If your scheduling software fails, your fitness studio fails. It's that simple. Members expect to book classes instantly, get notified when spots open, and manage everything from their phones. In 2025, mobile apps jumped from #20 to #2 in fitness trends, with 850 million downloads (Source) proving that seamless digital experiences are now mandatory.
We analyzed over 500 user reviews from Capterra, G2, Reddit, and industry reports. I (Naz) further incorporated insights from 1000+ demo conversations with fitness studio owners to identify the platforms that handle the complexity of fitness studio scheduling.
Top Performing Fitness Studio Scheduling Software
StudioGrowth
Best Overall & Best Value
Mariana Tek
Best for Premium Studios
Walla
Best for User Experience
Fitness Scheduling Software Comparison Table
| Software | User Score | Starting Price | Ease of Scheduling | Custom Branded App | Transaction Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| StudioGrowth | 4.9 | $95/month | Excellent | Included | 0% |
| Mariana Tek | 4.5 | $300/month+ | Excellent | Included | Varies |
| Walla | 4.7 | $390/month+ | Good | Included | Varies |
| Mindbody | 3.8 | $129/month+ | Good | ~$570/month Add-on | 1.99%+ |
| WellnessLiving | 4.7 | $69/month+ | Good | Add-on | Varies |
| Momence | 4.5 | $199/month+ | Limited | Add-on (+$200/month) | 3.9%+ |
| Glofox | 3.3 | $100/month+ | Buggy | Add-on (+$250/month) | High |
| Acuity | 4.8 | $16/month+ | Primarily appointments | Included | 0% |
| ZenPlanner | 4.3 | $117/month+ | Good | Add-on | Varies |
| Vagaro | 4.7 | $25/month+ | Limited for group classes | Add-on | Varies |
1. 🥇 StudioGrowth - Best Overall & Best Value
Class Schedule editing interface of StudioGrowth on the mobile app and web
StudioGrowth takes the top position by solving the two biggest problems fitness studios face: complex scheduling and expensive fees. It handles recurring weekly schedules, multiple simultaneous classes, and automated waitlists without breaking a sweat. More importantly, it eliminates the hidden tax that most platforms charge on every transaction, saving mid-sized studios thousands per year.
The Revenue Recovery Machine
Every empty spot in a popular fitness class is money left on the table. StudioGrowth's waitlist system automatically notifies members when spots open and can add them to the class without staff intervention. For high-demand classes, this feature alone can recover enough revenue to pay for the entire platform by backfilling just one or two spots per week.
Scheduling That Handles the Chaos
Managing a 7am group class and a 7am appointment in different rooms with different instructors is harder than it sounds. StudioGrowth's scheduling engine handles multiple simultaneous classes, tracks capacity in real time, and prevents overbooking. You can set up recurring weekly patterns, adjust trainer availability on the fly, and give members a clear view of what's available right now.
A Mobile App Without the Premium Price
StudioGrowth Mobile app feed to engage your community
Today, your members live on their phones. StudioGrowth delivers a fully branded mobile app for free. Additionally, you can have your own custom app on the app stores for $150/month, a fraction of what others charge. Members book classes, track their progress, and get push notifications for reminders, all under your brand. This keeps them engaged and coming back.
What Fitness Studio Owners Say About StudioGrowth
"It's embarrassing how difficult using any tech is for me... Studio growth is built for dummies but absolutely does not lack in functionality and features!"
"The StudioGrowth platform is extremely user friendly very easy to maneuver. Their customer service is outstanding and reply within hours."
"I think overall it is just that it is a newer platform, so there are some features that may exist in other platforms that don't exist in Studio Growth, but I feel happy knowing they're constantly working to add new features and improve the platform."
2. Mariana Tek: Beautiful Interface, Expensive Investment
Class schedule interface of a fitness studio using Mariana Tek
Mariana Tek delivers a premium, polished experience that appeals to high-end boutique studios and franchises. Its interface is beautiful, the workflow is logical, and the branded app is included. For established studios with healthy budgets, it's a strong choice.
The downside is cost. Starting at $300/month and climbing with add-ons, it's one of the priciest platforms available. Mariana Tek is great if you are happy with their base setup, as any customizations, including advanced reporting, can cost a lot more. For smaller studios, the price tag is hard to justify.
What Mariana Tek Users Are Saying:
"From a user's standpoint, the product is beautiful and easy to use."
"It was expensive. The software was a little complicated on some settings."
"$80 per studio location per month for one thing. $100 per studio location per month for another. And that's on top of a price that is already the most expensive among their competitors."
3. Walla: Intuitive Design, but Not for Appointments
Class schedule of a fitness studio using Walla
Walla has received rave reviews from fitness studio owners. Its interface is clean, intuitive, and loved by staff and members alike. Customer support is exceptional, and the branded app is included. For class-based studios, it's a joy to use.
However, Walla is heavily optimized for group classes and struggles with appointment scheduling. If personal training is a significant revenue stream, this limitation is a dealbreaker. Additionally, some users report disastrous migrations filled with glitches.
What Walla Users Are Saying:
"The entire platform is clear and simple, easy to read and navigate. For everyone involved... the teachers love it, the clients love and admin (me) loves it."
"I cannot stress enough: Do NOT choose Walla. The entire migration process was a disaster—full of glitches, endless issues, and constant..."
4. Mindbody: Industry Leader
Schedule of a studio using Mindbody
Mindbody is the industry standard, offering the most comprehensive feature set available. Its scheduling tools are robust, and its recently improved waitlist system is powerful. But the platform is expensive, clunky, and notorious for terrible customer support.
This creates the "Mindbody Paradox." Studios want to leave because the experience is frustrating and the total cost can exceed $699/month. But they feel trapped by the 1.99% transaction fee, which is lower than most competitors. For high-volume studios, switching to a platform with 2.5%+ fees means losing thousands annually.
What Mindbody Users Are Saying:
"Their customer support needs customer support."
"Customer service lacks system knowledge and fails to solve issues 9/10 times. Communication is poor; promised callbacks don't happen."
"The support team has been wonderful. Fernando was incredibly helpful in getting my system organized."
5. WellnessLiving: Low Price, Hidden Costs
WellnessLiving schedule interface
WellnessLiving attracts studios with its low $69/month starting price and a feature set that includes a unique "book-a-spot" function for equipment selection. It's positioned as a more affordable, supportive alternative to Mindbody.
The catch is merchant processor lock-in. Users report hidden fees, aggressive retention tactics, and difficulty canceling. The low monthly price is not representative when the true cost is buried in payment processing fees and contract terms.
What WellnessLiving Users Are Saying:
"Wellness Living includes features like book-a-spot, class wait-list, and so many helpful features we needed but were going to have to pay extra to have with other software."
"They use one merchant processor that charges you with hidden fee such as annual fee, monthly PCI compliance, etc without notifying your business."
6. Momence: Virtual Focus, Reliability Issues
Momence schedule of a studio
Momence is built for studios with a strong virtual and hybrid class focus. It offers on-demand video libraries and a unique waitlist feature for appointments, making it appealing for studios that blend in-person and remote offerings.
The problem is reliability. Users report a "broken buggy platform" with poor customer support, and such reports accelerated after their business was acquired (Source) in January 2025. It also has by far the highest processing fees, which add high costs to your business.
What Momence Users Are Saying:
"We recently ditched MindBody for Momence, and we're very happy with it. It's much more streamlined and easy to navigate."
"Momence support is poor. Their staff are not well trained to resolve issues when they arise."
7. Glofox: Low Monthly Fee, High Frustration
Client interface of Glofox
Glofox targets franchises and large chains with a low monthly cost and an included branded app. On paper, it looks like a bargain. In reality, reviews indicate it's plagued by constant glitches, app crashes, and poor customer support.
With a 3.3-star rating on Trustpilot, Glofox has the lowest score of any platform on this list. The low monthly fee is offset by high credit card processing fees, and the reliability issues make it a poor choice for most studios. Although Glofox was the go-to software for boutique fitness studios a decade ago, it is no longer the top choice.
What Glofox Users Are Saying:
"Platform works well and rarely has an issues. Clients love our customs look and it makes it super easy to pay and book classes."
"The issue with Glofox is that it is completely filled with glitches. Everyday people would come and complain that they couldn't pay, their account showed incorrect information."
8. Acuity Scheduling: Not Built for Group Classes
Appointment scheduling interface of a studio using Acuity Scheduling
Acuity is an affordable, simple tool for appointment-based businesses. It integrates well with Squarespace and charges no transaction fees. For personal trainers running one-on-one sessions, it's a solid option.
For group fitness studios, it's a non-starter. Acuity has no waitlist feature, which is essential for managing full classes. It's designed for appointments, not the high-volume, capacity-driven world of group fitness. Without waitlists, you lose revenue every time someone cancels at the last minute. But if you operate a low-volume fitness business, Acuity could work for you.
What Acuity Users Are Saying:
"Overall it is a great way to set up the schedule where clients can book their own appointments without needing extra steps."
"It would be nice if there was a waiting list function, which there is not."
9. ZenPlanner: Built for CrossFit, Not Boutique Fitness
ZenPlanner group class schedule interface
ZenPlanner is purpose-built for CrossFit gyms and martial arts studios. It includes WOD posting, performance tracking, and community features that those niches love. For CrossFit boxes, it's a natural fit.
For general boutique fitness studios, it's overkill. The features are too specialized, the interface is dated, and recent reviews complain of price increases and misleading sales tactics. However, with a decline of crossfit studios globally, ZenPlanner is building out the platform to serve the wider fitness studio industry.
What ZenPlanner Users Are Saying:
"Ive been really enjoying my experience with the platform. I like the customer service. They are always very helpful and respond immediately. I really like the pricing. Its affordable and better than the competition."
"I could give you 25 reasons not to use this company. Just trust me don't. False claims, long delays in service and getting back to you and just misleading."
10. Vagaro: Multi-Service, Not Fitness-Focused
Back office scheduling interface of Vagaro
Vagaro is an affordable platform for multi-service businesses, like a studio that offers both fitness classes and spa services. It has strong retail POS features and integrates with Google Calendar.
The problem is that it's not fitness-specific. Its features are spread across too many industries, and it's better for appointment-based services than group classes. For a dedicated fitness studio, it lacks the depth and specialization you need.
What Vagaro Users Are Saying:
"Its has been a great 1 year with Vagaro pro and absolutely love the ease of using it for my med-spa business."
"The scheduling and appointment management system keeps me organized. I especially like that it integrates with my Google calendar."
Conclusion: Choose the Best Fit, Not Perfection
The reality is simple: no platform is perfect. Every system has trade-offs. But for most boutique fitness studios, the choice is clear. The combination of rising costs, hidden transaction fees, and poor support from legacy platforms is no longer acceptable.
StudioGrowth is the best choice for studios that prioritize value, reliability, and growth. Its 0% transaction fee policy saves thousands annually, its scheduling engine handles the complexity of multiple simultaneous classes, and its affordable branded app keeps members engaged. For studios that need a partner, not a vendor, StudioGrowth delivers.
If you run a premium studio with a large budget, Mariana Tek's polished interface and Walla's exceptional user experience are worth considering. If you're heavily focused on virtual classes, Momence's specialized features may justify the reliability risk.
But remember: choose the best fit for your studio, not the perfect platform. Because perfection doesn't exist.
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