Choose gym management software by the membership-to-payment relationship you want to own. Gymdesk ties its published software discount to payment processing. PushPress trades a monthly subscription against different processing rates and sells growth tools separately. Zen Planner charges by active members and separates its core studio system from marketing packages. Glofox gates branded apps and sales engagement by package. Mindbody separates basic operations from resource scheduling and marketing, while also listing businesses in its consumer app. A low software fee can be a poor comparison when the payment terms, member definition and app experience differ.
What the buying decision includes
Compare the same operation: recurring memberships, class packs, drop-ins, frozen accounts, failed collections and staff permissions. Specify locations and whether a member may attend across them. Separate an ordinary member app from an app published under your own brand. Include payment processing, messaging, access hardware and migration in the proposal. A software company saying it transfers data does not establish that the old processor will release stored payment credentials on your timetable. The purchase should leave someone clearly responsible for bookings and payment exceptions after the switch.
| Product | Buying rationale | Commercial or edition boundary | Resolve before purchase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gymdesk | Core platform with member bands | Processor-linked discount; location and app additions | Which rate applies to your processor and country? |
| Glofox | Package-based studio operations and branding | Branded app and sales tools vary by tier | Does the quote include the chosen growth stack? |
| Mindbody | Operations plus consumer marketplace listing | Resource scheduling and marketing tier gates | Which discovery, payment and app costs apply? |
| PushPress | Core operations with payment-rate tradeoffs | Free, Pro and Max; Grow and Train separate | What is the full stack cost at your payment mix? |
| Zen Planner | Active-member studio administration | Studio versus website and marketing bundles | Who enters the active-member count? |
Gymdesk
Gymdesk lists USD monthly prices by active-member band. Up to 50 active members costs $75 with Gymdesk Payments or an eligible preferred partner, versus $100 without that discount. The pricing page excludes visitors, frozen or cancelled members and prospects from its active count. Staff accounts and a responsive website are included. Gymdesk Payments is available in the US and Canada; approved partner processing elsewhere needs confirmation. Gymdesk official source.
The same page separately prices extra locations, a branded app and beta door access. Door hardware and installation require a quote. This qualifies its broad full-platform message: do not assume that every branded or physical-access option is included. Gymdesk fits an operator who values broad core functionality and can compare processor-linked software savings against actual processing terms. Confirm the final member band and retained-processor rate before switching; the discounted headline is not the price of every deployment. Gymdesk official source.
Glofox
Glofox offers Essential, Boost, Elite and a custom Enterprise route. Essential includes scheduling, member administration, payments, payroll and its standard member and staff apps. Boost adds lead capture, retail, targeted communications and additional operational tools. The separately branded member app and XLerate sales engagement are optional on Essential and Boost, while Elite lists them as included. Multi-location analytics remains an optional addition. Glofox official source.
This structure suits a studio choosing its sales and branded experience together, provided the proposal names every component. Its starting-price headline does not establish the cost for a particular location, payment arrangement or contract. Ask for the app publisher, renewal terms, processor charges and migration responsibilities in the written offer. A standard Glofox member app and your own store listing are different deliverables, so compare the same experience with the other four products. Glofox official source.
Mindbody
Mindbody currently presents Starter, Accelerate and Ultimate as quoted plans. Starter includes booking, integrated payments, basic reporting, website tools and listing on the Mindbody app. Accelerate adds resource management and Pick-a-Spot. Ultimate adds automated email and text campaigns, lead management and AI Concierge. A branded app is listed as an add-on on the upper two plans, not a universal inclusion. Mindbody official source.
Shortlist Mindbody when consumer discovery and broader fitness or wellness scheduling matter alongside membership administration. A marketplace listing is distribution, not a promise of new members. Make the quote distinguish the base system, marketplace commercial terms, processing and optional app. A gym that needs members to choose a specific bike, room or other resource should compare the appropriate scheduling tier rather than the entry package. The current page supports a tailored proposal, not a universal public monthly rate. Mindbody official source.
PushPress
PushPress lists Core Free, Pro at USD 159 per month and Max at USD 229 per month. The published US card rates differ: Free shows 4.99% plus $0.30, Pro 2.89% plus $0.30 and Max 2.75% plus $0.30. ACH rates also differ. Its page directs international buyers to sales. Members, leads, administrators and staff are shown as unlimited in the comparison. PushPress official source.
Use this shortlist when the monthly-fee versus processing-rate tradeoff is material. Free still has transaction costs. Compare your actual card and ACH mix, refunds and payment terms before deciding that a higher subscription is cheaper overall. The full marketing CRM, advanced workout tracking and branded app are separately named Grow, Train and app additions. A Core subscription should therefore be compared with another core operating package, or expanded deliberately into the same marketing and member-experience scope. PushPress official source.
Zen Planner
Zen Planner Studio combines membership administration, scheduling, billing, attendance, staff and member apps, reporting and workout-related functions. Its pricing scales with active members, excluding staff and prospects. Its definition includes someone with a membership or someone who attended an event in the past month. Website, Engage marketing and a branded app are separate products or parts of larger packages. Payment processing can carry additional charges. Zen Planner official source.
Zen Planner is a relevant choice when membership administration and progression tracking belong together. Its active definition deserves attention at a gym running occasional events: attendance can matter even without a recurring contract. The page offers month-to-month subscriptions and annual contracts on request. Obtain the current local-currency tier and processor proposal instead of treating the displayed starting amount as the whole bill. Compare Studio, Essentials or Ultimate according to the website and marketing work you actually need. Zen Planner official source.
Which purchase fits your operation?
Shortlist Gymdesk for broad core functionality with a clear processor decision, PushPress for a transparent subscription-versus-transaction tradeoff, and Zen Planner for active-member studio administration. Prefer Glofox when the branded studio and sales package is the central purchase. Prefer Mindbody when marketplace distribution and resource scheduling justify the corresponding quoted tier. These are conditional choices: payment mix, member definitions and required additions can reverse a headline-price comparison.
Before signing, have the supplier price active memberships, event attendees, frozen accounts, locations, branded apps and payment exceptions separately. Require a migration ownership plan for member records and payment tokens. Ask what happens when a membership freezes but a class booking or door permission remains. That boundary is more consequential than the number of features in a brochure.
For related decisions, compare general appointment scheduling and salon operating systems.
By Toolverly Editorial, with AI-assisted research and drafting. Product information checked November 5, 2026.
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