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 If you spot something outdated, let us know.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) | No | No — email or demo | 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 add-ons | Not published | Desktop dashboard |
| MaktabMate | No — 30-day trial | Yes — from ~$6/month | Not offered | Clean, desktop-first |
| 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 longer-running, desktop-first system
IBEAMS has run for over a decade with real customers, on an older desktop-first stack. Progress/Hifz tracking and extra chat support are sold as paid add-ons on top of the base tier. 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.
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, desktop-first admin tool, 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 requires you to email or book a demo before you know the cost.
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 desktop workflow, and IBEAMS and Raziil lean more traditional and desktop-first 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.
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.