Comparison

Lillio vs ECE Academy

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Lillio

This app streamlines childcare operations with features for daily reports, attendance, and meal planning. It enhances family engagement through real-time updates, photos, and videos, while offering research-based curriculum aligned with state standards.

Highlights
  • Daily reports
  • Attendance tracking
  • Meal planning
  • Family communication portal
  • Real-time photo sharing
  • Digital curriculum
  • Enrollment management
Features
Read full description

Get all the building blocks for early education with the #1-rated childcare app! Center management features let you complete daily reports, schedules, attendance, check-ins and meal planning faster than ever before. Family engagement tools keep families informed through daily reports, pictures and videos. Simple registration and payment options make the lives of families easier. Research-based curriculum offers developmentally appropriate lesson plans aligned to state standards and pre-populated with engaging themes. Download Lillio today and experience the all-in-one solution for building a high-quality childcare program! Here is what one of our thousands of happy directors had to say about Lillio: "Lillio (formerly HiMama) has become a huge asset for our school! Families love the photos and daily reports. Teachers agree that it is extremely easy to use and replaces piles of paperwork." FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION • Family portal - Parents and family members can view photos, videos, daily reports and schedules, update their child’s information, and message educators in their own private, secure account. • Real-time photo sharing - parents can receive timely updates throughout the day • Email, text, and in-app communication - Send messages, alerts and reminders to individual family members or to an entire group of family members at once CARING AND TEACHING • Digital curriculum - Developmentally appropriate, research-based lesson plans and activities from Funshine Express allows flexible planning and offers play-based, engaging themes and activities that are aligned to state and early learning standards • Weekly Planner - Create custom activities organized by learning areas and select developmental skills tied to your state and early learning standards. • Photo and video observations - Tag real-time observations with images from the classroom • Child Developmental Evidence Reports - Follow a child’s development across developmental domains, skills and indicators • Easy-to-use childcare assessments to support every child’s learning path CENTER MANAGEMENT • Childcare daily reports: document meals, snacks, sleep checks, toileting, activities and observations, medication and more for individual children or multiple children at once • Attendance: record check-in, check-out, drop off and pick up times, and absences • Administrative: classroom and activity reports; updatable parent and child contact, emergency, allergy, and health information; meal and snack menu planning and schedules, enrollment management for upcoming, current, and graduated children; schedule rotations Lillio is secure, reliable and easy to use, and the child care center’s information is backed up, synced and accessed through our apps and our website. We have a friendly customer support team that would happily answer your questions by phone (1-800-905-1876) or email (support@himama.com). Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

ECE Academy

Features
Read full description

JOIN US IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE Discover an exceptional opportunity to shape how the next generation learns about caring for our planet. Enroll in our free online course, 'Sustainability from the Start,' a state-of-the-art program co-funded by the EU and created specifically for Early Childhood Educators. Available via this app, ECE Academy. Whether you're an educator, a parent, or simply someone interested in Sustainable Development, this course is for you. Developed in collaboration with Kristianstad University, OMEP Europe, and edChild, and co-funded via EU. Course highlights: Dive into Eight Comprehensive Modules: Explore various dimensions of sustainable development through our user-friendly modules. Engage and Educate Together: Immerse in engaging activities crafted for educators and children. The course even features '8 Friends' characters, seamlessly weaving sustainability concepts into teaching methods. Insights from Leading Experts: Benefit from the knowledge of pioneering researchers in the field of education for sustainable development for early childhood education. How to get started: 'Sustainability from the Start' is exclusively on the ECE Academy App. Available in multiple languages, catering to diverse global audiences and curricula. Simply download the app, create your free account, and get started! After completing the course, you will receive a certificate and diplomas for your children. Testimonials: “I see this course as an opportunity to expand my knowledge of biodiversity and sustainability so that I can pass it onto children, families, and colleagues I work with.” – Diane, preschool teacher, Ireland “This course is an easy way to help start the planet to feel better.” – Jessica, preschool teacher, Sweden About us: Kristianstad University is a pioneering institution in early childhood education, committed to advancing knowledge and innovation in the educational landscape. OMEP is an international NGO of professionals and researchers working across 70 countries for Children aged 0–8 years. edChild, an award-winning Swedish EdTech, transforms learning experiences with innovative solutions. Simply download ECE Academy, create your free account directly in the app, and get started today! Don’t wait – the time for action is now. Thank you for joining us in making a difference! Sustainability from the Start has been co-financed by the EU. The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Screenshots

Lillio4 screens
ECE Academy3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ECE Academy at none against Lillio's 1. ECE Academy also leads on iOS requirement (12.4 vs 15.1). Lillio's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Lillio sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. ECE Academy asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lillio ships an update every 3 weeks, ECE Academy every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Lillio versus ECE Academy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLillioECE Academy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (37K ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.4% of reviews
Number of ratings37K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.112.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size96 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHi Mama Inc.edChild AB

Bugs and requests

Lillio

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login issues
  • Freezing and crashing
  • Inconsistent data updates
  • Compatibility problems on older devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Time stamps for naps, meals, and activities
  • Ability to download photos/videos in bulk
  • Improved navigation and responsiveness
  • Interactive features for parents
  • More language options

ECE Academy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Lillio

Subscriptions1
  • Photos Plus$2.991 Month
None

ECE Academy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lillio free?
Lillio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ECE Academy free?
ECE Academy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Lillio or ECE Academy have ads?
Neither Lillio nor ECE Academy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lillio or ECE Academy?
Lillio ships an update every 3 weeks, and ECE Academy every 2 months. Most recently, Lillio was updated on September 24, 2026 and ECE Academy on September 19, 2026.

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