The 10 Best Gym Booking Systems for 2026 (Complete Guide)
The 10 Best Gym Booking Systems for 2026 (Complete Guide)
Running a gym without a proper booking system is like trying to herd cats.
Members double-book classes. No-shows eat into your revenue. And your front desk staff spends half their day playing calendar Tetris.
The right booking system changes everything.
It automates scheduling, reduces no-shows, and lets members book 24/7 from their phones. But with dozens of options on the market, which one actually delivers?
We tested the top gym booking systems for 2026. Here's what we found.
Quick Comparison: Top 10 Gym Booking Systems for 2026
| Feature | Gymleadhub | Mindbody | Glofox | WellnessLiving | Vagaro | Acuity | SimplyBook.me | Bookeo | Setmore | Zen Planner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class Booking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| 1:1 PT Booking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Waitlist Management | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Automated Reminders | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| No-Show Protection | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Member App | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Calendar Sync | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Recurring Classes | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Resource Booking | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Built for Gyms | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Starting Price | £50/mo | £100+/mo | £79+/mo | £89+/mo | £25+/mo | £15+/mo | £8+/mo | £15+/mo | Free-£12/mo | £60+/mo |
1. Gymleadhub: Best All-in-One Booking Solution
Best for: Boutique gyms, PT studios, and fitness businesses that want booking, CRM, and automation in one platform.
Gymleadhub isn't just a booking system. It's a complete gym management platform with booking at its core.
Why It Stands Out
The booking system integrates seamlessly with lead management and member communication.
When a member books a class, they automatically receive reminders. When they cancel, your waitlist kicks in. When they don't show up, follow-up workflows trigger instantly.
Key Booking Features
- Class scheduling with capacity limits and waitlists
- 1:1 PT booking with trainer availability management
- Recurring class templates for weekly schedules
- Resource booking for equipment and rooms
- Automated reminders via email, SMS, and WhatsApp
- No-show protection with cancellation policies
- Member self-service portal for 24/7 booking
What Makes It Different
Most booking systems exist in isolation. Gymleadhub connects your booking data to everything else.
See which classes are most popular. Track which members are at risk of churning based on attendance. Automatically re-engage members who haven't booked in a while.
Pricing
Simple flat rate of £50/month. No per-member fees. No booking transaction charges.
Try Gymleadhub free for 14 days.
2. Mindbody: Best for Large Fitness Chains
Best for: Multi-location fitness businesses with complex scheduling needs.
Mindbody is the industry veteran. They've been around since 2001 and power thousands of fitness businesses worldwide.
Strengths
- Massive marketplace exposure to potential new members
- Enterprise-grade features for large operations
- Extensive third-party integrations
- Strong brand recognition
Weaknesses
- Expensive, especially with add-ons
- Complex interface with steep learning curve
- Customer support can be slow
- Marketplace leads often low quality
Pricing
Starts at £100+/month. Premium features cost significantly more. Transaction fees apply.
3. Glofox: Best for Boutique Fitness Brands
Best for: Boutique studios focused on brand experience and member apps.
Glofox positions itself as the premium choice for boutique fitness. Their member app is slick and customizable.
Strengths
- Beautiful, branded member app
- Good class booking functionality
- Strong focus on boutique fitness market
- Decent reporting tools
Weaknesses
- No free trial available
- Limited automation capabilities
- Higher price point for features offered
- Basic CRM functionality
Pricing
Starts at £79/month. Custom pricing for larger studios.
4. WellnessLiving: Best for Feature Depth
Best for: Gyms that want extensive features without enterprise pricing.
WellnessLiving tries to compete with Mindbody on features while undercutting on price.
Strengths
- Comprehensive feature set
- Rewards and loyalty program built-in
- Good marketing tools
- Competitive pricing for features offered
Weaknesses
- Interface can feel cluttered
- Some features feel half-baked
- Occasional reliability issues
- Support quality varies
Pricing
Starts at £89/month for the basic plan.
5. Vagaro: Best Budget Option for Salons & Gyms
Best for: Hybrid businesses offering fitness and beauty services.
Vagaro started in the salon industry and expanded to fitness. It's affordable but clearly not fitness-first.
Strengths
- Very affordable starting price
- Good for hybrid spa/fitness businesses
- Simple to use
- Decent POS system
Weaknesses
- Not purpose-built for gyms
- Limited class management features
- Basic reporting
- Member app feels generic
Pricing
Starts at just £25/month. Additional fees for some features.
6. Acuity Scheduling: Best for Personal Trainers
Best for: Solo personal trainers and small PT studios.
Acuity (owned by Squarespace) is excellent for 1:1 appointment booking. Less so for class-based gyms.
Strengths
- Excellent 1:1 booking experience
- Easy to set up
- Great calendar integrations
- Affordable for solopreneurs
Weaknesses
- Not built for group fitness
- No member management
- Limited gym-specific features
- No member app
Pricing
Starts at £15/month. Higher tiers for more calendars.
7. SimplyBook.me: Best for Basic Booking Needs
Best for: Small gyms that just need simple appointment scheduling.
SimplyBook.me is a general booking platform that works across industries. It's flexible but not fitness-specific.
Strengths
- Very affordable
- Highly customizable booking pages
- Good for simple use cases
- Wide range of integrations
Weaknesses
- Not built for fitness businesses
- No member management
- Limited class scheduling
- Requires manual setup for gym use cases
Pricing
Free plan available. Paid plans start at £8/month.
8. Bookeo: Best for Multi-Service Businesses
Best for: Gyms offering diverse services like classes, rentals, and tours.
Bookeo handles complex booking scenarios well. If you rent out equipment or spaces alongside classes, it's worth considering.
Strengths
- Flexible booking types
- Good for resource management
- Decent pricing
- Reliable platform
Weaknesses
- Dated interface
- Limited fitness-specific features
- Basic member management
- No mobile app for members
Pricing
Starts at £15/month depending on use case.
9. Setmore: Best Free Option
Best for: New gyms or PTs who need free scheduling to start.
Setmore offers a genuinely useful free tier. It's basic but functional for small operations.
Strengths
- Generous free plan
- Simple and clean interface
- Good calendar functionality
- Easy staff scheduling
Weaknesses
- Very limited for class-based businesses
- No gym-specific features
- Basic reporting
- Limited customization
Pricing
Free plan available. Premium from £12/month.
10. Zen Planner: Best for CrossFit Boxes
Best for: CrossFit affiliates and functional fitness gyms.
Zen Planner has deep roots in the CrossFit community. Their features reflect what box owners need.
Strengths
- Built specifically for CrossFit/functional fitness
- Good WOD tracking integration
- Strong community features
- Benchmark tracking
Weaknesses
- Less suited for traditional gyms
- Higher starting price
- Interface showing its age
- Limited marketing features
Pricing
Starts at £60/month. Pricing scales with members.
How to Choose the Right Gym Booking System
Consider Your Business Type
Boutique gym or PT studio? Look for systems built for fitness with CRM integration (like Gymleadhub).
Large fitness chain? Enterprise features and multi-location support matter more (Mindbody, WellnessLiving).
Solo personal trainer? Simple 1:1 booking might be enough (Acuity, Setmore).
CrossFit box? Niche features like WOD tracking could be crucial (Zen Planner).
Must-Have Features
Every gym booking system should include:
- Online booking for members to self-serve
- Automated reminders to reduce no-shows
- Waitlist management for popular classes
- Calendar sync with Google/Outlook
- Mobile accessibility for booking on the go
Nice-to-Have Features
These separate good from great:
- Integrated payments to charge for bookings
- Member app for seamless experience
- Automation workflows for follow-ups
- Resource booking for equipment/rooms
- Analytics to optimize your schedule
Pricing Considerations
Beware of hidden costs:
- Per-member fees that scale with growth
- Transaction fees on bookings
- Add-on charges for essential features
- Setup or onboarding fees
- Long-term contracts
Gymleadhub's flat £50/month pricing means no surprises as you grow.
The Bottom Line
The best gym booking system depends on your specific needs.
For most boutique gyms and PT studios, Gymleadhub offers the best combination of booking features, CRM integration, and value.
If you're a large chain, Mindbody or WellnessLiving might suit your scale.
Solo PTs on a tight budget should consider Acuity or Setmore.
Whatever you choose, stop letting scheduling chaos hold your gym back. The right booking system pays for itself in reduced no-shows and happier members.
FAQ
What is a gym booking system?
A gym booking system is software that lets members reserve spots in classes, book personal training sessions, and manage their fitness schedule online. It replaces paper sign-up sheets and phone bookings with automated digital scheduling.
How much does a gym booking system cost?
Gym booking systems range from free (Setmore) to £100+/month (Mindbody). Most mid-range options like Gymleadhub cost £50-80/month. Watch out for per-member fees and transaction charges that can significantly increase costs.
Can members book classes from their phone?
Yes, all modern gym booking systems offer mobile booking. Some provide dedicated member apps (Gymleadhub, Glofox, Mindbody) while others use mobile-responsive websites. Member apps generally provide a better experience.
How do I reduce no-shows with a booking system?
Effective booking systems reduce no-shows through automated reminders (email, SMS, push notifications), cancellation policies, waitlist management, and attendance tracking. Gymleadhub includes all of these features with no-show protection workflows.
Can I integrate my booking system with other software?
Most booking systems integrate with calendars (Google, Outlook), payment processors, and email marketing tools. All-in-one platforms like Gymleadhub include CRM, payments, and marketing built-in, reducing the need for integrations.
Ready to streamline your gym's scheduling? Try Gymleadhub free for 14 days and see how proper booking management transforms your business.
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