The simpler, more affordable alternative to Zen Planner
Zen Planner's $99/mo starting price hides $400–500+ in real monthly costs once you add the website, marketing suite, and branded app. Punchpass gives you everything you need for a fraction of the price — with higher ratings across the board.
Punchpass vs Zen Planner at a Glance
Punchpass
- ✓ 4.8/5 overall on Capterra with 177 reviews
- ✓ Simple pricing: $59–$149/mo, no add-ons needed
- ✓ Native Zoom integration for virtual classes
- ✓ No contracts — cancel anytime, no written notice
- ✓ Standard Stripe rates, no added processing fees
- ✓ Free data migration and export anytime
Zen Planner
- • 4.3/5 on Capterra (265 reviews), 2.5/5 on Trustpilot (327 reviews)
- • $99/mo base, but $400–500+/mo with essential add-ons
- • No native virtual class integration
- • 30-day written cancellation notice required
- • Higher processing fees with monthly PCI and statement charges
- • Data export fees reported when leaving the platform
Ratings from Capterra
Eight Reasons Studios Choose Punchpass Over Zen Planner
Your costs climb as your studio grows — ours don't
Zen Planner's pricing scales with your member count. Hit 200 active members and your base subscription alone jumps to $269/mo — before any add-ons. The majority of Punchpass clients have more than 200 customers, which means most studios would be paying top-tier Zen Planner prices just for the base platform. With Punchpass, your pricing stays fixed at $59–$149/mo regardless of how many customers you have. Your success shouldn't cost you more.
Dramatically easier to use
Punchpass scores 4.8/5 for Ease of Use on Capterra. Zen Planner scores 4.0/5 — the largest usability gap across all our competitor comparisons. Users describe the interface as "not intuitive or easy to navigate" with a steep learning curve that makes "training and daily use challenging." Punchpass just works.
No billing nightmares
The dominant complaint about Zen Planner is billing: "runaway billing," double-charging, continued charges after cancellation, and reports of $10,000+ in disputed charges. With Punchpass, you connect your own Stripe account, pay standard processing rates, and we don't add any markup or hidden fees.
No contracts, no cancellation friction
Zen Planner requires a 30-day written cancellation notice — and users report being charged even after submitting cancellation requests. Punchpass is month-to-month. Cancel anytime, and you simply won't be billed again once your current period ends. No paperwork, no surprises.
Better support, consistently
Punchpass scores 4.9/5 for Customer Service on Capterra, compared to Zen Planner's 4.4/5. While some Zen Planner users praise support, others report waiting 4+ months for resolution on billing disputes. With Punchpass, you get responsive, personal help — every time.
Simple, transparent pricing
Punchpass has three straightforward tiers: $59, $99, and $149/mo. Zen Planner has member-count-based scaling, expensive add-ons, processing fee surcharges, monthly PCI fees, and statement fees — making the actual cost nearly impossible to predict before you sign up.
Native Zoom integration for virtual classes
Punchpass has built-in Zoom integration so you can run virtual and hybrid classes directly from your schedule. Zen Planner doesn't offer native virtual class support — you'll need to set up third-party solutions on your own.
No data lock-in
Zen Planner users have reported being charged thousands of dollars in fees to export their customer payment data when leaving the platform. That's vendor lock-in. With Punchpass, your data is yours — we offer free data migration support and you can export your data anytime.
Pricing: Punchpass vs Zen Planner
Zen Planner's base price looks comparable to Punchpass — until you see the full picture. Here's what a studio actually pays.
| Punchpass | Zen Planner | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $59/mo | $99/mo (0–45 members) |
| Website | Embeddable schedule included | $99/mo + $499 setup |
| Marketing/email | Built-in + Mailchimp/MailerLite | $249/mo + $300 setup (Engage add-on) |
| Branded app | Not offered | $39/mo add-on |
| Virtual classes | Native Zoom integration | No native support |
| Processing fee markup | None — standard Stripe rates | 2.97% + $0.47 reported + PCI/statement fees |
| Contracts | None — cancel anytime | 30-day written cancellation notice |
| Capterra rating | 4.8/5 (177 reviews) | 4.3/5 (265 reviews) |
The true annual cost: a side-by-side comparison
Most Punchpass clients have 200+ customers. Here's what a studio at that size actually pays per year on each platform:
Punchpass Redwood
- Subscription $149/mo × 12 = $1,788
- Email marketing integrations Included
- Zoom integration Included
- Setup fees $0
- Total annual cost $1,788/yr
Zen Planner (200 members + add-ons)
- Studio Plan (200 members) $269/mo × 12 = $3,228
- Engage (marketing/CRM) $249/mo × 12 = $2,988
- Branded app $39/mo × 12 = $468
- Setup fees (year 1) $300
- Year 1 total $6,984+/yr
That's a difference of over $5,000 per year — and Zen Planner's price keeps climbing as you add members.
Ready for simpler studio management?
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 an independent yoga, Pilates, dance, martial arts, barre, or fitness studio
- ✓ Want simple, predictable pricing without add-on surprises
- ✓ Value ease of use — you want something your staff can learn in minutes, not weeks
- ✓ Need Zoom integration for virtual or hybrid classes
- ✓ Don't want to be locked into contracts or worry about cancellation paperwork
Zen Planner may be better if you...
- • Run a CrossFit box and need SugarWOD workout tracking and leaderboards
- • Operate multiple gym locations and need multi-location management
- • Need built-in payroll, retail, and inventory management
- • Want a branded mobile app with your own gym's branding
- • Have the budget for $400–500+/mo and want an enterprise-backed platform
Switching is easier than you think
We've helped many studios migrate from Zen Planner. The process is quick, painless, and completely free.
Start a free trial
Try Punchpass for 14 days alongside Zen Planner. No credit card, no obligation.
We migrate your data
Send us your Zen Planner 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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Zen Planner uses an à la carte pricing model. The base "Studio Plan" starts at $99/mo for up to 45 active members and scales with your member count — hitting $269/mo at 200 members and $289+/mo for 251+. On top of that, key features are sold as add-ons: Engage marketing suite ($249/mo + $300 setup), website ($99/mo + $499 setup), branded mobile app ($39/mo), and there's a $20/mo surcharge if you don't use their preferred payment processor.
A studio with 200 members wanting scheduling, billing, and the marketing suite would pay $518+/mo with Zen Planner — before setup fees. Punchpass Redwood covers all of that for $149/mo.
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Zen Planner is a comprehensive, enterprise-backed platform (owned by Daxko) originally built for CrossFit and martial arts gyms. It offers deep workout tracking via SugarWOD, multi-location support, payroll, retail, and a vast feature set — but at a price that starts at $99/mo and quickly escalates to $400–500+/mo with add-ons.
Punchpass is purpose-built for independent studios that need simple, reliable class management. We score higher on every Capterra metric (4.8 vs 4.3 overall, 4.8 vs 4.0 Ease of Use) and cost a fraction of Zen Planner's true price. If you don't need enterprise features like SugarWOD or multi-location management, Punchpass is the better fit.
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If workout tracking, PR logging, and community leaderboards are central to how your members engage with your gym, Zen Planner's SugarWOD integration is genuinely hard to match. It's their strongest competitive advantage.
However, if you're a CrossFit gym that primarily needs class scheduling, membership management, and pass tracking — without the deep workout logging — Punchpass handles those needs at a fraction of the cost. Many CrossFit gyms use separate workout tracking tools alongside simpler scheduling software.
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Zen Planner has a 2.5/5 rating on Trustpilot (327 reviews) — dramatically lower than their 4.3/5 on Capterra (265 reviews). The gap is largely driven by billing complaints: "runaway billing," double-charging, continued charges after cancellation, and one report of $10,000+ in disputed charges.
Their 30-day written cancellation notice and reports of data export fees add friction for studios wanting to leave. With Punchpass, you use your own Stripe account, there are no contracts, and you can cancel anytime without paperwork.
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Absolutely. Start a free 14-day trial — no credit card required. You can run Punchpass alongside Zen Planner to see how it works before making any changes.
Many studios get fully set up during the trial period. You can add your classes, test customer bookings, and explore reporting before you commit. Given Zen Planner's 30-day cancellation notice requirement, starting your Punchpass trial early gives you time to compare side-by-side.
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Daxko acquired Zen Planner in 2017 and is an enterprise fitness software company that primarily serves large organizations like YMCAs and JCCs. This means Zen Planner benefits from corporate resources and stability, but also that product priorities are set by a parent company whose focus spans far beyond boutique studios.
Some Zen Planner employees have noted that "what made Zen Planner special was seen as a threat by Daxko." Daxko itself was taken private by Permira (a PE firm) in 2024 for $7.2B. Punchpass is independently owned and bootstrapped — our entire focus is building the best product for independent studios.
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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, PCI fees, or statement fees.
Zen Planner advertises credit card rates of 2.19% + $0.45, but users report actual rates of 2.97% + $0.47 with surcharges for rewards cards. They also charge monthly PCI fees (~$5–6), statement fees (~$5–6), and a $20/mo surcharge if you don't use their preferred processor.
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We've helped many studios migrate from larger platforms and we make it as painless as possible. We can upload your customer data for free — and we don't charge for data migration.
One important note: some Zen Planner users have reported being charged fees to export their customer payment data. We recommend exporting your data before initiating cancellation with Zen Planner, and keeping copies of everything.
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Yes. Punchpass has native Zoom integration so you can run virtual or hybrid classes directly from your schedule. Zen Planner doesn't offer built-in virtual class support — you'd need to set up third-party solutions separately.
See how Punchpass can work for your studio
