NavEd's New Pricing: Flat Rates for Your Microschool¶
The most common question we get from founders isn't about features. It's: "But what will it actually cost me each month?"
Per-student billing is hard to budget when enrollment shifts between semesters. You plan your curriculum in August, lock in your rent, order supplies — and then your software invoice is a moving target every single month. We heard that feedback enough times that we decided to fix it.
Today we're announcing flat-rate annual plans. One number. Pay once. You're done.
What just changed (and what didn't)¶
Starting now, NavEd offers two ways to pay: monthly per-student billing (which has always existed) and a new set of annual flat-rate plans — Microschool, School, and Co-op — each priced for a specific enrollment range.
The product itself hasn't changed. The same gradebook, attendance tracking, parent portal, and everything else you use every day is still there. The only thing that changed is that you now have a billing option that matches how microschool founders actually budget.
If you're already on a monthly plan and happy with it, nothing changes for you. Annual plans are an option, not a requirement.
The two ways to pay for NavEd¶
Monthly per-student plans¶
Monthly plans charge you per active student, with your first five students always free. You can add or remove students at any time, and your bill adjusts in the next cycle. There's no long-term commitment.
| Plan | Price | First 5 students |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $2.50/student/month | Free |
| Premium | $5.00/student/month | Free |
| Enterprise | $8.00/student/month | Free |
Monthly works well if you're just getting started, if your enrollment changes frequently, or if you want to try NavEd before committing to a year.
Annual flat-rate plans¶
Annual plans are a single payment for the full year. The price is fixed regardless of whether your enrollment fluctuates within the cap. Every annual plan includes all features — the full NavEd feature set, no tier restrictions.
| Plan | Who it's for | Annual price | Student cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microschool | Small programs | $99/year | Up to 15 students |
| School | Growing schools | $299/year | Up to 40 students |
| Co-op | Larger co-ops | $699/year | Up to 100 students |
One important note: annual plans include all features — the equivalent of our Enterprise monthly tier. You're not choosing annual to save money at the expense of features. You're getting more features, not fewer.
Which plan actually fits your school?¶
Here's the short version: if you know roughly how many students you'll have this year and that number is stable, annual is almost certainly cheaper.
A few concrete scenarios:
- 15 students, stable enrollment. On monthly Standard, you'd pay (15 − 5) × $2.50 × 12 = $300/year. The Microschool annual plan is $99. That's $201 back in your budget — plus you get all features instead of just the Standard tier.
- 25 students, steady co-op. On monthly Standard, that's $600/year. The School annual plan is $299 — less than half, and with full feature access included.
- Just starting with 8 students, uncertain about next semester. Monthly keeps you flexible. You only pay for what you have, you can pause if enrollment dips, and there's no upfront commitment. Start monthly and switch to annual when enrollment stabilizes.
- Co-op with 60 families paying through the platform. Monthly Standard for 60 students is (60 − 5) × $2.50 × 12 = $1,650/year. The Co-op annual plan is $699 — a $951 difference, and a single line item in your annual budget.
The breakeven point for the Microschool plan versus monthly Standard is around nine students. If you have more than nine enrolled and aren't expecting major enrollment swings, the math favors annual.
Why we built annual plans¶
Microschool founders don't run on a monthly financial calendar. You set tuition in the summer. You sign a lease for the year. You order curriculum in one go. Your school's operating rhythm is annual, so it always felt odd that your management software billed monthly.
Beyond the cadence, there's the anxiety of the variable bill. "Did I add a student this month? Did I archive one? What's going to come out of my account on the 15th?" That friction is small in isolation but adds up over a full year of running a school.
Annual plans replace that with a single known number. You pay in June, you forget about it until next June. Your budget has one clean line for school software instead of twelve slightly-different ones.
We're also keeping monthly plans around permanently — they're not going away. Some schools genuinely need that flexibility: brand-new programs still figuring out enrollment, schools with strong seasonal variation, founders who want to trial the platform before a longer commitment. Monthly is the right tool for those situations.
What's included in every annual plan¶
Every annual plan unlocks the full NavEd feature set — all 26 features, no exceptions. That includes:
- Student management — profiles, records, enrollment history
- Parent portal — parents log in to view grades, attendance, and announcements
- Attendance tracking — daily and per-class tracking, flexible schedule support
- Gradebook — basic and advanced grading, GPA configuration, standards-based options
- Assignments & homework — assign, collect, and grade work in one place
- Clubs, electives, and scheduling — manage co-curricular activities alongside academics
- Reports and transcripts — generate academic reports and high school transcripts
- NavEd Forms — custom forms with automatic respondent identification
- Atlas AI Assistant, API access, custom branding, and more
Staff accounts, administrator accounts, and parent accounts are all included at no extra cost. You only pay for students — the people listed in the plan cap. Everyone else is unlimited.
Frequently asked questions¶
What if my enrollment grows past my plan's student cap?¶
If you exceed the cap on your annual plan, you can upgrade to the next tier. For example, if you're on the Microschool plan (15 students) and enroll a 16th student, you'd upgrade to the School plan (40 students). Contact us at [email protected] and we'll handle the transition. We don't want a billing limit to disrupt your school mid-year.
Can I switch from monthly to annual — or back to monthly?¶
Yes. You can switch from monthly to annual at any time — the annual plan takes effect immediately and you'll be charged the flat annual rate. Switching from annual back to monthly mid-year is also possible; reach out to support and we'll work out the proration. We'd rather you be on the right plan than the wrong one.
Is there a way to try NavEd before committing to an annual plan?¶
Monthly plans include the first five students completely free — no credit card required. That's the best way to test the platform before you commit to a year. Set up your school, invite a few parents, run attendance for a week. When you're confident it works for you, switch to annual if the math makes sense for your enrollment.
See the full pricing page¶
The pricing page has the full details — both the monthly calculator (enter your student count, see your exact bill) and the annual plan comparison — in one place.
If you're still on the fence about which plan fits your school, email us. Tell us your enrollment size and whether it's stable or in flux, and we'll tell you which option makes more sense — no pitch, just the straightforward answer.
Reach us at [email protected]. We're happy to help.
About NavEd: NavEd is a student information system designed for micro schools, hybrid programs, co-ops, and homeschools. Our mission is to make professional-grade school management tools accessible and affordable for communities that traditional SIS vendors overlook. Learn more at nav.education.