The Gymdesk alternative built for class-based studios
Gymdesk is a solid platform — especially for gyms and martial arts schools. But if you run a yoga, pilates, dance, or fitness studio built around classes, you're paying for gym-focused features you'll never use. Punchpass gives you exactly what class-based studios need, with flat pricing that never exceeds $149/mo.
Punchpass vs Gymdesk at a Glance
Punchpass
- ✓ 4.8/5 overall on Capterra with 177 reviews
- ✓ Flat pricing: $59–$149/mo, never increases with growth
- ✓ Native Mailchimp & MailerLite integration
- ✓ Purpose-built pass & punch card system
- ✓ Standing reservations, VIP access, Paylinks
- ✓ Native Zoom integration for virtual classes
Gymdesk
- • 4.8/5 on Capterra with 146 reviews
- • Member-count pricing: $75–$200+/mo, scales as you grow
- • ActiveCampaign only — no Mailchimp or MailerLite
- • Membership-focused — pass/punch card less natural
- • Gym and martial arts heritage — rank/belt tracking, POS, access control most studios don't need
- • PE-owned since July 2024 (Five Elms Capital)
Ratings from Capterra
Seven Reasons Class-Based Studios Choose Punchpass Over Gymdesk
Flat pricing that never increases as you grow
Gymdesk charges by active member count: $75/mo for up to 50 members, scaling to $200/mo for 201–400 members and custom pricing beyond that. Punchpass tops out at $149/mo — period. A growing studio with 250 members saves $612+ per year with Punchpass, and the gap widens the more you grow.
Built for class-based studios, not gyms and dojos
Gymdesk started as "Martial Arts on Rails" and its DNA is still gym and dojo-focused — member-count pricing, rank tracking, belt management, facility access control, and POS. Those features make sense for gyms and martial arts schools, but they're irrelevant if you run a yoga, pilates, dance, or fitness studio built around classes. Punchpass is designed specifically for class-based wellness studios, so every feature is one you'll actually use.
Native Mailchimp and MailerLite integration
Gymdesk only integrates with ActiveCampaign for email marketing — an enterprise-focused tool that costs more and requires migration if you're already using Mailchimp or MailerLite. Punchpass connects natively with both Mailchimp and MailerLite, the two most popular email platforms for small studios.
Pass and punch card system built in
Punchpass was literally built around the pass and punch card model — drop-in classes, class packs, and punch cards are core to how the platform works. Gymdesk is membership-focused, so the pass/punch card workflow isn't as natural. If your studio sells class packs or drop-in passes, Punchpass is the better fit.
Unique features Gymdesk doesn't offer
Standing reservations automatically book your regulars into their weekly classes. VIP access gives select members early booking privileges. Paylinks let you create shareable payment links for quick purchases. These are Punchpass exclusives — Gymdesk doesn't offer any of them.
Simpler product, less to learn
Gymdesk packs in POS, inventory management, a website builder, facility access control, rank tracking, and content libraries. That's great if you need it all — but if you don't, it's complexity you have to navigate around. Punchpass focuses on what class-based studios need and nothing more. Less to learn, less that can go wrong.
Independent ownership, no PE uncertainty
Gymdesk was acquired by Five Elms Capital (private equity) in July 2024 for $32.5M. PE-owned fitness software companies have a pattern of increasing prices post-acquisition — we've seen it with Zen Planner (Daxko), MindBody (Vista/TSG), and others. Punchpass is independently owned. Our pricing is set by us, not an investor looking for returns.
Pricing: Punchpass vs Gymdesk
Both platforms include all features at every tier. The difference is how pricing scales — Gymdesk charges more as your studio grows, while Punchpass has a fixed ceiling.
| Punchpass | Gymdesk | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing range | $59–149/mo | $75–200/mo (by member count) |
| 400+ members | Still $59–149/mo | Custom enterprise pricing |
| Email marketing | Mailchimp & MailerLite | ActiveCampaign only |
| Payment processors | Stripe, Square | Stripe, Square, GoCardless + more |
| Pass/punch cards | Core feature | Membership-focused |
| Virtual classes | Native Zoom integration | Zoom integration |
| Free trial | 14 days | 30 days |
| Capterra rating | 4.8/5 (177 reviews) | 4.8/5 (146 reviews) |
How pricing compares as your studio grows
Small studio
30 active members
Mid-size studio
80 active members
Growing studio
250 active members
The bigger your studio grows, the more you save with Punchpass.
Ready for simpler studio management?
Try Punchpass for 14 days, on us. No credit card required.
Which tool is right for your studio?
Punchpass is a great fit if you...
- ✓ Run a yoga, pilates, dance, barre, or general fitness studio
- ✓ Want flat, predictable pricing that never exceeds $149/mo
- ✓ Sell drop-in passes, class packs, or punch cards
- ✓ Use Mailchimp or MailerLite for email marketing
- ✓ Prefer a focused, simple tool over a feature-heavy all-in-one platform
Gymdesk may be better if you...
- • Run a gym or martial arts school and need rank/belt tracking, POS, or access control
- • Need a built-in website, mobile app, and POS system in one platform
- • Require payment processors other than Stripe or Square (GoCardless, Authorize.net, etc.)
- • Need facility access control with 24/7 keyless entry
- • Prefer all features at every tier with no feature gating
Switching is easier than you think
We've helped many studios migrate from Gymdesk. The process is quick, painless, and completely free.
Start a free trial
Try Punchpass for 14 days alongside Gymdesk. No credit card, no obligation.
We migrate your data
Send us your Gymdesk exports and we'll upload your customers, passes, and memberships — usually within 24 hours.
You're up and running
Many studios launch while still in their trial. It's that straightforward.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Gymdesk charges by active member count: $75/mo for up to 50 members, $100/mo for 51–100, $150/mo for 101–200, and $200/mo for 201–400. Beyond 400 members, it's custom (enterprise) pricing. All features are included at every tier.
Punchpass has three tiers: Willow ($59/mo), Banyan ($99/mo), and Redwood ($149/mo). The key difference: Punchpass pricing never exceeds $149/mo regardless of how many members you have. A small studio (30 members) saves $192/year with Punchpass. A growing studio (250 members) saves $612+ per year.
-
Gymdesk started as martial arts school management software (originally called "Martial Arts on Rails") and expanded into a gym-focused all-in-one platform. It includes features like rank/belt tracking, skills progression, POS, a website builder, facility access control, and member-count pricing — tools designed for gyms and dojos.
Punchpass is purpose-built for class-based fitness and wellness studios — yoga, pilates, dance, barre, and general fitness. It focuses specifically on class scheduling, attendance tracking, pass/punch card management, and simple billing. If you don't need gym-focused features like POS, access control, or a website builder, Punchpass gives you exactly what you need without the complexity.
-
If you need gym-focused features like facility access control, POS, rank/belt tracking, or member-count billing, Gymdesk is genuinely the better fit. Those are Gymdesk's core strengths.
However, if your gym or martial arts studio primarily needs class scheduling, membership management, and pass tracking — without the deep gym infrastructure features — Punchpass handles those needs at a lower cost with simpler setup.
-
In July 2024, Five Elms Capital (a private equity firm focused on B2B software) acquired a majority stake in Gymdesk for $32.5M. The investment is intended to expand product development, customer support, and market reach.
It's worth watching how this affects pricing and product direction. PE-owned fitness software companies have historically increased prices after acquisition — Daxko's ownership of Zen Planner and Vista/TSG's ownership of MindBody both led to significant price increases. Punchpass is independently owned with no external investors influencing pricing decisions.
-
Yes. Punchpass integrates natively with Mailchimp and MailerLite — the two most popular email marketing platforms for small businesses. Your member data syncs automatically so you can run targeted email campaigns.
Gymdesk only integrates with ActiveCampaign, which is more expensive and enterprise-focused. Studios already using Mailchimp or MailerLite would need to migrate and pay for a new platform — an unnecessary cost and disruption.
-
Absolutely. Start a free 14-day trial — no credit card required. You can run Punchpass alongside Gymdesk to compare them side by side before making any changes.
Many studios get fully set up during the trial period. Add your classes, test customer bookings, and explore the reporting. Since there are no contracts with either platform, you can switch whenever you're ready.
-
Punchpass doesn't offer a dedicated native mobile app — instead, it provides a mobile-optimized web experience that works on any device without requiring your members to download anything. Members can book classes, view schedules, and manage their accounts directly from their phone's browser.
Gymdesk does offer a native iOS and Android app, though some users report it logs out weekly, reloads between navigations, and has issues with family membership switching. Whether a native app is important depends on your studio's needs.
-
We've helped many studios migrate from other platforms and we make it as smooth as possible. Export your member data from Gymdesk (no export fees have been reported), and we can upload your customer data for free.
Start your Punchpass trial, set up your classes and schedules, import your members, and you'll be up and running. Our support team is available to help at every step.
-
Punchpass and Gymdesk have nearly identical Capterra ratings — both at 4.8/5 overall. This is the closest match across all our competitor comparisons. The sub-scores are also close: Ease of Use (Punchpass 4.8 vs Gymdesk 4.7), Customer Service (both 4.9), Features (both 4.6), and Value for Money (both 4.8).
Punchpass has slightly more reviews (177 vs 146). Both products earn their ratings — this comparison is about which tool is the right fit for your type of studio, not about one being objectively better.
See how Punchpass can work for your studio
