Alma SIS vs Skyward Student Management Suite

iGradePlus

Gradelink

Classe365

Cloud-based School Management System for schools and districts and a free Online Gradebook for individual teachers.

Gradelink is an easy-to-use student information system to help your private school save time, improve enrollment, and fulfill its mission.

Classe365 is a student management system for education institutions, combining student information system (SIS), CRM & learning management system (LMS) features

The customer service at Alma is wonderful and they will help you solve any issues quickly (from your customer service rep, to the chat support, etc.).

Teacher

What has really impressed me about Alma is their incredible support team and communication.   If we (the people using Alma) have a need and make a suggestion, they are lightning fast in coming up with a solution that fits the need.  

Alma SIS simplifies school management with intuitive tools for attendance, grading, compliance, and communication. Automated workflows reduce administrative burdens, while real-time insights improve decision-making. Scalable for districts and schools of any size, ensuring seamless operations.

Access Controls/Permissions

Activity Dashboard

Activity Management

Activity Tracking

Admissions Management

Alerts/Notifications

Application Management

Assignment Management

Attendance Management

Attendance Tracking

Attendee Tracking

Automated Scheduling

Billing & Invoicing

Blended Learning

Block Websites/Applications

Built-in LMS

Calendar Management

Candidate Management

Chat/Messaging

Class Registration

Classroom Management

Class Scheduling

Class Summary

Client Portal

Collaboration Tools

Commenting/Notes

Communication Management

Contact Database

Contact Management

Content Management

Course Authoring

Course Management

Credit Card Processing

Curriculum Management

Curve Scores

Customizable Branding

Customizable Forms

Customizable Reports

Data Import/Export

Data Storage Management

Discipline Management

Document Management

Document Storage

Drag & Drop

Electronic Payments

Email Management

Employee Management

Employee Portal

Enrollment Confirmation

Enrollments/Onboarding

Event Calendar

Event Scheduling

Faculty/Staff Management

Fee Collection

Fee Management

Financial Management

For Classroom

Forms Management

Gradebook

Grade Calculations

Group Registration

Independent/Private

Individualized Assessments

Invoice Management

K-12

Learning Management

Lesson Planning

Live Chat

Mobile Access

Mobile App

Multiple User Accounts

Online Calendar

Online Payments

Online Registration

Onsite Registration

Parent Portal

Parent/Student Portal

Payment Processing

Performance Metrics

Progress Reports

Progress Tracking

Real-Time Chat

Real-Time Data

Real-Time Monitoring

Real-Time Notifications

Real-Time Reporting

Records Management

Recurring/Subscription Billing

Registration Management

Reminders

Remote Access/Control

Report Cards

Reporting/Analytics

Reporting & Statistics

Role-Based Permissions

Scheduling

School District

Scoring

Search/Filter

By industry, Alma SIS reviewers are most commonly professionals in education management (85%). The most frequent use case for Alma SIS cited by reviewers is as a student information system (61% of reviewers).

Users and use cases

Alma SIS is a student information system tool offering key features such as gradebook, report cards, student management, and a parent/student portal, among others.

Alma SIS

Web-based

iPhone

iPad

Android

Windows

Linux

Chromebook

Skyward Student Management Suite

PowerSchool

FACTS

Schoology

PowerSchool SIS

Classter

Corsizio

Basic

Alma pricing

Frequent glitches and downtime

Mathematics Teacher

67% of reviewers feel negative about Alma’s bugs and technical issues. Reviewers indicate that system glitches, occasional shutdowns, and global outages disrupt their workflow and cause frustration. Some users report problems with navigation, disappearing headers, and difficulty accessing certain features. They mention that fixes for recurring issues are slow to arrive, and updates sometimes introduce new problems. Users also express concerns about the lack of clear instructions and the proprietary nature of the platform, which can make troubleshooting more challenging. These technical difficulties impact their overall satisfaction with the system.

Limited and inflexible reporting

Data Systems Administrator

The reports are not as in-depth as needed and we aren't able to save our filters/criteria that we use often.  

42% of reviewers feel negative about Alma’s reporting capabilities. Users say the reporting functions are basic and lack customization options, making it hard to generate the specific reports they need. Reviewers mention that the report generator is confusing, reports are often only available in CSV or spreadsheet formats, and the interface for selecting reports is overwhelming. Some users find that compliance and state reporting features are incomplete or still under development. They express frustration with the time required to manipulate and format reports, and note that the reporting tools do not meet the needs of administrative staff.

Cumbersome grading processes

Alma does not currently have the ability to link standards to gradebook assignments in a way that categorizes sub-scores on report cards.

35% of reviewers feel negative about Alma’s grading functionality. Some users report that entering grades is time-consuming and requires too many steps, making the process tedious. Reviewers indicate difficulties with standards-based grading, such as the inability to link standards to assignments or customize grading scales for individual students. They mention issues with grade synchronization, accidental data loss, and challenges in managing mixed grading systems. Some users say the gradebook lacks flexibility and does not meet the needs of higher grade levels or specialized grading requirements, leading to frustration among teachers.

Flexible, evolving platform

Academic Dean

All of the new additions that you get charged for with other software are free updates with ALMA. If you do have a problem, ALMA *wants* to hear from you!  

97% of reviewers feel positive about Alma’s adaptability and ongoing development. Reviewers indicate that Alma frequently introduces new features and updates at no extra cost, which helps them manage student data more efficiently. They say the system is highly flexible, allowing for standards-based grading and easy customization to meet various school needs. Users appreciate that Alma actively seeks feedback and implements improvements based on user suggestions. Some reviewers find the alert system and parent/student portals particularly useful for communication and engagement. They value Alma’s commitment to continuous enhancement and responsiveness to user needs.

Modern, intuitive design

Principal

The interface is clean and intuitive, making it very easy to use.

96% of reviewers feel positive about Alma’s user interface. Users think the interface is modern, visually appealing, and highly intuitive, making navigation straightforward for both novice and experienced users. Reviewers appreciate that information is easily accessible and organized logically, reducing the time needed to complete tasks. They find the interface clean and uncluttered, which helps streamline workflows and minimizes confusion. Some reviewers highlight that the interface is consistent across different user roles, contributing to a smoother experience for teachers, parents, and administrators. They say this design significantly improves their daily efficiency.

Streamlined daily operations

92% of reviewers feel positive about Alma’s ease of use. Users say the platform is straightforward to learn and navigate, even for those with limited technical skills. Reviewers indicate that daily tasks such as scheduling, grading, and accessing information are simple and efficient. They appreciate that the system is well-organized, allowing them to find what they need quickly. Some users mention that Alma reduces the learning curve for new staff and helps them become productive faster. They find the intuitive layout and clear instructions make their work less stressful and more manageable.

Responsive, supportive service

93% of reviewers feel positive about Alma’s customer support. Reviewers appreciate the responsiveness and helpfulness of the support team, noting that issues are addressed quickly and thoroughly. They say support is available through multiple channels, including chat, email, and phone, making it easy to get assistance when needed. Some users report that the support staff are knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile to resolve unique problems or accommodate feature requests. They value the ongoing communication and the willingness of Alma’s team to listen to feedback and implement suggested improvements.

School Nurse

Also, I like that the school nurse is able to upload individualized health care plans to Alma, making it simple to pass along pertinent health information for those who need to know this.

By creating a critical health alert, teachers and other school staff are easily made aware of certain high risk students.

Coordinator of Schools Operations

The system is genuinely tailorable, which allowed us to set things up in a way that supported our workflows instead of forcing us to change them.

The feature that I like most about Alma is the ability to flag students with medical issues.

Speech Language Pathologist

I love how accessible and user-friendly the platform is—it gives me quick access to the student data I need, from attendance and grades to IEP documentation.

Chief of Police

It offers a wide range of functionalities such as grade management, attendance tracking, communication tools, and scheduling, which makes it a comprehensive solution for educational institutions.

I like that you can hover over a student's picture to enlarge it.

The only thing I would say I least liked was that it was not compariable to the system that was use for reporting to our district office.

Nurse

I really like that I can create a group so I can add in info for multiple students at a time.

Physical Education Teacher

The he details on students we are able to put in and scan documents and up load them to the students file is so time saving.

Supervisor of Information Technology Systems

Missing grade level filter in the school directory and notifications when someone submits an Alma Start form.

The documents disappear  so i will start to rewrite what i had written before.

One challenge I’ve encountered with Alma SIS as a service provider is the inability to create my own classrooms or groups.

Director of Technology

Every once in a while there is a glitch with a needed report or function, but Alma Support has come through efficiently with these issues.

School Registrar

We often have transfer credits from other schools or online programs and it is super easy to add grades and credits to older students who need them.

This provides more time to attend to all the other tasks that teachers have on their plates every day.  

Overall, Alma has helped us stay organized and focused on students instead of wrestling with technology.

Also, especially with the integration and sync with Google Classroom, teachers spend little time entering grades.  

Assistant Principal

I love that I can do report cards, incident reports, attendance and keep files on record for each child.

I like how I can switch from inputting points to inputting a percentage, and I never have to do the math.

Office Manager

Personally, the connection with our State reporting system and how easy it made it was the winning factor for me.

I wish there was a "copy all" button for grading things, so you could enter the same grade for all students when it comes to participation points.

Registrar

It has streamlined many of our daily processes and created a stronger connection between school and families.

Executive Assistant

We were a test district for the recent iNHDEX merge, and it was a big undertaking for state and federal reporting.

I can easily check if a student is absent for the day, what classes were missed, and if they're missing assignments.

Worst part for the tech crew:  The people running the system can't impersonate another user, which makes it hard to see what the user is seeing when you're trying to help someone.

Having the ALMA alert system built into the program is great for sending out urgent messages quickly.

As a small school, we needed an SIS that was powerful yet flexible enough to meet our unique needs, which Alma delivered on.

MS Social Studies Teacher

I wish that there was color coding in the gradebook for passing and failing grades so it visually was easier to keep track of students progress.

Operations Manager

I dont like how the enrollment data is tranferred onto the student profile . If a parent lists a child has asthma , allergies etc it should be reflected on the student profile .

Secretary

Alma makes it easy to access student information, track attendance, and print records.

office manager

Alma SIS is user-friendly and provides a streamlined way to manage student information, attendance, and scheduling.

Alma SIS vs Skyward Student Management Suite Comparison (2026)

Alma SIS

Skyward Student Management Suite

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives