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Daycare & childcare app

The daycare app parents actually ask for

Your management app handles billing and daily reports. CareCam handles the one thing it can't: a live view of your child's classroom, from any phone or browser. Free for parents, on the cameras your daycare already has.

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I run a daycare

Free for parents • Works alongside your management app • No new hardware in most cases

There are two kinds of daycare app

When people search for an "app for daycare" or an "app for childcare," they're usually after one of two very different tools. It helps to know which problem you're solving before you compare options.

1 — Management apps

Run the business

Brightwheel, Procare, Lillio (HiMama) and similar suites handle check-in and attendance, billing and invoicing, daily reports, photos, and parent messaging. Most centers already have one — and should.

What they generally don't do is stream live video from the cameras already mounted in your classrooms.

2 — Live-camera apps

Show parents the room

CareCam is this kind of app. Parents open it and see their child's classroom live, during the hours your center allows — from an iPhone, an Android phone, or any browser.

It runs on the IP cameras you already own and sits alongside your management app, not in place of it.

Looking specifically at the live-camera side? See the full childcare camera app overview.

What the CareCam app does

One job, done well: get parents a secure live view of their child's room — without new hardware or a parent subscription.

  • Live classroom view

    Parents open the app and see their child's room as it is right now — the piece most daycare management apps don't offer.

  • Runs on your cameras

    Connects to the IP cameras your daycare already owns over RTSP. No proprietary hardware, no rip-and-replace.

  • Enrollment-gated access

    Each parent has their own login and only sees the classrooms their own child is enrolled in. Nothing else.

  • Center-controlled hours

    The feed is live only during the hours your program enables — typically operating hours, off the rest of the time.

  • Free for every parent

    No parent subscription, ever. The center plan covers everyone enrolled — parents just download and log in.

  • Phone or browser

    Native iPhone and Android apps, plus full browser access for parents who'd rather not install anything.

Where CareCam fits next to your management app

This isn't a "switch to us" comparison. It's a map of who does what, so you can see exactly which gap CareCam fills.

CapabilityManagement appsCareCam
Live classroom camera for parentsRarelyYes — core feature
Streams your existing IP camerasNoYes (RTSP)
Check-in / attendanceYesNo
Billing & invoicingYesNo
Daily reports & photosYesNo
Parent messagingYesNo
Free for parentsVariesAlways
Published pricingOften quote-only$29–$99/mo

Keep the management app you like. Add CareCam for the live view it doesn't offer.

How it works for providers and parents

For daycare & childcare providers

Set it up in an afternoon

No vendor install, no long hardware contract. If you have IP cameras, you're most of the way there.

  1. 1

    Connect your cameras

    Add your IP cameras in the CareCam dashboard. Most RTSP-capable brands work, so there's usually no new hardware to buy.

  2. 2

    Create classrooms

    Set up each room and assign its camera. Parents will see rooms by name, not raw camera labels.

  3. 3

    Set viewing hours

    Choose the hours the live feed is available — for example 7am–6pm on weekdays. It's off outside those hours.

  4. 4

    Invite parents

    Enter each parent's email. CareCam sends an invitation and you control which classrooms they can access.

Talk to us about setupSee pricing
For parents

Watch from your phone

Your daycare sets this up — you just create an account and open the app.

  1. 1

    Get your invite

    Your daycare adds your email and CareCam sends you a link to set up a password-protected account.

  2. 2

    Install or open the browser

    Download CareCam on iPhone or Android, or just log in at app.carecam.io — no app required.

  3. 3

    Open your child's room

    Tap the classroom to start the live view during the hours your center has enabled.

Your daycare doesn't offer it yet? Share carecam.io with your director — most centers are live in less than a day.

Daycare & childcare app FAQ

What is the best app for a daycare?
It depends what you're solving. There are two kinds: all-in-one management apps (Brightwheel, Procare, Lillio/HiMama) for check-in, billing, daily reports, and messaging — and live-camera apps like CareCam that let parents watch the classroom in real time. Most centers run a management app for operations and add CareCam for live viewing, because management apps rarely stream from your own cameras.
Is there a free app for daycare parents?
Yes — the CareCam app is free for parents. There's no parent subscription. Your daycare pays the center plan (from $29/month) and every enrolled parent downloads the app or uses the browser at no cost.
What app do daycares use to let parents see cameras?
Daycares offering live camera access commonly use CareCam. The director connects the center's existing cameras, sets viewing hours, and invites parents by email. Parents watch from the app on iPhone or Android, or from any browser.
What's the difference between a “daycare app” and a “childcare app”?
Practically none — they name the same category. “Childcare” is a little broader and can include in-home and family childcare, preschools, and nanny shares as well as licensed centers. CareCam works for any of them, as long as there are IP cameras to connect.
Can CareCam be used for in-home or family childcare?
Yes. Licensed centers, preschools, and home-based childcare programs all use CareCam. If you have IP cameras that support RTSP, you can connect them and give your families a live view. Smaller programs usually start on the entry-level plan.
Does CareCam replace Brightwheel, Procare, or HiMama?
No. CareCam isn't a management suite — no billing, attendance, or daily-report messaging. It does the one thing those apps generally don't: stream your existing classroom cameras to parents live. It runs alongside your management app, not instead of it.
Is there an app for childcare providers, not just parents?
Yes. Providers and directors use the CareCam dashboard to connect cameras, create classrooms, set hours, and manage parent access. Parents use the app or browser to watch. Both are part of the center plan.
Does it work with the cameras we already own?
Usually, yes. CareCam supports most RTSP IP cameras — Hikvision, Hanwha, Dahua, Reolink, Amcrest, UniFi and more. You enter the camera details in the dashboard, so most centers don't buy new hardware.

Related daycare camera pages

Add the live view your management app is missing

Plans start at $29/month and work with most cameras you already have. Parents get the app for free.

Talk to us about setupSee all plans