile app and on our website.
"No matter what the issue is, I can count on the team to resolve it in a timely manner. They are always willing to go above and beyond to address my concerns."
ENJOLIE GRAY
Westside Neighborhood School
Competitive pricing
No matter how big your center is, at the end of the day it’s all about your bottom-line profits. Why should your center management solution eat into your margin when you can get the same features for a lower price? In the highly competitive childcare management industry, Playground is regularly among the frontrunners when it comes to value for money. We believe in enabling your center, which means giving you all the tools you need at a price that makes sense.
Only pay for what you use
Playground only charges you for active students. Sandbox bills you for the student roster range your center falls into. You shouldn't have to pay the same amount as a center larger than yours, or if your enrollment fluctuates week to week or month to month.
For you, your teachers, and your parents
At Playground, we understand that the well-being of your center depends on the well-being of your entire community: administrators, teachers, students, and parents. That's why our solutions are designed with equal consideration of management, care, and accessibility.
Switch effortlessly, with help from our onboarding team
Switching from Sandbox or a different center management software? Our friendly specialists will migrate your account, onboard your team, and walk you through the most important features you need.
“The onboarding process was smooth and easy - they helped us put together a plan so that our parents and teachers felt prepared when we started to use Playground.”
BRIGETTE BENCHIMOL
Creative Mind Preschool
Need help moving your data to Playground?
Learn about migrationsTime is money. Why not save on both?
Playground provides the same tools as Sandbox, it’s just a whole lot easier to use. See for yourself today.
