Gymdesk vs Zen Planner
Gymdesk scores 7.8/10 vs 7.2/10. Best for: Small to mid-size gyms, martial arts schools, and CrossFit boxes that want all features included at every tier with no contracts.
Gymdesk scores higher overall at 7.8/10 vs 7.2/10. Gymdesk is an excellent choice for small gyms and martial arts schools that want simple, transparent pricing with all features unlocked from day one. The included free website and member app add strong value. Best suited for facilities with under 400 members who value simplicity over enterprise-grade analytics.
Gymdesk 
Zen Planner Rank
#5 of 15
Rank
#11 of 15
Features
15/18
Features
18/18
Starting at
$75/mo
Starting at
$99/mo
User reviews
4.8/5 (167)
User reviews
4.3/5 (365)
What they cost
| Gymdesk | Zen Planner | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting at | $75 /mo | $99 /mo |
| Free trial | Free tier available | No |
| Number of plans | 4 | 4 |
What the pricing really means
At first glance, Gymdesk looks cheaper at $75/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 Gymdesk wins
- All features are included in every plan with no feature gating or upselling
- Exceptional customer support with response times consistently within hours
- Free gym website included with every account, ready to use immediately
- No contracts, no hidden fees, and a free plan for up to 15 active members after trial ends
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 Gymdesk falls short
- No dedicated staff mobile app, only a member-facing app
- Reporting tools are basic and lack advanced custom report building
- No built-in payroll management features
- Smaller company with a less mature ecosystem of integrations compared to larger competitors
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?
Gymdesk
Target: 1-400 members
Gymdesk is an excellent choice for small gyms and martial arts schools that want simple, transparent pricing with all features unlocked from day one. The included free website and member app add strong value. Best suited for facilities with under 400 members who value simplicity over enterprise-grade analytics.
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 | Gymdesk | 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
Gymdesk is designed for 1-400 members, making it a strong pick for small shops. Zen Planner targets 1-5 locations.
Gymdesk starts at $75/month. Zen Planner starts at $99/month. Pricing was last verified in 2026-03-01.
Yes, Gymdesk offers a 30-day free trial.
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 Gymdesk if...
Small to mid-size gyms, martial arts schools, and CrossFit boxes that want all features included at every tier with no contracts.
Pick Zen Planner if...
Boutique gyms, martial arts schools, and yoga studios wanting straightforward member-based pricing.