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FACTS Student Information System vs. Skype (discontinued)

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    FACTS Student Information System

    Score7.6 out of 10
    N/AFACTS Student Information System (formerly RenWeb) is a Student Information System that handles admissions, student information, billing, report cards, grading, attendance, and parent access, among others. FACTS is a property of Nelnet Business Solutions.N/A

    Skype (discontinued)

    Score7.1 out of 10
    N/ASkype (the personal edition or Skype free) was a web meeting, video conferencing, and VoIP software, now superseded by Microsoft Teams' free edition and unsupported from May 2025.

    $2.99

    per month

    Pricing
    FACTS Student Information SystemSkype (discontinued)
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    United States Subscription
    $2.99
    per month
    North America Subscription
    $6.99
    per month
    India Subscription
    $7.99
    per month
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    FACTS Student Information SystemSkype (discontinued)
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    FACTS Student Information SystemSkype (discontinued)
    Considered Both Products
    FACTS
    No answer on this topic
    Discontinued Products
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    100%
    Would buy again
    7 Answers
    86%
    Would buy again
    85 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    6 Answers
    93%
    Delivers good value for the price
    80 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    100%
    Happy with the feature set
    7 Answers
    85%
    Happy with the feature set
    84 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    No answers on this topic
    84%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    53 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    6 Answers
    96%
    Implementation went as expected
    70 Answers
    Features
    FACTS Student Information SystemSkype (discontinued)
    Student and Faculty Administration
    Comparison of Student and Faculty Administration features of FACTS Student Information System and Skype (discontinued)
    Feature
    FACTS Student Information System
    9.5
    5 Ratings
    13% above category average
    Skype (discontinued)
    -
    Ratings
    Integrations with 3rd-Party Education Technology8.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Online Registration Management9.94 Ratings00 Ratings
    District Communications, such as messaging and alerting10.05 Ratings00 Ratings
    Roster Management10.05 Ratings00 Ratings
    Platform Customization6.84 Ratings00 Ratings
    Teacher Self-Service9.95 Ratings00 Ratings
    Student Data Security10.05 Ratings00 Ratings
    Community Support10.04 Ratings00 Ratings
    Class Scheduling10.04 Ratings00 Ratings
    State and National-level Reporting9.93 Ratings00 Ratings
    Compliance Support9.93 Ratings00 Ratings
    Teacher and Parent Mobile Application9.94 Ratings00 Ratings
    Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software
    Comparison of Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software features of FACTS Student Information System and Skype (discontinued)
    Feature
    FACTS Student Information System
    -
    Ratings
    Skype (discontinued)
    6.2
    138 Ratings
    24% below category average
    High quality audio00 Ratings6.5135 Ratings
    High quality video00 Ratings7.2133 Ratings
    Low bandwidth requirements00 Ratings5.5130 Ratings
    Mobile support00 Ratings5.5118 Ratings
    Screen Sharing
    Comparison of Screen Sharing features of FACTS Student Information System and Skype (discontinued)
    Feature
    FACTS Student Information System
    -
    Ratings
    Skype (discontinued)
    6.2
    119 Ratings
    25% below category average
    Desktop sharing00 Ratings5.5118 Ratings
    Whiteboards00 Ratings6.860 Ratings
    Online Meetings / Events
    Comparison of Online Meetings / Events features of FACTS Student Information System and Skype (discontinued)
    Feature
    FACTS Student Information System
    -
    Ratings
    Skype (discontinued)
    6.0
    118 Ratings
    31% below category average
    Calendar integration00 Ratings6.185 Ratings
    Meeting initiation00 Ratings6.3106 Ratings
    Integrates with social media00 Ratings4.465 Ratings
    Record meetings / events00 Ratings7.077 Ratings
    Slideshows00 Ratings6.268 Ratings
    Online Events Collaboration
    Comparison of Online Events Collaboration features of FACTS Student Information System and Skype (discontinued)
    Feature
    FACTS Student Information System
    -
    Ratings
    Skype (discontinued)
    5.3
    111 Ratings
    41% below category average
    Live chat00 Ratings5.5110 Ratings
    Audience polling00 Ratings5.364 Ratings
    Q&A00 Ratings5.362 Ratings
    Online Events Security
    Comparison of Online Events Security features of FACTS Student Information System and Skype (discontinued)
    Feature
    FACTS Student Information System
    -
    Ratings
    Skype (discontinued)
    7.4
    101 Ratings
    9% below category average
    User authentication00 Ratings8.988 Ratings
    Participant roles & permissions00 Ratings7.183 Ratings
    Confidential attendee list00 Ratings6.260 Ratings
    VoIP system collaboration
    Comparison of VoIP system collaboration features of FACTS Student Information System and Skype (discontinued)
    Feature
    FACTS Student Information System
    -
    Ratings
    Skype (discontinued)
    6.5
    4 Ratings
    12% below category average
    Video conferencing00 Ratings5.74 Ratings
    Audio conferencing00 Ratings6.54 Ratings
    Video screen sharing00 Ratings6.14 Ratings
    Instant messaging00 Ratings7.94 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    FACTS Student Information SystemSkype (discontinued)
    Small Businesses
    No answers on this topic
    ClickMeeting
    Score9.5 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Schoolmint Hero
    Score9.7 out of 10
    JioMeet
    Score9.8 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Schoolmint Hero
    Score9.7 out of 10
    Webex Meetings
    Score8.7 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    FACTS Student Information SystemSkype (discontinued)
    Likelihood to Recommend
    10.0
    (9 ratings)
    9.3
    (140 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    10.0
    (5 ratings)
    Usability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    6.0
    (4 ratings)
    Availability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Performance
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Support Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (42 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (3 ratings)
    Configurability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Contract Terms and Pricing Model
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Professional Services
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    FACTS Student Information SystemSkype (discontinued)
    Likelihood to Recommend
    FACTS
    We base our entire student data on the Student ID that is produced in FACTS. We create user accounts for technology and online textbooks as well as their lunch account, all based on the Student ID. We also can run many different reports using the SID as the data constant and all the other information variables are available as needed to report.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    Having interacted with a new replacement tool, Microsoft Teams, it is challenging to recommend Skype, as it lacks some essential features, such as being less equipped with the latest updates, and it is not platform-independent, causing issues on PCs and phones, as well as during calls that might hinder work.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    FACTS
    • Easy to use grade book
    • Simple way to store and access health information, behavior reports, and family contact information.
    • We use FACTS in the residential aspect of our organization.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    • The instant chat function is great. Very straightforward, easy to use, easy to learn, no technical issues.
    • Video calls are pretty easy also, user friendly and a mostly stable connection with no issues.
    • Voice calls are easy also, eliminates the need for an external landline or the need to use your cell phone. Clear connections, not really any dropped calls.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    FACTS
    • It could use more space for uploading classroom media.
    • It could lessen the number of new open windows or frames for various functions that can be done on the same screen.
    • It could incorporate more social-media like tools to make it more native for students and parents.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    • Skype is a RESOURCE hog. People who have limited bandwidth will have poor call quality.
    • It is hard to figure out how to use emojis and upload images in the chat.
    • The background images do not fool anybody....it is clearly not your real background.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    FACTS
    It's user-friendly, the customer service is great, and we have a significant amount of time invested in training our faculty and staff to use many aspects of FACTS within their areas of responsibility. I really like the variety of reports I can generate which gives important data to our administration and Board.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    I have given this rating as this need to give more than that as it's very helpful for us and makes our work more efficient and fast.
    Read full review
    Usability
    FACTS
    No answers on this topic
    Discontinued Products
    Skype is not as good as Facetime in terms of ease to glance at it and figure out how it works. I think that's a result of Skype trying to be too many things at once. A lot of the menu and UI could be streamlined, and I would jettison some of the additional functions that have been tacked on over the years to simplify. That being said, while some options are slightly hard to find, they all work flawlessly once found.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    FACTS
    No answers on this topic
    Discontinued Products
    I am not aware of the current support level for Skype for business, as I have never used even though I have the product. However, the support for Skype's personal paid users is not where it could be. Users who pay for Skype features do not have a clear path to reach out to support. So, rating 6, can be better as soon as I need to use Skype for business support and get a good experience. I will say that I will renew Skype for Business subscription, which is a significant inconsistency on my end. The explanation is that Skype for Business comes bundled with Office for Business, with no additional cost, so why not.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    FACTS
    No answers on this topic
    Discontinued Products
    It can be used on the phone via mobile application as well as on the desktop by logging in to the website. Easily installed and ready to use.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    FACTS
    Switched from Blackbaud to RenWeb now FACTS. We made the change for affordability and because more software components were included. Blackbaud required the purchase of multiple additional modules.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    We use Skype in combination with Grasshopper. While Grasshopper acts as a routing toll free number with extensions, if we are making calls directly, we do it through Skype. Skype's desktop and mobile apps are easier to use, and provide unlimited local calls at a flat, affordable rate. Allowing our team to use their existing mobile or desktop devices without additional hardware for business office phone calls is important, and Skype makes that possible
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Professional Services
    FACTS
    No answers on this topic
    Discontinued Products
    The service provided is up to date, as discussed before buying.
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    FACTS
    • Has paid for itself many time over with the abilities it provides.
    • Can be managed by as few or as many as needed so per employee cost is great.
    • Reporting is great for almost any topic needed all the way to How many took the ACT in spring.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    • Skype made keeping in touch with an advisor in Mexico very easy. The initiative there resulted in 5 new partnerships.
    • Skype has helped me with account management for at least 3 customers in LATAM--usually it's a fast way to answer a question about a support renewal.
    • For about 9 months Skype helped me stay in touch with a colleague in Prague. We would meet once a week to go over sales activities.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots