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School Diary vs Ellucian Comparison

Last updated:

School Diary

4.2(46 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

The School Diary Student Management System is a fully integrated , robust, and Interactive student capacity software. It has the ability to keep track of unlimited students within a single school. The product is designed…

Ellucian

3.8(86 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Ellucian is a comprehensive school management software system that manages the complete student lifecycle from admission to degree and beyond. It is implemented across 19,000 campus locations in 38 countries, including u…

School Diary leads on user satisfaction with a 4.2-star rating across 46 reviews.

School Diary vs Ellucian — at a glance

FeatureSchool DiaryEllucian
Rating4.2 / 53.8 / 5
Reviews4686
Starting priceContact for pricingContact for pricing
Free trial Yes No
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategorySchool Management SoftwareSchool Management Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud
API
Support modesBusiness Hours, Online24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours
CertificationsGDPR
Data residencyUSGlobal

Key differences between School Diary and Ellucian

  • Free trial: School Diary offers a free trial; Ellucian does not.
  • User satisfaction: School Diary scores higher with a 4.2-star average.
  • Deployment: School Diary supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Ellucian supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

School Diary vs Ellucian — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most School Management Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

School Diary - School Management Software
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Ellucian - School Management Software
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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

School Diary

Best for K-12 schools needing scalable, integrated student management.

Choose if
  • You manage a small to medium K-12 school requiring unlimited student tracking
  • You want an integrated system covering multiple student management functions
  • You prefer a modern, interactive platform built with the latest technology
Consider alternatives if
  • You represent a higher education institution with complex administrative needs
  • You require transparent pricing and detailed feature documentation upfront

Ellucian

Best for comprehensive student lifecycle management in medium to large institutions.

Choose if
  • You need an all-in-one system covering admissions through degree completion.
  • Your institution requires strong financial aid management integrated with student data.
  • You want cloud-based access with flexible, customizable workflows supported by a user community.
Consider alternatives if
  • You prioritize a modern, intuitive user interface for ease of use.
  • Your institution depends heavily on extensive third-party software integrations.

School Diary: Best for K-12 schools needing scalable, integrated student management. Ellucian: Best for comprehensive student lifecycle management in medium to large institutions.

Description

The School Diary Student Management System is a fully integrated , robust, and Interactive student capacity software. It has the ability to keep track of unlimited students within a single ... Read More about School Diary

Ellucian is a comprehensive school management software system that manages the complete student lifecycle from admission to degree and beyond. It is implemented across 19,000 campus ... Read More about Ellucian

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available
  • No free trial

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

8.9/10

8.8/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.2

(46)

3.8

(86)

Best Company Size

Small BusinessMedium Business
Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises
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Software Demo

Demo

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How do School Diary and Ellucian Compare on Features?

Total Features

20 Features

13 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Compare School Diary and Ellucian on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Not Available

      Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Freelancers
      • Individuals
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Freelancers
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Not Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      HIPAA

      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✓ Yes

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🇺🇸 US
      🌐 Global

      School Diary User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      0

      2

      0

      0

      0

      9

      8

      4

      1

      0

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Overall positive sentiment with appreciation for its capacity and technology, but limited detailed user feedback.

      What buyers like

      • Student capacity management
      • Integration capabilities
      • Modern technology use

      Common complaints

      • Pricing transparency
      • Limited feature detail

      Buyer sentiment

      Users generally appreciate Ellucian’s comprehensive and customizable features but express concerns about its outdated UI and integration limitations.

      What buyers like

      • Streamlined student data management
      • Cloud-based accessibility
      • Customizability and community support

      Common complaints

      • User interface design
      • Integration limitations

      Pros and Cons

      • Ability to manage unlimited students within a single school

      • Integration of multiple student management functions

      • Use of latest technology for interactive experience

      • Lack of publicly available pricing information

      • Limited user feedback and detailed feature descriptions

      • Streamlined features for checking grades, degree progress, and student data

      • Cloud-based access enabling connectivity across campuses

      • Robust customization options supported by an active user community

      • Outdated and redundant user interface design

      • Steep learning curve for new users due to complex features

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      No screenshots available.

      Ellucian Screenshot

      5 Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      4 Videos

      video-0

      1 Videos

      Top Alternatives to School Diary and Ellucian in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, School Diary or Ellucian?
      School Diary edges out the other on user ratings (4.2 vs 3.8). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do School Diary and Ellucian offer a free trial?
      School Diary offers a free trial. Ellucian does not.
      What is the starting price of School Diary vs Ellucian?
      School Diary starts at Contact for pricing. Ellucian starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to School Diary?
      Top alternatives to School Diary include Web School ERP, MyEdu, EduSys School ERP, Schoollog, eSM School Management.
      What are the top alternatives to Ellucian?
      Top alternatives to Ellucian include Skyward School Management, SAF School Management Software, Smart School ERP, CAMPUSDEAN, MyClassCampus.

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