The AI-native Kangarootime alternative with end-to-end compliance and CACFP built in
Kangarootime handles check-in, billing, and parent communication well. But if you need CACFP claim automation, inspector-ready compliance reports, or AI tools that save hours every week, you will find those features missing or underdeveloped. Rawdly was built to fill those gaps.
Your data is yours. Rawdly lets you export everything — children, attendance, billing, audit logs — as standard CSV or PDF at any time, with no export-unlock fees. Switch in or out on your schedule.
At a glance
The short version. A complete feature-by-feature matrix follows further down.
| Capability | Kangarootime | Rawdly |
|---|---|---|
| Digital check-in + check-out | ||
| Invoicing + ACH / card collection | Invoicing + offline payment tracking | |
| Parent messaging + daily reports | ||
| Live ratio compliance monitor with alerts | Basic | Push alerts + audit log |
| Inspector-format PDF export (one tap) | ||
| CACFP menu planning + reimbursement | End-to-end | |
| Subsidy split-invoicing + SSPS export (Washington State) | Included | |
| AI incident report drafting (voice) | ||
| Immutable audit log (SOC 2 ready) | ||
| Data export (CSV/PDF, any time, no fee) | Limited | Full, always free |
Feature-by-feature breakdown
Compliance & licensing
| Capability | Kangarootime | Rawdly |
|---|---|---|
| State-licensed daycare ratio config | Manual | Configurable per classroom, WA WAC seeded |
| Live ratio breach alerts | Dashboard only | Push + dashboard banner |
| 30-day ratio history view | Partial | |
| Inspector-format PDF export | One tap | |
| Immutable audit log (every change) | Append-only, 7-year retention | |
| SOC 2 Type II | On the roadmap |
Billing & subsidies
| Capability | Kangarootime | Rawdly |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice + ACH / card collection | Invoicing + offline payment tracking | |
| WCCC subsidy split-invoicing (Washington State) | ||
| DCYF SSPS-format export (Washington State) | ||
| SSPS response-file reconciliation (Washington State) | ||
| QuickBooks / Xero export with COA mapping | CSV only | Saved mappings |
CACFP
| Capability | Kangarootime | Rawdly |
|---|---|---|
| USDA foods catalog | ||
| Meal-pattern compliance rules | ||
| Reimbursement calculator (Tier I + II) | ||
| OSPI-WINS CSV export | ||
| Monthly claim packet PDF |
AI features
| Capability | Kangarootime | Rawdly |
|---|---|---|
| AI incident report drafting (voice → write-up) | Available today | |
| AI allergy alerts | Available today | |
| AI translation of parent messages | Available today | |
| AI daily summaries for parents | Available today |
What Kangarootime does that Rawdly does not (yet)
- Multi-site management at scale. Kangarootime supports multi-site center chains. Today one Rawdly login switches between several centers, and they share one Pro plan and one bill priced on all their children together; a combined dashboard and cross-site reporting are on the 2026 roadmap. For larger chains, ask us about Enterprise.
- US-wide subsidy integrations. Kangarootime has integrations with several state subsidy portals. Rawdly's deepest subsidy integrations are Washington State-specific; other states are added through 2026–27.
Pricing comparison
Kangarootime does not publish a full public pricing page. Per reviews on G2 and Capterra, centers report paying $150–$400/month depending on enrollment and modules. CACFP and subsidy features are not included in the base plan.
Rawdly publishes its tiers: Freemium is free forever for up to 10 children, and Pro is $1.99/child/month, less from the 51st child across all your centers. CACFP and Washington State subsidy billing carry no add-on fee. AI features come with the paid plans, and AI Daily Summaries is $1 per child per month. Price is the same on day one as on day 365.
How to switch from Kangarootime
Average migration time for a single-site, 30-child daycare: under 2 hours.
- 1
Export your data from Kangarootime
Request a full data export from Kangarootime — children, staff, billing history, and attendance. Kangarootime supports CSV export from the admin panel.
- 2
Import your children
In Children → Import, choose Generic CSV, upload the file and map its columns. The importer validates rows and shows a preview before anything is saved. It imports children only; our team can help you bring across families and billing setup.
- 3
Reconnect parent accounts
Parents receive an email invite. Messaging and daily reports work immediately.
- 4
Set up CACFP and subsidy programs
Configure your CACFP program once; each month, preview the claim and export the OSPI-WINS CSV and the claim packet PDF. Most centers recover the switching cost in the first reimbursement cycle.
- 5
Verify your first compliance report
Export the 30-day inspector PDF and cross-check a sample of days against the source check-in records. You are inspection-ready from day one.
FAQ
Is Rawdly really free to try?
How does Rawdly handle ratio compliance vs Kangarootime?
Can I export all my data from Rawdly?
Does Rawdly support CACFP like Kangarootime?
Is Rawdly available outside Washington State?
Evaluating multiple platforms? See all Rawdly comparisons →
Compliance is the product
Everything else is table stakes. Book a 15-minute walkthrough or try the live sandbox — no signup, no card, no follow-up sales call.