We’re going to level with you upfront: we’re Member Solutions. We make membership management software (OnMat) and provide a dedicated billing team for gyms, martial arts schools, and fitness studios. We’ve been doing this since 1991.
So yes, we’re biased. But we also know that most gym owners searching for “best membership management software” aren’t looking for us specifically — they’re trying to figure out which platform fits their situation.
This guide is our honest attempt to help. We’ll cover 10 major platforms, what each does well, where each falls short, and the question that most software comparison articles never ask — the one that actually determines how much revenue you keep.
What’s in this guide:
- Quick comparison table — all 10 platforms at a glance
- Enterprise & boutique platforms — Mindbody, Glofox, Pike13
- Martial arts-specific platforms — Zen Planner, Kicksite, Spark, Member Solutions
- CrossFit & budget platforms — PushPress, Wodify, RhinoFit
- Payment recovery compared — the table no other comparison article includes
- Switching platforms — what migration actually looks like
- How to choose the right platform — a decision framework from 35 years of watching owners switch
- FAQ — 9 questions gym owners actually ask
How We Evaluated These Platforms
We’ve been in this industry for 35 years. We’ve seen platforms come and go. We’ve migrated thousands of schools from one system to another. We’ve seen what makes owners switch, what makes them stay, and what they wish they’d known before signing up.
We evaluated each platform on the things that actually matter to a gym or studio owner running day-to-day operations. (If you’re still sorting out your membership structure before choosing software, our guide on which membership types actually work is worth reading first — your billing complexity depends on it.)
- Billing and payment management — because this is where the money is
- Scheduling and class management — because this is what members interact with daily
- Member experience — apps, portals, and the digital experience your members see
- Ease of use — how steep the learning curve is
- Pricing transparency — what you’ll actually pay
- What happens when things go wrong — specifically, failed payments
Let’s get into it.
Quick Comparison
| Platform | Best For | Starting Price | Martial Arts? | Payment Recovery | Our Take |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise & Boutique | |||||
| Mindbody | Large multi-location studios | ~$159/mo | Limited | Software-only | Best marketplace, highest cost |
| Glofox | Boutique fitness studios | ~$110/mo | No | Software-only | Best mobile app, not for MA |
| Pike13 | Appointment-based businesses | ~$129/mo | No | Software-only | Best for 1-on-1 sessions |
| Martial Arts-Specific | |||||
| Zen Planner | MA schools & CrossFit | ~$99/mo | Yes | Software-only | Solid all-rounder, aging UI |
| Kicksite | MA schools + marketing | ~$99/mo | Yes | Software-only | Best lead tools, limited depth |
| Spark | MA schools (modern) | ~$99/mo | Yes | Software-only | Built by MA owners, newer platform |
| Member Solutions | MA & fitness — billing handled | $99/mo | Yes | Team handles it | Not just software — a billing team |
| CrossFit & Budget | |||||
| PushPress | Small gyms on a budget | Free tier | Limited | Software-only | Great starting point, you’ll outgrow it |
| Wodify | CrossFit boxes | ~$99/mo | No | Software-only | Best WOD tracking, narrow focus |
| RhinoFit | Small gyms, budget | ~$57/mo | No | Minimal | Cheapest, most basic |
Enterprise & Boutique Platforms
1. Mindbody
Best for: Large studios and multi-location businesses that want a consumer marketplace and comprehensive feature set.
Mindbody is the biggest name in the space. They serve tens of thousands of businesses across fitness, wellness, beauty, and health. Their platform covers scheduling, billing, CRM, marketing, retail, and staff management. The Mindbody marketplace — a consumer app where people discover and book fitness classes — is their unique advantage and a genuine member acquisition channel.
What they do well:
- The Mindbody marketplace drives real discovery traffic. If you’re in a competitive urban market, being listed where consumers are actively searching for classes has real value.
- Feature depth is unmatched. If you need multi-location management, advanced reporting, marketing automation, or integrations with dozens of third-party tools, Mindbody can probably do it.
- Brand recognition. Members know the Mindbody name. Some will search specifically for studios that use it.
Where they fall short:
- Pricing is the highest in the category. Plans range from roughly $159-$349+/month, and many features are gated behind higher tiers. Add-ons and transaction fees accumulate. (For context on how pricing stacks up across the industry, see our membership pricing strategy guide.)
- Complexity is real. Mindbody’s learning curve is steeper than most owners expect. Budget 2-4 weeks for proper setup, and expect ongoing time investment to use it well.
- When a payment fails, the system notifies you. You deal with it. Mindbody has sophisticated dunning sequences on higher tiers, but the fundamental model is: software alerts, owner acts.
2. Glofox (ABC Fitness)
Best for: Boutique fitness studios that prioritize a polished mobile experience and modern UI.
Glofox (now part of ABC Fitness) is a mobile-first platform built for boutique studios — yoga, cycling, CrossFit, Pilates. Their branded member app is genuinely beautiful, and the owner-facing interface is clean and intuitive. They’ve grown quickly by doing one thing well: making the digital experience feel premium.
What they do well:
- Best-in-class branded mobile apps for both owners and members. If the digital experience is part of your brand, Glofox delivers.
- Fast, intuitive setup. Most studios are operational within days.
- Clean scheduling and booking interface that members actually enjoy using.
Where they fall short:
- Not built for martial arts. No belt tracking, no rank management, no understanding of martial arts billing complexity (family plans across programs, testing fees, equipment packages).
- Limited billing recovery. When automated retries and email notifications fail to recover a payment, it’s on you to follow up.
- Pricing has shifted since the ABC Fitness acquisition. Published rates ($110-$220+/month) may not reflect what you’re actually quoted. Get a current number.
For a deeper dive, see our full Glofox vs Mindbody vs Member Solutions comparison. If you’re already on Glofox and considering a switch, we also cover alternatives to Glofox specifically.
3. Pike13
Best for: Service-based businesses (personal training, swim schools, music lessons) that run on appointments rather than classes.
Pike13 is built around the appointment model rather than the group class model. If your business is primarily one-on-one sessions — personal training, private swim lessons, music instruction — Pike13 understands your scheduling needs better than platforms designed for group fitness.
What they do well:
- Appointment-based scheduling is their strength. Client management, session packages, and trainer scheduling are well-designed.
- Autopay and billing for appointment-based businesses is straightforward.
- Clean interface that’s easy for staff to learn.
Where they fall short:
- Not ideal for group class businesses. If you run a martial arts school or group fitness studio, the scheduling model isn’t quite right.
- Smaller ecosystem. Fewer integrations and add-ons compared to Mindbody or Glofox.
- Same billing recovery gap: automated retries and notifications, then the owner follows up manually.
Martial Arts-Specific Platforms
If you run a martial arts school, this is probably the section you care about most. These platforms understand belt tracking, rank management, family billing across programs, testing fees, and the seasonal patterns that are unique to martial arts.
4. Zen Planner
Best for: Martial arts schools and CrossFit boxes that want a solid all-in-one at a moderate price point.
Zen Planner has strong roots in martial arts and CrossFit. They offer membership management, scheduling, billing, a member app, and basic marketing tools. Their positioning — “20% annual revenue growth” — appeals to growth-minded owners.
What they do well:
- Good martial arts features including belt tracking and rank management.
- Reasonable pricing for what you get (roughly $99-$200+/month depending on member count).
- Solid reporting and a member app that covers the basics.
Where they fall short:
- The platform shows its age in places. Some owners report the interface feels dated compared to newer competitors.
- Billing recovery follows the same model as everyone else: automated retries, automated emails, and then it’s your problem. (If you’re curious what that costs over time, we break down the numbers in our revenue recovery benchmarks.)
- Customer support quality has been inconsistent based on owner feedback — good in some cases, slow in others.
5. Kicksite
Best for: Martial arts schools focused on lead generation and marketing tools alongside management.
Kicksite positions itself at the intersection of management and marketing. They offer lead tracking, automated follow-up sequences, and marketing tools alongside the standard scheduling and billing features.
What they do well:
- Lead management and automated marketing sequences are a standout feature. If generating and converting leads is your top priority, Kicksite gives you tools that many competitors charge extra for.
- Martial arts-specific features including belt tracking.
- Competitive pricing for smaller schools.
Where they fall short:
- The platform can feel basic for larger schools. Advanced reporting, complex billing structures, and multi-location support are limited.
- Billing recovery is the standard automated model. Retries, emails, and then you handle it.
- The marketing features, while useful, aren’t as deep as dedicated marketing platforms. You may still need additional tools.
6. Spark Membership
Best for: Martial arts schools looking for a modern, martial arts-specific platform built by industry insiders.
Spark positions itself as the “#1 martial arts school management software, built by school owners.” They understand the martial arts vertical specifically — the billing cycles, the family dynamics, the belt testing, the seasonal patterns.
What they do well:
- Built specifically for martial arts. The workflow matches how martial arts schools actually operate.
- Modern interface that feels current.
- Strong community and owner network for support and best practices.
Where they fall short:
- Narrow vertical focus. If you run anything other than a martial arts school, Spark isn’t designed for you.
- Billing recovery follows the standard software-only model. Automated retries, automated emails, no human follow-up.
- Newer platform — less track record than established players.
7. Member Solutions
Best for: Martial arts schools and fitness studios that want their billing handled by a team — not just tracked by software.
Full disclosure: this is us. We’ve been in this industry since 1991 and serve 11,000+ schools and studios. Our platform (OnMat) handles scheduling, member management, POS, belt tracking, marketing tools, and billing. But what makes us different isn’t the software.
What we do well:
- A dedicated billing team is included. When a payment fails, our team handles it — calling banks, disputing chargebacks, recovering expired card information, following up with members professionally. This isn’t an add-on. It’s what we do. (We wrote about exactly what that process looks like for schools making the switch.)
- Deep martial arts expertise. 35 years serving martial arts schools means we understand family billing across programs, belt testing fees, seasonal patterns, and every edge case you can think of. If you’re weighing which billing scenarios a platform needs to handle, we’ve seen them all.
- Transparent pricing. $99/month (annual) or $199/month (monthly). 2.9% per transaction. Cancel anytime.
Where we fall short:
- No consumer marketplace. Mindbody’s discovery app is a member acquisition channel we can’t match.
- The member-facing UI isn’t as polished as Glofox. Our tools are functional, not flashy.
- Narrower feature set than Mindbody. We don’t cover beauty, spa, or broad wellness verticals. We’re focused on gyms, studios, and martial arts schools.
- If you want full control over every billing interaction, our model isn’t for you. We handle the billing, and some owners prefer to do it themselves.
CrossFit & Budget Platforms
8. PushPress
Best for: Small to mid-size gyms and CrossFit boxes looking for a free or low-cost starting point.
PushPress has gained traction with a freemium model — their Core plan is free, with paid tiers for additional features. This makes them accessible to new gym owners who aren’t ready to invest in a full platform.
What they do well:
- The free tier is genuinely useful for basic operations. You can start without a financial commitment and upgrade as you grow.
- Clean, modern interface that doesn’t overwhelm.
- Good community features and integrations for CrossFit-style gyms.
Where they fall short:
- The free tier has limitations that matter. Advanced billing, reporting, and automation are on paid plans.
- Focused primarily on CrossFit and general fitness. Martial arts-specific features are limited.
- Billing recovery is automated only. Same pattern — software retries, sends emails, then it’s on you.
9. Wodify
Best for: CrossFit boxes that want performance tracking built into their management platform.
Wodify combines gym management with workout tracking and performance data. Members can log their WODs, track PRs, and compete on leaderboards — features that are deeply integrated into the CrossFit culture.
What they do well:
- Workout tracking and leaderboards are genuinely engaging for members. This is a retention feature, not just a management feature.
- Strong community tools that match how CrossFit boxes actually operate.
- Solid scheduling for the class-based model CrossFit uses.
Where they fall short:
- Narrow focus. If you’re not running a CrossFit box (or something very similar), the performance tracking features aren’t relevant, and you’re paying for a platform optimized for someone else.
- Billing complexity is limited. Family plans, multi-program billing, and complex membership structures aren’t their strength.
- Payment recovery is automated. No human follow-up on failed payments.
10. RhinoFit
Best for: Small gyms and personal trainers looking for a budget-friendly basic solution.
RhinoFit is a no-frills management platform that covers the essentials at a low price point. For small operations that need basic scheduling, billing, and member tracking without the complexity (or cost) of a full-featured platform, it’s functional.
What they do well:
- Affordable. One of the lowest-cost options available.
- Simple to set up and use — no steep learning curve.
- Covers the basics without overwhelming small operators.
Where they fall short:
- Limited feature depth. As your gym grows, you’ll likely outgrow RhinoFit.
- Member-facing experience is basic. No branded apps or premium digital experience.
- Minimal billing recovery tools. Basic automated retries.
Payment Recovery Compared
This is the table no other comparison article includes — and it’s the one that determines how much of your revenue you actually keep. Every platform handles successful payments fine. The question is what happens when a payment fails.
| Platform | Auto-Retry | Email to Member | Dunning Sequences | Human Follow-Up | Bank Disputes | Card Updater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mindbody | Yes | Yes | Higher tiers | No | No | Limited |
| Glofox | Yes | Yes | Basic | No | No | Limited |
| Pike13 | Yes | Yes | Basic | No | No | No |
| Zen Planner | Yes | Yes | Basic | No | No | Limited |
| Kicksite | Yes | Yes | Basic | No | No | No |
| Spark | Yes | Yes | Basic | No | No | No |
| PushPress | Yes | Yes | Paid tiers | No | No | No |
| Wodify | Yes | Yes | Basic | No | No | No |
| RhinoFit | Yes | Limited | No | No | No | No |
| Member Solutions | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes — dedicated team | Yes | Yes |
Here’s what “Human Follow-Up” means in practice: when automated retries and emails don’t recover a payment, our billing team picks up the phone. They call the bank to dispute the charge. They track down updated card information. They follow up with the member professionally — so you don’t have to have the awkward billing conversation with someone you see on the mat every week.
Across thousands of schools, 3-8% of payments fail in any given billing cycle. For a 200-member gym at $100/month, that’s $600-$1,600 per month at risk. Over a year, that’s $7,200-$19,200. Software-only recovery typically captures a fraction of that. (We published recovery benchmarks from 11,000+ schools if you want the real numbers.)
The Question Nobody Asks
Every comparison article — including the dozens written by the platforms themselves — focuses on features. Scheduling. Apps. CRM. Integrations. Reporting.
None of them ask the question that actually determines how much money you keep:
What happens when a payment fails?
On every platform listed above (except one), the process is the same: the software retries the payment automatically a few times. If that doesn’t work, it sends the member an email. If the member doesn’t update their payment info — and a significant percentage won’t — the revenue is lost. The software did its part. Now it’s your job to follow up, have the awkward conversation, call the bank, or write it off.
Most owners write it off. They’re busy teaching. They don’t have time to chase payments. So 3-8% of their revenue quietly disappears every month, month after month. If you’ve ever wondered why involuntary attrition is killing your retention, this is the mechanism.
No scheduling feature, no mobile app design, and no CRM tool makes up for that.
This is the fundamental difference between membership management software and membership billing services. Software tracks your billing. A service team handles it. (We break down the hidden cost of DIY billing in a separate post if you want the full math.)
Switching Platforms: What to Expect
If you’re already on a platform and considering a switch, here’s what we’ve learned from migrating thousands of schools:
Timeline
Most migrations take 1-3 weeks for a clean transition. The biggest variable is member count and billing complexity — a 50-member studio is straightforward, a 500-member multi-location school with family plans needs more planning.
The biggest friction point: payment methods
Migrating member data (names, contacts, belt ranks) is straightforward. Migrating payment methods on file is where things get complicated. Some platforms make this easy. Others make it nearly impossible, forcing you to re-collect card information from every member.
Before committing to any new platform, ask specifically: “How do you handle migrating payment methods from my current system?” The answer will tell you a lot about how smooth your transition will be.
What to watch for
- Contract lock-ins. Some platforms have annual contracts with early termination fees. Know your current terms before starting a migration.
- Data export limitations. Verify you can export your full member database, billing history, and attendance records in a usable format.
- Downtime risk. The best migrations run your old and new systems in parallel for a week before cutting over. Ask if your new platform supports this.
- Member communication. Your members will need to know something changed. The platforms that handle migration well (including us) provide templates and timing guidance for this.
If you’re currently doing everything manually — spreadsheets, Stripe, and awkward conversations — the switch to any platform on this list will feel like a massive upgrade. We wrote about what the first 90 days look like for schools making that transition.
How to Choose the Right Platform
After watching thousands of schools make this decision over 35 years, here’s the framework that actually works:
Start with your biggest problem.
- “I need members to find me.” Look at Mindbody for the marketplace, or focus on marketing-forward platforms like Kicksite.
- “I need a better digital experience for my members.” Glofox is purpose-built for this.
- “I need CrossFit-specific features.” Wodify or PushPress understand your world.
- “I need martial arts-specific features.” Zen Planner, Spark, Kicksite, or Member Solutions all serve this vertical.
- “I need to stop losing money to failed payments.” That’s us. That’s what we built our company around.
Then consider the operational reality.
Every platform on this list can process a payment when things go right. The question is what happens when things go wrong — and things go wrong every month, on every platform, for every gym.
Do you have time to chase failed payments? Do you have staff to call members about expired cards? Do you know how to dispute a chargeback with a bank? If the answer to any of those is “no” or “not really,” that should factor into your decision as much as any feature comparison.
Finally, look at the total cost.
Not just the monthly subscription — the total cost including:
- Transaction fees on every payment (typically 2.5-2.9% across all platforms)
- Add-on features you’ll need as you grow (many platforms gate reporting, automation, and marketing behind higher tiers)
- Revenue lost to unrecovered failed payments (3-8% of billing each month for software-only platforms)
- Hours you spend on billing admin instead of teaching or growing your business
For a 200-member school at $100/month average, that “hidden cost” of unrecovered payments alone is $7,200-$19,200 per year. The cheapest platform isn’t always the least expensive. And the most expensive platform isn’t always the most valuable. (Our gym profit margin guide puts these numbers in context.)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is membership management software?
Membership management software helps gyms, studios, and martial arts schools handle recurring billing, scheduling, member communication, and business operations. Most platforms automate billing and send reminders when payments fail — but the owner still handles follow-up. For a deeper look at how billing complexity grows as your school grows, see 5 billing scenarios every martial arts school faces.
How much does membership management software cost?
Prices range from free (PushPress Core) to $349+/month (Mindbody). Most mid-tier platforms cost $99-$200/month. Transaction fees (typically 2.5-2.9%) apply on top. Budget for add-ons — many platforms gate key features behind higher tiers. The real cost includes unrecovered revenue from failed payments, which can dwarf the subscription price. See our pricing breakdown for how Member Solutions compares.
What’s the difference between billing software and a billing service?
Billing software tracks your payments and sends automated reminders when they fail. A billing service (like Member Solutions) has a team that actually handles the failed payments — calling banks, disputing chargebacks, contacting members, and recovering the revenue. Software alerts you to problems. A service solves them.
Do I need membership management software for a small gym?
If you have recurring memberships, yes. Even 50 members on monthly billing creates enough complexity that spreadsheets become a liability. The question is whether you need software that tracks billing (every platform on this list) or a team that handles it.
Which membership software is best for martial arts schools?
Zen Planner, Kicksite, Spark, and Member Solutions all have martial arts-specific features like belt tracking and rank management. The choice depends on your priority: Zen Planner for an established all-in-one, Kicksite for marketing tools, Spark for a modern interface, and Member Solutions if you want billing handled by a team. See our martial arts billing services guide for a deeper look at what “billing handled” actually means.
Can I switch membership management platforms?
Yes. Most platforms allow data export, and the better ones (including Member Solutions) handle migration for you. Budget 1-3 weeks for a clean transition. The biggest friction is usually migrating payment methods on file — ask how each platform handles this before committing. We cover what the transition looks like in From Spreadsheets to Billing Team: The First 90 Days.
How do I reduce failed payments and member churn?
Failed payments are the #1 cause of involuntary churn — members who leave not because they want to, but because their payment method expired or was declined. Software-only platforms rely on automated retries and emails. A billing service adds human follow-up: calling banks, disputing chargebacks, and recovering cards. The difference in recovery rate is significant. We published benchmarks from 11,000+ schools showing what’s recoverable.
What should I look for in membership management software pricing?
Look beyond the monthly subscription. Key factors: transaction fees (per-payment percentage), feature gating (are marketing, automation, and reporting included or add-ons?), contract terms (monthly vs. annual lock-in), and — most overlooked — the cost of revenue you lose to failed payments every month. Our pricing strategy guide covers this in detail.
Is it worth paying more for a billing service vs. billing software?
It depends on your size and how much revenue you’re losing. For a 200-member school, 3-8% failed payments means $7,200-$19,200/year at risk. If a billing service recovers even half of what software-only misses, the ROI is significant. The break-even point is usually around 75-100 active members — below that, software-only may be sufficient. Above that, the math favors a service. See our churn rate formula guide for how to calculate your specific numbers.
Which Platform Should You Choose? (Decision Framework)
If your #1 priority is getting discovered by new clients: Mindbody — the marketplace is a real acquisition channel.
If your #1 priority is a premium mobile experience: Glofox — best-in-class branded apps.
If your #1 priority is CrossFit-specific features: Wodify or PushPress — built for your workflow.
If your #1 priority is keeping every dollar you’ve earned: Member Solutions — the only platform where a team handles failed payments instead of just notifying you.
If your #1 priority is starting cheap and growing: PushPress — free tier to paid, easy upgrade path.
If your #1 priority is martial arts + marketing: Kicksite — best lead tools in the martial arts vertical.
If you’re not sure what your #1 priority is: Start with the question nobody asks: What happens when a payment fails? Your answer determines which category of platform you actually need.
The Bottom Line
There’s no single best membership management software. There’s the best platform for your situation, your vertical, your size, and — most importantly — whatever problem is actually costing you the most money right now.
If your biggest problem is discovery and lead generation, Mindbody’s marketplace is hard to beat.
If your biggest problem is the member-facing digital experience, Glofox is purpose-built for that.
If your biggest problem is CrossFit-specific workflow, Wodify and PushPress understand your world.
If your biggest problem is that you’re losing thousands every month to failed payments and you don’t have time to deal with it — that’s the problem we’ve spent 35 years solving. A billing team that handles the work, not just software that tracks it.
If you want to talk through which approach makes sense for your school or studio, our team is happy to have that conversation. No pitch, no pressure — just an honest take from people who’ve seen thousands of owners make this decision.
Talk to our team about your setup
See our pricing breakdown for the full picture on what Member Solutions costs.
