RollCall

RollCall provides school bus management and duty-of-care tools for schools and bus operators. Students tap on and off during journeys, with scans updating parents and school staff with real-time journey information. Families can use the parent app to track buses, manage absences and bus changes, and make payments. The app is free to download and use on iOS and Android; schools or bus operators subscribe to the service. Smart Route uses verified stops to help schools plan routes and reduce student transit times. Bus Guardian records a bus check when a driver or supervisor taps a control board at the back of the bus. Listed capabilities include live bus tracking, route optimization, parent alerts, student data import, and a driver mobile app. Integrations include TASS, Sentral, Veracross, Compass, FACTS, Wonde, payment providers, and Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace sign-in. Schools connect their own payment provider, and RollCall says it takes no cut of payments. RollCall says its managed service supplies and runs devices and SIMs, and handles enrolment and support. Pricing for schools and bus operators is tailored and available on request.

RollCall links student journey scans with parent tracking, route planning, and bus checks. Families can use the parent app at no charge, while schools and bus operators need to request tailored pricing.

RollCall suits schools and bus operators managing student transport and family communications. Families can use the free iOS and Android app, while the school or operator subscribes to the service.

RollCall is school bus management software for schools and bus operators coordinating student journeys. It suits organizations that want families and staff to see scan-based journey updates alongside route planning and bus checks. Its strongest case is the connection between student activity and transport operations; families can use the parent app free, but an organization must subscribe.

Overview

Tap-on and tap-off scans give parents and school staff real-time information about student journeys, while live bus tracking and parent alerts help families follow the vehicle. Tying scans to journey updates gives schools a view of student boarding activity as well as bus movement. For families, absence and bus-change management adds useful trip administration, though the app’s service depends on the school or operator subscribing.

RollCall also covers route planning and a recorded bus-check process. Smart Route uses verified stops to plan routes and reduce student transit times. Bus Guardian records a check when a driver or supervisor taps a control board at the rear of the bus. That makes the check a defined part of the journey routine, so its value depends on whether staff can reliably complete the required tap.

Key features

• Student journey scans: Tap-on and tap-off activity updates families and staff in real time, adding student-level journey context to live bus tracking.
• Parent app: Families can track buses, manage absences and bus changes, and make payments. Parents can use these tools without paying RollCall directly, although their school or operator must subscribe.
• Smart Route: Verified stops inform route planning intended to reduce transit times, a practical fit for schools organizing student transport.
• Bus Guardian: A driver or supervisor taps the rear control board to record a bus check. The process creates a check record but requires staff to follow that onboard step.
• Payments and integrations: Schools connect their own payment provider, and RollCall says it takes no cut of payments. Integrations include TASS, Sentral, Veracross, Compass, FACTS and Wonde, plus Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace sign-in.
• Managed service: RollCall supplies and runs devices and SIMs and handles enrolment and support, reducing the operational work schools would otherwise need to manage themselves.

RollCall states that its information security management system is certified to ISO/IEC 27001:2022, that data is hosted in AWS Sydney and encrypted in transit, and that security specialists perform monthly penetration tests while the service is continuously monitored. It reports serving more than 300 schools and bus operators, with 99.9% platform uptime.

Pricing

RollCall Parent App — free. The app is free to download and use on iOS and Android. It fits families whose school or bus operator subscribes; it is not a standalone transport service for parents.

RollCall for schools and bus operators — custom pricing. Tailored pricing is available by requesting a quote or booking a demo. This plan is for organizations adopting the management service, including the operational tools and managed support. Schools connect their own payment provider, and RollCall says it takes no cut of payments.

Platforms

RollCall supports Android, iOS and web, and offers an API. The parent app is available on iOS and Android. Student data import is supported through SIS sync, which can help organizations bring school information into the service.

Who it's for

RollCall is best suited to schools and bus operators that need student journey scans, family communication, route planning and a recorded bus-check step in one service. Its managed devices, SIMs, enrolment and support may suit organizations that prefer the provider to run those parts of deployment. Families benefit from tracking and trip management without a direct app charge, provided their school or operator subscribes.

It is a weaker fit for a parent seeking a transport app independent of a school, or an organization that cannot incorporate the Bus Guardian tap into its bus routine. Organizations also need to arrange their own payment provider.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Tap-on and tap-off scans connect student journey activity to real-time updates for families and staff.
• Pro: Route planning and a recorded bus-check process address school transport operations as well as tracking.
• Pro: The parent app is free, and schools retain their payment provider without a RollCall payment cut.
• Pro: Managed devices, SIMs, enrolment and support can reduce the work of operating the service.
• Con: Parents depend on a school or operator subscription; the free app alone does not provide an independent service.
• Con: The organization price is custom, so schools and operators need a quote to assess cost.
• Con: Bus Guardian requires a driver or supervisor to tap a control board on every relevant check.
• Con: Schools must connect their own payment provider.

Alternatives

For a wider set of school bus routing options, browse School Bus Routing Software.

• RouteCabin suits a small operation wanting a free plan with live tracking, attendance and basic fee records, capped at 15 passengers, one vehicle and two drivers.
• AlphaRoute is another paid option with pricing available by requesting a demo.
• HNH HTSTM is another paid option for Android, iOS and web.
• RouteBot is another paid option with a free plan, for Android, iOS and web.
• BusPlanner may suit organizations seeking Android, iOS, web, Windows or self-hosted deployment; pricing is available upon request.
• BusWhere offers a school or district service with a free trial; larger fleets can receive discounts.
• EZRouting is another paid option with pricing provided on request.
• GoLoop is another paid option with a free plan for Android, iOS and web.

Verdict

Schools and operators that want student-level journey updates alongside route planning and managed transport support should put RollCall on their shortlist. Its main advantage is connecting scans, parent tools and bus operations in one service, while the free parent app lowers the direct cost to families. Look elsewhere if parents need a standalone app or the organization needs a published price before engaging a provider.