Best Gym Management Software 2026: Complete Comparison
- martin01248
- Sep 30
- 10 min read
Updated: Oct 16
Compare different types of gym management software tools and choose the right one for your business.
How Gym Management Software Helps You Stay Competitive in 2026
Running a gym or fitness studio in 2026 is more complex than ever. Between hybrid business models (in-person + virtual), higher member expectations, and tighter margins, you need a tool that doesn’t just keep up - it helps you compete. The right gym management software is now the backbone of growth, retention, and operational efficiency.
In today’s environment, software must:
Automate repetitive tasks.
Provide insights to drive profit.
Adapt to your growth.
Provide a differentiating member experience.
Be intuitive enough that your staff adopt it.
If your system is clunky, has hidden costs or fails to integrate, it becomes a burden, rather than an asset. That’s why comparing software across vendors is no longer optional, it’s essential.
Key Features of the Best Gym Management Software in 2026
Below are the core capabilities any top-tier gym management software must include (or at least support via add-ons):
Scheduling & Class Management - allowing members to book, cancel, waitlist, manage instructors and conflict avoidance.
Billing & Payments - recurring billing, payment gateways, POS, grace periods, dues collection.
Member Management & CRM - profile data, member analytics, segmentation, engagement tools (emails, SMS).
Check-in & Access Control - QR codes, RFID, door system integration, self-check-in.
Reporting & Analytics - dashboards, retention metrics, revenue forecasting.
Mobile App / Web Portal - member self-service (booking, profile, payments).
Multi-location / Franchise Support — unified system across branches, central controls.
These features are table stakes. The differences come down to ease of use, pricing plans and transparency, and how well the vendor supports your niche (e.g. martial arts, boutique studio, large chain).
Gym Management Software Comparison Table 2026
Vendor | Who They Serve | Pricing | Free Plan | Plans | Free Trial | Capterra Rating |
1club | Small & mid-sized gyms, yoga and wellness studios | Transparent | Yes | Free, Starter, Core, Growth plans | Yes | 4.7/5 |
Mindbody | Large gyms, studios, wellness chains | Mostly hidden, requires a quote | No | Core, Accelerate, Ultimate (tiered) | After demo | 4.0/5 |
Glofox | Boutique gyms, fitness clubs | Mostly hidden, requires a quote | No | Starter, Growth, Ultimate | After demo | 4.4/5 |
PushPress | CrossFit and functional gyms | Transparent | Yes (high payment fees) | Basic, Pro, Enterprise | Yes | 4.7/5 |
Zen Planner | Gyms, studios, and regional fitness centres | Transparent | No | Starter, Growth, Elite | No | 4.3/5 |
Wodify | CrossFit boxes, performance gyms | Partly public, custom quotes | No | Standard, Performance, Business | No | 4.4/5 |
Gymdesk | Small to mid-sized gyms | Transparent | Yes (limited to 15 members) | Basic, Pro, Enterprise | Yes | 4.8/5 |
Virtuagym | Gyms, studios, wellness businesses | Mostly hidden, requires a quote | No | Base + Add-on Modules | Yes,(after demo) | 3.8/5 |
Perfect Gym | Multi-location gyms, large fitness chains | Quote-based, hidden pricing | No | Modular, Enterprise-focused | No | 3.9/5 |
Wellyx | Boutique gyms, wellness studios | Transparent | Yes | Lite, Pro, Enterprise | Yes | 4.7/5 |
Comparison of gym management software tools
There are many great gym management tools out there. Depending on your unique requirements, a different tool may be a better fit.
To make your decision easier, we have compared dozens of wiki software solutions and put together a list of the 10 best picks.
1club - a modern and intuitive solution with transparent pricing and a free plan.
Mindbody - a widely used platform for large gyms and wellness businesses.
Glofox - a mobile-friendly solution for boutique studios and fitness clubs.
PushPress - a straightforward system built for CrossFit and functional gyms.
Zen Planner - a reliable all-in-one tool for gyms and regional fitness centres.
Wodify - a performance-driven platform for tracking workouts and members.
Gymdesk - an accessible, value-focused solution for small to mid-sized gyms.
Virtuagym - a flexible fitness and wellness platform with coaching add-ons.
Perfect Gym - an enterprise-grade system for chains and multi-location clubs.
Wellyx - a scalable management tool for boutique gyms and wellness studios.
1club
Plans & packaging - Free, Starter, Core, Growth plans.
Pricing transparency - yes, on the website.
Free plan - yes.
Free trial - yes.
Capterra rating - 4.8/5
1club is a modern gym management software designed with simplicity and transparency at its core. It offers a free forever plan, fast onboarding, and translated back-end and documentation, making it an accessible option for gyms, studios, martial arts schools and sports clubs. With clear, public pricing and scalable tiers, it’s an appealing alternative for owners who value ease of use and straightforward growth paths.
With 1club you can get started fast (no training overhead), and the “free forever” plan is a great entry point for small gyms and studios. 1club doesn’t hide behind sales calls - you see what you are going to get and how much it will cost.
What users say about 1club:
“1club has been easy to adopt thanks to its clean design and straightforward setup. We started with the free plan and moved up to the Core plan over time. We love the transparency in pricing and everything to do with 1club - it’s easy to plan ahead without surprises. Onboarding was quick, and the multilingual support in the back-end is a helpful touch for non-English-speaking staff. While it may not have every advanced feature larger platforms offer, it delivers what most gyms and studios need simply and reliably.”
- Capterra review
2. Mindbody
Plans & packaging - various packages (Core, Accelerate, Ultimate, etc.). Base tier supports essentials; higher tiers unlock advanced marketing, analytics, and premium integrations.
Pricing transparency - no public pricing, many plans require a demo or quote to see full costs.
Free trial - after demo request.
Free plan - no
Capterra rating - 4.0/5
Mindbody is one of the largest wellness and fitness management platforms, serving thousands of gyms, studios, and wellness centers worldwide. Known for its extensive marketplace and broad feature set, it is particularly popular among larger studios and enterprises that combine fitness with other services such as spas or salons. Its scale and integrations make it well-suited for complex businesses, though pricing transparency remains limited.
What users say about Mindbody:
“I'd say the scheduling capabilities were fairly intuitive- moving classes from one schedule to the next, cancelling, rescheduling etc was great. The check out process was tedious, took forever, and editing patient and teacher info was clunky and inconsistent.”
3. Glofox
Plans & packaging - Starter, Growth, and Ultimate plans; feature unlocks escalate at each tier.
Pricing transparency - no public pricing, some features require premium tiers or custom quotes.
Free plan - no.
Free trial - after demo request.
Capterra rating - 4.4/5
Glofox is a widely adopted gym management platform used by boutique gyms and mid-sized studios across multiple regions. It emphasises user-friendly design and mobile-first engagement, making it appealing to class-based operators that prioritise member apps and automation. With tiered plans and international presence, it’s positioned as an accessible solution for growing studios that want a balance between affordability and features.
What users say about Glofox:
“New features are constantly added while existing features are broken. There’s no way include or track sales tax in the store, but instead they’re planning to add payroll processing. If it can’t handle USA sales tax, would I trust that my state payroll taxes have been properly filed? Features seem half finished while others outside the core business are instead being focused on.”
4. PushPress
Plans & packaging - Free, Pro and Max plans with declining payment processing fees.
Pricing transparency - public pricing available.
Free plan - yes, but with high payment processing fees.
Free trial - no, demo available via the website.
Capterra rating - 4.7/5
PushPress is a gym management tool built with CrossFit boxes and functional training gyms in mind. It offers straightforward workflows for class scheduling, memberships, and performance tracking, making it particularly attractive to smaller gyms that value simplicity. While its feature set is more focused than broader platforms, it caters well to fitness businesses looking for niche functionality.
What users say about PushPress:
“I used Push Press for 6 months when I joined a CrossFit Box. I had previously run in gym for 10 years and have used many CRM’s and programs like Push Press. We transitioned out of it to save money and have a more user friendly app for our membership.”
5. Zen Planner
Plans & packaging - Pricing starting at $99 for up to 45 members, going up as members grow, Website and Zen Planner Engage cost extra
Pricing transparency - yes, public pricing on their website.
Free plan - no.
Free trial - no.
Capterra rating - 4.3/5
Zen Planner is a well-established gym management software platform, used by many gyms, studios, and fitness centers worldwide. It offers a broad suite of tools, including scheduling, billing, reporting, and member management, making it a reliable all-in-one solution for operators of varying sizes. While its stability and comprehensive features appeal to many businesses, its interface and pricing transparency are sometimes noted as areas with room for improvement.
What users say about Zen Planner:
“I was excited to use the program while touring and testing it, but the program performed just under expectations on some features, and mediocre on the rest. I'm sure there have been updates to some of the program since we used it, but friends of mine continued on it until this year and always complained about its limitations, so maybe not updated enough (?).”
6. Wodify
Plans & packaging - Essentials, Accelerate and Ultimate plans.
Pricing transparency - no public pricing.
Free plan - no.
Free trial - no, $1 for the first three months offer.
Capterra rating - 4.4/5
Wodify is a performance-focused gym management platform, originally designed for CrossFit gyms and strength facilities. Beyond core admin tools, it stands out for its athlete tracking, workout scoring, and performance dashboards, which make it appealing to data-driven fitness operators. This niche focus positions Wodify as a strong option for gyms that prioritize training outcomes alongside business operations.
What users say about Wodify:
“Overall, customer service to us and the client experience has been good. The occasional lose in server connection or clitch, at least from my perspective, is expected. We have been a customer since 2013 and have grown together.”
7. Gymdesk
Plans & packaging - four paid plans and a custom Enterprise plan available.
Pricing transparency - yes, available on the website.
Free plan - yes, limited to 15 members after free trial expires.
Free trial - yes.
Capterra rating - 4.8/5
Gymdesk is a growing management software platform aimed at small and medium gyms transitioning away from manual systems. Its straightforward design and value-driven pricing make it accessible to operators who want essential functionality without complexity. By focusing on core scheduling, billing, and member tools, Gymdesk positions itself as a practical choice for fitness businesses at the earlier stages of digital adoption.
What users say about Gymdesk:
“It’s ok. Easy enough to use but I’m used to using Spark and I feel like some of the features are lacking. For the price, I’ll stick around for now.”
8. Virtuagym
Plans & packaging - no public plans, need to request an offer.
Pricing transparency - no public pricing.
Free plan - no.
Free trial - yes, for 14 days after demo.
Capterra rating - 3.8/5
Virtuagym is a versatile fitness management platform that extends beyond standard gym operations into wellness, coaching, and lifestyle management. It offers modular plans, allowing businesses to add nutrition, habit tracking, and personal coaching features alongside booking and billing. This flexibility makes Virtuagym a good fit for gyms and studios that want to expand their services beyond traditional fitness.
What users say about Virtuagym:
“The part that we really liked was the coach module. That's why we will keep our business partnership. I don't trust in the other parts, honestly, I don't recommend for a gym or studio.”
9. Perfect Gym
Plans & packaging - no public plans, need to request an offer.
Pricing transparency - no public pricing.
Free plan - no.
Free trial - no.
Capterra rating - 3.9/5
Perfect Gym is an enterprise-oriented management solution tailored to multi-location gyms and large fitness chains. It combines operational tools with advanced modules like POS, mobile apps, and access control, designed to support scalability and complex structures. With a modular approach and enterprise-grade features, it’s positioned as a strong choice for organisations managing large memberships and multiple facilities.
What users say about Perfect Gym:
“Not a bad system, very complex and takes a lot of time to set it up which they expect you to do yourselves. They also expect you to become your own experts, so they can save money on customer service. Funnily enough, despite its complexity, there a some simple things that can't be done.”
10. Wellyx
Plans & packaging - Excel, Ultimate and Exceed plans, starting at $99
Pricing transparency - yes, public pricing on their website.
Free plan - yes.
Free trial - yes.
Capterra rating - 4.7/5
Wellyx is a fitness and wellness management software platform targeting small-to mid-sized gyms and boutique studios. It provides core features for bookings, billing, and member management, with additional tiers for growing businesses. Its combination of flexibility and focus on essential operations makes it a suitable option for fitness businesses looking for accessible software that scales as they expand.
What users say about Wellyx:
“I must say it is so far so good. It has a significant impact on the way I look at my business right now. It is in the refined form to help me meet the vision I have set to achieve in the long run. It has made my life easy and closer to my future.”
Summary: Choosing the Right Gym Management Software in 2026
By now, it’s clear: there’s no one-size-fits-all platform. The “best” software depends on your gym type, scale, and innovation appetite. However, here are key trends and selection principles heading into 2026:
Simplicity wins - systems that require minimal training get adopted faster.
Transparent pricing is important as you fight to maintain margins.
Scalable architecture - you want to upgrade tiers, not migrate data later.
Vertical specialisation - vendors specialising in martial arts, CrossFit, wellness, etc., often add domain-specific value.
Ecosystem & integrations — data flow matters (payment gateways, marketing, analytics).
Among all these trade-offs, 1club stands out for offering a modern UI, clear pricing, and fast onboarding, while staying flexible for scaling. Because you can start free and expand, it aligns well with gyms at every growth stage.
Ready to experience a modern gym operations platform without surprises? Start free with 1club today - no credit card needed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best gym management software in 2026?
There’s no universal “best” - but in 2026, top contenders are those offering modern design, transparency, scalability, and domain-specific support. Platforms like 1club, Mindbody, and Glofox stand out because they balance core features with flexibility. The best choice depends on your gym size, niche (CrossFit, martial arts, boutique), and growth plans.
How much does gym management software cost in 2026?
Pricing varies widely. Expect entry-level tiers from Free to $100 per location per month, while enterprise tiers (for chains) may range from $300-$1,000+ monthly, depending on feature modules. Always check whether pricing is public or requires a demo/quote. Many platforms, like 1club, offer a free or freemium plan to lower barriers to entry.
What features should I look for in fitness studio software?
Essential features: scheduling, billing, CRM, reporting, check-in systems, web tools, member app, and multi-location support. Secondary but increasingly important: integrated marketing, retention automation, wellness/coaching add-ons, and AI-driven insights.
What is the difference between gym management software and fitness studio software?
These terms largely overlap. “Gym management software” often connotes full-service club tools (access control, weights floor, large staff), while “fitness studio software” often refers to class-based or boutique setups (yoga, Pilates, small studios). In practice, the overlap is large - feature sets are similar; the difference lies in specialisation, pricing, and integrations.
Is there free gym management software available?
Yes - a few platforms (such as 1club) provide free forever or freemium tiers with core features. Free plans often limit advanced modules (e.g. analytics or multi-location support). For many small gyms or startups, a free plan is enough to begin, with room to upgrade later.
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