Classroom Pulse vs CentralReach: School vs Clinical ABA Software
Compare purpose-built school behavior tracking with enterprise ABA practice management
Classroom Pulse Advantages
- Purpose-built for K-12 schools and special education
- Voice data entry in under 10 seconds
- Free tier for individual teachers
- FERPA-compliant for educational settings
- IEP goal tracking and progress monitoring
- Simple onboarding in 15 minutes
⚖️CentralReach Advantages
- Enterprise ABA practice management
- Comprehensive billing and scheduling
- Multi-location clinic management
- Insurance and authorization tracking
- Large clinical team coordination
- Established enterprise platform
Our Verdict
Classroom Pulse is the clear choice for schools, special education teams, and school-based BCBAs who need fast, affordable behavior tracking without clinical overhead. CentralReach is designed for large ABA clinics requiring enterprise practice management, billing, and scheduling.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Classroom Pulse | CentralReach |
|---|---|---|
Primary Market Who the software is built for | K-12 schools, special education | ABA clinics & enterprises |
Data Entry Speed Time to log a behavior incident | Under 10 seconds (voice) | 30-90 seconds |
Free Tier No-cost option to start | Yes, 3 students | No |
Time to Start Onboarding complexity | 15 minutes | Days to weeks (enterprise) |
Insurance Billing Medical billing capabilities | ||
Practice Management Scheduling, payroll, HR | ||
IEP Integration Track IEP goals and progress | Limited | |
FERPA Compliance Educational data privacy | Full compliance | HIPAA focused |
AI Insights Automatic pattern detection | Limited | |
Report Generation FBA/BIP report creation | 1-click generation | Template-based |
Multi-Location Manage multiple sites | District plans available | Enterprise feature |
Authorization Tracking Insurance auth management | N/A (schools) |
Pricing Comparison
Classroom Pulse Pricing
- FreeFree (3 students)
- Essential$14.99/month (15 students)
- Professional$39.99/month (30 students)
- DistrictCustom (districts)
CentralReach Pricing
- Free/BasicNo free tier
- Starter$75+/month per provider
- ProCustom enterprise pricing
- EnterpriseContact for quote
Which Solution is Best For You?
Choose Classroom Pulse if you...
- Public and private K-12 schools
- Special education departments
- School-based BCBAs
- School psychologists
- Resource and inclusion teachers
- School districts
Consider CentralReach if you...
- Large ABA clinic networks
- Multi-location practices
- Clinics with insurance billing
- Enterprise ABA organizations
- Clinical supervision programs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Classroom Pulse a good CentralReach alternative for schools?
Yes. CentralReach is designed for clinical ABA practices with insurance billing and enterprise management. Schools typically find CentralReach overly complex and expensive. Classroom Pulse is purpose-built for educational settings with FERPA compliance, IEP integration, and affordable school-friendly pricing.
Can school-based BCBAs use Classroom Pulse instead of CentralReach?
Absolutely. School-based BCBAs often prefer Classroom Pulse because it is faster, simpler, and designed for educational environments. If you do not need insurance billing or clinical practice management, Classroom Pulse provides all the behavior tracking features you need at a fraction of the cost.
How much can schools save switching from CentralReach?
Schools typically save 70-90% by using Classroom Pulse instead of CentralReach. With a free tier and plans starting at $14.99/month, Classroom Pulse is significantly more affordable than CentralReach enterprise pricing.
Does Classroom Pulse support all ABA data collection methods?
Yes. Classroom Pulse supports ABC data, frequency, duration, interval recording, latency, and scatter plot analysis. The main difference from CentralReach is that we focus on behavior tracking without clinical billing features.
Can I migrate data from CentralReach to Classroom Pulse?
Yes, we offer data migration support for schools transitioning from CentralReach or other platforms. Contact our team for assistance with your specific migration needs.
Ready to try Classroom Pulse?
Start free with 3 students. No credit card required.