Is PushPress Good For Gyms?

You need help to manage your gym. 

You’re looking at gym management software, and PushPress came up on your radar. Their software is polished, it’s built by gym owners—everything looks good. But is it really a good fit for your gym?  

Today, we’re going to answer that question. 

We’ll take a close, in-depth look at PushPress today. We’ll look at the pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses of PushPress. We’ll also present you with options and actionable steps you can take to make your decision. 

Let’s dive in! 

What PushPress was Designed to Do

“When Dan Uyemura joined a CrossFit gym in 2008—and quickly realized their gym management platform was a nightmare to use. It was slow, complex, and destroyed the customer’s experience.”

PushPress was purpose-built for CrossFit. 

Their software works well for functional fitness (e.g., personal training, sports performance) and CrossFit-style gyms. It includes all of the usual elements you’d expect from your standard gym software—check-ins, scheduling, payments, tracking workouts, and limited integrations. 

Here’s the thing, though. 

Their platform is actually built for established, mid-size gyms. How do I know this? They tell you on their pricing page. They offer a free plan, which, while helpful, doesn’t really provide the same things as their paid plans. 

Take a look. 

Source: PushPress.com 

Can you see what’s happening?

Their free plan isn’t actually free. Sure, you’re not paying with a direct debit from your account every month. You’re paying for that from your cash flow, your future revenue instead. 

And you know what? I think that’s fair. 

However, that doesn’t really answer the question of affordability. If you’re running a small gym, can you afford that larger hit to your revenue? Are you okay (financially) with the higher processing fees? 

Something to think about. 

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of PushPress.

PushPress: Platform Pros

PushPress is growing for a reason—their software is well-built, they’re focused on what they do, and customers (generally) report good things about them. 

1. Limited feature-set: We’re trained to believe that more is better. PushPress keeps its platform simple, focusing on core features (e.g., billing, check-ins, scheduling) that gym owners need without overwhelming them. 
   
   
2. Workout-friendly tools: PushPress integrates with Workout of the Day (WOD) tracking tools. This is perfect for performance-driven members who want to track lifting PRs, reps, weights, times, and other benchmarks. 
   
   
3. Easy-to-use software: Customers describe their platform as easy-to-use. Their software isn’t as robust as their competitor’s software (keep things simple, remember?). 
   
   
4. Core billing and POS functionality: Membership tiers, point-of-sale management, recurring payments, and drop-ins/one-time payments are all part of their platform.   
   

If you’re running a business that has standard requirements, PushPress is a fantastic option. You start to run into problems when you have non-traditional circumstances or you change the way you do business. 

PushPress: Platform Cons

So every platform has its downsides. Here’s a brief look at some of the downsides that come with the PushPress platform. 

1. Billing inconsistencies: Several gym owners have reported some alarming issues. One reviewer wrote: ”Billing is also erratic and unpredictable with members being re-charged for past purchases without explanation.” Gym owners report being unable to process payments, payments being re-charged, or an inability to adjust a start date and (add) payments to the future.
   
   
2. A la carte offerings: While PushPress is sold as an all-in-one software, it’s not billed as an all-in-one tool. What exactly does this mean? If you want to add features or functionality to your gym software, you’ll need to pay extra for it (more on this later). 
   
   
3. Limited integrations: Integrations have been reported as “clumsy,” difficult to use, and problematic. They don’t offer as many integrations as gym owners would like. Customers on the free plan (you’re still a paying customer, remember?) aren’t allowed to use integrations. 
   
   
4. General platform inconsistency: Here’s what Jon K., a PushPress customer, had to say about his time on their platform. “The website integration failed to link my website to google, which had a massive impact on our gym launch. Payments are unreliable and have often failed, meaning unable to process payments. Waivers were not added or duplicated causing member frustration or members to not have waivers at point of joining and classes disappeared, making bookings initially unreliable.”
   
   
5. Limited updates: PushPress works hard to keep things simple. The downside to this is the fact that software updates take more time. Corbin, a PushPress customer said: “We went with push press because they showed us how easy it was to use and build your membership accounts. What they didn’t say was that certain feature for billing and other aspects of the system are still in the works and don’t ever seem to get moved forward.”
   
   
6. Reporting tailored to functional fitness: PushPress reports seem to be tailored towards strength and conditioning gyms (e.g., WOD participation, benchmark comparisons, etc.) Other metrics, such as cost-of-acquisition, lifetime value by program type, or granular attendance by class progression (e.g., beginner vs intermediate gymnastics classes), require you to export the data or build ad hoc reports. It can work with some manual effort. 
   
   
7. Migration and customization friction: If you’re switching from another platform or you’re trying to replace manual tools (e.g., spreadsheets), you may find it difficult to import your data into PushPress; data migration—importing historical student records, attendance, and belt histories—can be a difficult and time-consuming thing to incorporate into your PushPress account. Another downside? The heavy customization typically requires significant manual setup.
   
   
8. Customer support problems: Customers have reported that support teams are not all that responsive. Customers have stated that “customer support is lagging,” and “the customer service response was poor.”
   

Here’s why these downsides matter. 

PushPress seems to care about its customers; however, these issues are serious, and they need to be addressed. If you’re on PushPress’ free plan (not free). You’ll need to run your payment processing through their system. This also means that you won’t have access to a variety of the features that you need from day one. 

What am I talking about? 

Source: PushPress.com/pricing

Take a look at the image above. 

Can you see what’s happening there? If you’re running a small gym, you can’t integrate these tools with your PushPress account, unless you upgrade. 

So whaaat? What’s the big deal? 

Let’s look at a few of the excluded items in the list. 

• Facebook marketing: Smart marketers know that Facebook relies on conversion data, from your website, to improve targeting. If you can’t target the right people, your Facebook advertising is far less effective, because Facebook doesn’t know what’s working.
  
  
• Google Analytics: Google Analytics tells you what’s happening, what’s working, and why. If you don’t have that intel, there’s no way for you to improve your marketing. 
  
  
• Mailchimp email integration: Your email account is owned media. It’s one of the few platforms you have where you can send an offer to your list and convert words to revenue. You can’t do that if your account isn’t integrated with your PushPress account. 
  

These three integrations are significant. 

If you can’t get these integrations set up from day one, you won’t be able to get the results you need to grow your business. You need these integrations if you plan on building a profitable gym. 

PushPress Pricing: Can you Afford it?

As I mentioned before, PushPress pricing is à la carte. 

What does this mean? 

PushPress needs you to upgrade. Their goals are partially aligned with your business—they need you to grow, so you can afford to pay for the features you should be getting on day one. 

Let’s break this down. 

According to their website, PushPress offers multiple pricing tiers:

Here’s a look at the cost and what’s included at each level.

• Core (Free): Basic scheduling, billing, and member tracking
• Core Pro ($159/month): Advanced reporting, automations, lower processing fees
• Train (starting at $24/month): Workout tracking for up to 20 clients
• Grow ($329/month): Full CRM with automated workflows, email/SMS, and websites
• Branded App (Add-on): A white-labeled mobile app for $81–$97/month
• Full Stack (~$559/month): All features combined into one comprehensive package

That’s pricey. 

If you look at the last bullet point, the true, total cost of ownership (TCO) for their all-in-one solution actually starts at $559 per month.

If that’s outside of your budget, you have a decision to make. 

You’ll have to make a decision. Which features can you do without? If you have a set budget or price point in mind, which features are absolutely essential? If you can’t afford their “Full Stack” option, you’ll need to pick and choose. 

There is another option, though. 

Is Gymdesk a better fit for Your Gym?

Like PushPress, Gymdesk is made by gym owners, for gym owners.

The team has extensive industry experience. Many of our employees are former gym owners, personal trainers, athletes, and martial artists. We’ve gone through the same struggles you’ve gone through, working to build our business. 

Here’s why Gymdesk could be a good fit for your gym

Gymdesk offers small, medium, and large established gyms the same powerful tools they need to run their business from day one. 

This means: 

1. No a la carte pricing: Gymdesk offers transparent and affordable pricing; what you see is what you get. There are no long-term contracts, no hidden pricing, no training fees, and no payment processing fees outside of what you pay your provider. We offer flat, upfront pricing for a specific number of active members. Our plans start at $75 per mo., and our software scales up or down as needed, ensuring that we grow with your gym. 
   
   
2. Reasonable, upfront pricing: Our plans range from $75 to $200 per mo. We don’t nickel and dime you with “add-ons.” Like PushPress, there are no contracts, hidden fees, or cancellation fees. The price we share is the price you pay. Even better, you have 30 days to try out our service before committing to a plan. 
   
   
3. All features are available in every plan: The features above that you have to pay extra for with PushPress? All of those features are available regardless of the plan you choose. This means you get access to sales and marketing automation, a CRM, and your branded app—all PushPress’ premium tools, from day one, for the same, low price! 
   
   
4. Best-in-class customer support: Gymdesk has a 4.8 out of 5-star rating on G2 and Capterra. Customer reviews consistently mention their responsive, knowledgeable, and friendly support. Gym owners frequently mention our fast response times and helpful documentation.
   
   
5. Fast, and easy cancellation: With Gymdesk, you can easily export your member data before or after canceling your subscription; all of your data is exported in CSV format. Your data is always yours and immediately accessible. 
   

Sounds pretty good, right? 

Here’s how these two platforms compare. 

PushPress: Best for CrossFit and Functional Fitness Gyms

If you’re a mid-sized or established gym that primarily offers CrossFit or functional fitness, PushPress makes more sense. Here are a few scenarios where PushPress is good enough or ideal:

• Your gym is primarily focused on pure CrossFit, powerlifting, or bodybuilding.
• You focus on WODs and performance tracking—PushPress’s workout tools are better aligned with your members.
• Your gym is a micro/small operation, you don’t need all of the bells and whistles their higher-tier plans offer, and you can afford their higher payment processing fees. PushPress’ free plan can work well.

You’re running an operation that’s traditional and straightforward, with no deviations or special circumstances. 

Gymdesk: Best for Non-Traditional Specialists and Boutiques

Let’s say your studio has specialty workflows (e.g., martial arts, dance, gymnastics, sports performance, or boutique models, e.g., Pilates, Yoga). You also need specialized tools to manage multiple locations, handle family accounts, shared accounts, partnerships, and track progress. This is where Gymdesk shines. 

Here are some practical examples to show you what I mean:

• Martial arts studio: PushPress handles billing and classes, while Gymdesk handles the business’s intricacies. Take promotions, for example: With Gymdesk, a karate student attends 10 classes, gets flagged for a belt test or promotion. Their instructor evaluates the student (if he agrees), and he records the result. The system auto-updates the student’s rank and sends out the certificates to their parents. No spreadsheets, no missed promotions, no reminders in Google Calendar needed. 
  

• Dance studio: If you’re running a dance studio, recital season requires event registration, costume fees, ticketing, rehearsal scheduling, and family communication. Gymdesk manages all of these tasks seamlessly. If you used PushPress, you’d need to stitch multiple tools together to get the job done.
  
  
• Gymnastics requires multi-level skill progression/tracking. These gyms also need multi-age scheduling to manage the demands families place on them. Gymdesk offers curriculum mapping and progress tracking, while PushPress handles standard class management but lacks the granular skill-tracking features you’d expect.
  
  
• Boutique fitness studios often feature waitlists, premium workshops, seminars, and events, along with complex drop-in policies. Gymdesk’s waitlist automation feature and workshop setup keep members happy. They receive automated notifications for events they want to participate in on a first-come, first-served basis. 
  

Here’s the long and short of it. 

PushPress is a capable platform that’s purpose-built for functional fitness operations. They’ve tried to accommodate specialty gyms, e.g., martial arts schools, dance/gymnastics studios, and boutique fitness centers. But these gyms have unique administrative needs that often exceed what a CrossFit-focused platform was built to handle. 

That could turn into hours of manual labor, confused families, and missed growth opportunities when you’re forced to work around your software. 

What about Gymdesk?

Gymdesk is purpose-built for these specialty gyms: Their platform handles everything you’d expect from a platform that’s made for functional fitness. But they handle all of the specialties too:

• Curriculum and belt/skill tracking
• Family accounts
• Event and recital management 
• Nuanced scheduling and waitlist automation
• Reporting tuned to program health

It’s not just lift totals and class counts. If you want to spend less time staring at spreadsheets and more time coaching, marketing, and growing, Gymdesk is designed with that goal in mind.

Use this Checklist to Help You Decide

At some point, you’ll want to confirm these details with the vendors you’re considering before signing up. Here are some questions you’ll want to ask. 

• Can I track multiple locations with this software? If so, what does this cost? 
• What reporting is included at the program-level? Can I track retention and revenue at the program level?
• Are event tools (recitals, competitions, tournaments, workshops, seminars, promotions) built into your platform?
• I need a software platform that can do  ________. What is the total cost of ownership (TCO) to make this happen on your platform?
• Can I automate waitlists, cancellations, and other rules per class type? Tell me more about how this works on your platform. 
• How do I track family/family-billing for multiple students?
  

Here’s the catch. 

Your vendor needs to answer these questions in a way that aligns with your gym’s business model. If they can’t do that, you’ll end up paying for those gaps in the form of more time, manual labor, and hidden costs. 

Is PushPress Right for Your Gym?

You’re looking at gym management software, and PushPress came up on your radar. Their software is polished, it’s built by gym owners—everything looks good. 

Is it really a good fit for your gym?  

We’ve taken a close, in-depth look at PushPress. We’ve looked at the pros and cons, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. Use this guide to identify the platform that’s the best fit for your gym. Outline the actionable steps you’ll need to take to make your decision.