Disclosure: This comparison is published by Labbaik. We've tried to represent e-maktab 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 If you spot something outdated, let us know.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 | Public pricing | UK payroll | Mobile experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| e-maktab (the platform you're comparing against) | Up to 20 students | Yes — $0 to $126 a month | Not published | Responsive, desktop-oriented |
| Labbaik | Yes — Safar, no card, no expiry | Yes — published in full | Yes — HMRC-compatible, dynamic per-staff | Mobile-first PWA |
| IlmFlow | No — 30-day trial | Yes — 32¢/student, $19 minimum | Yes | Responsive web |
| IBEAMS | No — from $19/month | Yes — three tiers plus optional add-ons | Not publicly advertised | Desktop dashboard, same layout on phones |
| MaktabMate | No — 30-day trial | Yes — from ~$6/month | Not offered | Responsive web app |
| Raziil | Unclear / limited | No — quote on request | Not published | Traditional, desktop-first |
The alternatives, one by one
Labbaik — the free, mobile-first alternative with payroll included
Labbaik covers the same core ground as e-maktab — attendance, fees, incident logging — on a mobile-first PWA rather than a desktop-oriented tool, with published pricing (Safar free, then a platform fee only on card payments collected) and HMRC-compatible payroll built in. See the full Labbaik vs e-maktab comparison.
IlmFlow — for a flat monthly bill and UK payroll
IlmFlow publishes its pricing openly (32¢/student/month, $19 minimum) and includes its own HMRC-compatible payroll module — a genuine strength. It doesn't offer a free plan, and the bill applies whether or not fee collection is active that month. See the full Labbaik vs IlmFlow comparison.
IBEAMS — a long-running, education-focused system
IBEAMS has served UK maktabs for over a decade and says 200+ Islamic schools and maktabs use it. It publishes simple fixed pricing ($19 $38 or $76 a month by student numbers), collects fees through Stripe and GoCardless, and has strong reporting and a comprehensive parent portal. It's education-focused, with no donation or event tools publicly advertised. See the full Labbaik vs IBEAMS comparison.
MaktabMate — a lighter, lower-cost option
MaktabMate is a newer product with openly published, low-cost pricing for a small maktab, though student and teacher counts are capped by plan and it doesn't include payroll or built-in Stripe fee collection. See the full Labbaik vs MaktabMate comparison.
Raziil — an established, admin-first option
Raziil has a long operating history across UK institutions and bundles a public masjid subdomain site, but pricing isn't published — you'll need to contact their team to find out the cost. See the full Labbaik vs Raziil comparison.
Looking specifically for something free? See the free, modern alternative to e-maktab: what Labbaik's Safar plan includes, what it costs, and how to move your e-maktab data across with Hijrah.
Which alternative should you pick?
If you want published pricing, a mobile-first experience and payroll included at no extra cost, Labbaik is the closest match to what e-maktab does well, minus the desktop-first design and the need to email for pricing. If a flat published monthly fee with its own UK payroll module matters more than a free plan, IlmFlow is worth comparing directly. If you're comfortable with a longer-established, traditional admin dashboard, IBEAMS or Raziil are the more traditional picks.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best free alternative to e-maktab?
Labbaik. Its Safar plan has no monthly fee, no student cap and no card required, and its pricing is published in full — e-maktab's free plan stops at 20 students and leaves out payments, and its paid plans are $64 to $126 a month.
Is there an e-maktab alternative with UK payroll built in?
Yes — Labbaik and IlmFlow both include HMRC-compatible UK payroll (PAYE, National Insurance, pensions, P45/P60). Labbaik goes further by calculating pay dynamically per staff member — hourly, daily, salaried, or as a per-student fee share.
Which e-maktab alternative is best for a small UK maktab?
Labbaik's free Safar plan is generally the lowest-risk starting point, since a small maktab can try the full platform before committing to any subscription. MaktabMate is also worth comparing if you specifically want a very low fixed monthly cost.
Do these e-maktab alternatives have a better mobile experience?
Labbaik is built mobile-first for both parents and teachers. IlmFlow and MaktabMate are responsive but designed primarily around a dashboard workflow, IBEAMS shows its desktop dashboard layout on phones, and Raziil leans more traditional still.
Can I migrate from e-maktab to one of these alternatives?
If you choose Labbaik, yes — student, class and fee records can usually be imported from a CSV export, and our team can help with a guided migration. For the other platforms listed, check directly with their teams.
Our research
Compiled from each platform's own public pages as of September 2026: e-maktab (homepage), IlmFlow (pricing), IBEAMS (homepage), MaktabMate (homepage & pricing), Raziil (homepage). 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. It adapts to the organisation you run, so a madrasah or maktab only sees the tools it uses. See how Labbaik adapts to your organisation →
Parents and students sign in with a magic link sent to their email, with Google, or with a code sent on WhatsApp to the number the madrasah has for them. Admins and teachers sign in with a magic link, Google or a passkey, which uses their phone or computer's face, fingerprint or screen lock. Nobody has a password to set, forget or reset. Tour the parent portal →
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.