5 Best Zen Planner Alternatives for Gyms in 2026

The best Zen Planner alternatives for gym owners are Gymdesk, PushPress, Mindbody, Kicksite, and ABC Glofox.

Each one handles billing, scheduling, and member management differently—so the right pick depends on your gym's size, what you teach, and how much you want to spend.

Zen Planner advertises plans "starting at $99/month." But most gym owners end up paying $350–$500+ once they add the marketing module, branded app, and payment processing fees.

That gap between advertised price and actual cost is the main reason owners start looking elsewhere.

With over 115,000 gyms in the U.S. and the fitness industry growing at a 9.30% CAGR through 2032, there's no shortage of software competing for your attention. Here's what each option actually costs and does.

Zen Planner Alternatives: Comparison Table

What Zen Planner Actually Costs

The #1 reason gym owners switch from Zen Planner? Cost.

Zen Planner's pricing looks straightforward on the surface:

• Up to 45 members: $99/month
• 46–100 members: $149/month
• 101–250 members: $199/month
• 251+ members: $267/month

But that's just the base plan. Most gyms need the add-on modules to actually run their business:

• Marketing automation (Engage CRM): ~$249/month
• Branded mobile app: ~$99/month
• Custom website: ~$99/month
• Payment processing: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

Add those up for a 200-member gym and you're looking at $546+/month—not the $199 you saw on the pricing page.

That's not shady. It's how modular pricing works. But if you're comparing Zen Planner to alternatives, compare the full cost—not just the base plan.

Other reasons gym owners switch

Beyond pricing, here are the patterns from gym owners who've made the move:

• The interface feels dated. Zen Planner launched in 2006. The design shows its age, and daily tasks take more clicks than they should.
• Missing features you need daily. Maybe it's specific functionality your gym depends on—or features that require an expensive add-on to unlock.
• Integration gaps. If your other tools don't connect to Zen Planner, you're stuck with manual workarounds.
• Support response times. Multiple reviews cite slow support as a frustration when things break mid-day.
• It just doesn't fit. Sometimes the software was the right call three years ago, but your gym outgrew it.

Top 5 Zen Planner Alternatives

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the top 5 Zen Planner alternatives that can help aid gyms, fitness studios, yoga studios, martial arts schools, and dancing schools. 

1. Gymdesk

Gymdesk is gym management software built by a BJJ black belt who understood the pain of gym owners. That background shows in the product—it's designed around the problems gym owners actually deal with.

Launched in 2016, Gymdesk serves martial arts schools, yoga studios, and fitness gyms. The pitch is simple: all features included at every pricing tier, no add-on modules, no surprise fees. You pick the plan based on your member count and get everything.

Where Gymdesk stands apart from Zen Planner is pricing transparency and martial arts features. Belt tracking, skill progression, attendance-based promotion requirements, and curriculum management are all built in—not bolted on as extras.

Overview of features

• Member management: Digital records, family accounts, attendance, and training progress
• Automated billing: Recurring payments with failed payment retry and dunning management
• Attendance tracking: Mobile check-in, kiosk mode, and batch check-in for whole classes
• Point-of-sale system: Sell gear at the front desk with inventory tracking
• Marketing tools: Lead tracking, trial management, and automation sequences
• Reporting: Revenue graphs, growth reports, and accounting ledger
• Member mobile app: iOS and Android—members book classes, check in, and manage payments
• Rank progression tracking: Skills library, belt progression bars, promotion requirements tied to attendance
• Free gym website: Drag-and-drop builder, mobile-optimized, included at every tier
• Integrations: Stripe, Square, Authorize.net, GoCardless, Gymdesk Payments, Kisi, Zapier
• Access control: Smart lock integration for 24/7 facility access
• Automation engine: Multi-step sequences with split paths, task creation, webhooks, and document sending

Pros and cons

Pros:

• All features at every tier—no modules to unlock
• Clean, fast interface that staff pick up quickly
• Martial arts features built into the core (belt tracking, curriculum, family accounts)
• Five payment processor options (not locked into one)
• Responsive support team

Cons:

• Fewer integrations than enterprise platforms like Mindbody
• SMS is a paid add-on (~$20 setup + per-text via Telnyx)
• Website builder is functional but basic—revamp planned

Pricing

• Micro Gym (up to 50 members): $75/month
• Small Gym (51–100 members): $100/month
• Medium Gym (101–200 members): $150/month
• Large Gym (201–400 members): $200/month
• Enterprise (400+ members): Custom pricing

No hidden fees. No add-on modules. 30-day free trial, no credit card required.

Reviews

G2: 4.8

GetApp: 4.9

Software Advice: 4.85

2. PushPress

PushPress started in the CrossFit world and has been expanding into martial arts and general fitness since 2024. It's used by 5,000+ gyms across 46 countries, and a $20M Series B in late 2024 gave them runway to push into new verticals.

The platform has a free tier—which is unusual for this category. But the tradeoff is 4.19% payment processing fees on every transaction, which adds up fast. The full platform with marketing, workout tracking, and a branded app runs $559+/month.

PushPress added rank tracking for martial arts in April 2025, so those features are less than a year old. If you're a CrossFit box or strength-focused gym, the fit is stronger. For martial arts schools, it's still catching up.

Overview of features

• Member management: Profiles, attendance, and engagement tracking
• Billing and payments: Stripe-only processing with tiered fee rates
• Class scheduling: Calendar management with online booking
• Check-in system: Name-tap check-in and kiosk mode (Pro tier and above)
• Grow module ($329/month): Full CRM with phone porting, caller ID masking, two-way SMS, automated marketing funnels
• Train module ($79+/month): Workout programming and tracking
• Branded app ($81–$97/month + $99/year Apple Dev fee): White-labeled mobile app
• AI support chatbot: Handles ~60% of support conversations

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Free tier for gyms just starting out
• Full CRM and marketing suite (with Grow add-on)
• AI-assisted support documentation
• Built by gym owners who understand the business

Cons:

• Free tier hits you with 4.19% processing fees on every payment
• Full platform costs $559+/month with all modules
• Stripe-only—no alternative payment processors
• Martial arts features are new (launched April 2025) and still maturing
• Billing reliability issues reported by some users
• Email deliverability problems (invoices and password resets not reaching members)

Pricing

• Free: $0/month (4.19% + $0.30 per transaction)
• Pro: $159/month (2.89% + $0.30)
• Max: $229/month (2.75% + $0.30)
• Grow (CRM/marketing): $329/month
• Train (workouts): Starting at $79/month
• Branded App: $81–$97/month + $99/year

Full stack with everything: $559+/month.

Reviews

G2: 4.4

GetApp: 4.5

Software Advice: 4.5

3. Mindbody

Mindbody has been around since the early 2000s and is probably the most recognized name in gym management software. It serves fitness studios, spas, salons, and wellness businesses—which is both its strength and its weakness. The platform does a lot, but it wasn't built specifically for gyms or martial arts schools.

The draw is Mindbody's marketplace—over 3 million users browse the app looking for classes and studios nearby. If discovery and new member acquisition matter to you, that exposure is hard to match elsewhere.

The downside? It's expensive, complicated, and the interface feels like it was built a decade ago. Which it was. Here's our full Mindbody review.

Overview of features

• Class and appointment scheduling: Book, cancel, and reschedule with calendar management
• Client management: CRM with profiles and communication history
• POS system: In-person and online payment processing with inventory tracking
• Reporting and analytics: Revenue, attendance, and retention data
• Marketing tools: Email campaigns, promotions, social media integration (Ultimate tier)
• Staff management: Scheduling, hours tracking, performance monitoring
• Mindbody app listing: Exposure to 3M+ users searching for classes
• Branded mobile app: Available as an add-on
• Live streaming: Virtual class delivery with on-demand video
• Integrations: 100+ including Mailchimp, Google Calendar, Xero, ActiveCampaign

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Marketplace with 3M+ users for member discovery
• 100+ integrations
• Live streaming and virtual class support
• 24/7 customer support

Cons:

• Steep learning curve—complicated onboarding
• Pricing adds up fast with add-ons (branded app, AI chatbot, consulting)
• Interface feels dated
• Weak martial arts features—belt tracking is basic or paper-based for most users
• PE-owned (Vista Equity)—pricing pressure tends to go one direction

Pricing

Mindbody recently simplified to three tiers:

• Starter: Starting at $99/month per location
• Accelerate: Mid-tier (price not publicly listed)
• Ultimate: Top tier (price not publicly listed)

Add-ons include branded mobile app, Messenger[ai] chatbot, consulting, and Mindbody Capital. The real monthly cost depends heavily on which add-ons you need.

Previous published pricing showed Accelerate at $259/month and Ultimate at $399/month, but Mindbody no longer lists exact numbers for higher tiers on their website.

Reviews

G2: 3.6

GetApp: 4.0

Software Advice: 4.0

4. Kicksite

Kicksite is martial arts-only software built by Taekwondo instructors. They serve 2,000+ schools across 22 countries and have been around for nearly 20 years. If you run a BJJ, karate, MMA, or Taekwondo school, Kicksite was designed specifically for your world.

The platform handles belt tracking, curriculum management, and student progression. It's family-owned, independent, and unapologetically focused on martial arts—they've called multi-vertical competitors "money grabs" who don't understand the industry.

The biggest gap? No native mobile app. Members access the platform through a mobile web browser bookmark, which multiple users have called out as a dealbreaker.

Overview of features

• Student management: Profiles with contacts, belt rank, attendance, and progress
• Belt tracking and curriculum: Manage rank progression and testing schedules
• Attendance tracking: Manual input or barcode scanning
• Communication: Two-way SMS (included free), in-app messaging, and email
• Billing and payments: Invoices and recurring charges through Basys (US/Canada) or Stripe (international)
• Event management: Belt testing, tournaments, and seminars
• Automated communication: Session reminders, cancelation notifications, drip sequences
• Reporting: Attendance tracking and business performance reports
• Dedicated onboarding: 60-day onboarding specialist plus unlimited training

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Built exclusively for martial arts—deep understanding of dojo operations
• Free unlimited texting included (if verified—that's a real money saver)
• Dedicated 60-day onboarding with hands-on setup
• Nearly 20 years of martial arts-specific development
• Affordable entry point for small schools

Cons:

• No native mobile app—members use a browser bookmark
• Limited to Basys or Stripe for payment processing (Basys charges a $29/month gateway fee + 2.9% + $0.25/transaction)
• Limited integrations (2–3 documented)
• No POS system—uses landing pages instead
• Automation limited to prospect-only flows in some configurations
• No access control or door integration

Pricing

Kicksite prices by student count:

• 0–50 students: $49/month
• 51–100 students: $99/month
• 100+ students: $149/month

Note: These are the most recently published tiers. Kicksite's pricing page requires login to view current numbers—verify directly before making a decision. Managed website service has been priced separately at ~$199/month historically.

Reviews

G2: 5.0 (limited reviews—small sample size)

GetApp: 4.8

Software Advice: 4.8

Capterra: 4.8 (126 reviews—zero 1-star or 2-star)

5. ABC Glofox

Glofox—now ABC Glofox after being acquired by ABC Fitness Solutions—serves gyms, yoga studios, HIIT studios, and boutique fitness centers. They claim 30,000+ customers in 80+ countries and feature logos like F45, Snap Fitness, and UFC Gym.

The platform looks good. The interface is modern, the branded app is polished, and the onboarding process gets praise. But there's a pattern in recent reviews worth knowing about.

After the ABC Fitness acquisition, support quality dropped. The pattern in reviews is consistent: great experience pre-acquisition, then support stops responding, prices jump, and feature requests go nowhere. One owner of three locations described it as "an absolute and complete disaster" after the merger. Not every user has this experience—but 20% of Trustpilot reviews are 1-star, and most of those are recent.

Overview of features

• Member management: Profiles, attendance history, and membership tracking
• Class scheduling and booking: Timetables, capacity tracking, and online booking
• Billing and payments: Automated invoicing and payment collection
• CRM: Lead management and onboarding workflows (Boost tier and above)
• Marketing tools: Email campaigns, push notifications, and social media integrations
• Branded mobile app: Custom-branded with your gym's logo and colors
• Access control: Membership-based facility access
• 500 SMS credits/month included in the plan
• Integrations: Perkville, Gympass, Mailchimp, Meta Pixel, and others

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Clean, modern interface
• Branded app is well-designed
• 500 SMS credits included monthly
• CRM with lead management (higher tiers)

Cons:

• Pricing is hidden—you have to talk to sales to get a number
• Field-reported pricing: $250–$360/month in the US market
• Key features (lead capture, advanced reporting, POS, e-agreements) gated behind higher tiers
• Post-acquisition support complaints are widespread and consistent
• Changing a membership price affects ALL members on that plan—forces you to create duplicates
• No granular staff permissions—coaches either see everything or can't onboard members
• Martial arts belt tracking is surface-level at best

Pricing

ABC Glofox does not publish pricing. You need to request a demo to get a quote.

Based on field reports from gym owners (2025–2026), expect:

• US market: $250–$360/month
• Pricing has increased post-acquisition—some owners report 70% increases with no added features
• Features are gated by tier (Essential, Boost, Elite)

Reviews

G2: 4.5

GetApp: 4.4

Software Advice: 4.4

Trustpilot: 3.5 (374 reviews—highly polarized)

Feature Comparison: Zen Planner vs. Alternatives

Side-by-side on the features you'll use every day:

Which Alternative Fits Your Gym?

Skip to your situation:

You run a martial arts school and want the best value. Gymdesk. Built by a BJJ black belt, mature belt tracking and curriculum management, family accounts for parents managing kids' memberships, and all features included at $75–$200/month depending on size. Start a free trial and test it on your actual gym.

You run a martial arts school on a tight budget. Kicksite. At $49/month for up to 50 students, it's the cheapest entry point for dojos. But know the tradeoffs: no mobile app, limited payment processor options, and fewer integrations.

You run a CrossFit box or strength gym. PushPress. It was built for that world and has deep roots in the CrossFit community, including a Mat Fraser partnership. The free tier works if you're small enough to stomach 4.19% processing fees.

You need a marketplace to discover new members. Mindbody. The 3M+ user app is a real acquisition channel—especially for yoga studios, Pilates, and wellness businesses in competitive urban markets.

You're a boutique studio focused on design and branding. ABC Glofox. The branded app is polished and the interface is modern. Just go in with eyes open about post-acquisition support and pricing transparency.

For martial arts schools specifically

If you're running a martial arts academy, your software needs to handle things most gym platforms ignore: belt tracking, curriculum progression, family billing, and attendance-based promotion requirements.

Only two platforms on this list were built with martial arts as a primary focus:

• Gymdesk — Founded by a BJJ black belt. Skills tracking, promotion requirements tied to attendance, family accounts, and rank progression are core features, not afterthoughts.
• Kicksite — Founded by Taekwondo instructors. Nearly 20 years of martial arts-only development. Solid belt tracking, but no mobile app and limited integrations.

Zen Planner has martial arts features too—it was founded by a martial arts school owner. But since Daxko acquired it in 2017, the platform has stagnated. Feature development has slowed, and the modular pricing means martial arts tools often require paying for add-ons.

How to Switch from Zen Planner

Most gym owners dread this part. It's usually easier than you expect. Here's how it works:

1. Export your data. Zen Planner lets you export member records, billing history, and attendance logs as CSV files. Do this before you cancel anything.

2. Pick your alternative and talk to their support team. Most platforms—Gymdesk included—will walk you through importing your data. Don't try to figure it out alone.

3. Run both systems in parallel for a week. Set up the new platform, import your data, and test billing and scheduling before you flip the switch.

4. Train your staff. The simpler the new platform, the less training you need. Gymdesk's setup takes minutes. Mindbody's takes days.

5. Tell your members. Send an email explaining what's changing and what they need to do (usually: download a new app or update their login).

6. Cancel Zen Planner. Submit a Cancellation Request Form at least 30 days in advance—you'll owe fees through the cancellation date.

One thing to watch: if you use Zen Planner's integrated payment processing, your payment token migration may take coordination. Ask your new platform's support team about this before you start.

Find The Best Alternatives Today

At the end of the day, Zen Planner isn’t “bad” software—it’s just not always the best fit once you factor in real pricing, add-ons, and where your gym is headed.

If you want tools that actually match how martial arts schools and smaller gyms run, Gymdesk is the place to start. All features at every tier, built‑in belt and curriculum tracking, a member app, automations, and a free website—without playing “guess the real price” with modules.

From there, run the math on what you’re actually paying today, list the features you can’t live without, then test two or three options in parallel for a week. 

The right software should quietly run in the background while you coach, sell, and grow—not eat your lunch in fees and admin time.

If you’re ready for the “all in” version of what Zen Planner’s trying to be—transparent pricing, martial-arts-first features, and no nickel‑and‑diming—start a 30‑day free trial of Gymdesk and see how it feels when your software finally gets out of your way.