GymMaster works well for what it was built for — 24/7 access gyms with door fob systems. But if you run a boutique fitness studio, Pilates or yoga space, salon, or clinic, you have probably noticed that GymMaster's booking experience, mobile app, and POS feel like they were designed for a different type of business. Because they were.
Here are the best alternatives depending on what you need.
KOLLABO OS — best for boutique studios, salons, and clinics
KOLLABO OS is built for staffed service businesses. The platform adapts its interface based on your industry — fitness studios see class schedules and leaderboards, salons see appointment-only booking, clinics see practitioner-based scheduling. Key advantages over GymMaster:
- Spot picker for reformer/equipment classes
- Dedicated staff app for the floor (check-in, POS, tasks)
- Full POS with packs, memberships, gift cards, wallet
- Zero transaction markup
- Branded customer app on the App Store
- Month-to-month, from $99 USD/month
Mindbody — best for marketplace discovery
If your primary goal is getting new customers through a marketplace (like ClassPass but owned by your software provider), Mindbody's discovery network is unmatched. The trade-off: expensive plans, transaction fees, and your members are shown competitor studios within the same app.
Momence — best for event-heavy yoga studios
If workshops, retreats, and multi-day events represent a large portion of your revenue, Momence handles event ticketing and registration better than any competitor. Less suited for businesses that primarily run regular class schedules or appointments.
Fresha — best for solo beauty operators
If you are a solo hairdresser or beautician who needs free scheduling and is happy to pay per new marketplace booking, Fresha is hard to beat on cost for solo operators. It breaks down for multi-staff salons or businesses that want their own branded app.
Cliniko — best for clinical practices
If you are an allied health practice that needs clinical note-taking, treatment plans, and practitioner management, Cliniko is purpose-built for that. It lacks POS, class scheduling, and mobile apps — it is a clinical tool, not a studio management tool.
How to decide
Ask yourself three questions:
- What type of business am I? 24/7 gym → stay on GymMaster. Boutique studio, salon, or clinic → look at KOLLABO OS, Momence, or Fresha.
- How much am I paying in transaction fees? Calculate 2.5% of your monthly revenue. That is what you save by switching to a zero-markup platform like KOLLABO OS.
- Do I need a branded mobile app? If yes, your options narrow to KOLLABO OS, Mindbody, Momence, or Glofox — and the cost varies dramatically between them.