Best gym management software: how to choose the right one for your gym
By Andrew Wallis · Updated 7 October 2026 · 12 minute read
Andrew to confirm: this article is draft content for you to review. Prices and features come from vendors' sites and independent review sites as at October 2026; check each one before publishing, add your own experience, and add affiliate links and a disclosure once they're set up.
The short answer
There isn't one best gym management software, but there is a best fit for your type of gym. Boutique studios usually start with ABC Glofox or Mindbody, and yoga and Pilates studios with Momence. CrossFit and functional gyms suit PushPress or Wodify, martial arts schools Zen Planner, and independent gyms TeamUp. UK open-gym clubs with door access suit ClubRight. Then choose on contract terms and total monthly cost, not features.
Quick picks: start here
| If you run… | Start by looking at |
|---|---|
| A boutique or class-based studio that wants its own branded app | ABC Glofox, then Mindbody if you want marketplace exposure |
| A yoga or Pilates studio with workshops, events or on-demand classes | Momence |
| A CrossFit box or functional fitness gym | PushPress or Wodify |
| A martial arts school | Zen Planner |
| An independent gym or studio that wants simple, all-inclusive pricing | TeamUp |
| A UK open-gym membership club with door access and Direct Debit | ClubRight |
| A small gym on a tight budget | PushPress (free plan) or TeamUp |
Five questions to answer before you compare
Most owners start with features. Start with your business instead. These five questions narrow the field to two or three platforms in minutes.
- What do you mainly sell? Classes, open-gym memberships, personal training, courses, or a mix. A platform built for one model often feels clumsy for another.
- Where are you, and how do members pay? Check the platform supports your country's payments properly, including Direct Debit in the UK and Ireland, and what the processing fees are.
- How will the price change as you grow? Some charge per location, some by member count, some by quote. Work out the cost at your size today and at double your size.
- How important is a branded app? For some studios it's central to the experience. For others, a good booking page and reminders are enough.
- How easy is it to leave? Contract length, notice period, data export and who owns your members' payment details matter more than any feature.
The eight platforms at a glance
| Platform | Best for | Pricing model | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABC Glofox | Boutique studios, multi-site | By quote, often annual | Branded member app |
| Mindbody | Established and multi-site studios | Per location; from about $99/mo | Consumer marketplace |
| Momence | Yoga, Pilates, events, on-demand | By quote | Classes, events and content in one |
| PushPress | CrossFit, functional, small gyms | Free plan; paid from about $159/mo | Free plan, published pricing |
| Wodify | CrossFit, functional, jiu-jitsu | Published; from about $79/mo | Performance tracking |
| Zen Planner | Martial arts, CrossFit | Published; from about $99/mo, by members | Belt and rank tracking |
| TeamUp | Independent gyms and studios | By active customers; from about $119/mo | Everything included |
| ClubRight | UK independent membership gyms | Per club; from about £79/mo + VAT | Direct Debit and door access |
Each platform in brief
ABC Glofox
A polished all-rounder for boutique studios that want their own branded app.
- Best for
- Boutique and class-based studios, and growing multi-site brands, especially in the UK and Ireland.
- Pricing
- By quote, usually on an annual contract.
Why choose it
- Your own branded member app on the App Store and Google Play
- Mature UK and Ireland presence, with solid regional payments, tax and currency handling
- Backed by ABC Fitness, which acquired it in 2022
Watch out for
- Pricing is by quote, so compare like for like
- Annual contracts are common, so check the term and the exit terms
- Moving members, payments and history away later takes planning
Mindbody
The biggest name in class booking, worth it mainly if you want its consumer marketplace.
- Best for
- Established and multi-site studios that want to be found through the Mindbody and ClassPass apps.
- Pricing
- Tiered per location: entry plans from around $99 a month, higher tiers by quote.
Why choose it
- The widest consumer reach of any platform here, through its marketplace
- Deep feature set across booking, payments, marketing and reporting
- Built for multiple locations
Watch out for
- Usually the most expensive option, priced per location
- Bookings through the marketplace carry fees
- Contracts of 12 to 24 months are common, and data export at cancellation can cost extra, so read the terms
Momence
A modern option for yoga, Pilates and boutique studios that also sell events, courses or on-demand content.
- Best for
- Yoga, Pilates and boutique studios with workshops, retreats or video content alongside classes.
- Pricing
- By quote.
Why choose it
- Sells classes, events and on-demand content in one place
- Strong built-in marketing and automation
- Reviewers often mention it costs less than what they used before
Watch out for
- Pricing isn't published, so get a written quote
- Smaller user base than the big names, so check support hours in your time zone
- Less suited to open-gym memberships with door access
PushPress
The easiest place to start for CrossFit, functional and small gyms, with a genuinely free plan.
- Best for
- CrossFit boxes, functional fitness gyms and small independent gyms in the US, UK, Canada and Australia.
- Pricing
- Free plan available; paid plans from around $159 a month.
Why choose it
- A free plan with unlimited members, plus paid plans as you grow
- Transparent published pricing
- Well reviewed for support
Watch out for
- The free plan carries higher payment processing fees, so compare the real monthly cost
- Some features, such as marketing tools, are paid add-ons
- Built around the CrossFit and functional model first
Wodify
The pick for CrossFit and functional gyms that care about performance tracking.
- Best for
- CrossFit, functional fitness and jiu-jitsu gyms that want leaderboards and personal-record tracking.
- Pricing
- Published plans, from around $79 a month.
Why choose it
- Strong workout, leaderboard and personal-record tracking that members use daily
- Built for CrossFit, functional fitness, jiu-jitsu and small-group training
- All-in-one: billing, scheduling, apps and retail
Watch out for
- Features differ noticeably between plans, so check which you need
- Some features, such as SMS, are US-only
- More than a simple class studio needs
Zen Planner
The specialist for martial arts schools, and a solid choice for CrossFit.
- Best for
- Martial arts schools, plus CrossFit boxes that want workout logging.
- Pricing
- Published plans from around $99 a month, scaling with members.
Why choose it
- The best belt and rank tracking and promotion eligibility of any platform here
- Workout logging and a member app included
- Owned by Daxko since 2020, serving thousands of fitness businesses
Watch out for
- Pricing scales with membership size
- Strongest in the US, so check payments and support where you are
- Less focused on boutique class studios
TeamUp
Simple, transparent and well liked by independent gyms and studios.
- Best for
- Independent gyms and studios that want everything included without a long sales process.
- Pricing
- From around $119 a month for up to 100 active customers, rising with membership.
Why choose it
- Every feature on every plan, priced by active customers
- Includes access control, unlimited locations, family accounts and on-demand content
- Popular with independent UK studios
Watch out for
- The bill rises as your membership grows
- Fewer marketing tools than some, so pair it with a CRM for follow-up
- No consumer marketplace
ClubRight
Built in the UK for independent gyms that sell open-gym memberships, not just classes.
- Best for
- Independent gyms and health clubs in the UK with door access and Direct Debit memberships.
- Pricing
- From around £79 a month per club, plus VAT.
Why choose it
- Direct Debit through GoCardless and access control built in
- Online joining, retention and referral tools on its higher plan
- Used by over 1,000 UK clubs, and highly rated by its users
Watch out for
- UK-focused, so not the right fit elsewhere
- Less specialised for boutique class studios
- Check which features need the higher plan
Also worth a look: bsport, popular with boutique studios in Europe, and Gymdesk, a low-cost option for very small gyms and martial arts schools.
The questions to ask on every demo
- What will I pay each month at my current size, and at double it, including payment processing fees?
- How long is the contract, what's the notice period, and is there a fee to leave or to export my data?
- Who holds my members' payment details, and can they move with me if I switch?
- Do you support my country's payments, including Direct Debit in the UK and Ireland?
- Will you migrate my members, memberships and payment schedules for me, and at what cost?
- Can members book, pay and manage everything from their phone, and is the app branded with my name?
- How does it connect to the other tools I use, such as my CRM, website and email (through an API, webhooks or Zapier)?
- When is support available in my time zone, and how do I reach a real person?
Switching without losing members
- Choose a quiet month, never January or your busiest period.
- Agree the migration in writing: what moves (members, memberships, payment schedules, history) and who does it.
- Run both systems side by side for a short overlap, and test bookings and payments with a few members first.
- Tell members early and simply what's changing, what they need to do, and when.
- Check every payment in the first two billing cycles, and fix failures quickly and personally.
Where HighLevel fits
Gym management software runs your bookings, memberships, payments and check-ins. It's usually less strong at the work that happens before someone joins and after they drift: fast replies to enquiries, follow-up, nurture emails, reviews and win-back campaigns.
That's where many gyms add a CRM such as HighLevel alongside their gym software, connected where the tools allow. If you're weighing that up, see HighLevel help for gyms.
Questions owners ask
Do I need gym management software?
Once you take recurring payments or bookings for more than a handful of members, yes. It saves admin time, reduces failed payments and gives members a simple way to book and pay. Very small studios can start with a free or low-cost plan.
Is Mindbody worth the money?
It can be if you'll genuinely use its marketplace to bring in new customers, or you run several locations. If most of your members come from referrals and local search, a lower-cost platform may serve you just as well.
What's the cheapest option?
PushPress has a free plan, although it charges higher processing fees, so compare the total monthly cost rather than the headline price. TeamUp, Wodify and Zen Planner publish their entry prices.
Can HighLevel replace my gym software?
Not usually. HighLevel is excellent for marketing, follow-up and sales, but most gyms still need dedicated software for class booking, memberships, check-ins and door access. The two work well side by side.
How long does switching take?
Plan for four to eight weeks, from choosing a platform to members using it confidently, including a short overlap where both systems run.
I've spent 25 years in the fitness industry: on the gym floor, running my own boot camps and coaching gym and studio owners since 2012, including leading NPE Fitness's UK and European coaching team. I help independent gyms and studios get and keep more members.