# brightwheel: Child Care App — user reviews > 468 indexed App Store user reviews of brightwheel by DSSV, Inc., rated 4.90/5 from 144,129 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brightwheel-child-care-app/id902823296/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brightwheel-child-care-app/id902823296.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 136,343 · 4★ 6,376 · 3★ 818 · 2★ 173 · 1★ 419 ## What do users think of brightwheel? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 Easy to use - 📸 Ability to see photos/videos of child - 💬 Good communication with teachers - 📊 Helpful for tracking child's activities - 🔍 Provides good visibility into child's day **Cons** - 🐛 Bugs and glitches with the app - 💰 Issues with billing and overcharging - 🔒 Lack of security features like Touch ID - 📢 Too many notifications can be annoying - 🕰️ Slow performance and lagging issues **Commonly reported bugs** - Push notifications not working properly - Difficulty deleting accounts or disabling AutoPay - Inconsistent behavior when no balance is due **Most requested features** - Batch download option for photos/videos - Ability to add comments to activity logs - Customizable notification settings - Teacher profiles or photos in the app - Integrated payment features ## Newest reviews (18 of 468) ### 4/5 — Great updates but could use some work *2026-08-24, version 3.104.1* I think it’s very user friendly and I love the billing is also built in. I just wish I got a summary of last meals/naps and how much they ate at the end of the day when they check out. ### 3/5 — changed messages *2026-08-21, version 3.104.0* Brightwheel usually works amazingly, but i absolutely HATE the new update where the messages screen is very hard to read. There used to be bubbles surrounding each message making individual messages clear, but now it’s all together and very difficult to read. ### 2/5 — It’s a downgrade *2026-08-19, version 3.104.0* Our school district recently switched to brightwheel. Overall it offers the same functionality with the same mediocre UX. But what’s really annoying is for checking out a kid, besides the QR code scan from a staffer‘s phone screen, a 4-digit code needs to be memorized and then manually entered. I feel zero additional security by doing this. Apparently it cannot be disabled. Please reconsider. ### 2/5 — Behind *2026-08-13, version 3.103.0* The app is days behind, I’ll log on and it will only show they are checked in or out and then once a week I’ll get like 100 notifications for the last couple days for my children. Its frustrating to not see their day to day stuff like I’m supposed to. ### 5/5 — 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 *2026-08-10, version 3.103.0* 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 ### 5/5 — Love this app *2026-08-04, version 3.103.0* I love that I can see my child through your the day! Great app ### 5/5 — La recomiendo *2026-07-30, version 3.102.1* Muy buena la aplicación y todo muestra al instante lo que uno en realidad quiere ver la recomiendo ### 5/5 — At ease *2026-07-28, version 3.102.1* Without this app I don’t know what I would’ve done to pick the daycare that I chose. Thank you! Really puts me at ease ### 5/5 — Daycare *2026-07-28, version 3.102.1* My son has been at this daycare since he was 1 now 2 years old I love it! Highly reccomend 10000% ### 5/5 — Highly recommend this app *2026-07-23, version 3.102.0* Absolutely love this app helps me keep track of what my son is doing at Day Care every diaper change every time he gets fed and what he eats they even put when they apply sunscreen or when they give them medicine absolutely love it. It helps me stay connected. ### 5/5 — The best communication *2026-07-20, version 3.102.0* I love that i get updated everything my child is doing throughout the day, it gives me a sense of peace and also love that i can communicate with all the lovely teachers through this app. ### 4/5 — Langue *2026-07-15* Malheureusement l’application n’est pas en français ### 5/5 — The best app for child care!! *2026-07-15, version 3.101.0* The fact that I can see and know all the things my baby is doing during the time he is at daycare means a lot to me, it’s so reassuring to know when your not able to be there!! ### 4/5 — Great app! *2026-07-14, version 3.101.0* Love the app for communication with my child’s teachers and viewing pictures and videos, but the billing has been difficult. ### 5/5 — Excelente *2026-07-13, version 3.101.0* Me gusta mucho. ### 5/5 — Excelente *2026-07-10, version 3.101.0* Excelente ### 5/5 — Great for daycare *2026-07-09, version 3.101.0* This app is great for daycare updates, check in and check out ### 5/5 — Great app *2026-07-08* This app made us so comfortable sending our toddler to the daycare ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Misleading fees *2026-07-16, version 3.102.0* Brightwheel charged us hundreds of dollars in credit card processing fees which were not properly disclosed. Brightwheel refused to reverse the transaction or credit these fees, despite the payment not having cleared. Brightwheel does not have parents or teachers’ best interests at heart - only their own. ### 1/5 — Absurd sneaky credit card fees. A SCAM. Horrible company!! *2026-07-13, version 3.101.0* Brightwheel is terrible and a scam. They charge a hidden 3% credit card fee which is absurd and ends up being a lot of money on a large service charge. Completely insane $56 hidden extra credit card fee just to pay tuition!! It was not clear on the payment page that they do this and the customer service is horrible. They also refuse refunds on service fees. Worst company ever. What a SCAM company !! ### 1/5 — Excruciating form filling *2026-07-03, version 3.100.0* It only happens once a year, but filling out a form like vaccines is the most soul crushing experience. It’s quicker to do my taxes. It refreshed and wiped my progress twice, I reached out to the AI support bot who told me I was right to be frustrated, told me to fill out another form to tell the product team. Then told me it would pass the feedback along. Then said it couldn’t actually do that, but I could download my transcript and submit it to the product team through another link. I went to download the transcript and the app errored. There’s no way to get back to it. ### 1/5 — Pathetic app *2026-07-02, version 3.100.0* Not at all intuitive ### 1/5 — Just awful *2026-06-06, version 3.98.0* I cannot get this app to work time and time again. It says my phone number and email are part of different accounts (they are not). I can’t ever seem to get a code. If I use the app to contact the school, all they can do is send me an email back (I know this because the daycare owner is a family member so I can see from their phone.) I can also have them send me a link but the link only logs me into my account which isn’t my problem. My problem is I can never get the account to link to my child despite many attempts. ### 1/5 — No support or help to a parent *2026-06-01, version 3.98.0* I’ve reached out to the app support for a few issues. They are not of much help to a parent. If you’re a childcare provider it’s a whole different story. Phone number changes? Be prepared to provide several details and your first born child before it’s rectified. The provider can remove any and all information for you to access at their will. You will never see it back if the provider is uncooperative (such as my issue). Once something is posted in your child’s profile it should be able to remain there. This could be needed for child custody issues, doctors needing information on incidents, other daycares at intake, etc… ### 1/5 — Contacts don’t transfer between kids *2026-05-21, version 3.97.0* Great app mostly, but the fact that I had to spend time adding 5 different approved pick-ups (grandparents and stepparents) TWICE is ridiculous. Why is there no way to transfer all the approved contacts from one child to another?? Why devalue parents’, and we all know it’s usually moms’, time like that? Get it together, Brightwheel. Fight the patriarchy. ### 1/5 — Not a good app anymore *2026-05-04, version 3.96.1* They’ve taken away most everything they can to make you pay for subscription. I will be talking to parents and most likely doing away with anything but payment options until they take that too. Hate this app now. Sad it’s gone to this. ### 1/5 — Worst functioning app ever *2026-04-24, version 3.95.0* This app constantly stops working. It drives me absolutely crazy. I have to get on the web browser because it kicks me out or says “error” at least one-two times a week. ### 1/5 — Cumbersome and Nonintuitive *2026-04-09, version 3.94.0* Terrible customer service and impossible to remove your past schools without assigning another parent. Talking to a human is impossible. Forced to use this by the school. Would never recommend it. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Perfect. *2026-08-24, version 3.104.1* User friendly. ### 5/5 — Best parent/caregiver app *2026-08-20, version 3.104.0* As a FTM dropping my baby off with a stranger was scary!! Having this app and being able to communicate through out the day and get pictures of her at daycare eases my mind! ### 5/5 — Amazing *2026-08-20, version 3.104.0* The love and support as well as up to date and real time information that we receive throughout the day allows for us to get through our day with a sense of peace that I don’t believe we would receive anywhere else. I love everything about this app and would like to thank everyone who was involved in developing this wonderful project. ### 5/5 — Wonderful *2026-08-17, version 3.104.0* All stars is a wonderful facility. Our granddaughter is well taken care of and loved by the care givers. We are so impressed by what she is learning from the great teachers. You won’t be disappointed if you enroll your child. ### 5/5 — Family Tolson/Harper *2026-08-14, version 3.103.0* We are very pleased with how our little girl is treated, care for, love, natured, etc by her teachers who truly cares and it shows! Thank you all for all that you do and more when it comes to our baby girl. ### 5/5 — Love to see what my little is doing! *2026-08-13* It’s so great to get updates through the day of my little one! Pictures, notes, details on feeding/toilet. Love and recommend ### 5/5 — Best app for parents *2026-08-13, version 3.103.0* I love all the updates throughout the day. The app is super easy to use. ### 5/5 — Brightwheel app *2026-08-13, version 3.103.0* Bright wheel let’s me know and see everything that’s happening in my sons daycare. ### 5/5 — Comments on photos *2026-08-12, version 3.103.0* Would like to add comments to photos or videos ### 5/5 — Great *2026-08-11, version 3.103.0* A wonderful way to keep a parents mind at ease while having their child in day care --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-28.*