Mindbody vs Zen Planner
Zen Planner scores 7.2/10 vs 7.0/10. Best for: Boutique gyms, martial arts schools, and yoga studios wanting straightforward member-based pricing.
Zen Planner scores higher overall at 7.2/10 vs 7.0/10. Zen Planner is solid mid-range for boutique gyms and schools that value simplicity. Base product reliable for scheduling and billing but add-on costs add up. Best for single-location studios under 500 members.
Mindbody 
Zen Planner Rank
#12 of 15
Rank
#11 of 15
Features
16/18
Features
18/18
Starting at
$99/mo
Starting at
$99/mo
User reviews
3.7/5 (3470)
User reviews
4.3/5 (365)
What they cost
| Mindbody | Zen Planner | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting at | $99 /mo | $99 /mo |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Number of plans | 3 | 4 |
What the pricing really means
At first glance, Zen Planner looks cheaper at $99/month vs $99/month. But sticker price is only part of the story. Look at what is included on the base plan, how many users you get, and whether you need add-ons to get the features you actually need. The $99/month plan that requires $200 in add-ons is actually more expensive than the $250/month plan that includes everything.
Where Mindbody wins
- Massive consumer marketplace app drives organic new client discovery
- Robust class scheduling with waitlists and room management
- Wide third-party integration ecosystem
- Comprehensive reporting on higher-tier plans
Where Zen Planner wins
- Simple transparent member-count pricing with no feature gating
- All core features included at every price level
- Solid attendance and belt/rank tracking for martial arts
- Month-to-month with no long-term contract
Where Mindbody falls short
- Expensive with add-ons, processing fees, and 20% marketplace commission on first purchase
- Annual contract required with no free trial
- Interface has become sluggish with steep learning curve
- Customer support quality is inconsistent with slow response times
Where Zen Planner falls short
- Add-ons for website, marketing, and branded app inflate costs fast
- Users report persistent bugs disrupting workflows
- Some billing and cancellation issues reported
- Limited workout programming vs Exercise.com or Wodify
Who is each product built for?
Mindbody
Target: 1-50+ locations
Mindbody is the market leader with the largest consumer marketplace, making it valuable for businesses that rely on new client acquisition through discovery. The high price, annual contracts, and clunky interface make it a poor fit for small single-location gyms. Best for established studios willing to pay premium for marketplace visibility.
Zen Planner
Target: 1-5 locations
Zen Planner is solid mid-range for boutique gyms and schools that value simplicity. Base product reliable for scheduling and billing but add-on costs add up. Best for single-location studios under 500 members.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Mindbody | Zen Planner |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduling & Booking | ||
| Class/session scheduling | ||
| Online booking | ||
| Attendance tracking | ||
| Members & Staff | ||
| Member management | ||
| Membership plans | ||
| Staff management | ||
| Client portal/app | ||
| Payments & Billing | ||
| Payment processing | ||
| Automated billing | ||
| Retail/POS | ||
| Fitness Tools | ||
| Workout/program builder | ||
| Mobile app (client) | ||
| Mobile app (staff) | ||
| Waivers/forms | ||
| Marketing & Growth | ||
| Website builder | ||
| Marketing/email tools | ||
| Reporting/analytics | ||
| Integrations/API | ||
Common questions
Zen Planner is designed for 1-5 locations, making it a better fit for small shops. Mindbody targets 1-50+ locations.
Mindbody starts at $99/month. Zen Planner starts at $99/month. Pricing was last verified in 2026-03-01.
No, Mindbody does not offer a free trial. You will need to contact sales or sign up for a paid plan.
Yes, you can switch between Gym & Fitness Studio tools. The main effort is migrating your data and setting up new workflows. Plan for 1-2 weeks of overlap where you run both systems.
The bottom line
Pick Mindbody if...
Established studios that want new client discovery through the Mindbody consumer marketplace.
Pick Zen Planner if...
Boutique gyms, martial arts schools, and yoga studios wanting straightforward member-based pricing.