Compare iPAL vs MagicBooking
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Country: United Kingdom
Lianne, Finance Officer: The time saving and cost saving of using iPAL has meant we can look to expand our business and grow within the communityClare, Teacher: This software has been a great help to me and my school, with the customer service provided going above and beyond.Craig, Manager: Despite disruption due to upgrade work iPAL has massively improved the admin side of our club. The only admin we need to do now are emails, voucher verifications and banking.Andrew Norton, Director: I implemented Magicbooking into my business (Energy Kidz Ltd) in 2016. At the time, we ran 33 out-of-school clubs and took bookings via phone, email and webform using 4 full-time customer care staff. We went on to operate over 100 out-of-school clubs and were able to reallocate 2 of the 4 customer care staff to other areas of the business. Using Magicbooking completely revolutionised Energy Kidz and allowed us to focus on delivering better quality childcare, while saving money and scaling the business. I believe in the product so much, that in 2018, I became a shareholder and director of Magicbooking, and Energy Kidz has since been acquired by an international provider of wraparound care, who continues to use Magicbooking today.
Minimal
Ipad/tablet and Mobile friendly (works on Android & iOs). As long as you have internet, you can use on any device!
minimal
We offer online training through screen-sharing sessions, and can be booked in hourly slots, although we do recommend four hours in total, which is split across two sessions.
MagicBooking’s onboarding is fast and flexible.
- Setup can be fast-tracked at no extra cost.
- If your team is available for onboarding and training, you can go live within 48 hours.
- The typical onboarding timeline is a competitive 1–3 weeks, depending on your availability and how quickly you want to transition.
MagicBooking supports easy data import from your existing system.
- You can import parent and child records to create accounts immediately.
- Parents then complete any additional required information themselves, including medical details, consents, allergies, authorised collectors, and emergency contacts.
- This reduces admin time and speeds up the onboarding process.
MagicBooking ensures a smooth financial handover.
- You can migrate opening balances, credits, and outstanding debts during setup so your accounts start cleanly from day one.
Best practice for launching:
- Many organisations choose to go live at the start of a new invoicing cycle — for example, a new school term, half-term, or holiday programme — to ensure the cleanest transition.
Free VersionFreemiumFree TrialPaid SubscriptionOne-Off FeeHourly Rate
Free VersionFreemiumFree TrialPaid SubscriptionOne-Off FeeHourly Rate
Clubs per month: £59
Schools per month: £82
Further info on pricing:
At MagicBooking, we provide transparent, flexible pricing designed to cater to the specific needs of clubs, schools, and Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs). Our pricing structure offers both standalone modules and value-packed bundles, ensuring that organisations only pay for the features they need.
Please note that, whether you're a club, school, MAT or other, you can CHOOSE to pay monthly or annually, depending on your preference.
For clubs, we offer an affordable subscription of £59 per month, with straightforward card transaction fees. Schools and MATs can choose from individual modules like Wraparound Care, Clubs, or School Dinners, or take advantage of bundled packages that deliver comprehensive functionality at a reduced rate.
We also provide optional add-ons like SMS bundles and branded parent websites, allowing you to customise your platform according to your organisation’s needs.
Our set up and training is free to ensure that your team is fully equipped to get the most out of the system without hidden costs.
Additionally, we offer optional MIS integration to seamlessly connect with your existing school management software.
By offering flexible pricing, module choices, and discounts for growth, MagicBooking empowers organisations of all sizes to scale efficiently while keeping costs in check.
A free trial of MagicBooking is also available!
