Alma vs Blackbaud Education Management
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best School Management Software. Last verified June 12, 2026.
The short answer
Alma ranks higher on Top 11 (#4 vs #6) for School administrators managing students, attendance, and grades. A modern, user-friendly SIS that reduces teacher training time.
At a glance
| Alma | Blackbaud Education Management | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #4 / The 11 Best School Management Software | #6 / The 11 Best School Management Software |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 8.7 | 8.2 |
| Best for | Schools prioritizing modern UI and usability | Private schools in the Blackbaud ecosystem |
| Pricing | $$$ (Quote-based, est. $12-25/student/yr) | $$$$ (Quote-based, est. $35-55/student/yr) |
| HQ | Portland, USA | Charleston, USA |
| Founded | 2012 | 1981 |
Blackbaud Education Management
Unmatched integration with top-tier fundraising and accounting tools.
www.blackbaud.com/solutions/k-12-schoolsMethodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.