Jackrabbit Dance is built for recitals. Is that what your studio really needs?
Struggling with a steep learning curve, pricing that charges you for inactive students, or software designed for dance recitals when you teach more than dance? Here's why studios are switching to Punchpass.
Punchpass vs Jackrabbit Dance at a Glance
Punchpass
- ✓ 4.8/5 overall on Capterra with 177 reviews
- ✓ Flat pricing — never pay for inactive students
- ✓ Built for all studio types — yoga, fitness, dance, Pilates, and more
- ✓ Zero platform fees on payments — ever
- ✓ Standing reservations, VIP access, Paylinks
- ✓ Native Zoom integration for virtual classes
Jackrabbit Dance
- ✕ 4.6/5 on Capterra with 743 reviews
- ✕ Student-count pricing — includes inactive students
- ✕ Dance-only focus — limited for yoga, fitness, or wellness
- ✕ "Steep learning curve" — "entire office staff doesn't feel comfortable"
- ✕ Branded app costs extra beyond subscription
Ratings from Capterra
Seven Reasons Studios Choose Punchpass Over Jackrabbit Dance
Dramatically easier to use — the widest gap in the category
Punchpass Ease of Use is rated 4.8/5 on Capterra. Jackrabbit Dance? 4.2/5. That 0.6-point gap is the widest in the entire studio software category. Jackrabbit users report a "pretty steep learning curve" where "entire office staff doesn't feel comfortable using it" and "too much clicking around, more complicated than it needs to be." Your staff will actually use Punchpass on day one.
Simple, flat pricing — no inactive student penalty
Punchpass charges a flat monthly rate regardless of how many students you have. Jackrabbit Dance charges based on total student count — including inactive students still in your system. Forget to archive a student who dropped out? You're still paying for them. With Punchpass, your bill never grows because students leave.
Works for any studio type — not just dance
Jackrabbit Dance is built exclusively for dance studios. If you teach yoga, fitness, Pilates, martial arts, or any combination of formats alongside dance, Jackrabbit's strongest features (costumes, recitals, lineup planning) are entirely irrelevant — and the complexity remains. Punchpass handles all your class types equally.
Higher ratings across every metric
Punchpass rates higher than Jackrabbit Dance on every Capterra sub-score: Overall (4.8 vs 4.6), Ease of Use (4.8 vs 4.2), Customer Service (4.9 vs 4.7), Features (4.6 vs 4.3), and Value for Money (4.8 vs 4.5). Notably, Punchpass maintains these higher ratings despite Jackrabbit having 4x more reviews — larger review pools tend to regress toward the mean.
Native Zoom integration for virtual classes
Punchpass has direct Zoom integration so you can run virtual or hybrid classes from your schedule — students get automatic Zoom links when they book. Jackrabbit only supports sharing Zoom links via the Parent Portal. No integrated virtual class hosting, no automated link delivery.
Unique features that automate real studio workflows
Standing reservations auto-book your regulars into weekly classes — no manual rebooking. VIP access gives loyal students early booking privileges. Paylinks let you create shareable payment links for quick purchases. These are Punchpass exclusives that save real time every week.
Transparent pricing with no hidden costs
Punchpass pricing is published, flat, and predictable. Jackrabbit Pay processing rates aren't publicly listed (you must call sales) and the Jackrabbit Plus branded app starts at $89/mo plus a $169 setup fee. With Punchpass, what you see is what you pay.
Pricing: Punchpass vs Jackrabbit Dance
Jackrabbit's entry price is lower — but student-count pricing, inactive student charges, and PayPath fees change the real cost quickly. Here's the full picture.
| Punchpass | Jackrabbit Dance | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $59/mo (Willow) | $49/mo (1–100 students) |
| Mid-tier price | $99/mo (Banyan) | $89/mo (101–250 students) |
| Higher tier | $149/mo (Redwood) | $129–$169/mo (251–1,000 students) |
| Pricing model | Flat — unlimited students | Per student count (includes inactive) |
| Platform fees | None, ever | PayPath available |
| Capterra rating | 4.8/5 (177 reviews) | 4.6/5 (743 reviews) |
| Ease of Use | 4.8/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Virtual classes | Native Zoom integration | Link sharing via Parent Portal |
How inactive student pricing adds up
Jackrabbit charges based on total students in your system — including students who stopped attending. Here's what that looks like as your studio grows:
| Scenario | Total students | Jackrabbit cost | Punchpass cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| New studio, 80 active students | 80 | $49/mo | $59/mo |
| 6 months later (90 active + 20 inactive) | 110 | $89/mo | $59/mo |
| 1 year later (100 active + 50 inactive) | 150 | $89/mo | $59/mo |
| 2 years later (120 active + 100 inactive) | 220 | $89/mo | $59/mo |
Studios must manually archive inactive students to avoid paying for them — or accept rising costs over time.
Ready for simpler studio management?
Try Punchpass for 14 days, on us. No credit card required. No student-count pricing — ever.
Where Jackrabbit Dance genuinely excels
We believe in honest comparisons. Jackrabbit Dance is the most established dance studio software in the market, and their recital and production tools are genuinely unmatched. Here's where they have a real edge:
Costume management with auto-sizing
Jackrabbit's costume management tracks sizes, quantities, and availability with auto-size logic based on girth measurements. This is a genuinely unique tool for dance studios managing recital costumes — nothing in Punchpass or any general studio software replicates it.
Recital lineup planning and production tools
The recital lineup assistant with conflict gap management, backstage check-in/check-out sheets, lighting/music cue reports, and program book export are purpose-built for dance productions. If annual recitals are central to your business, these tools save significant time.
Scale and market maturity
7,000+ businesses, 5 million+ students, 20+ years in market, 743 Capterra reviews. Jackrabbit Dance is the most established player in dance studio software by a wide margin. Their track record is proven.
Recital partner ecosystem
TutuTix for event ticketing, ShowSculptor for backstage management, LEAP! Learning for curriculum. Purpose-built integrations that serve the full dance production lifecycle.
Is Punchpass right for your studio?
Punchpass is a great fit if you...
- ✓ Run a yoga, fitness, Pilates, martial arts, or multi-discipline studio
- ✓ Run a dance studio that doesn't need recital production tools
- ✓ Run a larger dance fitness or salsa studio with 1,000+ customers
- ✓ Want software that's easy to learn — your staff uses it on day one
- ✓ Want simple, flat pricing with no inactive student penalties
- ✓ Need native Zoom integration for virtual or hybrid classes
- ✓ Value transparent pricing with no hidden fees or surcharges
Jackrabbit Dance may be better if you...
- • Run a children's dance studio with annual recitals and performances
- • Need costume management with auto-sizing and inventory tracking
- • Need recital production tools — lineup planning, backstage check-in, lighting cues
- • Want a dance-specific ecosystem with TutuTix, ShowSculptor, and LEAP! Learning
- • Want a custom-branded parent-facing mobile app and are willing to pay for it
Switching is easier than you think
We've helped many studios migrate from Jackrabbit Dance. The process is quick, painless, and completely free.
Start a free trial
Try Punchpass for 14 days alongside Jackrabbit Dance. No credit card, no obligation.
We migrate your data
Send us your Jackrabbit Dance 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
-
The biggest difference is scope and simplicity. Jackrabbit Dance is purpose-built for dance studios — its strongest features are recital planning, costume management, and production tools. Punchpass is built for all studio types: yoga, fitness, Pilates, dance, martial arts, and wellness.
Beyond focus, the ease of use gap is striking: Punchpass 4.8/5 vs Jackrabbit 4.2/5 on Capterra — the widest gap in the entire studio software category. Punchpass also uses flat pricing with no student-count scaling, while Jackrabbit charges based on total students including inactive ones.
-
It's proof that Jackrabbit is well-established in the dance studio niche — and that's worth acknowledging. But more reviews don't mean higher quality. Despite having 4x more reviews, Jackrabbit rates lower than Punchpass on every Capterra sub-score: Overall, Ease of Use, Customer Service, Features, and Value for Money.
Jackrabbit's scale is real and their dance-specific tools are genuinely unique. But if you're looking for ease of use, simple pricing, and software that works for all your class types — Punchpass rates better on every metric that matters.
-
It depends on what you need. If recital planning, costume tracking with auto-sizing, and production tools (backstage check-in, lighting cues, program books) are central to how you run your studio, Jackrabbit's specialized tools are genuinely excellent and Punchpass doesn't replicate them.
But many dance studios don't run traditional recitals — adult dance, drop-in classes, social dance, and contemporary studios often don't need any of that. If your dance studio also teaches yoga, fitness, or other formats — or if you value ease of use and simple pricing — Punchpass handles scheduling, booking, and pass management better and simpler.
-
Jackrabbit starts at $49/mo for 1–100 students, jumping to $89/mo at 101 students and $129/mo at 251. That student count includes inactive students still in your system — so your bill can grow even as students leave.
Punchpass charges $59/mo (Willow), $99/mo (Banyan), or $149/mo (Redwood) — flat, regardless of student count. No inactive student penalties, no hidden fees. For a growing studio, Punchpass pricing is simpler and more predictable.
-
Punchpass is month to month. No contracts, no commitments. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel anytime — and you won't be billed again once your current month ends.
-
Absolutely. Start a free 14-day trial — no credit card required. You can run Punchpass alongside Jackrabbit Dance to see how it works before making any changes.
Many studios get fully set up during the trial period. You can add classes, test customer bookings, and explore the reporting before you commit.
-
We've helped many studios migrate and we make it as painless as possible. Jackrabbit Dance offers free data export, so you can export your student data and we'll upload it for you — we don't charge for data migration.
We'll help you transfer customer information and any active passes or memberships. Most studios are up and running quickly, often while still in the free trial.
-
No. With Punchpass, you connect your own Stripe account and pay standard Stripe processing rates — we don't add any markup, surcharges, or technology fees. Ever.
Punchpass never adds platform fees to your payments or your clients' payments.
-
Jackrabbit charges based on your total student count — both active and inactive students. If a student drops out but remains in your system, you're paying for them. Studios must manually archive inactive students to avoid paying for people who no longer attend.
Punchpass doesn't charge based on student count at all. Your pricing is flat regardless of how many students you have — active, inactive, or otherwise. No archiving, no surprise tier jumps.
See how Punchpass can work for your studio
