The top 5 martial arts management software solutions compared

As martial arts schools expand, so does the complexity of managing operations. From billing and renewals to attendance and belt tracking, running everything manually is a recipe for burnout. 

Martial arts management software provides the automation and insights schools need to scale with confidence.

With so many solutions available, how do you choose the right one? To make the decision easier, we’ve compared the top 5 martial arts management software options and what sets them apart.

1. Zen Planner – the all-in-one solution for martial arts schools

Why Zen Planner is the leading choice

Zen Planner is purpose-built for martial arts schools and offers a complete suite of tools to simplify daily operations.

• Membership management: Track student records, memberships, renewals, and attendance.
• Online scheduling & booking: Publish schedules online, enable real-time booking, and reduce no-shows.
• Automated billing & payments: Automate recurring payments and empower members with self-service billing.
• CRM & marketing automation: Launch email and SMS campaigns with 100+ templates and 2-click setup.
• Progress tracking: Log belt ranks, skill achievements, and attendance milestones.

Zen Planner stands out for its all-in-one functionality, designed to save owners time, boost retention, and scale their schools. With a mobile-first app and martial arts–specific features, it’s the most comprehensive option on the market.

2. Mindbody – a popular choice for fitness and martial arts

Mindbody is widely used in fitness and wellness industries, including martial arts schools, and is known for flexibility.

• Client management: Store detailed records and attendance.
• Online booking: Members can book and cancel classes online.
• Point of Sale (POS): Supports retail and merchandise sales.
• Marketing tools: Offers email campaigns and promotions.

Mindbody works well for studios that need broad customization and integrated POS. However, some martial arts schools find it less specialized compared to Zen Planner’s martial arts-focused workflows.

3. Wodify – ideal for performance tracking

Wodify is designed for performance-oriented programs, making it appealing to martial arts schools focused on metrics.

• Class scheduling: Organize classes and track attendance.
• Progress tracking: Monitor performance, belt levels, and test scores.
• Billing & payments: Supports automated recurring billing.
• Analytics: Detailed performance and attendance reports.

Schools that emphasize student performance tracking may prefer Wodify. However, it’s less robust for CRM and retention compared to Zen Planner.

4. Amember – membership-centric software

Amember focuses primarily on billing and membership automation.

• Subscription management: Automate recurring memberships and billing cycles.
• Custom forms: Collect specific student data.
• Access control: Manage secure staff and student logins.
• Payment integrations: Supports multiple gateways for secure transactions.

Amember is a good option for schools that need simple membership management. However, it lacks the all-in-one scheduling and progress tracking tools included in Zen Planner.

5. Club OS – member engagement software

Club OS emphasizes communication and member engagement.

• Lead & member management: Organize leads and prevent drop-offs.
• Automated communication: Email and SMS reminders for bookings or renewals.
• Scheduling tools: Manage classes and attendance.
• Retention programs: Support for loyalty programs and re-engagement.

Club OS works well for schools focused on communication and retention. Still, it doesn’t provide the same martial arts-specific tools for progress tracking and belt management that Zen Planner does.

Conclusion – which martial arts management software is best?

Choosing the right martial arts management software depends on your school’s priorities. While each solution offers unique strengths, Zen Planner stands out as the best all-in-one platform—combining membership management, billing, scheduling, CRM, progress tracking, and reporting into one intuitive system.

Ready to grow your martial arts school with the right tools? Book a demo today and see how Zen Planner can help you streamline operations, boost retention, and scale with confidence.