Mindbody is a legacy platform with an extensive list of features. 

It’s a platform with a long history. 

Mindbody’s features are designed to support your gym’s operations (e.g., accounting, sales, marketing, etc.). It’s a platform that many fitness, beauty, and wellness businesses have used to grow. Their feature set includes scheduling, client management, marketing, reporting, and payment processing. 

Is it right for you?

Today, we’ll take a closer look at the features included in Mindbody. We’ll answer the following questions:

  1. Does MindBody do payroll?
  2. Can you customize reports in MindBody?
  3. Does MindBody offer marketing tools?
  4. How does MindBody handle client communications?
  5. Can I accept payments through MindBody?
  6. Can I access MindBody from my phone?
  7. Does MindBody offer gift card management?
  8. Can I manage multiple locations with MindBody?
  9. Can I create a website with MindBody?
  10. Does MindBody provide analytics and insights?
  11. Does MindBody support point-of-sale transactions?
  12. Can I track attendance with MindBody?
  13. Can you manage staff schedules in MindBody?
  14. Does MindBody support recurring billing?
  15. Does MindBody provide a client portal?
  16. Does MindBody have a waitlist feature?
  17. How customizable is MindBody’s interface?
  18. Can I set up automated reminders in MindBody?
  19. Can I export data from Mindbody?
  20. Does Mindbody support virtual classes?
  21. Can I track client progress in Mindbody?
  22. Does Mindbody offer a referral tracking system?
  23. How does Mindbody handle no-shows?
  24. Does Mindbody provide tools for client retention?
  25. Can I run promotions through Mindbody?
  26. Does Mindbody support different languages?
  27. Can I track employee hours in Mindbody?
  28. Can I create and sell online courses with Mindbody?
  29. Does Mindbody offer a blog feature?

Let’s dive in!

1. Does Mindbody do payroll?

Source: Mindbody.com 

Yes, Mindbody has payroll capabilities built into its platform. With their staff management tools, you can: 

  • Manage hours
  • Track hours (clocking in/out), 
  • Handle payments  (e.g., hourly, commission, tips, and booth-rental pay)
  • Run payroll reports. 

Mindbody provides gym owners with a payroll report that breaks down compensation, appointments, class, hourly rate, and more.

Does Gymdesk manage payroll? 

Gymdesk helps you manage payroll in two ways: via hourly-based and session-based tracking.

Session-based payroll 

With session-based payroll, staff members need to check in to sessions with their staff account. Checking in will log one session rate. Staff members will have a “Manager” note next to their name.

Hourly-based payroll

With hourly-based payroll, staff members can log their hours worked through their account. They will see a “Log Payroll”  tab at the bottom of the left-side menu. Their hours will be totaled up at the bottom.

Gymdesk manages staff scheduling and integrates with your existing payroll provider. The interface is designed to be intuitive, getting you to the features and functions you need in as few clicks as possible. If Mindbody’s interface is difficult to navigate, Gymdesk’s streamlined interface may be just what you need. 

2. Can you customize reports in Mindbody?

Source: Mindbody.com

Your plan determines which reports you’re able to see. 

Higher-tiered plans will give you more advanced and customizable reports (e.g., customizable analytics for sales, by category, provider, or promotion impact). Many of these reports are only available with specific software plans. For more information on which reports you’ll have access to in Mindbody, take a look at this breakdown.


Here’s Mindbody’s rationale for restricting specific reports. 

“Reports have been tailored to match the features available at each software level so that your reporting capabilities grow in tune with your software needs.” 

This works if they’ve guessed correctly and know which reports you need. What if their guess is incorrect? You’ll be forced to upgrade if you want access to specific reports or pay for the add-on you need to make this work. 

How does Gymdesk handle reporting? 

From day one, all Gymdesk plans include the comprehensive reporting you need to build your business.

All reports are available to you with no restrictions.  

Use these reports to monitor and increase revenue, analyze specific periods of time, view month-over-month financial performance, or simply take the pulse of your company. You can set up monthly summaries (e.g., member acquisition or churn rate) or create ad hoc reports for a specific purpose. It’s really up to you. 

Gymdesk also helps you track marketing performance. Learn how new members find your gym. Track new sign-ups and leads, and follow their journey to improve your retention efforts. See the overall performance of your gym’s marketing to enhance growth and member retention.

3. Does Mindbody offer marketing tools?

Source: Mindbody.com 

They do. According to Mindbody’s documentation, their Marketing Suite is only available in their Accelerate, Ultimate, and Ultimate Plus plans, which start at $259 per mo./location. Their marketing suite includes automations, email and SMS campaigns, marketing templates, referral incentives, review prompts, and lead-management tools. 

Mindbody also provides gym owners with a listing on their Marketplace app, which helps to attract new members. 

What’s the catch? 

Mindbody takes a larger fee for referrals gained through their marketplace. If you’re interested in this service, you’ll want to verify that your profit margins can absorb the financial hit. Depending on the transactions, Mindbody may take as much as 30%.

The features and functions you have depend on the plan you’ve paid for. Higher-tiered plans 

Does Gymdesk offer marketing tools? 

With Gymdesk, you get all of the marketing tools Mindbody offers—automations, email, text marketing, and more.

Here’s how you can set up your marketing in Gymdesk.. 

What about automations? 

Can Gymdesk handle the heavy lifting you need to manage your marketing effectively? 

See for yourself. 

So what’s the verdict? If you’re looking for a turnkey, marketplace-driven solution, Mindbody may be a fit. If you’re looking for a modular marketing tool that works with the tech you’re already using, look no further than Gymdesk.

4. How does Mindbody handle client communications?

Source: Mindbody.com

Their platform handles quite a bit.

Two-way SMS, marketing automations, email templates, confirmations, and even notifications (e.g., birthdays and anniversaries). If you have an Unlimited Plan, you get unlimited two-way messaging. If you’re willing to upgrade, you’ll also get additional add-ons and AI-powered chats. 

How does Gymdesk handle client communications? 

With Gymdesk, you can follow up with your leads/members directly from our platform. 

Your staff can send bulk or targeted messages to your members or leads via email, text, and push notifications. You can segment gym members by status, membership type, or program before sending a message to tailor your gym communications.

Want to get more specific? 

Use Gymdesk to set up automatic notifications for members about bookings, payments, and membership status. It’s a simple, no-frills platform that gets you up and running immediately, without the complexity that comes with Mindbody. 

5. Can I accept payments through Mindbody?

Source: Mindbody.com

Mindbody enables gym owners to accept payments in two ways.

  1. Mindbody Payments is their in-house payment processing solution that allows you to accept credit cards, store credit card information, manage recurring billing, and more. You can use it to process payments online, via mobile, branded-app, or in-space POS. 
  2. Third-party payment processors, such as Stripe or PayPal, can be used to process transactions outside of Mindbody payments. 

Here’s the catch. 

Mindbody Payments is not mandatory, but it’s required if you:

  • Accept Apple Pay or other alternative payments
  • Want Mindbody app integration
  • Offer direct debit options (e.g., ACH or direct debit)

How Gymdesk handles payment processing

With Gymdesk, we keep things simple. We give you the option to work with payment processors you’re already using—integrate with Stripe, Square, and other third-party providers to offer a mobile-first payment flow. 

Mindbody Payments is presented as optional, but it’s not if you want to accommodate customers using non-traditional options (e.g., Apple Pay, ACH, or direct debit). That means you’ll likely see more payment processing fees from Mindbody.

With Gymdesk, you can use the payment processor you want. We aren’t dipping our hands into your bank accounts to extract fees; we’re not placing arbitrary restrictions on how you do business. Simply, plug in your processor and go! 

6. Can I access Mindbody from my phone?

Mindbody gives you five apps. 

  • Mindbody business: An app for staff and management to manage operations in the business. 
  • Mindbody check-in: A tool that members and staff can use to check-in when they arrive. 
  • Mindbody fitness and wellness: Members can search, find, and book sessions in your gym. 
  • Mindbody Messenger[ai]: Messenger[ai] converts inbound missed calls into paying customers with automated text backs to any missed call that comes through. Have your clients message you where they want through Webchat, SMS, and Facebook, and manage all those threads in one place.
  • Booker: View and manage your calendar. Book, update, and cancel appointments. Sell series, gift cards, and products. Take cash, checks, credit cards, gift cards and gift certificates, series, Groupons, and credit account payments. 

There’s some overlap here, but each of these apps serves a purpose in Mindbody’s ecosystem.  With these five apps, you can manage your business using Mindbody. You may need a higher-tiered plan to use some of these features. 

Can you access Gymdesk from your phone? 

With Gymdesk, members and staff have a single app they log into. Book sessions and appointments, check-in, track training progress, manage billing, and more. Our app is designed with simplicity in mind, making it easy to use and manage. 

7. Does Mindbody offer gift card management?

With Mindbody, you can create, sell, and redeem gift cards, memberships, and packages. These can be tracked via your POS system and reports. 

Does Gymdesk offer gift card management?

With Gymdesk, you can also accept, create, sell, and redeem gift cards. This can be done with integrations and built-in modules. If you’re looking for a simplified option that’s fast, efficient, and easy to use, Gymdesk may be a fit. 

8. Can I manage multiple locations with Mindbody?

Both Gymdesk and Mindbody support multi-location management, giving you control over each location from a single, centralized source. Mindbody offers more granular controls, but its tool is complex and requires more upfront training. 

On the other hand, Gymdesk prioritizes simplicity, making it easy for your team to manage multiple locations. That simplicity means less control, in favor of speed and efficiency. 

9. Can I create a website with Mindbody?

Mindbody doesn’t build fully featured websites, unfortunately. What they do offer are branded widgets and booking integrations that you can add to your existing website. If you’re on a higher-tier plan, you may have access to their branded app and embedded tools.

Can you create a website with Gymdesk? 


Yes! With Gymdesk, you have multiple options to consider. You can integrate our widgets with website platforms (e.g., Wix, Squarespace, etc.). If you’re looking for more, you can build your website with our website builder to get things up and running quickly. 


Take a look. 

10. Does Mindbody provide analytics and insights?

Both Mindbody and Gymdesk provide reporting dashboards and analytics to analyze performance. Both tools track a variety of metrics, including:

  • Sales
  • Revenue
  • Payments
  • Visits
  • Attendance
  • Membership trends
  • Retention/churn

With Mindbody, advanced analytics and reporting are available in higher-tier plans. 

Analytics and insights with Gymdesk

With Gymdesk, analytics and reporting are available in all plans, from day one. 

11. Does Mindbody support point-of-sale transactions?

Mindbody comes with POS functionality—their platform supports services, products, packages, memberships, and gift cards. Again, some of these features are dependent on your plan and the amount you’re willing to pay.

Gymdesk integrates with lightweight POS systems like Stripe, Square, etc., which are generally much easier to use. Website integration provides an additional avenue for transactions and payments. 

12. Can I track attendance with Mindbody?

Source: Mindbody.com

Both Mindbody and Gymdesk offer check-in apps/modes for members. With Mindbody, you can record attendance in class and via appointment bookings. You can also automate the process with their class check-in app. 

With Gymdesk, attendance tracking can be paired with automated workflows and attendance reporting. Users feel this is easier to work with. 

Take a look.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5HT7l1XeY4 

13. Can you manage staff schedules in Mindbody?

Source: Mindbody.com 

With Mindbody, you get staff scheduling, substitutions, a time clock, permission controls, and performance insights.

Gymdesk gives you all of this in a cleaner interface, with easy, drag-and-drop scheduling, and more intuitive substitution workflows.

14. Does Mindbody support recurring billing?

Yes. Mindbody supports automatic recurring payments for memberships, packages, and services. Expiring cards are automatically updated via the built-in Card Updater.

Gymdesk supports recurring billing via Stripe or payment integrations, often at lower cost and with simpler UI.

15. Does Mindbody provide a client portal?

Source: Mindbody via Google Play

Yep! As we’ve seen previously, both Mindbody and Gymdesk allow members to access their profiles. Members can review their billing details, modify payment info, access their profiles, view their booking history, and manage memberships via their websites or apps.

As always, Gymdesk’s focus is on making things easy, simple, and efficient for members. The easier it is for clients to navigate, the more likely they are to use their client portal. 

Source: Gymdesk app via Google Play

16. Does Mindbody have a waitlist feature?

Source: Mindbody.com

Mindbody has a waitlist system that allows members to reserve a spot in a full class or appointment. They’re automatically added to the class once a spot opens up. 

Gymdesk provides this option as well, giving members a simpler option with crystal clear notifications and fewer steps to manage. You can also manage your waitlists on a per-session basis.


Gymdesk waitlists

The waitlist operates on a first-come, first-served basis. If a booking is canceled, the first person on the waitlist will receive their spot and an Email notification with the booking details. If another spot opens up, the next person who signed up will be booked, and so on.

17. How customizable is Mindbody’s interface?

Mindbody is a legacy platform. It’s comprehensive, but there are a lot of moving parts. They allow for some customization (e.g., branding with apps, widgets, and themes) and settings, but the UI is not as flexible as many would like it to be. 

How customizable is Gymdesk’s interface? 

When it comes to customization, Gymdesk stands out here. Their platform offers members greater control over the layout, branding, dashboard views, and visual configuration of their platform. It’s relatively easy to customize Gymdesk so it works the way you need it to.

18. Can I set up automated reminders in Mindbody?

Both Mindbody and Gymdesk offer automated reminders. With Mindbody, you can create alerts, appointment reminders, confirmations, and promo messages via email or SMS.  Gymdesk does this as well, but they also offer flexible timing and template management—it’s simple to set up and easy to use. 

19. Can I export data from Mindbody?

Sort of. MindBody locks gym owners into lengthy contracts. It’s difficult to get your data in (from another provider), and it’s difficult to get your data out. If you don’t meet their criteria, you’ll find it difficult to get out of your contract. Once you’re in, you’re stuck until you can meet their cancellation requirements.

Mindbody’s policy states: “We currently require at least 30 days’ notice of cancellation before the end of the relevant subscription term.”

Once you’ve received the go-ahead, you can export visits, email history, feedback, reviews, text message history, and other report data. Your data is stored for a limited time, and it’s not available after you’ve decided to cancel. 

Once your site is deactivated, you are no longer able to access the data stored in it. We recommend saving a copy of your data for your own records before requesting your cancellation. For more information, visit Best practices before cancelling your Mindbody subscription.”

With Gymdesk, you can easily export all of 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.

What about importing your data from another provider like Mindbody?

It’s even easier! 

The data transfer to Gymdesk is straightforward due to our data format. Here’s the best part—we have onboarding specialists who are willing to help you format and import your data into Gymdesk, all at no charge! Instead of fighting with your data, we’ll help you format and import your data.

20. Does Mindbody support virtual classes?

Source: Mindbody.com

Mindbody offers online and livestream classes—you can even sell and schedule in-person and virtual sessions and events using their platform. Here’s the catch.

You’ll need yet another upgrade to use this feature for your business. 


“Live stream your classes starting at $49/month and offer pre-recorded, VOD workout classes to your members for $99/month.”

Does Gymdesk support virtual classes?

 With Gymdesk, you can integrate the virtual or livestream platform of your choice—Zoom, Dialpad, Google Meet, YouTube, etc. Are you seeing the benefits? Several platforms, such as Zoom, Google Meet, and YouTube, offer free, high-quality services. 

With these integrations, you can host and manage your online sessions directly via the Gymdesk platform. Your members can book and attend these classes using the Gymdesk platform to manage scheduling, memberships, and all of the administrative aspects of running a virtual class. 

21. Can I track client progress in Mindbody?

You can track client progress in Mindbody and Gymdesk. Both services offer a robust CRM service that provides progress logging, history tracking, client notes, and other gym-specific details (e.g., martial arts rank tracking).

According to Mindbody, you can:

  • Create programs and milestones to track your client’s progress
  • Manage multiple programs from the client’s profile
  • Promote clients once they meet milestone requirements
  • Get a comprehensive rank history for each client’s milestone progression

With Gymdesk, you can manage attendance, programs, levels, and ranks. 

22. Does Mindbody offer a referral-tracking system?

While Mindbody offers referral tracking, it’s typically offered in their higher-tier plans. If you want to offer referral incentives and tracking features that are typically in their Marketing Suite, you’ll need to upgrade.

Here’s how Mindbody does it.

“Clients who have had a recent visit automatically receive a message inviting them to join the referral program. They are also given a personal referral URL that can be shared in emails, on the web, or through social media.”

Does Gymdesk offer a referral-tracking system?

Gymdesk supports referral management as well. This is typically done in one of two ways: (1.) through our platform or (2.) by integrating with third-party referral apps. Instead of shoehorning you into our referral scheme, we’ve decided to provide this functionality via integrations. This enables you to choose the referral platform that’s best for your business. 

23. How does Mindbody handle no-shows?

Mindbody via Booker tracks attendance vs. bookings, allowing you to see no-shows via reports. You can set up automated reminders to reduce no-shows. Mindbody recommends that you create and enforce a no-show policy. 

“Creating and enforcing a no-show policy can reduce the chances of a customer not showing up for an appointment. If you charge cancellation fees, you can use the same rules for your no-show policy. You can also set different rules if you do not charge cancellation fees or wish to charge another amount for no-shows. Depending on your cancellation policy settings, no-show fees can be the full appointment fee, a flat dollar amount, or a percentage of the appointment value.”

How Gymdesk handles No-shows

Gymdesk offers explicit no-show tracking, providing clear lists, penalty settings, and improved automation workflows.

Gymdesk uses automations to address no-shows. Using automated triggers and emails for booked classes, you can create custom consequences and communication that are based on your no-show policy.

Another benefit Gymdesk offers is the ability to implement strategies like waitlists and attendance tracking, which helps you to reduce the frequency of no-shows.

24. Does Mindbody provide tools for client retention?

Mindbody offers reminders, member management tools, discounts, referral incentives, and retention tools. Gymdesk provides all of this as well, but they also offer loyalty programs, membership perks, and automated re-engagement workflows with a simple, easy-to-use configuration.

25. Can I run promotions through Mindbody?

Mindbody supports promo codes, but you’ll need to upgrade to a higher-tier plan (e.g., Accelerate and up) if you want to use them. These promotions can be run via email and SMS campaigns, and they include analytics to help you manage the performance of your campaign.

Gymdesk offers promotions via discount codes and package pricing; it’s easy to set up and integrate with booking flows.

26. Does Mindbody support different languages?

Mindbody supports multiple languages across its software, branded apps, and tools. They offer broad support for the following languages:

  • English
  • Español
  • Français
  • Deutsch
  • Português
  • Italiano

The language options aren’t particularly detailed. If multi-language support is important to you, you’ll want to verify that Mindbody supports the language that you’re looking for.  

Gymdesk offers native support in English and Japanese. If you need multi-language support, you can use integrations like Localazy to automate translation and support. 

27. Can I track employee hours in Mindbody?

Mindbody’s platform includes time-clock functionality for staff to clock in/out. Using their platform, members can track staff hours for payroll and scheduling purposes.

Gymdesk offers time-tracking as well; it’s part of payroll tracking. 

28. Can I create and sell online courses with Mindbody?

Yes. Mindbody supports courses (multi-day enrollments) and online educational content, enabling you to register clients and manage course rosters.

Gymdesk may support workshops and multi-session offerings; if you need rich course management, Mindbody may currently be more robust.

29. Does Mindbody offer a blog feature?

Mindbody doesn’t offer a website builder or blog feature on its platform. If you’d like to create a blog, you’ll need to use a third-party service like WordPress to host your blog. 

While Gymdesk offers a free website and website builder, it doesn’t include a blogging engine. However, you can embed your blog on your website, or you can link out to your own blog hosted on a third-party service or platform. 

So is Mindbody Worth it? 

Mindbody is enterprise-level software that’s made for established gyms and franchises. As a platform, it has an established history and a mature product line that’s perfect for multi-location gyms. 

Their platform provides A to Z offerings—everything from attendance to payroll, to marketing. That’s the key benefit of their platform, especially if you have the budget for their ultimate plus plans. 

Gymdesk is different. 

It’s tailor-made for small to medium-sized gyms. It’s a user-friendly alternative that’s 

Gymdesk shines as a modern, user-friendly alternative, offering a cleaner UI, faster workflows, intuitive dashboards, and easier administration. For businesses overwhelmed by Mindbody’s complexity, Gymdesk offers a refreshingly streamlined experience while still covering the essentials.

Gym management software that frees up your time and helps you grow.

Simplified billing, enrollment, student management, and marketing features that help you grow your gym or martial arts school.

Learn more
×

Get Our Best Content In Your Inbox

Insights on how to manage and grow your gym

Subscribe Now
×

Get more articles like this directly in your inbox.

Learn how to make your gym or martial arts school a profitable business.

* Unsubscribe at any time