Stop paying Enterprise prices for your independent studio
MindBody was built for enterprise franchises — and priced like it. Once you add marketplace commissions, annual contracts you can't escape, and features gated behind expensive tiers, that $99/mo plan costs a lot more than you'd think. Punchpass does what your studio actually needs for $59–$149/mo.
Punchpass vs MindBody at a Glance
Punchpass
- ✓ $59–$149/mo — transparent, all-inclusive pricing
- ✓ Month-to-month — no contracts, cancel anytime
- ✓ Zero commission on any client, ever
- ✓ Set up in an afternoon — purpose-built for studios
- ✓ Zoom, Mailchimp, MailerLite included on all plans
- ✓ 4.8/5 overall on Capterra (177 reviews)
MindBody
- • $99–$699+/mo plus marketplace commissions and annual contracts
- • 12-month contracts with difficult cancellation
- • 20% commission on marketplace clients — who also see competing studios
- • Dated, complex admin interface — steep learning curve for staff
- • 4.0/5 overall on Capterra (~2,967 reviews)
Ratings from Capterra
Seven Reasons Studios Choose Punchpass Over MindBody
MindBody's $99/mo plan costs a lot more than $99
MindBody advertises plans starting at $99/mo — but that's just the subscription. Add a 20% commission on every client discovered through their marketplace, a 12-month contract you can't easily escape, and you're paying significantly more than the sticker price. Punchpass is $59–$149/mo, month-to-month, with zero commissions. What you see is what you pay.
No annual contracts — cancel anytime
MindBody locks studios into 12-month auto-renewing contracts. Cancellation is notoriously difficult — users report being unable to leave "without paying $2,000+" in penalties. Punchpass is month-to-month. No commitments, no penalties, no sales calls to cancel. You stay because you want to, not because you're contractually obligated.
Support that actually solves your problems
Despite 1,500+ employees and 24/7 availability, MindBody's support is rated just 3.8/5 on Capterra. Users describe it as "dismissive and unresponsive" with support that "fails to solve issues 9/10 times." Punchpass scores 4.9/5 for Customer Service — a 1.1-star gap. Our team is small, responsive, and actually knows the product.
Built for independent studios, not enterprise franchises
MindBody was designed for multi-location chains and franchises — 100+ report types, extensive configuration, and enterprise-grade complexity. For a studio running 5–20 classes per week, that's overwhelming overhead. Punchpass does what independent studios actually need — scheduling, attendance, member management, and payments — without the enterprise bloat.
No 20% marketplace tax on your new clients
MindBody takes a 20% commission on every client acquired through their marketplace app. That's money coming out of your pocket for clients who might have found you anyway. Even worse, MindBody's marketplace actively promotes other studios to your clients — so while you're paying for the platform, it's helping your competitors reach your customers. Punchpass charges zero commission on any client, ever.
Higher rated in every single Capterra category
Punchpass beats MindBody on every Capterra sub-score: Overall (4.8 vs 4.0), Ease of Use (4.8 vs 3.9), Customer Service (4.9 vs 3.8), Features (4.6 vs 4.0), and Value for Money (4.8 vs 3.6). That 1.2-star gap on Value for Money is the largest of any competitor we've analyzed — MindBody customers overwhelmingly feel they don't get proportional value.
Transparent pricing — no sales calls required
MindBody doesn't publish their pricing. You have to book a sales call, sit through a demo, and navigate a high-pressure sales process to find out what you'll pay. Punchpass pricing is on our website — $59, $99, or $149/mo. Pick a plan, start a free trial, no credit card required. You'll never get a surprise bill.
Pricing: Punchpass vs MindBody
MindBody doesn't publish their pricing — you need a sales call to find out. We do. Here's how the real costs compare.
| Punchpass | MindBody | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $59/mo | $99/mo (per location) |
| Top tier price | $149/mo | $699+/mo (Ultimate Plus) |
| Contract required | No — month-to-month | Yes — 12-month annual contract |
| Marketplace commission | None | 20% on discovery clients (capped $30) |
| Your clients see competing studios? | No — your clients are yours | Yes — marketplace shows competitors |
| Virtual classes (Zoom) | Included on all plans | Extra cost / workarounds |
| Email marketing integrations | Mailchimp, MailerLite | Built-in (Accelerate tier, $259+/mo) |
| Capterra rating | 4.8/5 (177 reviews) | 4.0/5 (~2,967 reviews) |
| Pricing published? | Yes — on our website | No — requires a sales call |
| Ease of Use (Capterra) | 4.8/5 | 3.9/5 |
What an independent studio actually pays
Both platforms charge payment processing fees (Stripe for Punchpass, MindBody's own processor). The real cost difference comes from the subscription price, marketplace commissions, and contract terms:
Punchpass Banyan
- Subscription $99/mo × 12 = $1,188
- Marketplace commissions $0
- Annual contract No — cancel anytime
- Total annual cost $1,188/yr
MindBody Accelerate (single location)
- Subscription $259/mo × 12 = $3,108
- Marketplace commissions (est.) ~$50/mo × 12 = $600
- Annual contract Required — 12 months
- Total annual cost ~$3,708+/yr
* Accelerate is MindBody's mid-tier plan, comparable in scope to Punchpass Banyan
That's a difference of over $2,500 per year — and with Punchpass, your clients stay yours.
Ready to stop overpaying?
Try Punchpass for 14 days, on us. No credit card required. No sales call needed.
Where MindBody genuinely excels
We believe in honest comparisons. MindBody is the industry leader for a reason — they've been operating for 20+ years with 80,000+ businesses on their platform. Here's where they have a genuine edge:
Brand recognition and industry credibility
MindBody has been the industry standard for 20+ years with 80,000+ businesses on the platform. Being "on MindBody" carries recognition in the wellness industry. If brand association matters to your positioning, that's a real factor.
Enterprise-scale features
Multi-location management, 100+ report types, staff payroll and commission tracking, hardware POS with inventory management, and franchise support. If you run multiple locations or a large operation, MindBody has capabilities Punchpass doesn't.
Is Punchpass right for your studio?
Punchpass is a great fit if you...
- ✓ Run an independent studio — yoga, Pilates, fitness, dance, martial arts, or wellness
- ✓ Want transparent pricing with no hidden fees, commissions, or annual contracts
- ✓ Need a platform you can set up and learn in a day, not weeks
- ✓ Run virtual or hybrid classes using Zoom
- ✓ Value responsive, personal support over call-center service
MindBody may be better if you...
- • Run multiple locations or a franchise that needs centralized management
- • Need the MindBody/ClassPass marketplace as a client acquisition channel
- • Need built-in staff payroll or hardware POS
- • Require enterprise-grade reporting with 100+ report types
- • Want a branded white-label mobile app (at $699+/mo)
Switching is easier than you think
We've helped many studios migrate from MindBody. The process is quick, painless, and completely free.
Start a free trial
Try Punchpass for 14 days alongside MindBody. No credit card, no obligation.
We migrate your data
Send us your MindBody 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
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The core difference is who each product was built for. MindBody is an enterprise platform designed for multi-location franchises and large wellness businesses — 100+ reports, complex configuration, per-location pricing, and annual contracts. Punchpass was built for independent studios that want to set up in an afternoon and get back to teaching.
The other major difference is cost and ownership. MindBody starts at $99/mo, but adds 20% marketplace commissions on discovery clients and locks you into 12-month contracts. Plus, MindBody's marketplace actively shows your clients offers from competing studios. Punchpass is $59–$149/mo, month-to-month, with zero commissions — and your clients stay yours.
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Yes — MindBody's marketplace with 3.7M+ monthly app users is a genuine discovery channel. However, MindBody charges a 20% commission on every marketplace-acquired client. And there's a hidden cost: the marketplace also shows your existing clients offers from competing studios in their area. Your customers are essentially being marketed to by your competitors through the same platform you're paying for.
Most independent studios find that new clients come through word of mouth, social media, Google, and their website — not a software marketplace. If the MindBody marketplace is a significant source of your new clients, that's worth weighing. But consider whether the commission and the risk of losing clients to competitors shown in the same app is worth it.
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Start by checking your contract renewal date. Many studios start evaluating alternatives 2–3 months before renewal to avoid auto-renewal lock-in. You can start a free Punchpass trial anytime to test the platform and get set up before your MindBody contract ends.
We've helped many studios transition from MindBody. Our team can assist with data migration — free of charge — and help you get running on Punchpass before your contract expires so the switch is seamless.
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For independent studios running classes — yes. Punchpass covers scheduling, online booking, attendance tracking, member management, payments via Stripe, Zoom integration for virtual classes, Mailchimp and MailerLite for email marketing, and embeddable schedules for your website.
What Punchpass intentionally doesn't do is enterprise features: multi-location management, hardware POS, staff payroll, or a consumer marketplace. If you need those, MindBody is the right tool. But if you're an independent studio paying for features you never use, Punchpass gives you everything you need at a fraction of the cost.
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Punchpass is month to month. No contracts, no commitments, no annual lock-in. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel anytime — and you won't be billed again once your current month ends. No sales calls, no penalties, no negotiation.
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Absolutely. Start a free 14-day trial — no credit card required. You can run Punchpass alongside MindBody to compare the experience firsthand.
Many studios get fully set up during the trial period. Add your classes, test client bookings, and explore the reporting before making any changes to your MindBody subscription.
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We've helped many studios migrate from MindBody and we make it as painless as possible. Export your client data from MindBody and we can 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.
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No. With Punchpass, you connect your own Stripe account and pay standard Stripe processing rates — we don't add any markup or platform fees. Both Punchpass and MindBody charge standard payment processing rates, so that cost is similar. The real difference is that MindBody adds a 20% marketplace commission on discovery clients — and their marketplace actively promotes competing studios to your customers.
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In January 2026, MindBody's parent company (Playlist) announced a $7.5 billion merger with EGYM, a gym equipment technology company. The combined entity will focus on AI development, corporate wellness, and international expansion.
For independent studios, this signals that MindBody is moving further toward enterprise and away from small studio needs. Investment will focus on gym equipment integration and corporate wellness — not simplifying the experience for a yoga studio running 10 classes a week. If you've been feeling underserved by MindBody, that trend is likely to continue.
See how Punchpass can work for your studio
