“Free” is one of the most searched words next to school management software, and for good reason: many schools have tight budgets. But free can mean very different things.
Three kinds of free
- Open-source software. The code is free to download and change. You host it yourself.
- Free plans. A commercial product that is free up to a limit, such as a number of students.
- Free trials. Full access for a short time, then you pay.
The real cost of open-source
Open-source school systems can be good software. The licence is free, but running it is not:
- Hosting: a server, its upkeep and its electricity or cloud bill.
- IT time: installing, configuring, updating and fixing problems.
- Security: applying security updates promptly and protecting student data.
- Backups: setting up, testing and storing them.
- Apps and payments: connecting parent apps and online fee payments is often extra work.
For a school with an IT team and specific needs, that can be worth it. For a small school without one, it often costs more than a paid cloud plan.
What to check in a free plan
- Limits: students, teachers, branches and modules.
- What happens when you pass the limit or when the free period ends.
- Payments: can parents pay fees online on the free plan?
- Support: who answers when something goes wrong?
- Your data: can you export it if you leave?
A quick way to compare
Work out the cost per student per year for each option over three years, including your own staff time. Free software that takes a day a week of someone’s time is not free.
KlassMint’s free plan
KlassMint’s Founding School plan is free for 12 months for schools with up to 500 students, 50 teachers and 1 branch, with the same features as paid plans. After that, or when you grow, the Growth plan is USD 79 a month or USD 790 a year for up to 2,000 students. There is nothing to install. See pricing or KlassMint for small private schools.
Frequently asked questions
Is there free school management software?
Yes. There are open-source systems you can host yourself and commercial products with free plans. KlassMint is free for 12 months for founding schools with up to 500 students, 50 teachers and 1 branch.
What are the hidden costs of open-source school software?
Hosting, an IT person to install and update it, backups, security fixes, and customisation. These often cost more than a paid cloud plan for small schools.
What happens after KlassMint's free period?
Schools that need more than the Founding School limits move to the Growth plan at USD 79 a month or USD 790 a year. Prices are shown in local currency at sign-up.