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Pricing Guide · Updated March 2026

How Much Does Gym Management
Software Actually Cost?

Quick Answer

Gym management software costs between $49 and $599 per month depending on gym size, features needed, and platform. Most gym owners pay $79–$299/month for a full-featured platform. Hidden costs — setup fees, transaction fees, SMS credits — can add a further $50–$200/month on top of the headline price.

12 min read
Last updated March 13, 2026
7 platforms compared
Section 1

What's Included in the Price?

Not all gym software plans are created equal. A $79/month plan from one provider can include features that cost $349/month on another. Before comparing prices, understand what each tier typically delivers.

Feature Entry ($49–$79/mo) Mid ($100–$249/mo) Premium ($250+/mo)
Member management (unlimited) Partial
Class & appointment scheduling
Online booking & self-service portal Limited
Automated billing & payment processing
Attendance tracking
Email communications Basic
Reporting & analytics Basic Advanced
Mobile app for members Shared app Branded app
Automated member follow-ups Basic
AI churn prediction Select platforms
Multi-location management Add-on
Integrations (Stripe, Zapier, etc.) Limited
Staff management Basic Advanced
Lead & prospect tracking Basic
Sales pipeline with stage tracking Select platforms
Two-way member messaging (inbox) Basic
Membership freeze engine (self-serve) Manual only
Workout programming & leaderboards Select platforms
Waiver & document management Limited

Feature availability varies by platform. "Partial" and "Limited" indicate that functionality exists but is restricted or requires upgrades. Always verify specific features with the provider before purchasing.

Section 2

Full Platform Pricing Comparison (2026)

Below is a complete side-by-side comparison of the leading gym management software platforms, including entry-level, mid-tier, and enterprise pricing, contract requirements, and transaction fees. Prices are in USD per month.

Platform Entry Price Mid-Tier Enterprise Free Trial Contract Transaction Fees
VERVE Pulse
AI-powered · All-in-one
$79/mo
Starter
$199/mo
Growth
$349/mo
Pro
30 days Month-to-month None
Mindbody
Enterprise-focused
$129/mo
Starter
$349/mo
Accelerate
$599+/mo
Ultimate
14–30 days Annual recommended 2.75–3.5%
Glofox
Boutique-focused
$110/mo
Base (est.)
$235/mo
Growth (est.)
Custom
Enterprise
14 days Annual (most plans) Varies
Zen Planner
CrossFit & martial arts focus
$79/mo
Up to 50 members
$224/mo
Up to 250 members
$348/mo
Unlimited
30 days Month-to-month Via Stripe (external)
PushPress
CrossFit & gym boxes
Free
Very limited
$89/mo
Core
$159/mo
Pro
14 days Month-to-month Processing fees apply
WellnessLiving
Broad market
$49/mo
Starter (≤50 members)
$199/mo
Business
$349/mo
Business Plus
30 days Annual for best pricing Varies by plan
GymDesk
Simple & affordable
$75/mo
Up to 100 members
$110/mo
Up to 250 members
$150/mo
Unlimited
30 days Month-to-month None (Stripe external)

Prices sourced from public pricing pages and vendor documentation as of March 2026. Competitor prices marked "(est.)" are estimated from available sources. Enterprise pricing varies significantly — contact vendors for exact quotes. All prices in USD.

Why VERVE Pulse doesn't charge transaction fees

Every payment your members make belongs to your gym. Platforms that take 2–3% of every transaction cost a 200-member gym $3,000–$6,000/year in fees alone. Pulse connects directly to Stripe with no platform cut.

Section 3

Hidden Costs to Watch For

The headline monthly price is rarely what you actually pay. The most expensive gym software surprises happen after you've signed up. Here are the six hidden costs that catch gym owners off guard most often.

🔧

Setup & Onboarding Fees

Some platforms charge a one-time setup fee to migrate your member data, configure your account, and run initial training sessions.

$199–$799 one-time
💳

Transaction Fees

Platforms like Mindbody charge 2.75–3.5% on every payment processed through the platform. On $30K/month in membership fees, that's $825–$1,050 extra per month.

2–3.5% per transaction
📱

SMS Credits

Automated SMS for class reminders, payment failures, and win-back sequences are often sold as a separate credit bundle. Usage adds up fast for gyms with 200+ members.

$20–$100/month
👤

Per-Member Pricing

Platforms like Zen Planner and some WellnessLiving tiers scale cost by active member count. Growing from 100 to 500 members can double or triple your software bill.

Unpredictable scaling costs
📊

Premium Add-Ons

Branded member apps, advanced analytics dashboards, marketing automation, and multi-location management are often locked behind expensive add-on packages.

$49–$199/month extra
🔒

Annual Contract Lock-In

Glofox and other platforms offer lower monthly rates in exchange for 12-month contracts. Early termination fees can run into hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Up to 50% discount trap

The real cost rule of thumb: Add 20–40% to any quoted monthly price to estimate total cost of ownership when transaction fees, SMS, and add-ons are included. For a transparent alternative, VERVE Pulse includes all core features in the base price with zero transaction fees and no add-on paywalls.

Section 4

Gym Software Cost by Gym Type

The right price point depends heavily on your gym's size, model, and complexity. A solo PT studio has very different software needs — and a very different budget — than a multi-site gym group. Here's a realistic budget guide by gym type.

Gym Type Typical Members Realistic Budget Key Features Needed Recommended Platforms
Solo PT Studio
1 trainer, appointment-based
<30 active clients $49–$79/mo Booking, payments, waivers, session packs WellnessLiving Starter, GymDesk, PushPress Free
Boutique Studio
Yoga, Pilates, CrossFit, HIIT
30–100 members $79–$199/mo Class scheduling, memberships, automated billing, retention tools Pulse Starter, GymDesk, PushPress Core, Zen Planner
Mid-Size Gym
Traditional or functional fitness
100–500 members $149–$299/mo Full CRM, reporting, staff management, automated follow-ups, member app Pulse Growth, Mindbody, WellnessLiving Business
Large Gym
High-volume, multi-revenue streams
500–2,000 members $249–$499/mo Advanced analytics, marketing automation, API integrations, dedicated support Pulse Pro, Mindbody Accelerate, WellnessLiving Business Plus
Multi-Site Gym Group
2–10+ locations
500–5,000+ members $349–$800+/mo Multi-location management, centralised reporting, franchise controls, SSO Pulse Pro, Mindbody Ultimate, Glofox Enterprise
$75
Entry-level floor
The minimum for a functional, full-featured platform with billing and scheduling
$199
Most gyms pay
The sweet spot for gyms with 50–300 members wanting automation and good reporting
$500+
Enterprise territory
Justified only for large multi-site operators with complex reporting needs
Section 5

What Should You Pay? A Decision Framework

The right gym software price is not the cheapest — it's the one that delivers the most value relative to cost. Use this framework to determine what tier makes sense for your gym right now.

Spend $49–$79/mo if...
  • You have fewer than 50 active clients or members
  • You're a solo trainer or very small studio
  • Your primary needs are booking and payment collection only
  • You are in the first 6 months of operating
  • Your monthly software budget is under $100 total
Spend $79–$199/mo if...
  • You have 50–300 members and want to grow
  • You're losing members and need automated retention tools
  • You want to stop manually chasing failed payments
  • You need class scheduling, staff management, and reporting
  • You want AI automation without enterprise pricing
Spend $200–$349/mo if...
  • You have 300+ members and complex reporting needs
  • You need a branded member app or advanced marketing tools
  • You are running multiple revenue streams (PT, classes, retail)
  • You have a team of staff and need permission controls
  • You want API integrations with other business tools
Spend $350+/mo only if...
  • You operate 3 or more locations
  • You need enterprise SSO, dedicated account management, or SLAs
  • Your business has custom compliance or reporting requirements
  • You have 1,000+ members across your network
  • You've exhausted what mid-tier platforms can offer you

The ROI test

Before buying, ask: if this platform retains just 2 more members per month than my current system, does it pay for itself? For a gym with a $70/month average membership value, retaining 2 extra members generates $1,680/year — enough to justify most mid-tier platform costs. The math almost always works. The failure is in choosing a platform and not using it.

Section 6

Total Cost of Ownership: Year 1 Breakdown

Monthly subscription price is only part of the story. Here's a realistic Year 1 total cost of ownership comparison for a mid-size gym with 150 active members, processing $15,000/month in membership fees, with 2 staff users and standard SMS usage.

Mindbody

Accelerate Plan
Base subscription (12mo) $4,188
Setup / onboarding fee $499
Transaction fees (3% × $15K × 12) $5,400
SMS credits (est.) $480
Add-ons (reporting, app) $600
Year 1 Total $11,167

Effective monthly cost: $931/mo

Glofox

Growth Plan (est.)
Base subscription (12mo) $2,820
Setup / onboarding fee $299
Transaction fees (est.) $1,800
SMS & push notifications $360
Annual contract early exit risk $500+
Year 1 Total $5,779+

Effective monthly cost: $482/mo

VERVE Pulse

Growth Plan
Best Value
Base subscription (12mo) $2,388
Setup / onboarding fee $0
Transaction fees $0
SMS credits Included
AI automation, reporting Included
Year 1 Total $2,388

Effective monthly cost: $199/mo

Assumptions: 150 active members, $15,000/month in processed payments, 2 staff users, standard SMS volume (~500 messages/month). Competitor transaction fees estimated at industry-standard rates. Glofox pricing estimated from available public data — confirm directly with vendor. All figures in USD.

Section 7

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything gym owners ask about software pricing.

Gym management software costs between $49 and $599 per month depending on gym size, features needed, and platform. Most gym owners pay $79–$299/month for a full-featured platform. Entry-level tools like GymDesk start at $75/month, while enterprise platforms like Mindbody can exceed $599/month when add-ons are included. AI-powered platforms like VERVE Pulse offer full-featured plans starting at $79/month with no transaction fees.

The average monthly cost of gym management software is approximately $150–$250/month for a mid-size gym with 100–500 members. This typically includes membership management, class scheduling, payment processing, and basic reporting. Add-ons like SMS marketing, custom app branding, and advanced analytics can push the true cost significantly higher — often to $300–$400/month all-in.

PushPress offers a free tier with basic membership and payment tools, though it has significant limitations on features and members. Most other platforms do not offer a permanently free plan but do offer free trials of 14–30 days. VERVE Pulse offers a 30-day free trial with cancel anytime — giving you full access to all features before committing to a paid plan.

Yes, Mindbody charges payment processing fees on top of its monthly subscription. Rates typically sit around 2.75%–3.5% per transaction depending on the plan. For a gym processing $15,000/month in membership fees, that's $412–$525/month in fees alone — adding $4,950–$6,300/year on top of the already-premium subscription price. Always factor transaction fees into your true cost comparison.

The most common hidden costs in gym software are: setup and onboarding fees ($199–$799), transaction fees on member payments (1.5%–3.5%), SMS credits for automated messaging ($20–$100/month), per-member pricing that scales as your gym grows, premium add-ons like custom branded apps or advanced reporting ($49–$199/month extra), and annual contract penalties if you switch early. Always calculate total cost of ownership — not just the headline monthly rate — before committing.

Glofox pricing starts at approximately $110/month for their base plan and ranges to around $350/month for mid-tier plans. Enterprise and custom pricing is available for large multi-site operators. Glofox does not publicly list all pricing tiers — you must contact their sales team for an exact quote. Note that Glofox typically requires annual contracts on most plans, which can create lock-in risk if your needs change.

The cheapest full-featured gym management software starts around $75–$79/month. GymDesk starts at $75/month and WellnessLiving at $49/month for very small studios. PushPress has a free tier but with limited functionality. VERVE Pulse starts at $79/month and includes AI-powered features like automated member follow-ups and churn prediction that typically cost significantly more on other platforms.

For gyms with 100+ members, yes — premium gym software typically pays for itself through reduced admin time, better member retention, and automated revenue recovery. A platform that costs $150/month more but prevents 3–4 cancellations per month at a $70 average membership value generates $2,520–$3,360/year in retained revenue. The key is choosing a platform that your team will actually use, and that has the retention automation tools to make an immediate impact.

Some do. Platforms like Zen Planner and some WellnessLiving tiers scale pricing based on active member count. This means costs increase significantly as your gym grows from 100 to 500+ members. VERVE Pulse, GymDesk, and PushPress all offer flat monthly pricing with no per-member charges — making them more predictable for growing gyms.

At the $79–$199/month price point, you should expect: unlimited member management, class and appointment scheduling, online booking and member self-service, payment processing integration, automated billing and dunning, basic email communications, attendance tracking, and standard reporting. More advanced features like AI automation, churn prediction, branded member apps, and multi-location management are found at $199/month and above — though VERVE Pulse includes many of these at the $199 Growth tier.

VERVE Pulse Pricing

See What Pulse Costs
for Your Gym

Starter at $79/mo. Growth at $199/mo. Pro at $349/mo. No transaction fees. No setup fees. No lock-in. 30-day free trial — cancel any time.

$79
Starter / month
$199
Growth / month
$349
Pro / month
30
Day free trial
$0
Transaction fees