MyStudio Alternatives: 7 Better Options for Your Studio

Gymdesk Library
/
Gyms
/
Gym Marketing
/
Gym Sales
/
Gym Management
Andrew
McDermott
•
November 17, 2025

Is it right for you? 

MyStudio is an up-and-coming, all-in-one gym management software platform. Their platform is built for a variety of gym types. They have most of the features you’d expect from gym management software. 

But is it a fit for your business? 

Today, we’ll take a close look at their platform. We’ll take a look at their specialties, key features, pricing, and limitations. We’ll evaluate the pros and cons of their platform and provide seven alternatives for you to consider. 

Are you ready?

Great! Let’s get started!

Why Are Studio Owners Seeking MyStudio Alternatives?

Spend some time reading through MyStudio reviews, and you see feedback like this.

Source: Capterra.com

Well, maybe that’s just a fluke? 

Are there other customers using their platform who feel this way? 

Source: Capterra.com 

MyStudio customers run into issues with the platform. Here are some of the common pain points gym owners experience with MyStudio:

  1. Great at first, but quickly outgrown. Their platform performs well with simple tasks (e.g., recurring billing)  that are easy to manage. Things get messy once you begin to add complexity. 
  2. Price escalation. Costs begin to climb quickly once you add members or features. Need attendance management, email marketing, marketing automations, or a branded app? That’s extra. Some gym owners find that they’re paying for more than they’re getting. These pricing concerns create a dilemma for gym owners. If they pay extra for the features they need, it may force them into a cash flow crunch. If they don’t pay for the features they need, they’re unable to market or manage their business properly.  
  3. Limited integration capabilities: Many users report encountering performance issues or feature limitations when they try to integrate with the tools they already use. Some customers report that promised integrations haven’t been delivered (more than two years later). This increases manual labor, significantly slowing productivity and operations. 
  4. Support headaches: Gym and studio owners report that the support and onboarding aren’t where they should be. They mentioned that, after speaking with customer support, they were forced to create their own workarounds. Others stated that they were unable to get support at all. Unresolved issues, slow response times, and forced self-help will make the platform more difficult and expensive to use over time. Instead of facilitating growth, the platform will force you to pay employees more money to resolve problems with the software they should be using to do their job. 
  5. User interface (UI) challenges: Gym owners frequently report struggling to use the platform. Users say their staff struggles to find what they need, when they need it. A customer described the interface as “Slow loading. Counter intuitive operation. Lack of options for modifying programs and payments. Transferring members between programs requires a payment to be made, even if transferring to a program of the same value.” This leads to lost time, reduced productivity, and staff frustration. The ultimate outcome? More member churn, forcing your business into yet another cash flow crunch.     

These are the top reasons why gym and studio owners switch from MyStudio. 

Well, let’s imagine that you’re eager to avoid all of these headaches. What should your studio management platform offer? 

What should an ideal studio management platform offer?

When you’re evaluating a membership management platform, your expectations should fall into three categories: 

  1. Core functionality: These are all of the major features and benefits you’d expect from your platform of choice. These features include billing and member management, attendance tracking, booking and schedule management, and website and marketing management. 
  2. Robust integrations: Essential integrations with tools you’re already using—payment processing (e.g., Square, Stripe), accounting tools (e.g., Xero, QuickBooks), marketing (e.g., automations, email, text), and workflow automation (i.e., Zapier). This minimizes the transitional pain and disruptions to your business. With robust integrations, gym owners and their staff can make quick adjustments using the tools they’re most comfortable with. 
  3. Transparent pricing: This means clear, upfront pricing that provides you with the information you need to calculate and assess the total cost of ownership. What does this mean? You’re aware of all subscription, one-time, and percentage fees. You know the price of implementation, training, customization, integration, and ongoing maintenance and support. 
  4. Responsive support and onboarding: You should have the support and onboarding you need to set up your gym management software. What does this mean? Importing data from a previous platform or provider; getting the necessary training and support to set up and manage your account. Getting the training and assistance needed to use their platform efficiently. 

With these criteria in mind, let’s take a closer look at seven of the best alternatives to MyStudio.

MyStudio Alternatives: 7 Better Options

What are the alternatives to MyStudio? 

Customers have identified several issues with their platform. Are there any other platforms that are better options for your studio?

Here’s a brief overview of seven options. 

PLATFORMBEST FORSTARTING PRICE*KEY FEATURESLIMITATIONGymdeskSmall-to-medium fitness, martial arts, and boutique studios$75 per mo. (up to 50 members)All features are available in every planLots of workflow automations. Fewer native integrationsZen PlannerFitness and martial arts studios $99 per mo. to startRank and event tracking for martial arts and yogaPrice increases with size/featuresMindbodyLarge studios and boutiques$99 per mo. to startMarketplace exposure to attract new membersComplex, high cost for full-featured softwareSpark MembershipSmall martial arts schools$239 per mo. ($199 w/ discount) to start + $50 per yr. for training.Tailor-made for martial arts. Key supportNot proven for large or non-martial arts gymsGlofoxBoutique fitness studios and franchisesContact for a quote. (Rumored to be $110 per mo.)A mobile-first branded appCustom pricing means smaller studios spend moreTeamUpBest for gyms that want maximum flexibility$104+ per mo.  (up to 100 customers)Scalable pricing that’s designed to grow with youFewer advanced features compared to their competitorsVagaroFitness, beauty, salons, and wellness Starts at $23.99 per mo. w/ one bookable calendarBooking, scheduling, POS, and marketplace exposureCreated for beauty and salon brands. Fitness-specific depth missing

*Note that the starting price is subject to change.

Let’s take a closer look at these options. 

#01. Gymdesk: Best for Small-to-Medium Fitness, Sports, Martial Arts, and Boutique Studios

Gymdesk is tailor-made for specialty gyms—sports performance and functional fitness studios, martial arts schools, boutiques (e.g., yoga, Pilates, or Barre), dance studios, and gymnastics. It’s a simple, easy-to-use platform that gives you all of the features competitors charge extra for, at a flat price. It’s a modern platform that’s intuitive and easy for your staff to learn, making it a better option over underdeveloped platforms or clunky legacy platforms. 

Gymdesk Reviews

Gymdesk Pros and Cons

  • All features are included in all plans
  • Affordable pricing
  • No contracts or hidden fees 
  • Very customizable
  • Website, marketing, and branded app included 
  • Excellent customer support 
  • Extensive onboarding 
  • Limited website design flexibility
  • Less robust reporting 
  • Limited native app integration
  • Extensive integration via third-party tools

#02 Zen Planner: Good for Fitness and Martial Arts Studios 

Zen Planner is all about operational depth. Their platform is backed by Daxko, a company running a variety of software brands in the fitness industry. Daxko claims to power 40% of the fitness and wellness facilities nationally. If you’re looking for a platform that emphasizes good operations management, Zen Planner may be a fit. 

Zen Planner Reviews

Zen Planner Pros and Cons

  • Comprehensive platform 
  • Complicated to use
  • A la carte pricing (pay for what you use)
  • Excellent customer service 
  • High processing fees 
  • Required to use their payment processor (CardPointe)
  • Billing and payment issues 
  • Customer service delays 

#03 Mindbody: Best for Large Studios and Boutiques

Mindbody is one of the most recognized fitness saas platforms. Their platform uses an à la carte model, where some products are purchased separately. Their online marketplace enables gym owners to attract and convert new members. It’s ideal for large, established studios, as their platform comes at a high price and (very) steep learning curve.

Mindbody Reviews

#04 Spark Membership: Best for Small Martial Arts Schools

Spark’s focus is solely on martial arts schools; its platform offers niche-specific features, including student rankings, tournament/event support, and strong customer service. If you’re running a taekwondo or karate dojo or an MMA gym, this may be a fit, so long as your platform fits with their platform.

Spark Membership Reviews

Spark Membership Pros and Cons

  • The platform is martial arts specific
  • Strong automation features
  • Flexible and easy to customize 
  • Integrates well with third-party tools
  • Limited reporting
  • Mandatory payment processing (you must use Spark’s payment processor)
  • No phone support
  • Payment processing issues
  • Extra fees for website and marketing tools 

#05 Glofox: Best for Boutique Fitness Studios and Franchises Brands

Glofox, based in Ireland, focuses on boutique fitness (e.g., yoga, Barre, Pilates, HIIT, CrossFit). Their platform takes a mobile-first approach, with branded apps, booking tools, and retention tools. Their platform is ideal for mid-sized boutique fitness studios and franchises. 

Glofox Reviews

Glofox Pros and Cons

  • Tailor-made for boutiques
  • Responsive customer support 
  • Unexpected price increases 
  • Easy to use
  • easy to set up
  • Users report significant glitches (converting leads to members) that hinder functionality  

#06 TeamUp: Best for Gyms that Want Maximum Flexibility 

TeamUp is a simple platform designed for small-to-medium-sized studios looking for the basics—class scheduling, flexible membership models, and self-service features without complexity. It’s budget-friendly and scalable. 

TeamUp Reviews

TeamUp Pros and Cons

  • Moderately priced 
  • Generous free trial
  • Strong booking and membership features
  • Moderate integration 
  • Issues with payment and invoice verification
  • Limited booking options 
  • Limited customization
  • Limited flexibility (e.g., admin overrides) 
  • User rights management
  • Unlimited customer support
  • Helpful customer support 

#07 Vagaro: Best for Fitness, Beauty, Salons, and Wellness

Vagaro supports specific industries/niches. Their platform supports the beauty/spa markets, fitness, and wellness studios. They have all of the usual features and tools you’d expect on a studio management platform, including: attendance and scheduling tracking, billing and payment systems, point-of-sale (POS) features, and marketplace exposure. If you’re running a mixed-use studio (e.g., fitness + spa), this platform may be a good fit.  

Vagaro Reviews

Vagaro Pros and Cons

  • Tailor-made for beauty, health, and wellness brands
  • An affordable, entry-level service with basic features 
  • Standard features cost extra
  • Very fast
  • Helpful customer support 
  • Backend does not fully sync with reservations
  • Usability issues 
  • Easy to integrate and easy to edit
  • Some customers complain that Vagaro takes control over client data

An In-Depth Look at Feature Sets and Pricing

Here’s a detailed breakdown outlining key feature categories for each of these sevel products as they compare against MyStudio. We’re looking at these alternatives with an eye for the platform that provides the best value, scales well, and is suitable for studios. 

Features At-a-glance

Feature GymdeskZenPlannerMindbodySpark GlofoxTeamUpVagaroMember management✓✓✓✓✓✓✓Scheduling & booking ✓✓✓✓✓✓✓Billing & payment processing✓3rd partyRequired*Required*Required*Optional✓✓Marketing communication Comprehensive✓✓✓✓✓BasicReporting & analytics✓Advanced✓ Complex✓ Complex✓✓BasicLimitedMobile app availability✓ Standard✓Extra✓Extra✓Standard✓✓✓

* Customers are required to use the vendor’s payment processor when they sign up for this platform. 

Best Value Based on Features-to-Price

Which platform offers the greatest value for the money? It all depends on the features and focus you’re looking for. 

  • Budget-friendly options: TeamUp and Gymdesk stand out for smaller studios with limited budgets. You get a full-featured platform at a lower price point. 
  • Feature-rich solutions: Zen Planner, Mindbody, Gymdesk, and Glofox offer the deepest functionality—ideal for studios seeking advanced analytics, multi-location support, branded apps, a website builder, and integrations.
  • Scalable platforms: Gymdesk, TeamUp, and Glofox are designed to scale well. What’s great about these platforms is the fact that there are no issues with legacy software that you’d have to address. Zen Planner is legacy software, but there are significant price increases. These platforms provide a clear path to growth without the brutal cost jumps.
  • Best value for growing studios: Gymdesk delivers strong core features at a lower price point than most legacy giants. Why is this the best value? There are no contracts, hidden fees, or high payment processing fees. You’re not required to use Gymdesk’s payment processor, and you don’t have to worry about your studio management tool taking money from every transaction. All features are available from day one, regardless of the plan you choose. 

What about studio type? Which MyStudio alternative is best for your business?  

Which Alternative Is Best for Your Studio Type?

Different studios have unique needs and requirements. Here’s a short excerpt of the features that may be more 

Different studio types have unique software requirements. Here’s a breakdown of what matters for each segment and the platforms best suited to each. 

1. Martial Arts Schools

Must-have features: 

  • Promotion, rank, and belt tracking 
  • Attendance tracking by student, class, or belt level
  • Family memberships
  • Class packs, personals (one-on-ones)
  • Promotions, tournaments, and event support

Best picks: Zen Planner (strong belt/rank tracking), Gymdesk (focuses on martial arts and quick setup), Spark Membership (tailor-built for martial arts schools).

2. Yoga and Pilates Studios

Must-have features:

  • Class passes
  • Workshops
  • Drop-ins
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Membership packs
  • Workshop/event booking
  • Scheduling and booking
  • Waitlists and substitutions


Best picks: Glofox (emphasizes mobile-first), Gymdesk (easy to set up, responsive support), Zen Planner (flexible class packs and pricing tiers), TeamUp (simple scheduling and class-pack-friendly).

3. CrossFit and Functional Training Gyms

Must-have features:

  • Member performance
  • Workout tracking
  • Flexible class, session, and event bookings
  • Community and engagement tools
  • Branded mobile app experience

Best picks: Glofox (strong retention tool set), Gymdesk (flexible toolset, easy to customize, extensive branded app), Mindbody (powerful, high cost), Zen Planner (workout tracking + membership management functionality).

4. Dance and Children’s Activities Studios

Must-have features:

  • Parent communication
  • Multi-child accounts
  • Multi-child scheduling
  • Parent and guardian account management for children
  • Event/recital scheduling and communications
  • Class booking across age/level distinctions
  • Drop-in attendance, packages, and automated billing

Best picks: Zen Planner (family account management), Gymdesk (family accounts), Vagaro (limited parent/child bookings and management).

Common Questions About Transitioning From MyStudio

What is the data migration Process?

You can export your members’ information (e.g., rank, memberships, personal data), billing history, class schedules, and configuration from MyStudio and import them into your new platform. If you’re transitioning to Gymdesk, an onboarding specialist will walk you through the process and provide step-by-step support. 

Are there any staff training requirements?

Gymdesk’s platform is intuitive and easy to use. That said, you’ll want to give your time to become acquainted with your new platform. It’s a good idea to schedule training sessions for your team. It’s best to allocate training time during slower business windows or during planned downtime.

Timeline expectations: How long does the transition take?

Transition time depends on a variety of factors, including: 

  • System complexity
  • Compatibility between your old and new platforms
  • The availability of quality instruction, documentation, and support 
  • Technical debt, bottlenecks that extend the time to transition due to unforeseen complications

Switching platforms can take as little as a few weeks or as long as several months, depending on the size of your business, the volume of data you need to transition, the number of members you have, and the overall complexity. 

Choosing the Right Software Matters

If you’re looking to switch from MyStudio, you’re already aware of the impact it will have on your business. Your daily operations, member satisfaction, and business growth. 

So is MyStudio Worth it? 

MyStudio is an up-and-coming, all-in-one gym management software platform. Their platform is designed for specific martial arts and boutique studios. 

Their customers report several issues—outgrowing their platform, price escalation, limited integration options, and support headaches. These issues lead to lost time, reduced productivity, and staff frustration. The outcome? More member churn forces your business into a cash flow crunch.     

Gymdesk is different. 

It's tailor-made for small to medium-sized gyms. It's a modern, user-friendly alternative that's clean, fast, and efficient. It’s designed for today’s gym, sporting faster workflows, intuitive dashboards, and simple administration. For studios feeling let down by MyStudio’s issues, Gymdesk offers a refreshingly streamlined experience that still covers the essentials.

FAQs About MyStudio Software Alternatives

Will my members notice when I switch from MyStudio to another software?

Upfront communication and clear preparation will minimize the effects on members, ensuring that your booking/payment flows continue uninterrupted. They may notice if portals/logins change but it shouldn’t be significant. 

Can I export all my data from MyStudio before cancelling?

Yes, with MyStudio, you can export your member and billing data. Here’s their knowledge base article, showing you how to do that. 

Do most MyStudio alternatives offer mobile apps for both staff and members?

Yes, several alternatives that we’ve covered so far offer mobile app access for members and/or staff, which is essential for today’s studios. This comes standard with Gymdesk, though their branded app is primarily for members. Gymdesk is fully responsive and accessible to staff via any browser or device. 

What should I prioritise when choosing a MyStudio alternative for my business?

Focus on your studio’s size and growth plan. Identify the integrations and options you need, and evaluate the total cost of ownership. Make sure you’re aware of all subscription, one-time, and percentage fees. Verify the price of implementation, training, customization, integration, and ongoing maintenance and support. 

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

Related Articles

View all articles

BJJ School Culture and Transformation Over Profit

Common Mistakes When Expanding to a Second Gym (Even Experienced Owners Make)

The Secret Sauce of Academia Jiu-Jitsu: How Energy, Warmth, and Human Connection Create an Unbreakable Community