Childcare Online Booking (CoB) vs. other childcare booking systems
Compare Childcare Online Booking (CoB) by Ayrmer Software with Eequ, Pembee and MagicBooking. Start with the published charging model, then check how each system fits your sessions, registers and family accounts.
CoB 2 starts at £59 + VAT per location, per month, with a £0 setup fee. Every subscription includes all software features, training, support and updates. Card-processing charges are separate.
Published details checked .
Compare software and payment costs
Each provider’s own pricing information is linked in the table. CoB’s figures describe its published CoB 2 structure. Existing customer agreements may differ.
Scroll across the table to compare all four systems.
| What to compare | Childcare Online Booking (CoB) | Eequ | Pembee | MagicBooking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software subscription | Per location, per month, plus VAT. Starter £59, Growth £99, Established £149, Enterprise by quote. Tiers depend on monthly booking value. | No subscription. A combined fee applies to paid transactions. | Standard and Premium subscriptions. View the provider’s pricing page in your currency and chosen billing period. | Clubs Pro £59/month plus VAT, with unlimited settings. Schools Pro £82/month plus VAT per active centre or setting. |
| Booking and card-payment fees | No additional percentage-based booking fee. Integrated Worldpay card processing is advertised at 1.4% + 20p per transaction, subject to payment-provider terms. | 7% per paid transaction, including Stripe processing and VAT on Eequ’s services. Free bookings cost nothing. | 0.59% application fee on Stripe online payments, in addition to Stripe’s processing charges. | Card transaction fees apply separately. Confirm the rate with MagicBooking for your payment arrangement. |
| Feature tiers and extras | All features in every tier, with training, support and updates. £0 setup fee for the standard service. Bespoke services are agreed separately. | Published model includes staff training and support with switching. | Premium adds features such as waiting lists and monthly transaction reports to Standard. | Separate club and school plans. Optional branding integration is £399. Schools list an optional MIS integration at £250. Add-on prices exclude VAT. |
| Ways to try the system | Three-month free trial offer, with availability and onboarding confirmed by the team. Separate free 30-day demo available. No long-term contract, subject to supplied service terms. | Start without a subscription. Free bookings are free. The pricing guide describes no contract. | 30-day free trial, with no credit card required. | Free personalised demo. Published cancellation terms specify one month’s written notice before the invoicing period ends. |
| Provider sources | CoB pricing CoB trial offer | Eequ pricing guide | Pembee pricing | MagicBooking club pricing MagicBooking school pricing |
Compare the subscription, number of locations, booking value, card-payment volume and transaction count together. Provider prices and terms can change. Eequ’s percentage includes processing and VAT on its services, while CoB, Pembee and MagicBooking list separate processing charges.
Check the workflows your childcare team needs
CoB combines 15+ years of UK childcare experience with tools for morning arrivals, afternoon pickups and family accounts. Use these examples when reviewing any system in a demo.
| Requirement | What CoB provides | What to check during a demo |
|---|---|---|
| Walking buses and school pickups | Route capacity controls and collection registers connected to after-school bookings. Explore walking bus tools. | Walk through children arriving from different schools, route limits and the collection list staff will use. |
| Tax-Free Childcare reconciliation | Record and reconcile receipts against family accounts, invoices, statements and balances. Read the payments FAQs. | Match a Tax-Free Childcare receipt to a family account and review a balance paid using more than one payment method. |
| Attendance and safeguarding records | Electronic sign-in and sign-out, authorised collectors, emergency contacts, medical and allergy information, and digital safeguarding forms. View the features. | Check the information staff can access at arrival and collection, along with your setting’s emergency procedures. |
| Security evidence | Ayrmer Software announced Cyber Essentials Plus assessment success in February 2019. Read the dated announcement. | Request the current certificate, scope, expiry date and data-processing documentation from each supplier. |
| DfE wraparound provision in England | Booking, occupancy, attendance and payment records for providers sustaining wraparound places and coordinating morning and afternoon care. Read the 2026 wraparound guide. | Review the records and exports needed for your local authority, grant conditions and school reporting arrangements. |
| Support and UK experience | 15+ years supporting UK childcare providers, with setup, training and ongoing support included. Read customer testimonials. | Discuss onboarding, staff training, cancellation terms and the support your team will receive. |
Questions about comparing systems
Does CoB charge a percentage of every booking?
CoB 2 uses monthly subscription bands per location, based on monthly booking value. There is no additional percentage-based booking fee. Card-processing charges are separate. See CoB pricing.
Are all features included in the starting CoB tier?
Yes. Starter, Growth, Established and Enterprise include the complete CoB feature set, training, support and updates. The monthly price reflects each location’s booking value.
How does the three-month trial work?
The three-month free trial offer includes current software features, setup, training and support. The CoB team confirms availability and onboarding requirements. Card-processing charges and supplied service terms apply. Read the trial offer.
See CoB with your own session structure
Talk through breakfast and after-school sessions, walking buses, parent payments and your locations with the team.