Studio Pro is built for dance recitals. Is that what your studio really needs?
Dealing with parent portal login failures, a 1.25% tech fee on every payment, or features designed for dance studios when you teach yoga, fitness, or Pilates? Here's why studios are switching to Punchpass.
Punchpass vs Studio Pro at a Glance
Punchpass
- ✓ 4.8/5 overall on Capterra with 177 reviews
- ✓ Zero platform fees — no tech surcharges on payments
- ✓ Built for all studio types — yoga, fitness, dance, Pilates, and more
- ✓ Reliable client booking — no login failures or blank screens
- ✓ Standing reservations, VIP access, Paylinks, family accounts
- ✓ Independently owned — no PE price hikes
Studio Pro
- ✕ 4.1/5 on Capterra with only 18 reviews
- ✕ 1.25% tech fee on third-party payment processors
- ✕ Built for dance — limited value for yoga, fitness, or wellness studios
- ✕ Parent Portal: "over 50% of clients can't log in"
- ✕ PE-owned (Togetherwork) — users report price hikes
Ratings from Capterra
Seven Reasons Studios Choose Punchpass Over Studio Pro
Dramatically higher ratings across every metric
On Capterra, Punchpass scores 4.8/5 across 177 reviews — compared to Studio Pro's 4.1/5 across just 18 reviews. The gaps are consistent: Ease of Use (4.8 vs 4.2), Customer Service (4.9 vs 3.6), Features (4.6 vs 3.7), and Value for Money (4.8 vs 3.6). The customer service and value gaps are the largest in our entire competitor analysis series.
Customer support that actually supports you
Punchpass Customer Service is rated 4.9/5 on Capterra. Studio Pro's 3.6/5. That 1.3-point gap is extraordinary on a 5-point scale. Studio Pro users report being charged for apps without receiving service and difficulty getting refunds. At Punchpass, you get fast, personal, genuinely helpful responses — every time.
Works for any studio type — not just dance
Studio Pro was built as DanceStudio-Pro, and it shows. Its strongest features — Recital Wizard, costume management, ticket sales — are designed for dance studios. If you run a yoga, fitness, Pilates, martial arts, or wellness studio, you're paying for features you'll never use. Punchpass is built for all studio types equally.
No hidden fees or tech surcharges
Punchpass charges zero platform fees on every plan. Studio Pro charges a 1.25% tech fee on every transaction if you use your own payment processor — that's $1,500/year for a studio processing $10,000/month, on top of your subscription and your processor's own fees. With Punchpass, you connect your own Stripe account and pay standard rates. Nothing more.
A parent portal that actually works
Studio Pro's Parent Portal is one of its most-cited pain points: "when over 50% of clients can't log in it defeats the purpose of using the software." Parents get logged out, can't access schedules, and can't register for classes. Punchpass provides a reliable client-facing experience — your customers can always browse, book, and manage their accounts.
Frictionless enrollment — no account barrier
Studio Pro requires families to create an account before they can even see which classes are available. Studios have left the platform specifically because this friction drives new families away. With Punchpass, students can browse your schedule and book right away — no forced account creation before they can see what you offer.
Independently owned — not PE-backed
Studio Pro is owned by Togetherwork, a private equity-backed conglomerate with 23+ acquisitions. Users already report significant price hikes. Punchpass is independently owned, bootstrapped, and profitable — our incentives are simple: build a great product and keep you happy. No surprise price increases, no corporate acquisitions.
Pricing: Punchpass vs Studio Pro
Studio Pro's entry price is lower — but feature gating and the 1.25% tech fee change the math. Here's the real picture.
| Punchpass | Studio Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing range | $59–149/mo | $45–150/mo |
| Platform/tech fees | None, ever | 1.25% tech fee on third-party processors |
| Lead management | Available on all plans | Elite only ($150/mo) |
| Capterra rating | 4.8/5 (177 reviews) | 4.1/5 (18 reviews) |
| Value for Money | 4.8/5 | 3.6/5 |
| Value for Money (Capterra) | 4.8/5 | 3.6/5 |
The real cost of Studio Pro's 1.25% tech fee
Studios using their own payment processor with Studio Pro pay a 1.25% tech fee on every transaction — on top of the subscription and the processor's own fees. Here's what that adds up to:
| Monthly volume | Studio Pro 1.25% fee | Annual cost | Punchpass fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3,000/mo | $37.50/mo | $450/yr | $0 |
| $5,000/mo | $62.50/mo | $750/yr | $0 |
| $10,000/mo | $125/mo | $1,500/yr | $0 |
| $20,000/mo | $250/mo | $3,000/yr | $0 |
This fee applies when using your own payment processor. Studio Pro's built-in processor charges 2.66% + $0.25 per transaction instead.
Ready for software that works for your studio?
Try Punchpass for 14 days, on us. No credit card required. No platform fees — ever.
Is Punchpass right for your studio?
Punchpass is a great fit if you...
- ✓ Run a yoga, fitness, Pilates, martial arts, or multi-discipline studio
- ✓ Want exceptional customer support (4.9/5 vs Studio Pro's 3.6/5)
- ✓ Need a reliable client experience — no portal login failures
- ✓ Want transparent pricing with no hidden tech fees or surcharges
- ✓ Value frictionless enrollment — let students browse before creating accounts
- ✓ Prefer an independently owned company over PE-backed software
Studio Pro may be better if you...
- • Run a dance studio with annual recitals that need specialized planning tools
- • Need costume management with barcode tracking and inventory
- • Sell tickets to recitals, shows, and performances
- • Need a built-in POS system for selling merchandise in-studio
- • Want a dedicated parent-facing mobile app for children's programs
Switching is easier than you think
We've helped many studios migrate from Studio Pro. The process is quick, painless, and completely free.
Start a free trial
Try Punchpass for 14 days alongside Studio Pro. No credit card, no obligation.
We migrate your data
Send us your Studio Pro 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 biggest difference is who the software is built for. Studio Pro (formerly DanceStudio-Pro) is built for dance studios — its strongest features are recital planning, costume management, and ticket sales. Punchpass is built for all studio types: yoga, fitness, Pilates, dance, martial arts, and wellness.
Beyond focus, Punchpass rates dramatically higher on Capterra: 4.8/5 overall (177 reviews) vs Studio Pro's 4.1/5 (18 reviews). The customer service gap is the most striking — 4.9/5 vs 3.6/5. Punchpass also charges zero platform fees, while Studio Pro adds a 1.25% tech fee if you use your own payment processor.
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Studio Pro's $45/mo Essentials tier looks cheaper than Punchpass's $59/mo Willow plan — but the real cost is higher than it appears. Essentials is missing lead management, 2-way texting, and Zapier integration. Those are gated to $75/mo or $150/mo tiers.
If you use your own payment processor, Studio Pro adds a 1.25% tech fee per transaction — that's $1,500/year for a studio processing $10,000/month. And with a Value for Money rating of just 3.6/5 on Capterra (vs Punchpass's 4.8/5), Studio Pro's users don't feel they're getting good value at any price point.
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It depends on what you need. If recital planning, costume tracking, and ticket sales are core to how you run your studio, Studio Pro's specialized tools are genuinely useful and Punchpass doesn't replicate them.
But if your dance studio also teaches yoga, fitness, or other formats — or if you value reliable technology, responsive support, and a platform that works for all your class types equally — Punchpass is worth a serious look. Many dance studios don't need recital-specific software and find Punchpass handles their scheduling, booking, and pass management needs better.
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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.
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Absolutely. Start a free 14-day trial — no credit card required. You can run Punchpass alongside Studio Pro 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.
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We've helped many studios migrate and we make it as painless as possible. If you can export reports from Studio Pro, we can upload your customer data for you — and we don't charge for data migration. Studio Pro offers free data export, so the process is typically straightforward.
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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Yes. Punchpass has deep, native Zoom integration so you can run virtual or hybrid classes directly from your schedule. Studio Pro supports meeting URLs for appointments, but doesn't have the same level of group class Zoom integration that Punchpass offers.
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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, surcharges, or tech fees. Ever.
Studio Pro charges a 1.25% tech fee on every transaction if you use a third-party payment processor. For a studio processing $10,000/month, that's an extra $125/month ($1,500/year) on top of your subscription and your processor's fees.
See how Punchpass can work for your studio
