Software · head to head
Mindbody vs Zen Planner
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Mindbody pricing is expensive with frequent price increases over time; Zen Planner limited staff app features compared to desktop version
- They diverge on capability: Mindbody covers Appointment scheduling, Zen Planner covers Member management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Mindbody and Zen Planner actually diverge.
| Attribute | Mindbody | Zen Planner |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $75/month | $99/month |
| Founded | 2001 | 2006 |
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), free tier (No), platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Mindbody
- Appointment scheduling
- Class booking
- Membership management
- Point of sale
- Marketing automation
- Client management
- Staff scheduling
- Business analytics
Only in Zen Planner
- Member management
- Automated billing
- Class scheduling
- Workout tracking
- Marketing tools
- SugarWOD
- Wodify
- Ios support
Both cover
- Mailchimp
- Stripe
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Mindbody
- Spa managementnot Zen Planner
- Class schedulingnot Zen Planner
- Membership salesnot Zen Planner
- Client retentionnot Zen Planner
- Business growthnot Zen Planner
Zen Planner
- Workout trackingnot Mindbody
- Nutrition managementnot Mindbody
- Health monitoringnot Mindbody
- Fitness coachingnot Mindbody
- Wellness improvementnot Mindbody
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Mindbody
- Pricing is expensive with frequent price increases over time
- Essential features require paid add-ons increasing total cost significantly
- Complex pricing model with multiple tiers makes cost comparison difficult
Zen Planner
- Limited staff app features compared to desktop version
- System crashes and occasional bugs reported by users
- Integration difficulties with certain third-party platforms
- Customers report continued charges after completed cancellation
Pricing, plan by plan
Mindbody
$75/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Mindbody review.
Zen Planner
$99/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Zen Planner review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Mindbody if
- You need appointment scheduling.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want class booking.
Choose Zen Planner if
- You need member management.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want automated billing.
Questions people ask
- Is Mindbody or Zen Planner better?
- Neither clearly leads. Mindbody starts at $75/month and Zen Planner at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Mindbody or Zen Planner?
- Mindbody starts at $75/month and Zen Planner at $99/month.
- Does Mindbody or Zen Planner run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- What is Mindbody best used for?
- Mindbody is most often used for spa management, class scheduling, membership sales, client retention. Of those, spa management and class scheduling are not what Zen Planner is typically brought in for.
- What can Mindbody do that Zen Planner cannot?
- Mindbody covers Appointment scheduling, Class booking, Membership management, Point of sale. Zen Planner covers Member management, Automated billing, Class scheduling, Workout tracking. Both handle Mailchimp, Stripe.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Mindbody: What are Mindbody's pricing tiers?
Mindbody plans start at $159/month and include class scheduling and client data storage. The popular Ultimate Plus plan starts at $599/month. Entry-level pricing ranges from $75-$99/month depending on the plan selected.
SourceZen Planner: Does Zen Planner have a free tier?
No, Zen Planner does not offer a free tier. Pricing starts at $99 per month with no free trial mentioned in their standard offerings.
SourceMindbody: Does Mindbody have an API for third-party integrations?
Yes. Mindbody provides an open API with webhooks and multiple API types for integration. The platform integrates with 700+ partner solutions.
SourceZen Planner: Can Zen Planner integrate with ClassPass?
Yes. ClassPass seamlessly integrates with Zen Planner, allowing gyms to sync their schedule and avoid overbooking when offering ClassPass to members.
SourceZen Planner: Does Zen Planner work with SugarWOD?
Yes. Zen Planner integrates with SugarWOD, making it a popular choice for CrossFit gym owners who want to manage both WOD tracking and gym operations in one system.
SourceRelated pages
More on Zen Planner
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