Side by side
How we compare — honestly
We're not going to pretend we're the cheapest — a couple of these cost less on the sticker. What we did was build the one thing none of them do: a proper website, no child cap and no lock-in, all in one price, for childminders specifically. And one more: MinderHQ is the only childminder app built for all four UK nations — England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — with each nation's regulator, framework and funding model built in, not relabelled. So far as their published pages show, the apps below are built around England's framework (checked July 2026).
| MinderHQThat's us | Famly | Tapestry | Baby's Days | Kinderly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (what you actually pay) | £19.99/mo | £34.80/mo | from ~£6.80/mo | £18/mo | £15/mo |
| How it's advertised | £19.99 — the price you pay | £29 + VAT | £68 + VAT / year | £15 + VAT | £12.50 + VAT |
| Done-for-you public website (vacancies, fees, enquiries) | YesBuilt and hosted for you | No | No | No | No |
| Child limit | None | 10, then nursery price (£79+VAT) | Tiered by child count | 50 | 20 |
| Funded-hours invoicing in the 2026 format | Yes | Yes | Yes | PartlyBasic invoicing | PartlyFunded hours not built into invoices |
| Daily diary, photos & EYFS learning journal | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Register, ratios & accident forms | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | PartlyRecords-focused |
| Parent app AND a no-install link | YesApp or a simple link | PartlyApp only | PartlyApp only | PartlyShared login | PartlyApp only |
| Try it free | First month free, no card needed | 14-day trial | Free trial | 14-day demo | 30-day trial |
| Lock-in | None — cancel any month, export everything | One month's notice | Cancel any time | Six-month minimum term | One month's notice |
| Built for childminders | YesOnly childminders | PartlyNursery app, scaled down | PartlyWhole-education platform | PartlyMulti-setting software | YesChildminder-first |
Rival prices are shown with the VAT they add on top (childminders can't reclaim it); the MinderHQ figure is simply the price you pay. Taken from each company's own published pricing pages and checked July 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll correct it — we'd rather be right than flattering.
The honest version
Some tools cost less on the sticker — Tapestry is a learning journal first, and a couple advertise a lower headline before VAT. What none of them do is give a childminder a proper website, no child cap and no lock-in, all in one price. That's the bit we built. And if you're in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, the comparison gets shorter: MinderHQ is the only one of these built for your nation's regulator, framework and funding — jurisdiction-aware compliance, not England with the labels swapped.
And switching is the easy bit
Export your children from your current app (Tapestry and Kinderly hand you a CSV, Famly's custom reports export one too — and every provider must give you your data if you ask) and MinderHQ imports everyone in minutes: children, parents, allergies, GP details, no retyping. Got a PDF-only export? Email it to hello@minderhq.co.uk and we'll move you in for free, usually the same day. Run both apps side by side on your free month until you're sure.
How we checked
Every figure comes from each company's own published pricing and help pages, read in July 2026. Because childminders can't reclaim VAT, we show what you'd actually pay each provider — several rivals advertise a lower number before VAT is added on top; the MinderHQ figure is simply the price you pay. Where a tool has a feature but in a lighter form, we've marked it "partly" rather than a flat no.
Famly (Childminder package)
£29 + VAT/month, up to 10 children, no public website, 14-day trial. From famly.co/solutions/childminders and Famly's help centre.
Tapestry
Smallest band from £68 + VAT/year (up to 6 children), a learning journal first, no public website. From tapestry.info/pricing.
Baby's Days
Level 1 from £15 + VAT/month, six-month minimum term, no public website. From babysdays.com pricing + terms.
Kinderly
Small plan £12.50 + VAT/month (up to 20 children), funded hours not built into invoices, no public website. From kinderly.co.uk.
Think we've got a number wrong or out of date? Email hello@minderhq.co.uk and we'll check it and correct it. We'd rather be right than flattering.
Common questions
What's the best childminder app in the UK?
It depends what you need, but for most childminders the best fit is one built for a home setting rather than a nursery — covering the daily diary, register, accident and medication records, funded-hours invoicing and parent updates, with simple flat pricing and no lock-in. MinderHQ is built for childminders specifically and is the only app compared here that includes a professional public website in the price. Compare the details above and try a couple free before you decide.
Is MinderHQ cheaper than Famly, Tapestry or Kinderly?
Not always on the sticker — a couple cost less up front. But childminders can't reclaim VAT, so the fair comparison is what you actually pay: MinderHQ is £19.99/month all in, with a free parent app and a public website included and no per-child fees. Several rivals advertise a lower price before VAT is added and either charge extra for a website or don't offer one. The figures above are each company's own published prices, checked July 2026.
Which childminder apps include a website?
Of the apps compared here, MinderHQ is the only one that includes a professional public website for your setting in the price — set up for you, with enquiries landing straight in the app. Famly, Tapestry, Baby's Days and Kinderly don't provide a public website (checked July 2026).
Do childminder apps charge per child?
Some cap how many children a plan covers or price by headcount, which costs you more as you fill your places. MinderHQ is a flat £19.99/month with no per-child fees and no child cap, so filling up never raises your bill.
Can I switch to MinderHQ from another app?
Yes. Export your children from your current app (Tapestry and Kinderly give you a CSV, and every provider must hand over your data if you ask) and MinderHQ imports everyone in minutes — children, parents, allergies, GP details, no retyping. If you've only got a PDF export, email it to hello@minderhq.co.uk and we'll move you in for free, usually the same day. Run both apps side by side during your free month.
Which childminder app works in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
MinderHQ is the only app compared here built for all four UK nations — England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — with each nation's regulator, framework and funding model built in rather than relabelled. So far as their published pages show, the others are built around England's framework.
Try it free for a month and see for yourself
No lock-in — cancel before your first bill. Run it alongside your current app until you're sure.
Start my free month