School Management Software Comparison: Gradelink vs SchoolSpeak
As a comprehensive, user-friendly student information system (SIS), Gradelink is an excellent solution for private and faith-based schools. It provides powerful features to streamline administrative tasks, improve communication between staff and families, and support student success—all in one easy-to-use platform.
One of Gradelink’s exceptional benefits is its five-star customer support. Right from the start, schools are assigned a dedicated representative who provides personalized assistance every step of the way. This outstanding service enables schools to be set up and running in as little as 10 days, minimizing downtime and ensuring a smooth transition.
Whether managing a small private school or a larger institution, Gradelink empowers your team to focus on what matters most—educating students and building a strong school community.
Let’s compare Gradelink’s features and benefits to SchoolSpeak, since, as it’s being phased out and replaced by TADS SIS, many schools are looking for alternatives to SchoolSpeak.
|
Gradelink |
SchoolSpeak |
|
Customer Care |
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| Dedicated Customer Care Representative | Yes | No |
Security and Login |
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| Login using Google, touch ID, and face ID | Yes | No |
| Setting staff permissions is simple and can be done on one screen | Yes | No |
| Admins can see when every user logged in, the device they used (desktop or mobile), IP address, and DNS name | Yes | No |
| Manually lock and unlock users | Yes (1 click) | Yes (6 clicks) |
| Encryption | Yes | Yes |
| Staff permissions | Yes | Yes |
Ease of Use |
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| Number of steps to add a new full admin | 3 | 7 |
| Number of steps to remove a new full admin | 3 | 8 |
| Number of steps to print address labels | 2 | 4 |
| Filter address labels by grade level or zip code | Yes | No |
| Number of steps to view transcripts of alumni | 2 | 6 |
| Number of steps to view alumni demographic and contact information | 2 | 6 |
| Number of steps to promote students at the end of the year | 4 | 33 |
| Number of steps to enter an assignment | 4 | 6 |
Academics |
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| Assignment collections | Yes | No |
| Sync grades from Google Classroom to the gradebook | Yes | No |
Admissions |
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| Dedicated inquiry management system | Yes | No |
Communication |
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| Parent mobile app | Yes | No (discontinued) |
| Student mobile app | Yes | No (discontinued) |
| Send Emails | Yes | Yes |
| Email drafts | Yes | No |
| Send text messages | Yes (premium feature) | Yes (Requires third-party integration unless you use email to text, which requires gathering parents’ mobile carriers.) |
| Send voice messages | Yes (premium feature) | No |
| View history of email, text, and voice messages | Yes (premium feature) | Yes (requires third-party integration)Â |
| Schedule emails, texts, and voice messages | Yes | No |
| Groups are automatically created for each grade level and enrollment status for sending email, text, and voice messages | Yes | No |
Ratings and Reviews
This chart from Capterra shows how the two school management systems compare based on reviews from actual users. Note that SchoolSpeak has a 2-star overall rating while Gradelink has a 4.7. The difference is stark, making it clear who the winner is.
Gradelink Customer Reviews
Reasons for switching to Gradelink: SchoolSpeak was expensive, complicated, and we could NEVER get anyone from Customer Service to help us.
—Erica S., Principal
Our school is new to Gradelink this year and, so far, the process, platform, training and customer support have been wonderful.
—Amy D.
Gradelink’s user-friendly interface and comprehensive features have streamlined our administrative tasks, enhancing efficiency across the board.
—Jung K., Principal
SchoolSpeak Customer Reviews
There are many things to dislike about this software. There is no customer service that responds.
—Debra S., Teacher
The site does not make it easier for a parent to know what is going on at the school nor does it make volunteer opportunities easy to find.
—Debra S.
It has been very difficult for our school to get it right with this product. The school is constantly having to be in contact with the support department—for hours!
—N.D.
G2 ranks Gradelink as one of the top alternatives to SchoolSpeak.
Conclusion
Gradelink is designed to streamline navigation and minimize the number of steps required, allowing teachers, administrators, and parents to complete tasks efficiently. In contrast, working in SchoolSpeak typically involves more steps to achieve similar tasks, wasting valuable time and effort.
For schools looking for an intuitive, time-saving student information system, Gradelink is the better choice. To see what your school can accomplish with Gradelink, watch a free demo.