Managing a school is not an easy task – there are so many aspects to be taken care of daily. In such situations, relying on a free and open source school management software is the best way to streamline your school’s efficiency and productivity levels as this revolutionary tool can completely change the way your educational institution functions.
According to a recent study, more educational institutions are opting to automate their process. Due to this, education and school management software will see a mass revenue of around 7.9 billion USD in 2020. Also, the trends suggest that this sector will grow manifolds reaching 8.3 billion USD by 2023.
So to carry out your operations smoothly, you should opt for a school management software that will help you to manage your students’ information, allow teachers and parents to communicate with each other, etc.
With the growing trend of online classes, the modern-day software is now updated with an additional virtual classroom feature. This removes locational barriers and allows students to study from home.
Top 15 Open Source and Free School Management Software for Educational Institutes
Tool #1: Fedena
One of the best open-source school management software, Fedena, is built on a robust programming framework, Ruby on Rails. The software can be used to streamline students’ databases and almost all the managerial functions of the school.
Also, students can get access to their academic records from their personal login credentials. There is no limit on the number of students, teachers, and parents who can access the software.
Features
- Easy data upload by just exporting the excel sheet
- Helps to generate a time table automatically
- Payment gateway integration for quick fee payment
- SMS integration for sending updates to parents via message
- Azure integration for seamless connection with participants
- Easy accounting with tally integration
Pros
- Easily customizable as per your school needs
- Generate complete transcript of students at just one click
- The system includes human resources portal, calendar, financial management, examination management
- Unlimited students and administration login allowed
Cons
- The open-source version lacks several features such as inventory, custom reports, etc.
- The student report generated can be more exhaustive
Tool #2: School Time
SchoolTime is a free school management software that is best suited for smaller educational institutions such as elementary school. The software is user friendly, and the administration will not need long training and can use it from the get-go.
The software covers all the features required for comprehensive school management and some unique features such as board management and attendance automation. It is perfect for running a small school smoothly in a dynamic environment.
Features
- Allows keeping track of attendance, transportation and dormitory documentation
- Secure system integrated with more than 60 payment gateways
- Email integration with four types of email services and also more than 10 SMS service providers
- GPS tracking to track transportation
- Allows login with registered mobile numbers
- One on one chat facility available
- Allows library database management
- Quickly generate a time table for classes
- Generate finance reports
Pros
- Use a free version without any complication for an unlimited period
- Automate complete life cycle of a student from registration till graduation pass out
- Easy to administer directories and finance reports
Cons
- There is a limit on the number of students accessing free versions at a time
Tool #3: OpenEduCat
OpenEduCat is a school management software that focuses on providing a seamless experience to the users. The cornerstone of this software lies in the fact that it is an all-inclusive software that handles every single aspect of operational functioning.
The software can transform the school into an efficiently functioning ecosystem that handles several functions, from payroll management to classroom scheduling to asset and liabilities management.
Features
- Payroll and expense management
- Easy generation of compliance and statistical reports
- Easily maintain faculty profile, classroom schedules, etc.
- Online enrollment of students
- Multiple payment gateway facilities
- Automated fees reminder to parents
- Easy management and access to the timetable, report cards, transcripts
- Integrated communication facility for one-to-one communication
Pros
- Parents and teachers can easily access all the information related to students, including health profiles, achievements, activities carried out in the classroom, etc.
- Payroll management makes it a comprehensive software
Cons
- Implementation is a little complex and needs competent IT Team
OpenSis Community is a renowned open-source management software that works best for the K-12 level, making it an excellent choice for both small and medium scale schools.
The community version of this software is free and can be used for a multitude of activities such as recording attendance, generating customized reports, scheduling activities, etc.
This software helps capture all the information about the students, from registration to graduation in a systematic manner.
Features
- Capability to manage discipline, goals, address, examination, medical details, parents’ information, etc.
- A modern dashboard that can be modified as per school requirements
- The facility of arena scheduling
- Separate parent portal
- SMS integration for sending updates to parents via message
- Easy access to students data and the ability to generate real-time reports
- Integrated with Moodle LMS
- Secured and scalable software
Pros
- Capability to store unlimited students’ information
- The software can be customized to meet the needs of the school
- Moodle LMS management of information much easier
Cons
- To take complete advantage, IT members should be well versed with PostgreSQL
Tool #5: SchoolTool
SchoolTool is an online free school management software that provides excellent support for managing the school’s administrative procedures. The software is written in python that can run smoothly on all Linux platforms.
The tool offers various features such as learners’ assessment, hassle-free communication with parents that are quite essential to manage a classroom efficiently. The software is known for its time-saving features that escalate the performance of the school.
Features
- Create tests and quizzes online and sent them via the dashboard
- Gain insights on the progress of students
- Send push notifications for updating parents
- Integration with transport and foodservice system
- Integration with online registration
- Track and monitor teachers and students
- Create progress reports in just a single click
- The discussion area is provided
Pros
- It is of great utility to the educators with robust features such as classroom participation journals, a calendar that integrates with Google calendar, etc.
Cons
- It lacks the features required for human resource management and online payment gateway.
Tool #6: FeKara
FeKara is an open-source school management powerhouse that works best for schools with fifty or fewer students. It is user-friendly, flexible, and allows the institute to manage day-to-day activities from admission to financial management to pass-out of students.
The mobile version is also available that runs on tablets and smartphones that allows you to manage activities even if you are on the move. This all-rounder software will enable you to handle all the functions from attendance, admission, and finance.
Features
- A unique interface that can handle multiple admins or user accounts
- Functions can be customized as per your requirement
- SMS integration allows you to send detailed reports and notifications
- Library management facility
- Examination management on a weekly, monthly and annual basis
- Online calendar and payment facility
- Easy financial management and basic accounting features
Pros
- FeKara Pro version unlocks all the features from exams and assignments to budgeting and internal management of employees.
- Mobile app for convenient on-the-go use
Cons
- The software is free as long as there are fifty students and five teachers, after which you will have to subscribe to a premium version to unlock all the features.
Tool #7: Gibbon
Gibbon is open-source software designed to give you “all-in-one” experience in terms of school management. It is well suited for all the users from teachers, administration, parents, and students.
This user-friendly software will help to streamline administrative features and other management functions such as payroll, staff management, finance, and invoicing.
Various teaching tools such as rubrics, assessment sheets, worksheet planning, and library catalog, etc. simplifies the daily functional tasks of teachers.
Features
- The core modules of software easily integrate with other systems
- Easily manage fees, invoice within the dashboard
- Quickly generate attendance data and related reports
- Alerts can be created for academic, behavior and medical performance
- Advertise job openings through the software
- It provides various tools for teachers such as rubrics, test planning, worksheet generation, etc.
- Easy attendance tracking and class management
- Plan and schedule lessons using lesson blocks
- Fast student finder
Pros
- All-in-one software to serve all the functions i.e., teaching, administration, finance, and payroll
- The clean user interface makes this software easily adaptable
Cons
- Data is to be maintained on your own server
Tool #8: TS School
TS School is a simple and effective Open-source school management software that will give you access to all the essential features irrespective of the number of students and teachers.
The software has a robust human management software that will help you to manage all the HR functions and payroll effectively. Apart from that, the secure student management system provides multiple features with a simple click of a button.
This user-friendly minimalistic software is a must-have to optimize your academic work procedures.
Features
- Easy student information management from admission to graduation
- Allows attendance tracking and school calendar management
- Up-to-date financial report generation and easy tracking of all transactions
- Faculty messaging option
- Exam modules available
- SMS and email integration
- Allows you to create customized reports
- Software is secure and scalable
- Easy payroll management
Pros
- Human resource tool great for managing your staff
- A robust student management system is ideal for creating error-free records and quick follow up of classroom management strategies.
Cons
- You can no have access to reporting and inventory management on the free version
Tool #9: AscendSM
AscendSMS is a refreshingly innovative software that is available to catholic schools at no cost. The software will help in the seamless integration of daily school functions. This also removes communication barriers by establishing a network between parents and educators.
The system will streamline your educational practices by providing various features. You can customize the software to meet your specific requirements. Also, the mobile app and support features make it very convenient to use.
Features
- Easy accounting management
- Create and manage time tables
- Attendance tracking and transportation management
- Provides quick information on ACR, the performance of students school vitality
- Offers health management system
- Library tracking and management feature
- Automatic fee scheduling and reminders
- SMS integration
- Fleet management
- Track information of students from admission to pass out
Pros
- The advance communication tool is beneficial for teachers and parents
- Easy creation of health reports and transcripts
- Faculty management streamlines administrative procedures
Cons
- The user interface is fundamental, and there is a scope of upgrades
Tool #10: FenixEdu
FenixEdu is a free school management software that aims for educational and administrative management of higher educational institutions. The software has in-built tools such as tutorials and assignments that aim to increase academic performance.
The software creates a structured communication channel between school authorities and parents for the continuous flow of information.
Features
- Effective admission management
- Create events calendar as per your requirement
- Curriculum management
- SMA and email integration
- Library book tracking
- Highly modular and requires no extra efforts for installation
- Easy customization to suit your requirements
Pros
- The centralized working system is designed to ensure that teachers, administrators, and students receive regular updates about various activities
Cons
- Proficient IT team required to take advantage of all the features
Tool #11: RosarioSIS
This is one of the most flexible and uniquely designed software that provides a comprehensive set of tools to effectively run an educational institution.
The software provides a facility to embed YouTube videos, PDF, and Word files to portal notes. Such features make RosarioSIS one of the best open-source school management software to help schools manage their day-to-day activities efficiently.
Features
- The main modules include – school setup, students’ attendance, activities, billing, food service, scheduling, time table, etc.
- Built-in PDF generation
- Customize the fields as per your requirements
- Educators can create online assignments, schedule classrooms, print certificates, and assessment reports
- Publish notes instantly
- Track medical visits for each student
- Manage payroll
- Integrated with Moodle LMS
Pros
- Parents and guardians get easy accessibility to online PDF discipline and exam reports
Cons
- The learning curve can be a little difficult, and you will need extra support for installation
Tool #12. QuickSchool
QuickSchool is an intuitively designed software that comes with an incredible set of features and unlimited training materials. The software provides a wide range of functionalities to support administrative functions.
The dashboard provides a parent-teacher portal where parents can track the performance of children and activities carried out in the classroom. The system also allows you to send out voice messages and texts.
Features
- Customizable grade book software
- Easily manage and assign homework and assignments
- Robust student information system
- Easy online payment option
- Classroom and attendance management system
- Parents can easily track child’ progress
- Admission management platform
- Synchronize information in real-time to access the system from anywhere
Pros
- Seamless communication between parents and teachers
- Get access to almost all the operational features required for school administration
Cons
- You can not access customization features with the free version
Tool #13. Veyon
One of the best and free school management software, Veyon, is famous for its intuitive interface that enables easy access to all the features. The software also allows teachers to monitor and control students’ computers remotely.
The software can be used for classroom management and monitoring effectively. It is compatible with devices running on Linux and Windows. Besides, the software seamlessly integrates with your network and directory services.
Features
- Allows you to take a screenshot of another computer with a single click
- Educators can have single-key access to other computers
- Enables you to broadcast your screen to students’ screen
- Educators can have Internet access control
- Available in multiple languages
- Easy integration with a personal network using built-in LDAP/AD option
Pros
- Unique monitoring module will help you to access all the updated information related to school activities
- Screen broadcasting and single key access options are very useful for teachers to monitor students
Cons
- Having single key access can raise security questions
Tool #14. SchoolGen
SchoolGen is a practical, integrated, and comprehensive school management software that is suitable for all range of educational institutions.
The software creates a central database where teachers and administrators can maintain and access student records easily. It also helps to assist in various managerial functions such as financial management and payroll administration.
With its various functional modules, the software is set to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of your organization.
Features
- Easy generation and disbursement of salary
- Transportation tracking
- Library book tracking
- Customizable student report card formats
- Provides students with online tutoring, reference materials, and classroom notes
- Gives access to important student information from admission to graduation
Pros
- Parents can easily view progress cards of students, assignments allotted and submitted and classroom activities
Cons
Tool #15: MyClassCampus
MyClassCampus is a very efficient web and app-based software that provides efficient functioning of schools, colleges, and coaching centers. This powerful yet intuitive application offers a wide range of 40+ modules to make management practices precise.
The open-source school management software also provides for QR code scanning profiles, GPS tracking, and smart cards to power your operational efficiency. This all-in-one software will serve your multiple needs right from financial management to staff management.
Features
- Efficient hostel management
- Automatic salary generation after calculating attendance from leave management software
- Gate pass and QR code scanning
- Wireless biometric
- Result generation module that prints results
- Lesson planning
- Easy Time table generation
- Payroll and human resource management
- Allows you to generate analysis and reports
Pros
- Real-time attendance data based on biometric or card scan is one of the unique features.
Cons
- No cons, the software has almost all the features required for automation of processes.
Final Word
Open-source school management software is designed to make classroom monitoring and administrative procedures of an educational institution more efficient. Most of these systems come with a user-friendly interface and so that not only installation but the entire usage mechanism is hassle-free.
As it is said, “Higher management qualities are directly associated with better educational outcomes,” it becomes relevant that educational institutions should opt for such free school management systems to relieve the teachers so that they can focus on core activities.
The above 15 software is free and will help you on this journey of automation. Let us know if you like them.
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