Disclosure: This comparison is published by Labbaik. We've tried to represent IlmFlow and the other platforms named on this page fairly using publicly available information, but we naturally know Labbaik in greater depth. If you spot something outdated, let us know.
Quick comparison
| Platform | Free plan | UK payroll | Hifz tracking | Pricing model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IlmFlow (the platform you're comparing against) | No — 30-day trial | Yes | Yes — Sabak, Sabak Para, Dhor | 25p/student/month, £15 minimum |
| Labbaik | Yes — Safar, no card, no expiry | Yes — plus dynamic per-staff calculation | Yes — Sabaq, Sabqi, Manzil | Free base + from 1.5% on card payments collected |
| NūrNetics | No — paid from £10/month + £50 onboarding | Not offered | Yes — sabak/dhor/para, tajweed grading | Flat fee, tiered by AI generation credits |
| Raziil | Unclear / limited | Not published | Yes — separate Hifz diary | Quote on request |
| MaktabMate | No — 30-day trial | Not offered | Yes — juz-by-juz, sabaq logs | From ~£5/month, capped by plan |
| MadrasahOne | No — quote-based | Not verified publicly | Yes | Quote on request |
The alternatives, one by one
Labbaik — the free-to-start alternative with payroll parity
Labbaik matches IlmFlow's headline feature — HMRC-compatible payroll — feature for feature, then goes further: pay can be calculated hourly (QR clock-in/out), daily (register completed), on a fixed salary, or as a per-student fee share, sourced from Stripe, cash or both. Add a free Safar plan with no student cap, full WhatsApp-native communication, and a platform fee that only applies to card payments you actually collect. See the full Labbaik vs IlmFlow comparison.
NūrNetics — for a committee that wants to lead with AI
NūrNetics is built around ZAID, a named AI assistant that drafts reports and briefings, plus genuinely strong safeguarding and compliance documentation (generated DPA/DPIA packs, audit trails). It doesn't offer payroll, and its pricing is metered by AI usage credits rather than a flat or usage-based fee. A good fit if your team wants to work directly with an AI tool; a bigger ask for a mostly non-technical committee. See the full Labbaik vs NūrNetics comparison.
Raziil — an established, admin-first option
Raziil has a longer operating history across UK institutions and bundles a public masjid subdomain site. Pricing isn't published, so you'll need to speak to their team before you know the cost, and the interface leans traditional and desktop-first rather than mobile-first. See the full Labbaik vs Raziil comparison.
MaktabMate — a lighter option for a very small maktab
MaktabMate is a clean, newer product with a genuinely low entry price for a handful of students. It caps students and teachers by plan (10 students on its entry tier) and doesn't include payroll or built-in Stripe fee collection. See the full Labbaik vs MaktabMate comparison.
MadrasahOne — for a sales-led, hands-held rollout
MadrasahOne is established, with a guided, sales-led onboarding process some larger committees prefer. Pricing is quote-based rather than published, so it suits a school happy to have a conversation before evaluating the product. See the full Labbaik vs MadrasahOne comparison.
Which alternative should you pick?
If you want payroll parity with IlmFlow plus a free plan and WhatsApp-native communication, Labbaik is the closest match. If your committee wants to work directly with an AI assistant and values deep compliance documentation, NūrNetics is worth a look. If you'd rather have a sales conversation and a guided rollout than self-serve, Raziil or MadrasahOne fit that model. If you're a very small maktab on a tight budget and don't need payroll, MaktabMate's entry tier is worth comparing on price alone.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best free alternative to IlmFlow?
Labbaik. Its Safar plan has no monthly fee, no student cap and no card required — IlmFlow's £15/month minimum applies from day one. None of the other alternatives listed here offer an indefinite free plan either.
Is there an IlmFlow alternative with UK payroll built in?
Yes — Labbaik is the only alternative on this list that matches IlmFlow's HMRC-compatible payroll (PAYE, National Insurance, pensions, P45/P60), and it goes further by calculating pay dynamically per staff member — hourly, daily, salaried, or as a per-student fee share.
Which IlmFlow alternative is best for a small UK maktab?
Labbaik's free Safar plan is generally the lowest-risk starting point for a small maktab, since there's no subscription to commit to before you know it's a fit. MaktabMate's entry tier is also inexpensive if you specifically want a very low fixed monthly cost and don't need payroll.
Do these IlmFlow alternatives support Hifz tracking?
Yes — every platform on this list tracks Hifz or Quran progress in some form, though the depth varies. Labbaik, IlmFlow and NūrNetics all track Hifz stage-by-stage (sabaq/sabak, dhor, manzil/para); Raziil and MaktabMate track it too, in a simpler diary or juz-by-juz format.
Can I migrate from IlmFlow to one of these alternatives?
If you choose Labbaik, yes — and it's free. Send us your IlmFlow export, a spreadsheet, or your current paper registers, and we'll migrate every student, family, class and fee balance ourselves. If your team isn't ready to take its first register yet, we'll finish the whole setup in advance so it's ready when you are. For the other platforms listed, check directly with their teams.
Our research
Compiled from each platform's own public pricing and feature pages as of September 2026: IlmFlow (pricing, features), NūrNetics (pricing), Raziil (homepage), MaktabMate (homepage & pricing). We could not find a public MadrasahOne pricing page. Feature availability and pricing can change — check each source directly before deciding.
Labbaik isn't only maktab and madrasah software — the same platform also runs donations, community certificates, events and non-educational classes, so a masjid can run its whole community on one system.
Send us whatever you're using today — a spreadsheet, e-Maktab, IBEAMS, IlmFlow, or a folder of paper registers. We'll set Labbaik up for you and migrate every student, family, class and fee balance across ourselves, at no cost.
If your committee isn't ready to take its first register yet, that's fine too — we'll finish the whole setup so it's ready the moment you are. Get in touch and tell us what you're moving from.