Feature comparison
| Feature | MySchoolUpdate | SchoolComms |
|---|---|---|
| Annual price (mainstream) | £385/year + £299 setup | Higher (varies by school size) |
| SMS included | Yes — no credit bundles | Typically per-credit or bundled |
| Push notifications | Browser push (no app) | App-based push |
| Email messaging | Included | Included |
| MIS integration | Via Wonde — 20+ MIS | MIS integration available |
| Online payments | Not included | Included (dinner money, trips) |
| Forms and data collection | Basic | More comprehensive |
| SEND school pricing | £99/year | Standard pricing |
| Parent app required | No | Yes (for push) |
| Free trial | Available | Contact SchoolComms |
Where MySchoolUpdate is the stronger choice
The most significant difference is the parent notification experience. SchoolComms delivers push notifications via an app that parents must download and log into. MySchoolUpdate delivers push via the browser — parents opt in with a single browser prompt in approximately 20 seconds, with no App Store and no password.
This frictionless opt-in consistently produces higher parent reach. Schools on MySchoolUpdate typically see 75–90% push opt-in within the first term; app-based platforms typically see 40–65% active usage. The 25+ percentage point difference in reach represents real families — often the harder-to-engage ones — receiving every communication.
For communication cost, MySchoolUpdate's flat-rate pricing with SMS included removes the variable cost and administrative overhead of managing SMS credit bundles. Schools with high SMS usage find the total cost comparison favours MySchoolUpdate even more strongly.
Where SchoolComms has an advantage
SchoolComms is a broader school management platform that includes online payments (dinner money, school trips, clubs), forms, and data collection tools that extend well beyond communication. If your school uses SchoolComms as a single platform for communication and payment collection, switching to MySchoolUpdate for communication alone would require a separate solution for payments.
Many schools separate these concerns — using a dedicated payment platform (ParentPay is common) alongside a communication tool — and this removes the dependency. But it is the right question to ask before switching.
Frequently asked questions
Can we keep using SchoolComms for payments and switch to MySchoolUpdate for communication?
This is the cleanest switching path for schools that rely on SchoolComms for payment collection. Many schools do exactly this — keeping their existing payment platform and switching only the communication layer to MySchoolUpdate, which reduces both cost and parent friction on communications.
Will we need to re-enter all our parent contact data?
No. MySchoolUpdate imports parent contact data directly from your MIS via the Wonde integration. Contacts are always kept in sync with the MIS automatically — no manual data entry or CSV imports required.
See MySchoolUpdate in action
Book a 30-minute demo tailored to your current SchoolComms setup — what you use, what you would gain, and what the switch involves.
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