Disclosure: This comparison is published by Labbaik. We've tried to represent Ilmify 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 If you spot something outdated, let us know.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 | Pricing currency | UK GDPR / ICO | Masjid & madrasah tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ilmify (the platform you're comparing against) | Trial only — 3 months | USD, FX fluctuates | GDPR-compliant policies stated; no UK ICO registration found | Not part of the platform |
| Labbaik | Yes — Safar, no card, no expiry | GBP, no FX surprises | Yes — ICO ZC136003, UK data residency (London) | Donations, events, certificates, Alimiyyah tracking |
| e-maktab | Up to 20 students | GBP | UK-based | Not publicly advertised |
| IBEAMS | No — from $19/month | GBP | Not publicly advertised | Not publicly advertised |
| IlmFlow | No — 30-day trial | GBP | GDPR-friendly, no ICO number published | Not part of the platform |
| MaktabMate | No — 30-day trial | GBP | Yes | Not part of the platform |
The alternatives, one by one
Labbaik — the UK-first alternative with GBP pricing and genuine masjid tools
Labbaik covers the same education ground as Ilmify — Hifz, sabaq tracking, a parent portal — but is built specifically around UK maktabs: GBP pricing with no FX exposure, ICO registration (ZC136003), UK data residency (London) and support in UK working hours. Beyond the maktab, Labbaik genuinely extends to the masjid or madrasah: donation campaigns, community events and bookings, verifiable certificates, and kitab-level Alimiyyah tracking with your own PDF syllabus — none of which we found on Ilmify. See the full Labbaik vs Ilmify comparison for details.
e-maktab — for a proven, admin-first track record
e-maktab has a strong Trustpilot history and a broad admin feature set (incident logging, governor reports), priced in GBP, on a responsive website rather than a dedicated app. Pricing isn't published, so you'll need to email or book a demo. See the full Labbaik vs e-maktab 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.
IlmFlow — for a flat monthly bill and UK payroll
IlmFlow publishes its pricing openly in GBP and includes its own HMRC-compatible payroll module. 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.
MaktabMate — a lighter, lower-cost option
MaktabMate is a newer product with openly published, low-cost GBP pricing for a small maktab, though student and teacher counts are capped by plan. See the full Labbaik vs MaktabMate comparison.
Which alternative should you pick?
If your committee wants a UK-first platform — GBP pricing with no currency risk, ICO registration, and genuine masjid or madrasah tools beyond the classroom — Labbaik is the closest match, and it's free to start. If your institution operates across multiple regions or needs one larger global Islamic LMS, Ilmify's breadth may still be worth it. For a proven UK admin-first track record, compare e-maktab or IBEAMS directly; for a flat published bill with payroll, IlmFlow is worth a look.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best free alternative to Ilmify?
Labbaik. Its Safar plan has no monthly fee, no student cap and no card required, billed in GBP with no FX exposure — Ilmify's plans are priced in USD and its free access is a 3-month trial rather than an indefinite plan.
Is there a UK-first alternative to Ilmify?
Yes — Labbaik, e-maktab, IBEAMS, IlmFlow and MaktabMate are all built specifically around UK maktabs, with GBP pricing. Ilmify is a global product where the UK is a small slice of a much larger user base.
Which Ilmify alternative has real masjid or madrasah tools, not just education features?
Labbaik. It covers the same maktab and madrasah ground as Ilmify, then adds donation campaigns, community events and bookings, and verifiable certificates in the same system. We found none of these on Ilmify or the other UK-first alternatives listed here.
Which Ilmify alternative supports Alimiyyah or kitab-level tracking?
Labbaik. Institutions can upload their own PDF syllabus and Labbaik automatically breaks it into trackable sections, with teachers logging progress kitab by kitab and page by page — alongside Ilmify's own Hifz/Nazirah/Tarbiyah tracking module, which doesn't publish this level of detail.
Can I migrate from Ilmify 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: Ilmify (homepage), e-maktab (homepage), IBEAMS (homepage), IlmFlow (pricing), MaktabMate (homepage & pricing). 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.