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.
Key takeaways
- Your gym runs on five disconnected tools: a spreadsheet for members, a card reader for billing, a group chat for schedule changes, paper waivers, and your memory for who has not paid. One platform replaces all five.
- Vagaro at $23.99/month is the cheapest credible option, while PushPress Core is genuinely free to start, with paid plans from $159/month.
- Mindbody dominates the category but prices per location from $79/month with key features gated two tiers up; most independent gyms get more value from PushPress, Wodify or Zen Planner.
- Card processing is the hidden half of the bill: compare processing rates alongside subscription prices, because a 2 percent difference dwarfs the monthly fee at real volume.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Mindbody | Multi-location studios and wellness brands | From $79/month (per location) | No |
 PushPress | Independent gyms starting free | $159/month (Core Pro) | Yes (Core Free) |
 Wodify | CrossFit boxes and functional gyms | $99/month (Essentials) | Free trial |
 Zen Planner | Member-count pricing for growing gyms | $99/month (Studio, up to 45 active members) | No |
 TeamUp | Simple scheduling-first gym management | $104/month (up to 100 customers) | Free trial |
 Glofox | Boutique studios and franchises | $110/month (Silver) | Free trial |
 Vagaro | Budget-friendly booking and POS | $23.99/month | Free trial (30 days) |
 Pike13 | Appointment-based fitness businesses | $139/month | Free trial |
 Exercise.com | Custom-branded all-in-one platform | See website | No |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best gym management software
The software decision usually arrives the same way: a failed payment you discover three weeks late, a class double-booked because the schedule lives in two places, or a Saturday lost to reconciling memberships in a spreadsheet. Gym management software exists to end that weekend work: memberships, billing, class scheduling, waivers and a member app in one system. Nine platforms worth comparing, with the pricing structures explained the way a gym owner actually experiences them.
Starting priceFrom $79/month (per location)
Free planNo
Mindbody is the name every gym owner knows. It covers the full operation, class booking, memberships, point of sale, marketing automation, payroll and reporting, and its consumer marketplace puts your classes in front of millions of people searching for workouts nearby. For multi-location studios and wellness brands, the depth is real: resource management, advanced analytics and a branded app option that smaller platforms cannot match.
The commercial terms are the industry's toughest. Pricing is per location starting from $79 per month, but owners report real Starter bills of $99 to $159, with Accelerate at $259 to $279 and Ultimate at $499 and up. The marketing tools most studios want sit two tiers above the entry price, the branded app is a paid add-on, and contracts run 12 to 24 months with no trial before signing. Mindbody suits established multi-location businesses that can use its marketplace and absorb its terms; single-location gyms usually overpay here.
What we like- The industry standard with the largest consumer marketplace for discovery
- Deep feature set covering booking, POS, marketing and payroll
- Unlimited staff logins per location
Watch out for- Per-location pricing with key marketing tools gated tiers up
- 12-month minimum contracts and no free trial before you buy
Starting price$159/month (Core Pro)
Free planYes (Core Free)
PushPress is the independent gym's champion. Core Free includes member management, billing, class scheduling and a member app at $0 per month, which lets a new gym launch with zero software cost. Core Pro at $159 per month lowers card processing to 2.89% plus $0.30 and adds advanced scheduling, staff management and reporting. Everything is month-to-month with no contracts, and the company offers free white-glove migration from Mindbody, Wodify, Zen Planner and others.
The pricing has a second layer buyers must see. The Grow CRM add-on costs $329 per month, Train for workout programming starts at $79, and the branded app runs $97, so a full stack lands around $559 monthly. The free tier's 4.99% processing rate also means real volume costs more than the $0 sticker suggests. Start free, upgrade to Pro when volume justifies it, and add Grow only when lead follow-up is genuinely your bottleneck.
What we like- Genuinely free Core tier with real member management and billing
- Month-to-month pricing with no contracts
- Founder-led company with strong gym-owner community
Watch out for- Full-featured setups climb fast with add-ons (Grow CRM $329, branded app $97)
- Free tier carries a high 4.99% card processing rate
Starting price$99/month (Essentials)
Free planFree trial
Wodify speaks CrossFit fluently. Workout programming, whiteboard leaderboards, athlete performance tracking and class management are native to the platform rather than bolted on, which is why boxes choose it over generalist tools. Essentials starts at $99 per month with automated billing, scheduling, membership management, retail POS and member apps. The company positions itself as the comprehensive alternative to both Mindbody's complexity and PushPress's add-on stack.
Pricing above Essentials gets murkier: Accelerate and Ultimate tiers are quote-based, and the branded app adds $99 per month. The honest comparison is total cost at your member count against PushPress's modular pricing and Zen Planner's member tiers. For CrossFit and functional fitness gyms that want programming and community features in one system, Wodify remains the category specialist.
What we like- Built specifically for CrossFit workflows with workout tracking and leaderboards
- Strong class and membership management in the base tier
- Well-regarded customer support
Watch out for- Higher tiers and key features require consultation rather than transparent pricing
- Add-ons like the branded app ($99) stack on top
Starting price$99/month (Studio, up to 45 active members)
Free planNo
Zen Planner prices the way gym owners think: by active members. Studio starts at $99 per month for up to 45 active members and scales through published tiers to $289 for 251-plus, so a small gym pays small-gym prices and the bill grows only as the business does. The platform covers memberships, billing, scheduling, attendance, belt and skill tracking for martial arts schools, and reporting. Daxko's ownership brings corporate stability.
The weaknesses are age and modularity. The interface dates to an earlier era of web software and daily tasks take more clicks than on PushPress or Wodify. The Engage marketing automation add-on runs about $249 per month and the branded app about $39 to $99, so the $99 sticker is a starting point, not a total. For gyms that like predictable member-based pricing and do not need modern interface design, Zen Planner is a steady workhorse.
What we like- Published member-count pricing that scales with your actual size
- Solid all-in-one covering billing, scheduling and belt tracking
- Long track record with thousands of gyms
Watch out for- The interface shows its age and takes more clicks than modern rivals
- Marketing automation and branded app are separate paid add-ons
Starting price$104/month (up to 100 customers)
Free planFree trial
TeamUp, now part of DaySmart, takes the opposite approach to Mindbody's tier maze: one feature set, priced by how many customers you have. Plans start around $104 per month for up to 100 customers and scale to a flat rate for 601-plus, with every feature included at every level. For owners exhausted by add-on pricing, that simplicity is the entire pitch. The 30-day free trial and free import service make switching low-risk.
The trade is depth. TeamUp covers bookings, payments, memberships, CRM basics and reporting well, but gyms wanting serious marketing automation or advanced workout programming will find it thinner than PushPress's Grow or Wodify's native tools. For independent gyms, CrossFit boxes and personal trainers who want scheduling and billing done simply, TeamUp's honest pricing is hard to dislike.
What we like- Refreshingly simple pricing based on customer count, not feature tiers
- All features included at every level
- 30-day free trial with free data import
Watch out for- Less depth in marketing automation than CRM-led rivals
- Smaller company means a narrower integration ecosystem
Starting price$110/month (Silver)
Free planFree trial
Glofox, now ABC Glofox, targets the boutique end of the market: yoga, pilates, HIIT and cycle studios where the member experience is the product. The apps look the part, class booking is smooth, and the platform handles memberships, payments, scheduling and reporting competently. Silver starts around $110 per month, with Gold and Platinum tiers above it. Franchises get multi-location management that independent-focused tools handle less gracefully.
The positioning shows in the price: Glofox starts above PushPress Pro, Wodify Essentials and TeamUp, and the ABC Fitness ownership has pushed the sales motion upmarket. Independent single-location gyms will find better value elsewhere. Boutique studios and small franchises that want a polished brand experience and do not mind the premium should keep it on the shortlist.
What we like- Polished member and staff apps with strong class experience
- Good fit for boutique studios and franchises
- 24/7 support on higher tiers
Watch out for- Pricing starts higher than independent-gym rivals
- Now part of ABC Fitness with enterprise-oriented sales
Starting price$23.99/month
Free planFree trial (30 days)
Vagaro is the budget disruptor. At $23.99 per month for one bookable calendar plus $10 per additional calendar, capped at seven, it undercuts every specialist gym platform while bundling booking, POS, payroll, email marketing and a website builder. There are no contracts and a 30-day free trial. For personal trainers, small studios and appointment-based fitness businesses, the value is remarkable.
The catch is the add-on model. Intake forms, text marketing, the online store and several other features cost $10 to $20 per month each, so a realistic setup runs $60 to $70 plus processing. Reviews also mention UI clutter and occasional glitches. Vagaro is not really gym management software in the CrossFit sense; it is appointment and business software that small fitness businesses adapt. At the price, many happily do.
What we like- The lowest entry price here with no contracts
- Huge feature list including POS, payroll and website builder
- Consumer marketplace for discovery
Watch out for- Key features like forms, text marketing and online store are paid add-ons
- The interface can feel cluttered and glitchy
Starting price$139/month
Free planFree trial
Pike13 serves the businesses between personal training and big-box gyms: studios running appointments, small-group training and classes together. Client management, packages, contracts, scheduling and payments are handled in one clean interface, and the platform understands the hybrid model better than tools designed purely for classes or purely for appointments. Pricing starts around $139 per month with a free trial.
The specialization is also the limit. Large CrossFit boxes with hundreds of members in daily classes will find Wodify or PushPress more natural, and pure open gyms need less than Pike13 offers. For personal training studios, swim schools, martial arts academies and boutique fitness businesses built on appointments, Pike13's focus is exactly right.
What we like- Purpose-built for appointment and class hybrid businesses
- Strong client management with packages and contracts
- Clean, modern interface
Watch out for- Less suited to pure open-gym or large class operations
- Pricing sits above simpler scheduling tools
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Exercise.com is the white-glove option. Instead of your gym living inside someone else's app, you get custom-branded iOS and Android apps, a custom website, workout programming, assessments, nutrition and e-commerce under your own identity. The platform suits training businesses and gyms where brand matters and the owner wants one vendor for the entire digital presence.
That service level comes with enterprise-style buying: quote-based pricing, a consultative sales process and onboarding measured in weeks. New gyms watching cash flow should start with PushPress Free or Vagaro and graduate here when the brand investment makes sense. Established fitness businesses wanting a premium branded experience will find the price defensible.
What we like- Fully custom-branded apps and websites under your gym's identity
- Deep workout and assessment tools for training businesses
- Dedicated onboarding and support
Watch out for- Quote-based pricing aimed at established businesses
- Longer sales and onboarding process than self-serve rivals
What gym owners should price before they sign
The subscription is only the first line of the invoice. Card processing is usually the largest: at $50,000 in monthly membership revenue, the difference between 2.75% and 2.99% is $120 per month, more than most subscriptions on this list. Get each vendor's processing rate in writing, check whether you can use your own processor, and confirm there are no monthly minimums or statement fees hiding in the merchant agreement.
Next, list the add-ons you will actually need. Branded apps run $39 to $249 per month across vendors. Marketing automation ranges from included to $329 per month. Websites, text messaging, access control hardware and onboarding fees all sit outside the base price at most vendors. Build the total for your specific setup, not the sticker price, and compare totals across finalists.
Finally, read the contract terms. Mindbody's 12 to 24-month minimums, auto-renewal clauses and early termination fees are the cautionary tale of the category. PushPress, TeamUp and Vagaro offer month-to-month terms; weigh that flexibility against any discount a annual contract offers. Never sign a multi-year software contract without a trial or a pilot location first.
How we chose
We priced this category the way gym owners experience it: subscription plus processing plus add-ons, not the headline number. We verified starting prices from vendor pricing pages and recent pricing analyses, marking Mindbody's upper tiers and Exercise.com as quote-based where vendors publish no firm numbers. We read owner reviews on G2, Capterra and Software Advice and practitioner discussions in gym-owner communities for the recurring complaints: contract terms, processing surprises, add-on stacking and support quality. We covered the category's real segments, CrossFit boxes, boutique studios, martial arts schools, personal trainers and multi-location brands, rather than listing nine versions of the same product.
The CrossFit box buyer's checklist
CrossFit gyms have specific needs that general gym software handles poorly, so the best crossfit gym management software deserves its own checklist. Workout programming and whiteboard leaderboards should be native, not integrations: Wodify and PushPress's Train add-on cover this, while Mindbody and Zen Planner need workarounds. Benchmark tracking and athlete progression matter to retention; confirm the member app shows them well.
Class caps, waitlists and attendance tracking are daily operations, so test them in the trial with your actual class schedule. Retail POS for supplements and merch, fundamentals or on-ramp program management, and integration with your existing website round out the list. Finally, talk to two box owners using each finalist before you sign; the CrossFit community shares software opinions freely, and a 15-minute call beats any demo.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a gym management software cost?
For a single-location gym, $99 to $229 per month covers the software subscription at most vendors, plus card processing at 2.75% to 2.99% and any add-ons like branded apps or marketing automation. Budget-focused options run lower: Vagaro at $23.99 per month or PushPress Core Free to start. Multi-location businesses multiply roughly per location.
Is Mindbody worth it for a small gym?
Rarely. Mindbody's strength is multi-location operations and its consumer marketplace; its per-location pricing, contract minimums and tier-gated features make it expensive for a single small gym. Independent gyms typically get more value from PushPress, Wodify, Zen Planner or TeamUp at lower total cost with friendlier terms.
What is the cheapest gym management software?
PushPress Core is free, with the trade-off of a 4.99% card processing rate. Among paid options, Vagaro at $23.99 per month is the cheapest credible platform. For CrossFit-specific software, Wodify Essentials at $99 per month is the entry point. Always compare total cost including processing, not just the subscription.
Do I need a branded member app?
It depends on your brand ambitions. A branded app puts your gym's name and logo in the app stores, which matters for premium positioning. It costs $39 to $249 per month depending on vendor. Many successful gyms run for years on the vendor's shared member app before investing in branded; start shared and upgrade when members ask for it.
Can I switch gym software later?
Yes, and vendors know it: most offer free data migration and import services to win your business. The real switching costs are staff retraining, member re-onboarding to a new app, and contract termination fees with your current vendor. That is why month-to-month terms matter more than they appear to at signing.
Should my gym software handle marketing too?
Basic marketing, automated emails, review requests and lead capture, should be in your gym software. Advanced marketing automation is a judgment call: PushPress Grow, Zen Planner Engage and Mindbody's higher tiers sell it as an add-on, but a separate tool like GoHighLevel sometimes does more for similar money. Do not pay for marketing features you will not configure; an unused $329 add-on is just a donation.
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Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
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.