If you're a small studio owner searching for an alternative to Mindbody, you're not alone. Thousands of studio owners are switching to more affordable, user-friendly platforms that actually fit their needs—without breaking the bank.

Why Studio Owners Are Leaving Mindbody

Mindbody has long been the dominant player in fitness studio management software. But over the years, many small studio owners have grown frustrated with:

High monthly costs: Plans starting at $129/month, with fees that quickly add up as you scale
Complex interface: Too many features you'll never use, making it overwhelming for small teams
Hidden fees: Processing fees, marketplace fees, and surprise charges that eat into your margins
Poor customer support: Long wait times and unhelpful responses when you need help
Forced marketplace participation: Your clients see competitor studios when they log in

What Small Studios Actually Need

Before we dive into alternatives, let's be clear about what a small studio (1-3 instructors, 50-200 monthly visits) truly needs:

Simple scheduling: Easy calendar view to manage classes and private sessions
Client management: Track attendance, contact info, and communication history
Payment processing: Collect payments without exorbitant fees (ideally under 3%)
Email/SMS notifications: Automated reminders to reduce no-shows
Basic reporting: Revenue, attendance trends, and client retention metrics

You don't need enterprise-level inventory management, complex marketing funnels, or AI-powered insights that only make sense for chains with 10+ locations.

Top Mindbody Alternatives for Small Studios

1. Studio Planner (Best for Independent Instructors)

Pricing: Starting at $49/month
Best For: Independent instructors renting studio space, small studios with multiple teachers
Key Features:

Transparent hourly studio rental marketplace (no hidden fees)
Automated teacher billing and payment tracking
Simple booking system for classes and private sessions
Stripe-integrated payments with standard processing rates
White-label portal for your custom domain

Why We Recommend It: Studio Planner was built specifically for the independent instructor economy. If you rent space or sublease to other teachers, it's the only platform that handles both your teaching schedule AND your space rental business in one system. No bloat, just the essentials.

2. Pike13 (Best for Small Multi-Studio Chains)

Pricing: Starting at $99/month
Best For: Studios with 2-5 locations
Key Features:

Clean, modern interface that's easier to learn than Mindbody
Strong mobile apps for clients and staff
Good reporting and analytics for multi-location management
Integrates with most payment processors

The Catch: Still priced higher than most micro-studios need, and you're paying for features like multi-location management even if you only have one studio.

3. Glofox (Best for Boutique Fitness Studios)

Pricing: Starting at $79/month
Best For: Boutique studios focused on branded mobile apps
Key Features:

Beautiful mobile app experience (iOS and Android)
Strong membership management tools
Video-on-demand integration for hybrid offerings
Marketing automation tools included

The Catch: The mobile app is great, but if you don't need that level of polish (most small studios don't), you're paying for unnecessary features.

4. Acuity Scheduling (Best for Solopreneurs)

Pricing: Starting at $16/month
Best For: Solo instructors offering private sessions or small group classes
Key Features:

Dead simple appointment booking
Calendar syncing (Google, iCloud, Outlook)
Payment collection via Square or PayPal
Customizable intake forms

The Catch: Not designed for class-based businesses. If you run group classes with limited capacity, you'll outgrow Acuity quickly.

Feature Comparison Table

Feature	Mindbody	Studio Planner	Pike13	Glofox	Acuity
Starting Price	$129/mo	$49/mo	$99/mo	$79/mo	$16/mo
Class Scheduling	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Payment Processing	✅ (high fees)	✅ (Stripe)	✅	✅	✅
Mobile App	✅	❌	✅	✅	❌
Multi-Teacher Billing	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌
Custom Domain	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Email/SMS Reminders	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅

What About Free Options?

We get it—software subscriptions add up. Here's the reality: free tools like Google Calendar + Venmo can work for your first 10 students, but they break down fast when you need to:

Track who's paid vs who owes you money
Send automated reminders (manual texts get old fast)
Generate financial reports for tax season
Manage recurring bookings without manually copying events

The $50-100/month you spend on software pays for itself if it saves you even 2 hours of admin work per month. Your time is worth more than that.

Making the Switch: What to Expect

Switching studio management software sounds scary, but it's usually smoother than expected. Here's a typical timeline:

Week 1: Export your client list from Mindbody (CSV file)
Week 2: Set up your new platform (classes, instructors, pricing)
Week 3: Email your clients with new booking instructions
Week 4: Run both systems in parallel to catch any issues
Week 5: Cancel Mindbody subscription

Most studios report that the actual migration takes less than 8 hours of focused work. The hardest part is just making the decision to switch.

Our Recommendation: Start with Studio Planner

If you're an independent instructor or small studio owner who rents space (or rents space TO others), Studio Planner is purpose-built for you. Here's why:

Transparent pricing: No hidden fees, no surprise charges. $49/month gets you everything.
Built for space rental: The only platform that handles both your teaching schedule and your space rental business.
Teacher billing automation: If you sublease to other instructors, automated billing saves hours per month.
No forced marketplace: Your clients don't see competitor studios when they book.
Responsive support: Actual humans respond within 24 hours, not canned bot responses.

Try Studio Planner free for 14 days →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export my client data from Mindbody?

Yes. Mindbody allows you to export client lists, class history, and financial data as CSV files. Most alternatives (including Studio Planner) can import this data to save you setup time.

What happens to my existing class packages and memberships?

You'll need to manually recreate your pricing structure in your new platform. The good news: this is a great time to simplify your offerings. Most studios find they can eliminate confusing pricing tiers that weren't selling anyway.

Will I lose my SEO rankings if I switch platforms?

No. Your Google rankings are tied to your domain name and content, not your booking software. As long as you keep your website URL the same, your SEO won't be affected.

How much does it cost to switch?

Most platforms (including Studio Planner) offer free migration assistance. The only real cost is your time—budget about 8-10 hours for setup and testing. Some platforms charge a one-time setup fee ($99-299), but many waive this for annual subscribers.

Final Thoughts

Mindbody isn't a bad platform—it's just overkill for most small studios. If you're paying $200+/month for features you don't use, it's time to reevaluate. The alternatives listed above offer 90% of the functionality at 30-50% of the cost.

For independent instructors and studio owners managing multiple teachers, Studio Planner is the clear winner. It's the only platform that treats space rental as a first-class feature, not an afterthought.

See how Studio Planner works →

The Best Mindbody Alternatives for Small Studios in 2025