Feature comparison
| Feature | MySchoolUpdate | ParentMail |
|---|---|---|
| Annual price (mainstream school) | £385/year | £600–£1,200/year (typical) |
| Push notifications | Browser push (no app required) | App-based push (requires parent to download app) |
| Email messaging | Included | Included |
| SMS messaging | Included in subscription | Typically charged per SMS credit bundle |
| MIS integration | Via Wonde (DfE-approved, 20+ MIS) | Via Wonde or direct integration |
| Parent app requirement | No app required | App download required for push |
| Multilingual messaging | 100+ languages | Available |
| Online payments | Not included (school trip payments etc.) | ParentPay integration for payments |
| SEND school pricing | £99/year | Standard pricing applies |
| Free trial | Available | Contact ParentMail |
The key difference: app vs no-app
ParentMail requires parents to download the ParentMail app to receive push notifications. MySchoolUpdate uses browser push — parents opt in via a 20-second browser prompt and receive notifications on their phone without any app download.
This distinction has a measurable impact on parent adoption. App-based platforms typically achieve 40–65% parent active usage; browser push platforms typically achieve 75–90% opt-in within the first term. The parents who do not download the app are often the same parents who need school communications most urgently.
Where ParentMail has an advantage
ParentMail integrates with ParentPay for online payments — school trips, dinner money, uniform payments. If your school currently relies on ParentMail/ParentPay for payment collection, switching to MySchoolUpdate would require a separate solution for online payments. Many schools use ParentPay independently of their communication platform, which removes this dependency.
Frequently asked questions
Will we lose parent contact history if we switch from ParentMail?
MySchoolUpdate imports parent contacts from your MIS via Wonde — your contact records are always current from the MIS. Historical message archives from ParentMail are not transferred, but this is rarely a requirement for communication platform switches. From day one, all new communications are archived in MySchoolUpdate.
Do parents need to re-register when we switch from ParentMail?
Parents will need to opt in to push notifications on MySchoolUpdate — this is the 20-second browser prompt. This is typically handled by sending an introductory email (from within MySchoolUpdate, using the email addresses from the MIS) inviting parents to opt in to push. Most schools achieve 60%+ push opt-in within the first week of launch.
See MySchoolUpdate in action
Book a 30-minute demo to see how MySchoolUpdate compares to your current system — and how the switch would work for your school's specific setup.
Book demo Learn moreRelated guides