A Daily Nanny alternative with zero setup for parents.
Daily Nanny is a real nanny app, not daycare software, and it shows: a live feed, photo sharing, messaging, and shift tracking for hours and overtime, with premium at $4.99 a month shared across the care team. The tradeoff is the same one every app makes. Parents download it, create an account, and sign in. Hotlyne skips that step. You send one link, parents open it in any browser, and the day is right there. No app, no account, and the first 5 timelines are free.
Side by side
Daily Nanny vs. Hotlyne, feature by feature.
| Feature | Daily Nanny | Hotlyne |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Nanny and parent communication inside one app | Independent nannies sharing the day over one link |
| How parents see the day | The Daily Nanny app feed, with an account | One live timeline link in any browser. No account, no app |
| Who installs software | Parents and nannies both download the app and sign in | Only you have an account. Viewers just open the link you text |
| Setup | Download the app, create a profile, invite the family | One routine template, running in about five minutes |
| Free plan | Free to download. Premium features are $4.99/month, shared with the care team | 5 active timelines with unlimited viewers. No credit card |
| Photos and video | Photos and videos in the feed, with comments | Photos on every timeline step (Pro) |
| Shift tracking | Hours, overtime, and payment details built in | Not included. Keep whatever timesheet or payroll setup you use now |
| Messaging | Built in, alongside the feed | Not included. The live timeline answers most of what parents text to ask |
| Branding | Daily Nanny branding in the family app | Your name, logo, and website on every timeline (Pro) |
Daily Nanny details come from its public website (dailynanny.app), checked October 2026. Features and pricing can change; verify current terms before you switch.
Where Daily Nanny wins.
It is a good app, and some families want everything in one place.
- You want hours, overtime, and payment details tracked in the same app as the daily log.
- You want built-in messaging instead of texts, in one thread with the whole family.
- You want charts of sleep and feeding trends, plus automatic evening summaries.
- The family is happy to install one more app and everyone likes the shared feed.
Where Hotlyne wins.
If getting parents onboard is the hard part, Hotlyne removes it.
- Parents never install anything. One link, any browser, done.
- Grandparents, neighbors, and the backup sitter all open the same link with no accounts.
- The timeline updates live as you tap, so the check-in texts stop.
- Free for 5 timelines, then $9.99/month for photos and your own branding.
- Works from any device you carry, since everything runs in the browser.
FAQ
Questions nannies ask before they switch.
- The family already uses Daily Nanny. Why change?
Maybe you should not. If they love the feed, the messaging, and the shift tracking, it works. The most common reason nannies switch is the parent side of setup: accounts, passwords, another app. With Hotlyne you text a link and they are watching the day before lunch.
- When is Daily Nanny the better choice?
If you want hours, overtime, and payment details tracked next to the daily log, or you want in-app messaging and evening summaries, Daily Nanny does all of that for $4.99 a month. Hotlyne does the live timeline and leaves the rest to you.
- Do parents need an app or an account?
No. You text one link and they open it in any browser. Anyone they share it with can follow along, nothing to install.
- How do I track my hours?
Keep whatever you use now, a timesheet app, payroll service, or a simple note. Hotlyne is built for the daily log, not payroll. Many nannies pair it with a payroll service like GTM or HomeWork Solutions.
- What do parents actually see?
A live timeline of the day. Meals, naps, and activities appear as you tap them, with photos on Pro. Parents check the link instead of texting to ask how the nap went.
- How much does Hotlyne cost?
Nothing to start. 5 active timelines free, no credit card. Pro is $9.99/month for photos, branding, and up to 1,000 timelines.
Start for free. Upgrade as you grow.
Everything you need for your first 5 timelines, on us. No credit card required.
Free
Perfect for getting started and building trust with your first clients.
- Up to 5 active timelines
- Unlimited timeline sharing
- Browser notifications
- 2 timeline templates
- Company branding
- Image attachments
- Template sharing with partners
Pro
For pros who want to scale their business and custom branding.
- Up to 1,000 timelines
- Unlimited timeline sharing
- Browser notifications
- Unlimited timeline templates
- Custom company branding
- Image attachments
- Template sharing with partners
Put the day in their hands.
Five timelines are free, no credit card. Send one link tomorrow morning and see what changes.