3 March 2026
Best Booking Software for Studios in 2026: The Definitive Comparison
Choosing booking software is one of the most consequential decisions a studio owner makes. It touches everything — how members find your classes, how you get paid, how much admin time you spend each week, and how much of your revenue goes to the platform.
The US market is fragmented. Some tools are built for enterprise gyms. Others look affordable until you read the fine print on commissions or annual contracts. This guide compares seven platforms with honest pros and cons for US studios.
What to Look For
- Pricing model — Flat rate vs. per-member vs. commission-based
- Contract length — Month-to-month vs. annual lock-in
- Credit packs and memberships — Are these gated behind premium tiers?
- Payment processing — Does money go to your bank or through the platform?
- Setup complexity — Hours or weeks?
- Marketplace dependency — Does the platform promote competing studios to your members?
The Tools
1. StudioBook — $69/month flat, no contract
Purpose-built for small, independent, class-based studios. One flat price, no per-member fees, no marketplace commissions. Stripe Connect for direct payments. Setup in under an hour.
Pros: Flat pricing, no contract, direct Stripe payments, fast setup, credit packs and memberships included.
Cons: No branded mobile app, no marketplace, limited to class-based studios.
2. Mindbody — $139-419/month, 12-month contract
The biggest name in US fitness booking. Comprehensive platform with scheduling, POS, marketing, ClassPass integration, and a massive marketplace. Built for enterprise.
Pros: Best marketplace reach, deep feature set, branded app on higher tiers.
Cons: Expensive, 12-month contract, complex setup, marketplace shows competitors to your members.
3. Acuity Scheduling — $16-65/month, no contract
Squarespace-owned scheduler. Great for solo practitioners and 1-on-1 appointments. Class capacity and credit packs are limited compared to studio-specific tools.
Pros: Cheap entry tier, no contract, clean interface, decent integrations.
Cons: Built for appointments, not class-based studios — credit packs and memberships are workarounds, not first-class features.
4. Glofox — custom quote (~$110+/month), annual contract
Premium boutique fitness platform. Key differentiator: branded mobile app with your studio name in the app store.
Pros: Branded mobile app, strong member engagement, good reporting.
Cons: No public pricing, annual contracts, complex setup, overkill for small studios.
5. Gymdesk — from $65/month, no contract
Purpose-built for martial arts schools and small gyms. Belt/rank tracking, family accounts, attendance tools.
Pros: Strong for martial arts and combat sports, reasonable pricing, no contract.
Cons: Best fit is martial arts and combat sports; less polished for yoga/pilates/dance studios.
6. Bookwhen — from $29/month, no contract
Event and workshop booking tool, not a full studio management platform. Great for drop-ins and retreats.
Pros: Excellent for workshops/events, clean widget, simple setup, affordable.
Cons: No memberships, no credit packs, no member management.
7. Wellness Living — custom quote, annual contract
Mindbody competitor aimed at mid-to-large studios. Marketing automation, branded app, rewards, reviews.
Pros: Strong feature set for larger studios, branded app, marketing tools.
Cons: No public pricing, sales call required, contract lock-in, overkill for under-200-member studios.
Comparison Table
| Criteria | StudioBook | Mindbody | Acuity | Glofox | Gymdesk | Bookwhen | Wellness Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $69 flat | $139-419 | $16-65 | ~$110+ (quote) | From $65 | From $29 | Custom quote |
| Contract | None | 12 months | None | Annual | None | None | Annual |
| Hidden fees | None | Per-booking fees | None | No public pricing | None | None | No public pricing |
| Credit packs | Included | Included | Limited | Included | Included | No | Included |
| Memberships | Included | Included | Limited | Included | Included | No | Included |
| Payments | Stripe (direct) | Via Mindbody | Stripe/Square | Via Glofox | Stripe | Stripe | Via Wellness Living |
| Free trial | 30 days, no card | Demo only | 7 days | Demo only | 30 days | 14 days | Demo only |
| Setup time | < 1 hour | Days-weeks | < 1 hour | Weeks | Hours | < 1 hour | Days |
| Best for | Small US studios | Enterprise/chains | Solo / appointments | Boutique fitness | Martial arts | Events/workshops | Mid-large studios |
Which Tool Is Right for You?
Small yoga, pilates, dance, or pottery studio (under 300 members)? → StudioBook — everything included, no hidden fees, 30-day free trial
Solo practitioner or appointment-based? → Acuity
Martial arts or combat sports school? → Gymdesk
Workshops and events only? → Bookwhen
Large studio or chain (300+ members), need branded app? → Mindbody, Glofox, or Wellness Living