“We looked at Mindbody, but we found that Zen Planner had better features and was so highly recommended by other MMA facilities that the decision was pretty easy.”
Discover why 5,000+ studio owners trust Zen Planner
“With our previous system, it was time for a change. I needed an app. I needed better reporting. And I needed support I could rely on.”
“Zen Planner made everything seamless as we scaled from one location to 22. It’s our CRM, our scheduler, our payment processor, and it gives us limitless reports.”
See how Zen Planner compares to Mindbody
Both platforms cover the basics. Zen Planner is built specifically for membership-based fitness and martial arts businesses, where family management, skill tracking, and retention matter more than appointments and drop-ins.
Zen Planner
Mindbody
Membership management
Brand-only booking experience
Marketplace of competitors
Dedicated member login
Belt & skill tracking
Workout tracking
Limited
Transparent pricing
Retention reporting & tools
Geared toward appointments and visits
Reporting & dashboards
2-4 week implementation timeline
Often several months
AI-powered CRM and marketing tools
General-purpose CRM tools only
Onboarding & ongoing support
Support varies by plan
Branded member app
SugarWOD integration
Zen Planner
Mindbody
Membership management
Brand-only booking experience
Marketplace of competitors
Dedicated member login
Belt & skill tracking
Workout tracking
Limited
Transparent pricing
Retention reporting & tools
Geared toward appointments and visits
Reporting & dashboards
2-4 week implementation timeline
Often several months
AI-powered CRM and marketing tools
General-purpose CRM tools only
Onboarding & ongoing support
Support varies by plan
Branded member app
SugarWOD integration
All-in-One Software
Complete fitness business management software
With member management software, integrated marketing, retention tools and self-service capabilities, Zen Planner gives you everything you need to spend less time behind your desk and more time building your community.
Customer Stories
Fitness businesses sharing real results with Zen Planner
Why Zen Planner
See why top brands are making the switch
Keep members with you
Booking through your site or app shows only your classes and programs, so members stay focused on your business, not competitors.
Turn insights into action
Track progress beyond attendance
Boost leads & member engagement
Get started with Zen Planner
Our fitness business experts will show you how Zen Planner supports your workflows today and scales with you as you grow.
Frequently asked questions
Mindbody is a business management platform serving wellness businesses including gyms, yoga studios, salons, and spas. It offers scheduling, payment processing, and a consumer marketplace where members can discover and book classes. While broad in scope, it’s not purpose-built for independent fitness businesses focused on member retention and brand growth.
Mindbody is best suited for multi-location spa and salon businesses that benefit from consumer marketplace exposure. Fitness businesses gyms, martial arts schools, CrossFit affiliates, and boutique studios typically find that its marketplace model works against them, surfacing competitor listings to their own members.
The top reasons owners switch are pricing, usability, and the marketplace model. Zen Planner never lists your business next to competitors. Owners also cite better reporting, US-based support, and faster onboarding as reasons they made the move.
Yes. Mindbody operates a consumer marketplace where members can discover and book classes at other gyms and studios — including your direct competitors. Zen Planner does not have a marketplace. Your members see only your classes, programs, and offers, keeping retention tied to your brand.
Mindbody’s strengths include flexible scheduling and broad consumer discovery through its marketplace — particularly useful for spas and salons. The drawbacks for fitness-focused businesses include higher pricing, limited reporting customization, no belt or skill-tracking for martial arts, lack of digital marketing services, and the risk of losing members to competitor listings.
Zen Planner was founded in 2006 by a martial arts school owner, making it one of the few platforms built with belt tracking, rank management, and testing event tools from the ground up. Mindbody offers limited martial arts capabilities. Zen Planner works with top names in the industry including Dave Kovar and multiple Gracie Barra locations.
Most businesses complete the switch within a few weeks. Zen Planner’s onboarding team handles data migration, staff training, and setup so you’re not navigating it alone. A step-by-step switching guide is also available to help you move without losing revenue or disrupting your members during the transition.
Zen Planner provides full onboarding support with a dedicated team that guides you from data migration through go-live. Support is US-based, available via phone and chat, and doesn’t disappear after setup. Owners consistently rate support as a top reason they chose Zen Planner over Mindbody and other platforms.