Gym management and fitness studio software
Last reviewed: September 2026
Simple runs class scheduling with capacity and waitlists, membership auto-billing with freezes, check-in and retention reports for studios and small gyms at 2.79% on recurring card-on-file billing and 2.19% in person. It has no marketplace commission on new members.
Competitor pricing last reviewed September 2026. Published rates change; check the vendor's current pricing page: Mindbody pricing, Vagaro pricing.
Why does the online card rate matter most for a gym?
Most of a studio's revenue is monthly dues charged to a card on file. Those charges are card-not-present, so the online rate, not the in-person rate, drives your bill. A gym that compares only the tap-to-pay rate is looking at the smaller slice of its volume.
Simple charges 2.79% on recurring card-on-file billing and 2.19% at the front desk, with no per-transaction fee. That 30¢ or 19¢ fixed fee other systems add matters on every $120 membership, every month.
What does Simple include for studios and small gyms?
- Class scheduling with capacity limits and waitlists.
- Memberships with auto-billing and freezes, plus packages and class passes.
- Check-in at the front desk.
- Member self-service portal for bookings and account details.
- Retail and inventory for water, apparel and supplements.
- Retention reports, loyalty and referral rewards.
- Staff scheduling and time clock on the Medium plan (time clock).
Yoga studio software and small-gym tools share the same core: classes, memberships and check-in. More on how Simple serves studios is on the fitness and wellness page.
What doesn't Simple do for gyms?
How much does gym management software cost?
| Software | Monthly price | In person | Online / card on file | New-client marketplace fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | $99 / $199 / $399 | 2.19% | 2.79% | None |
| Mindbody | Starter from $79/mo per location (published); Accelerate and Ultimate quote only | Rates not published; third-party estimates 2.75% to 3.5% | Rates not published; third-party estimates 2.75% to 3.5% | 20% of a new client's first booking from the Mindbody app, capped at $30 |
| Vagaro | $30 list ($23.99 promo for 6 months) + $10 per extra calendar, up to $90 | 2.6% + 10¢ under $4K/mo; 2.29% + 19¢ plus $10/mo at $4K and up | 3.5% + 19¢ keyed (published); card on file reported | None found |
| Booker (Mindbody) | Starter from $139/mo; higher tiers quote only | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Mindbody and Booker plan prices published by Mindbody. Vagaro figures published by Vagaro. Mindbody does not publish card rates.
What does a studio with 330 members pay in card fees?
A studio billing $40,000 a month at a $120 average: 80% is recurring card-on-file billing and 20% is paid in person for drop-ins and retail. 5 staff.
Simple: $8,000 x 2.19% + $32,000 x 2.79% = $1,068/mo, plus Small $99 = $14,004/yr
Vagaro: $8,000 x 2.29% + 67 x $0.19 + $32,000 x 3.5% + 267 x $0.19 + $10 fee = $1,376.66/mo, plus 5 calendars $70 = $17,360/yr
Mindbody Starter at a 2.75% estimate: $1,100/mo, plus $79 = $14,148/yr
Mindbody marketplace: 15 new app clients a month x 20% of $120 = $360/mo, or $4,320/yr
Savings Calculator
Live math using verified August 2026 published rates.
Which of these do you use?
Simple
Processing only
$10,512
per year
Square
Processing + feature add-ons
$16,608
per year
Annual total: processing + on-toggle feature costs. Base software shown below.
Simple software
Square software
Free plan by default; $49/mo Plus and $149/mo Premium exist. Plus fee is counted above when a Plus-only feature is on.
You save
$6,096
per year vs Square
Not for sale at any price on Square
Estimates based on published August 2026 rates and typical published app pricing. Courier fees (DoorDash/Uber) excluded for Square delivery. Your actuals may vary.
Savings Calculator
Salon, spa and studio pricing, verified September 2026.
The rest is paid in person.
Mindbody doesn't publish rates; enter yours from your statement.
Which of these do you use?
Estimate. Mindbody doesn't publish card rates or upper-tier prices.
Simple
Processing + plan
$9,396
per year
Mindbody
Processing + software + fees
$10,848
per year
Annual total: processing + software + add-ons, both sides.
Simple plan
Simple Small plan: $99/mo (5 users)
Mindbody plan
Mindbody Starter: from $79/mo per location
You save
$1,452
per year vs Mindbody
Vagaro, GlossGenius and Fresha figures are published by each vendor, verified September 2026. Boulevard card rates and Mindbody card rates are third-party estimates. Your actuals may vary.
Which studios fit Simple and which fit Mindbody?
- Simple is best for boutique studios and small gyms that bill memberships monthly and also sell retail.
- Mindbody is best for studios that want new clients from a consumer booking app and are fine paying per new client.
See the full Simple vs Mindbody comparison, or the best Mindbody alternatives.
Who should choose Mindbody instead?
- Studios that rely on app discovery to fill classes.
- Studios that need a branded member app. Simple does not offer one.
- 24/7 facilities with door access control. Simple has no access-control hardware.
Frequently asked questions
For a staffed studio or small gym that bills memberships monthly and sells retail, Simple covers classes, auto-billing, check-in and a member portal at 2.79% on recurring billing and 2.19% in person. Unstaffed 24/7 gyms need access-control software instead.
Mindbody publishes Starter from $79/mo per location. Accelerate and Ultimate are quote only, and Mindbody does not publish its card rates; third-party estimates run 2.75% to 3.5%.
Yes. Mindbody takes 20% of a new client's first booking made through the Mindbody app, capped at $30.
Membership dues are card-on-file charges, which are card-not-present. Simple charges 2.79% on them with no per-transaction fee. Vagaro's keyed rate is 3.5% + 19¢.
Yoga studios need class scheduling with capacity and waitlists, class packs, memberships and check-in. Mindbody, Vagaro and Simple all cover these; Simple has no new-client marketplace fee.
Keep more of every membership
2.79% on recurring billing, 2.19% at the desk, no new-member commission.