Vagaro's $30/mo doesn't include what your studio actually needs
Vagaro was built for salons and spas — fitness studios are an afterthought. Once you add the features studios need, costs reach $110–$310/mo. Punchpass is purpose-built for class-based studios at $59–$149/mo, all-inclusive.
Punchpass vs Vagaro at a Glance
Punchpass
- ✓ $59–$149/mo — all features included, no add-ons
- ✓ Purpose-built for class-based fitness studios
- ✓ Native Zoom integration on all plans
- ✓ Unlimited instructors — no per-calendar fees
- ✓ Mailchimp and MailerLite integrations
- ✓ Flexible booking — accounts optional or required, your choice
Vagaro
- • $30/mo base — but $110–$310/mo with studio add-ons
- • Built for salons/spas — studios are a secondary market
- • Zoom integration sunset May 2025 — $10/mo for replacement
- • $10/mo per additional instructor calendar
- • No Mailchimp/MailerLite — basic 1,000 emails/mo only
- • Clients must create a Vagaro account to book
Ratings from Capterra
Eight Reasons Studios Choose Punchpass Over Vagaro
Purpose-built for studios — not adapted salon software
Vagaro was designed for salons and spas. Fitness studios are a secondary market. That means you're navigating features built for appointment-based workflows — SOAP notes, barcode scanning, commission tracking — when all you need is class scheduling, attendance, and member management. Punchpass was built from day one for class-based fitness and wellness studios.
The real cost isn't $30/mo — it's $110–$310/mo
Vagaro's $30/mo base price looks affordable until you add what studios actually need: QuickBooks integration ($30/mo), website builder ($20/mo), and live streaming ($10/mo) — that's $110/mo before per-calendar charges. Need more than 1,000 email sends per month? That's another $20 per batch of credits. Add the branded app ($200/mo) and you're approaching $310/mo. Plus $10/mo per additional instructor calendar. Punchpass is $59–$149/mo with everything included — no add-ons, no per-instructor fees.
Zoom integration included — Vagaro dropped theirs
Vagaro sunset their Zoom integration in May 2025, replacing it with a proprietary live streaming tool at $10/mo extra. Streaming video is hard — so we let the experts handle it. Everyone already knows how to use Zoom, it's a robust and reliable platform, and Punchpass includes native Zoom integration on all plans at no extra cost.
Flexible booking — on your terms
With Vagaro, every client must create a Vagaro account before they can book. No exceptions. Punchpass gives you the flexibility to decide how booking works for your studio. Want frictionless booking with no account required? Done. Want to require an account and an active pass to book? You can do that too. You can even require an account and active pass for regular classes while keeping intro or trial classes open to anyone. It's your studio — you should control the booking experience.
Unlimited instructors on every plan
Vagaro charges $10/mo per additional calendar — each instructor or room needs their own. A studio with 7 instructors pays $90/mo for the base subscription alone, before any add-ons. Punchpass includes unlimited users on all plans. Add instructors as your studio grows without watching your bill climb.
Better ease of use and support quality
On Capterra, Punchpass scores 4.8/5 for Ease of Use compared to Vagaro's 4.6/5 — and 4.9/5 for Customer Service compared to Vagaro's 4.6/5. That support gap matters: despite Vagaro offering 24/7 phone support, users describe it as "unhelpful at best and argumentative at worst." Punchpass provides responsive, personal support from people who understand studios.
Email marketing that works with the tools you already use
Punchpass integrates natively with Mailchimp and MailerLite — the email platforms studios actually use. Vagaro offers basic built-in email limited to 1,000 sends per month, and if you need more, you'll pay $20 for an additional 7,500 credits — yet another add-on in a platform full of them. There are no external email integrations either, so if you want to use a real email marketing tool, Vagaro boxes you in.
Features designed for how studios actually work
Punchpass includes standing reservations (auto-book your regulars into weekly classes), VIP early access (give loyal members priority booking), and Paylinks (send direct payment links to clients). These are studio-specific features that Vagaro doesn't offer — because Vagaro's roadmap is driven by salon and spa needs, not yours.
Pricing: Punchpass vs Vagaro
Vagaro's $30/mo base price doesn't tell the full story. Here's what studios actually pay when you factor in the add-ons and per-calendar charges most studios need.
| Punchpass | Vagaro | |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $59–$149/mo | $30/mo (1 calendar) |
| Additional instructors | Unlimited — included | +$10/mo per calendar |
| Virtual classes (Zoom) | Included on all plans | Zoom dropped — $10/mo for live stream |
| Email marketing integrations | Mailchimp, MailerLite | None — basic 1,000 emails/mo |
| Client account required | Flexible — your choice | Yes — Vagaro account required |
| Capterra rating | 4.8/5 (177 reviews) | 4.7/5 (3,463 reviews) |
Ready to switch?
Try Punchpass for 14 days, on us. No credit card required.
Is Punchpass right for your studio?
Punchpass is a great fit if you...
- ✓ Run a class-based studio — yoga, Pilates, fitness, dance, martial arts, or wellness
- ✓ Want transparent pricing with no add-on fees or per-instructor charges
- ✓ Run virtual or hybrid classes using Zoom
- ✓ Need Mailchimp or MailerLite integration for email marketing
- ✓ Want flexible booking options — accounts optional or required, on your terms
Vagaro may be better if you...
- • Run a salon, spa, or appointment-based business rather than a class-based studio
- • Need a built-in marketplace to help new clients discover your business
- • Have significant retail product sales and need a hardware POS system
- • Are a solo practitioner looking for $30/mo all-in-one scheduling
- • Need built-in payroll, inventory management, or SOAP notes
Switching is easier than you think
We've helped many studios migrate from Vagaro. The process is quick, painless, and completely free.
Start a free trial
Try Punchpass for 14 days alongside Vagaro. No credit card, no obligation.
We migrate your data
Send us your Vagaro 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 focus. Vagaro was built for salons and spas — fitness studios are a secondary market. Punchpass was built specifically for class-based fitness and wellness studios. That means Punchpass's scheduling, attendance tracking, member management, and integrations are all designed for how studios operate.
The other major difference is pricing transparency. Vagaro's $30/mo base price doesn't include accounting integration, website builder, or live streaming — those are all paid add-ons. Even basic email marketing is capped at 1,000 sends per month, with extra credits at additional cost. Punchpass is $59–$149/mo with all features included on your plan.
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That $30/mo base price is for a single calendar with no add-ons. A typical studio with 3 instructors that needs QuickBooks ($30/mo), website builder ($20/mo), and live streaming ($10/mo) pays $110/mo on Vagaro. Add the branded app ($200/mo) and it's $310/mo.
Punchpass at $59–$149/mo includes unlimited users, native Zoom integration, Mailchimp and MailerLite integrations, and all core features — no add-on fees, no per-instructor charges. For most studios, Punchpass is actually the more affordable option once you compare total cost.
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Yes. Vagaro retired their Zoom integration in May 2025, replacing it with a proprietary live streaming tool that costs $10/mo extra. Punchpass includes deep, native Zoom integration on all plans at no extra cost — including automatic Zoom link generation, attendance syncing, and support for hybrid classes.
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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 Vagaro 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 Vagaro subscription.
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We've helped many studios migrate from other platforms and we make it as painless as possible. Export your client data from Vagaro 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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Not unless you want them to — and that's a key difference. Vagaro requires clients to create a Vagaro account before they can book online, with no way around it. With Punchpass, you choose: allow frictionless booking with no account, or require an account and active pass if that works better for your studio. You can even keep intro classes open while requiring accounts for regular classes.
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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. Vagaro uses their own built-in payment processing at 2.75% per card-present transaction, with additional monthly fees for merchants processing over $4K/mo.
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Yes — Vagaro's marketplace with 250K+ businesses is a genuine differentiator that Punchpass doesn't replicate. However, the marketplace primarily benefits salons and spas where consumers search for services by type and location. Most fitness studio clients come through referrals, social media, local marketing, and your website — not a software marketplace.
If the Vagaro marketplace is a significant source of your new clients, that's worth weighing. But many studios find they're paying for a marketplace they barely use while dealing with add-on fees and a salon-first interface that doesn't serve them well.
See how Punchpass can work for your studio
