A fair, sourced comparison of the two, written by Care App, with our own product shown as a third option.
From each supplier's own website and public listings, checked October 2026.
| Feature | CoolCare | Birdie | Care App (third option) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital care plans | Through partner systems (e.g. Person Centred Software, Nourish) | ✓ Included | ✓ Included, with an AI quality check |
| eMAR (electronic MAR charts) | ✗ Not listed | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Daily notes and observations | ✗ Not listed | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Risk assessments | ✗ Not listed | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Incident reporting | ✗ Not listed | Not checked | ✓ Included |
| CQC and regulator compliance tools | Staff compliance checks (DBS, ID, visas) | Not checked | ✓ Included, with CQC mock inspection and PIR helper |
| Staff rota and scheduling | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Timesheets and pay preparation | ✓ Timesheets; payroll by export to Sage, IRIS and others | ✓ Pay run data; timesheets from the Core plan | ✓ Included |
| Invoicing | ✓ Included (resident invoicing and ledgers) | ✓ Included | ✓ Included (not the Mental Health edition) |
| Split billing (supported living) | Local authority and private contracts (care homes) | ✓ Multi-payer invoicing (Core plan and above) | ✓ Supported Living edition, Professional and Max |
| eLearning and training records | Training records and matrix | Free self-guided training; no course builder found | ✓ Training records included; course builder on Max |
| Recruitment | ✓ Included | ✗ Not listed | ✓ Max plan |
| Family portal | ✗ Not listed | ✓ Family App | ✓ Included |
| Visit verification (GPS / QR) | Not applicable; fob or biometric clocking in the home | ✓ QR codes or geo check-in | ✓ Included |
| Carer mobile app | Browser staff portal for shifts and holidays | ✓ Included | ✓ Installable web app, any phone; works offline, carers stay signed in, see their own hours |
| NHS integrations (e.g. GP Connect) | ✗ Not listed | Not checked | Not yet |
| Published pricing | ✗ Not published; demo required | From £200/month; plan prices on request | ✓ Yes, from £10/user/month |
| Setup fee | Not published | Not published | ✓ None |
| Contract | Initial term set in each order, then monthly (30 days' notice) | Fixed term, renews automatically; no cancelling mid-term | ✓ Monthly, 30 days' notice, no exit fee; free data export any time |
| Free trial | Demo only | Demo only | ✓ 1 month, self-service |
"Not listed" means we could not find it on the supplier's public pages, not that it does not exist. Features and prices change, so check with each supplier. Spotted something out of date? Email hello@care-app.uk.
What each makes public, and where each is strongest.
CoolCare does not publish prices. Its published terms (2023) refer to fees by number of registered beds, an initial term set in each order, then a rolling monthly contract with 30 days' notice. Clocking hardware is bought or added to the subscription.
Suits you if:
Birdie's pricing page: "Starting from £200 per month (excl. VAT)", based on the hours of care you schedule, across four plans; contact Birdie for a quote. Its terms set a minimum monthly fee, no cancelling during a term, and renewal unless you give 30 days' notice before it ends.
Suits you if:
Care setting editions from £12, cheaper per user as you grow. No setup fee, monthly with 1 month's notice, free month to try it. Every price.
Suits you if:
Full comparisons: Care App vs CoolCare · Care App vs Birdie · All comparisons · Best care management software in the UK · Residential care home software · Nursing home software · Domiciliary care software · Supported living software
Birdie is built for domiciliary care, with visit scheduling and QR or geo check-in. CoolCare is built for care homes and does not list domiciliary features.
CoolCare is built for care homes, covering occupancy, fees and staffing, and links to separate care planning systems. Birdie's plans are built around domiciliary care.
CoolCare does not publish prices; its published terms refer to fees by registered beds. Birdie starts from £200 a month excluding VAT, based on the care hours you schedule. Care App publishes every price, from £12 per user per month for care setting editions; see the packages page.
Sources (checked October 2026): coolcare.co.uk · CoolCare integrations · CoolCare workforce management · CoolCare finance · CoolCare terms and conditions (2023) · Birdie pricing · Birdie terms and conditions · Birdie workforce · Birdie help centre. CoolCare and Birdie are trademarks of their owners; this is Care App's own comparison and is not endorsed by either.
Care App puts care records, eMAR, rota, pay preparation and invoicing in one system. No setup fee and no annual contract.
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