The four kinds of free
Understanding which kind you are being offered saves months of wasted setup.
- Free tier - real product, capped at a small number of students, support is community-only
- Free trial - full product for a limited period, then paid. AcadLynk is this: 14 days, no card
- Open source - free licence, but you pay for servers, setup and someone to maintain it
- Free with ads or data monetisation - avoid this for student data
- Free download of old on-premise software - no updates, no security patches
What free tiers usually do not include
The gaps are consistent across vendors: online fee collection with reconciliation, per-role mobile apps for parents, automated absence alerts, data migration from your current spreadsheets, and someone answering the phone in March when fee collection is at its peak. These are exactly the parts that save a school real hours.
The hidden cost of open source
A free licence still needs a server, SSL, backups, upgrades and somebody who can fix it when it breaks during admissions. For most schools that adds up to more than a subscription, and the risk sits with you. If you have in-house IT and want no vendor lock-in, it is a legitimate choice - just budget honestly.
When free is genuinely the right call
If you run under about 60 students, collect fees in cash, and mainly need a student list and attendance record, a free tool or even a well-kept spreadsheet is fine. Software earns its cost once fee follow-up, parent communication and exam records start eating staff time.
What AcadLynk costs and why
AcadLynk is not free. It is Rs.2,399/month for up to 200 students and Rs.3,499/month for up to 500, which is roughly Rs.12 per student per month at the lower cap. That covers hosting, backups, apps for every role, data migration and support. The free part is the 14-day trial, and we import your student data during it so you are testing with your own records.
How to test any option in a fortnight
Pick one class. Import that class. Mark attendance for two weeks, publish one set of marks, and run one fee cycle. If a tool cannot do those four things comfortably in a fortnight, it will not survive a full academic year.
AcadLynk plans and pricing
AcadLynk offers simple, transparent pricing for buyer guide and every other module, with a free 14-day trial on all plans, free done-for-you onboarding, and no setup fees. Most schools go live in about seven days.
| Plan | Best for | Students | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Single small school | Up to 200 | Rs.2,399/month |
| Premium | Growing school | Up to 500 | Rs.3,499/month |
| Enterprise | Multi-branch groups | Custom | Custom pricing |
Everything included in AcadLynk
Every AcadLynk plan is an all-in-one platform built for Indian schools across CBSE, ICSE and state boards.
- 18+ modules covering admissions, enrollment, attendance, timetables, homework, examinations and fees
- Parent and student mobile app with real-time attendance alerts, fee reminders and notices
- Five role-based logins: Super Admin, Admin, Teacher, Student and Parent
- Automatic report cards, promotions and academic-year management
- Online fee collection with automatic reminders and digital receipts
- White-label branding and a custom domain, with isolated data per branch
- Encrypted data, secure authentication and a 99.9% uptime guarantee
More about AcadLynk
How much does AcadLynk cost?
AcadLynk pricing starts at Rs.2,399/month for up to 200 students, Rs.3,499/month for up to 500 students, and custom Enterprise pricing for multi-branch school groups. Every plan includes a free 14-day trial.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. Every plan includes a free 14-day trial with access to all features and no credit card required, so you can test AcadLynk on a real class before deciding.
How long does setup take?
Most schools go live in about seven days. AcadLynk includes free done-for-you onboarding and imports your existing student, staff and fee data for you.
Is my school data secure?
Yes. AcadLynk uses encrypted data, secure role-based authentication for five user types, and a 99.9% uptime guarantee, with isolated data for each school or branch.
Which boards does AcadLynk support?
AcadLynk supports CBSE, ICSE and state-board schools, including academic-year cycles, grading, automatic report cards and promotions.
Frequently asked questions
Is AcadLynk free?
No. AcadLynk offers a 14-day free trial with no card required, then Rs.2,399/month for up to 200 students or Rs.3,499/month for up to 500.
Is free school management software safe for student data?
Some free tiers are fine, but avoid anything ad-funded or without a clear data policy and export option. Student data should never be monetised.
What is the cheapest realistic option for a 100-student school?
Either a free tier plus spreadsheets, or a low-cost paid plan. AcadLynk at Rs.2,399/month works out to about Rs.24 per student per month at 100 students.
Can I export my data if I leave?
Yes. Schools own their data in AcadLynk and can request a full export at any time. Confirm this with any vendor before you commit.