How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
website: https://www.mindbodyonline.com best_for: Studios and gyms that want the largest client marketplace plus full management tools starting_price: See website free_plan: See website pros: Huge consumer marketplace drives new bookings; covers scheduling, POS, marketing, and staff management; strong multi-location support cons: Pricing is quote-based and trends high; the interface feels dated to some users
Mindbody is the biggest name in fitness business software, and its main advantage is distribution. Millions of consumers search and book classes through the Mindbody app and marketplace, which means your business gets discovered by people you never marketed to. For a studio in a competitive city, that discovery channel alone can justify the cost.
Under the hood, Mindbody covers the full operation: class and appointment scheduling, memberships and packages, point of sale, automated marketing, staff management, and reporting. Multi-location businesses get centralized control with location-level flexibility. The trade-offs are price and complexity. Plans are quote-based and sit at the higher end, and the system carries years of accumulated features that new users must learn. Big studios that use the whole platform get their money's worth. Small studios should weigh whether they need all of it.
website: https://www.pushpress.com best_for: Independent gyms, CrossFit boxes, and martial arts studios that want a free start starting_price: Free; paid plans from $159/month free_plan: Yes pros: Core Free tier costs $0/month with real functionality; modular add-ons for CRM, training, and branded app; transparent Stripe-based processing cons: Built for independent gyms, not big-box chains or fully remote coaching; advanced features are paid add-ons
PushPress is built by gym owners for gym owners, and it shows in the pricing. The Core Free tier costs nothing per month and includes memberships, billing, scheduling, check-ins, waivers, and a member app. That is a complete operating platform for a new gym at zero software cost. Paid tiers start at $159/month for Core Pro with lower processing rates.
The product line is modular. Core handles operations, Grow adds CRM and marketing automation, Train adds workout programming, and a branded app is available as an add-on. Everything runs month-to-month with no contracts, and migration from competitors is free. PushPress is upfront that it serves independent, in-person gyms, CrossFit boxes, martial arts academies, and boutique studios. If you run a big-box chain or a fully remote coaching business, look elsewhere. For its target gym, the value is hard to argue with.
website: https://glofox.com/ best_for: Studios and gyms that want an all-in-one platform with strong member engagement tools starting_price: See website free_plan: See website pros: Purpose-built for fitness with bookings, memberships, and payments in one place; branded member app; good automation for retention cons: Pricing is not published; some advanced features sit in higher tiers
Glofox, now ABC Glofox after joining ABC Fitness Solutions, is an all-in-one platform for gyms and studios. It handles class scheduling with waitlists, memberships and credit packs, payments with automated failed-payment recovery, and a branded member app. The pitch is simple: one platform instead of five disconnected tools.
Marketing and retention features are a strength. Automated messaging, nurture journeys, and segmentation help convert trial members into long-term ones without manual follow-up. Multi-location support works for growing franchises. Pricing is not published on the site, so expect a sales conversation. For studios that want a polished, fitness-specific system and are comfortable with quote-based pricing, ABC Glofox belongs on the shortlist.
website: https://goteamup.com/ best_for: Class-based studios that want flexible memberships without complexity starting_price: $99/month free_plan: See website pros: Flexible scheduling and membership options; free data migration and onboarding help; integrates with Zapier, Mailchimp, and Zoom cons: Fewer native marketing tools than Mindbody or Glofox; design is functional rather than flashy
TeamUp keeps things practical. It covers class scheduling, memberships, point of sale, and reporting, with the flexibility to handle drop-ins, packs, recurring memberships, and workshops. The interface is straightforward, which matters when your front-desk staff turns over and new hires need to learn the system fast.
Migration is a selling point. TeamUp offers free data migration from other platforms and one-on-one onboarding, which lowers the switching cost. Integrations include Zapier for connecting thousands of apps, plus Mailchimp, Constant Contact, and Zoom for classes. It does not try to be a marketing platform on the level of Mindbody, so studios that want heavy automation may need add-ons. For gyms that want reliable operations software at a clear price, TeamUp delivers.
website: https://www.wodify.com/ best_for: CrossFit boxes and functional fitness gyms that want deep workout and retention features starting_price: See website free_plan: See website pros: Strong workout tracking and programming built in; lead nurture and retention automations; performance tracking add-ons cons: Pricing is not published; the CrossFit focus shows, which may not suit every gym type
Wodify grew up serving CrossFit affiliates, and it still understands that world better than anyone. Workout programming, performance tracking, leaderboards, and class management are built into the core product rather than bolted on. Members log workouts in the app, coaches program from templates, and the gym runs billing, scheduling, and retail in the same system.
Retention tooling goes beyond basics. Automated client journeys, re-engagement campaigns, and milestone celebrations help keep members past the critical first ninety days. Lead management includes online sales pages and automated follow-up. Wodify has expanded well beyond CrossFit into martial arts, HIIT, and boutique fitness, but its roots show. Pricing is not published, so plan on a demo and a quote.
website: https://www.zenplanner.com best_for: Established gyms that want a mature, full-featured management system starting_price: See website free_plan: See website pros: Long track record with fitness businesses; covers billing, scheduling, websites, and workout tracking; part of the Daxko portfolio cons: The interface feels older than newer competitors; pricing and packaging have shifted over the years
Zen Planner is one of the veterans of gym management software, now part of Daxko's fitness software portfolio. It covers the essentials thoroughly: automated billing, class scheduling, member management, staff management, workout tracking, and even website building. For a gym that wants one vendor handling the website, the billing, and the programming, that breadth is convenient.
The platform's age cuts both ways. It is proven and stable, with years of fitness-specific workflows baked in. But the interface feels older than what PushPress or TeamUp ship today, and long-time users have noted changes in pricing and packaging since the Daxko acquisition. If you value maturity over modern design and want a vendor with deep fitness industry roots, Zen Planner is worth evaluating. Get current pricing in writing before you decide.
website: https://www.vagaro.com/ best_for: Fitness businesses that also offer salon, spa, or wellness services starting_price: See website free_plan: See website pros: Strong across fitness, salon, and spa verticals; built-in marketplace for discovery; competitive pricing for small businesses cons: Less fitness-specific depth than pure gym platforms; advanced gym features may need workarounds
Vagaro started in salon and spa scheduling and expanded into fitness, which makes it the natural pick for hybrid businesses. If you run a studio that offers personal training alongside massage, or a wellness center with classes and spa services, Vagaro handles all of it in one calendar, one client record, and one checkout.
The built-in marketplace works like Mindbody's on a smaller scale, letting nearby consumers discover and book your services. Pricing has historically been friendlier to small businesses than the big fitness platforms, with per-user pricing that scales gently. The trade-off is depth. Pure gym platforms like Wodify or PushPress go deeper on workout programming and class management. If fitness is only part of your business, Vagaro's breadth wins. If fitness is all of it, compare carefully.
website: https://www.wellnessliving.com/ best_for: Gyms and wellness businesses that want rewards and retention features built in starting_price: See website free_plan: See website pros: Built-in rewards and loyalty programs; good class scheduling with waitlists; serves gyms of all sizes including franchises cons: Pricing is not published; the feature set is broad, which can complicate setup
WellnessLiving combines gym management with marketing features that other platforms charge extra for. The standout is its built-in rewards program, which lets you run loyalty points and referrals without a third-party tool. For gyms competing on retention, that is a genuine differentiator rather than a checkbox feature.
The core platform covers online booking, class scheduling, memberships, payments, and staff management, with an Achieve client app for members. It scales from single studios to multi-location franchises with centralized reporting. Pricing is not published, so you will need a quote. Setup can take some work because the feature set is wide. But if member loyalty and referrals are central to your growth plan, WellnessLiving's built-in approach beats bolting a rewards tool onto another system.
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
 Mindbody | Studios and gyms that want the largest client marketplace plus full management tools | See website | See website |
 PushPress | Independent gyms, CrossFit boxes, and martial arts studios that want a free start | Free; paid plans from $159/month | Yes |
 ABC Glofox | Studios and gyms that want an all-in-one platform with strong member engagement tools | See website | See website |
 TeamUp | Class-based studios that want flexible memberships without complexity | $99/month | See website |
 Wodify | CrossFit boxes and functional fitness gyms that want deep workout and retention features | See website | See website |
 Zen Planner | Established gyms that want a mature, full-featured management system | See website | See website |
 Vagaro | Fitness businesses that also offer salon, spa, or wellness services | See website | See website |
 WellnessLiving | Gyms and wellness businesses that want rewards and retention features built in | See website | See website |
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The terms overlap heavily. Gym management software usually means the operational core: scheduling, billing, memberships, and check-ins. Gym CRM software emphasizes the relationship side: lead capture, follow-up automation, and retention marketing. Most modern platforms do both, which is why vendors use the terms interchangeably. When comparing, check that the tool covers both operations and member communication, not just one.
It ranges from free to several hundred dollars per month. PushPress starts at $0/month for its Core Free tier. TeamUp lists $99/month as a starting point. Mindbody, Glofox, Wodify, Zen Planner, Vagaro, and WellnessLiving use quote-based pricing that depends on your size and features. Always add payment processing fees to the subscription cost, because those often exceed the software fee for a busy gym.
Usually yes. Most vendors on this list offer free data migration from competitors. PushPress and TeamUp both advertise free white-glove migration, and the others typically help as part of onboarding. The process moves members, memberships, billing schedules, and class history. Plan for two to three weeks and run both systems briefly to catch anything the import missed.
Yes, all eight do. Online booking, recurring classes, capacity limits, and waitlists are table stakes in this category. Differences show up in the details: how cancellations and no-show fees work, whether members can book from a branded app, and how staff manage substitutions. Test these workflows in a trial with your actual class schedule.
PushPress and TeamUp are strong picks for small studios because the pricing is clear and the feature set matches what a small team needs. Vagaro works well if you also sell spa or wellness services. Avoid buying enterprise-grade platforms for a five-person studio. You will pay for features you never open.
Yes. Members who book, pay, and track workouts from an app engage more and cancel less. Every platform here offers a member app or mobile booking. The question is whether the app carries your branding or the vendor's, and whether members need a separate login. A branded app usually costs extra, so decide if it matters to your positioning before you pay for it.
Start with billing, because it is where money is won or lost. Compare the payment processing rates, not just the subscription. A platform that charges slightly more per month but processes cards at a lower rate can be cheaper overall once your revenue grows. Ask how the system handles failed payments. Automatic retries, dunning emails, and easy card updates recover revenue that would otherwise walk out the door.
Next, map your actual workflows. Write down how a new lead becomes a paying member at your gym, step by step, then check each platform against that list. Trial signups, intro offers, membership holds, freezes, and cancellations all have edge cases. The platform that handles your edge cases cleanly is the right one, even if its feature list is shorter.
Staff usability comes third. Your front desk will live in this software for hours a day. If checking in a class takes six clicks, staff will hate it and members will wait. Bring a front-desk employee to the demo and watch them try the daily tasks. Their reaction tells you more than any sales presentation.
Finally, check the contract terms. Month-to-month billing with no long-term contract is the norm among newer platforms like PushPress. Older enterprise sales models may push annual commitments. Avoid long contracts until the software has proven itself in your gym for at least a quarter.
Everyone compares the monthly subscription. Almost nobody models the processing fees, and the processing fees are usually bigger. A gym doing $40,000 a month in memberships pays far more in card processing than in software. A one percent difference in processing rate is worth $400 a month, which dwarfs a $50 difference in subscription price.
Ask each vendor for their exact card and ACH rates, any monthly minimums, and whether you can use your own processor. Some platforms lock you into their processing with no alternative. Others, like PushPress with its Stripe-based setup, are transparent about rates and let the math speak. Also ask about failed payment recovery. Automated retries and dunning sequences recover a meaningful share of failed charges without staff lifting a finger.
The right question is not "what does the software cost" but "what does the software plus processing cost at my revenue level." Run that number for your top two choices before you sign. It takes twenty minutes and it is the highest-ROI analysis in this entire buying process.
I started with the gym management and CRM platforms that appear most in fitness business discussions on Reddit, G2, and Capterra, then confirmed on each vendor's own site that the product is current and actively sold in 2026. I read the feature documentation for the core gym workflows: memberships, billing, class scheduling, member communication, and reporting. I checked each vendor's pricing page, and where pricing was not published, I say so instead of guessing.
I weighted fit for independent gyms and studios heavily, since that is who reads Rankite. Enterprise chains have different needs and dedicated procurement teams. I also looked at contract terms, migration help, and payment processing transparency, because those decide the real cost and the real switching pain. No vendor paid for placement, and the write-ups reflect public documentation and user reviews, not hands-on trials I did not run.
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.