Classroom Pulse vs Catalyst: ABA Data Collection Comparison
Compare school-focused behavior tracking with clinical ABA software
Classroom Pulse Advantages
- Built specifically for school-based behavior tracking
- Voice data entry in under 10 seconds
- Free tier available for individual teachers
- Simple onboarding—start in 15 minutes
- FERPA-compliant for educational settings
- IEP goal tracking and progress monitoring
⚖️Catalyst by Therapy Brands Advantages
- Comprehensive ABA practice management
- Insurance billing integration
- Clinical session scheduling
- Supervision tracking for BCBAs
- Multi-location clinic management
- Established in clinical ABA community
Our Verdict
Classroom Pulse is ideal for schools, special education teachers, and school-based BCBAs who need fast, simple behavior tracking without clinical overhead. Catalyst is better suited for ABA clinics requiring practice management, insurance billing, and clinical workflows.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Classroom Pulse | Catalyst by Therapy Brands |
|---|---|---|
Primary Use Case Who the software is designed for | Schools & educators | ABA clinics |
Data Entry Speed Time to log a behavior incident | Under 10 seconds (voice) | 30-60 seconds |
Learning Curve Time to get started | 15 minutes setup | Hours to days |
Free Tier Try before you buy | Yes, 3 students | No |
Insurance Billing Bill insurance for ABA services | ||
Practice Management Scheduling, payroll, HR features | ||
IEP Integration Track IEP goals and progress | Limited | |
Team Collaboration Share data with team members | Real-time sync | Yes |
Mobile App iOS and Android support | PWA (works on all devices) | Native apps |
FERPA Compliance School data privacy standards | Full compliance | HIPAA focused |
AI Insights Automatic pattern detection | Limited | |
Report Generation Automated FBA/BIP reports | 1-click generation | Manual templates |
Pricing Comparison
Classroom Pulse Pricing
- FreeFree (3 students)
- Essential$14.99/month (15 students)
- Professional$39.99/month (30 students)
- DistrictCustom (unlimited)
Catalyst by Therapy Brands Pricing
- Free/BasicNo free tier
- Starter$49/month (per provider)
- Pro$99/month (per provider)
- EnterpriseCustom pricing
Which Solution is Best For You?
Choose Classroom Pulse if you...
- Special education teachers
- School-based BCBAs
- School psychologists
- Resource teachers
- Paraprofessionals
- School districts
Consider Catalyst by Therapy Brands if you...
- Private ABA clinics
- Multi-location practices
- BCBAs with insurance billing
- Clinical supervisors
- RBT management
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Classroom Pulse a good alternative to Catalyst for schools?
Yes, Classroom Pulse is specifically designed for school-based behavior tracking, while Catalyst is optimized for clinical ABA practices. For schools and special education settings, Classroom Pulse offers faster data entry, FERPA compliance, IEP integration, and more affordable pricing.
Can BCBAs use Classroom Pulse instead of Catalyst?
School-based BCBAs often prefer Classroom Pulse for its simplicity and speed. However, BCBAs in private practice who need insurance billing and practice management features may still need Catalyst or similar clinical software for those functions.
Does Classroom Pulse support ABA data collection?
Yes, Classroom Pulse supports comprehensive ABA data collection including ABC data, frequency, duration, interval recording, and skill acquisition tracking. The main difference is that it lacks insurance billing and clinical practice management features.
Which is more affordable for schools?
Classroom Pulse is significantly more affordable for schools. With a free tier for individual teachers and per-student pricing instead of per-provider pricing, schools typically save 60-80% compared to clinical ABA platforms like Catalyst.
Can I migrate data from Catalyst to Classroom Pulse?
Yes, Classroom Pulse offers data import assistance for schools migrating from other platforms. Contact our support team for help with your specific migration needs.
Ready to try Classroom Pulse?
Start free with 3 students. No credit card required.