Starting a fitness studio requires careful budgeting, especially when it comes to operational tools. While many established studios can afford premium scheduling platforms, new businesses need cost-effective solutions that do not compromise on essential features. After analyzing dozens of options, we’ve compiled this guide to truly affordable scheduling software that will help your fitness startup thrive without breaking the bank.
Why Budget-Friendly Scheduling Software Matters for New Studios
For startup fitness studios, every dollar counts. Investing in the right scheduling software from day one can streamline operations, improve client experience, and boost bookings, all while keeping overhead costs manageable. The good news is that you do not need to spend hundreds of dollars monthly to get reliable scheduling functionality. Many platforms offer reasonably priced starter plans or even free options that provide excellent value for studios just getting their feet on the ground.
Best Affordable Scheduling Options for Fitness Startups in 2025
Vibefam: Best All-Around Value for Fitness-Specific Features
Vibefam stands out as a purpose-built solution for fitness businesses that will not drain your startup budget. At SGD $89/month for their starter plan, Vibefam offers an impressive range of features specifically designed for fitness studios. What makes Vibefam particularly attractive for startups is their focus on rapid setup and implementation. According to their website, onboarding takes just one hour, and you will have a dedicated account manager to get you fully operational. This is crucial for new studio owners who cannot afford to spend weeks configuring complex software. The platform includes all the essentials such as class scheduling, client bookings, waitlist management, and payment processing. Vibefam also provides something many competitors charge extra for: a custom branded app that allows your members to book classes on the go. This premium feature is included even in their starter plan, giving new studios a professional digital presence from day one. Perhaps most importantly for studios watching their expenses, Vibefam offers a 7-day free trial with no credit card required. Their pricing is also transparent with no hidden fees, and they allow monthly renewals without locking you into long-term contracts.Setmore: Best Free Option for Very Small Studios
If your startup budget is extremely tight, Setmore offers one of the most generous free plans in the industry. Their free tier supports up to 4 staff members and allows up to 200 appointments per month, which is enough for a small studio just getting started. The free plan includes essential features like online booking and payment processing through integrations with popular platforms like Stripe and Square. Setmore also allows customization of your booking page to match your brand, even on the free plan. For growing studios, Setmore’s paid plans start at just $12 per user per month, making it one of the most affordable options for scaling up. While not specifically designed for fitness businesses, Setmore’s straightforward approach and low cost make it an excellent entry point for studios operating on minimal budgets.Simplybook: Most Affordable Tiered Structure
Simplybook offers perhaps the most budget-friendly pricing structure for studios that need to start small but anticipate growth. Their free plan includes 50 bookings per month and one custom feature, which is perfect for studios in pre-launch or very early stages. As your business grows, their Basic plan at just $8.25 per month (billed annually) offers excellent value with 100 bookings and one custom feature. This makes Simplybook.me the lowest-priced paid option on our list, ideal for studios closely monitoring expenses. The platform provides a 14-day free trial on all paid plans, giving you ample time to test whether it meets your needs. However, be aware that free accounts must be manually renewed each month and will be deleted after three months of inactivity. This requires a bit more management but is a small trade-off for the cost savings.Acuity Scheduling: Best Entry-Level Features for the Price
Acuity Scheduling has built a strong reputation for reliability and ease of use, with plans starting at $16 per month when billed annually ($20 monthly). While slightly more expensive than the cheapest options, Acuity’s Emerging plan offers excellent value with unlimited appointments for one staff member or location. New studio owners appreciate Acuity’s intuitive interface and robust feature set even at the entry level. The platform includes client self-scheduling, time zone conversion, and email reminders standard in their base plan. Their seven-day free trial gives you time to explore these features before committing. For fitness studios planning to add multiple instructors in the near future, Acuity’s Growing plan at $27 per month (billed annually) supports up to 6 calendars and adds text message reminders, which typically help reduce no-shows. The platform is widely used in the fitness industry and receives high ratings (4.8 out of 5 stars) for ease of use and customization options.Mindbody: Legacy Option with Basic Starter Plan
Mindbody has long been the industry standard for fitness businesses, but their pricing has historically been prohibitive for startups. However, they do offer a Starter plan beginning around $129 per month that includes basic scheduling and booking tools. While this makes Mindbody the most expensive entry-level option on our list, some studios may find value in starting with a platform they will not need to migrate from as they grow. The Starter plan includes point-of-sale functionality and reporting features that smaller platforms might lack. It is worth noting that Mindbody requires a demo call before signing up, and some users report finding the interface difficult to learn and set up. For budget-conscious startups, this higher price point and steeper learning curve may be important considerations.Glofox: Mid-Range Option for Growing Studios
Glofox offers a Basic package starting at $100 per month, placing it in the mid-range of affordable options for startup studios with some initial funding. The platform provides scheduling, payment processing, and member management tools specifically designed for fitness businesses. While not the cheapest option for true startups, Glofox may be worth considering for studios that have secured funding and want a platform that can scale with them through their growth phases. Their advanced packages add more features, although pricing for these tiers is not fully transparent on their website. For studios planning rapid expansion within their first year, starting with Glofox could prevent the need to migrate to a more robust platform later. This could potentially save time and hassle even with the higher initial investment.WellnessLiving: Most Affordable Full-Featured Platform
WellnessLiving rounds out our list with their Starter plan at $89 per month, offering a comprehensive set of features that would typically cost much more with other providers. The platform is designed specifically for wellness businesses, including fitness studios, and receives high ratings (4.3 out of 5 stars) for its full-featured approach and supportive customer service. What makes WellnessLiving particularly appealing for startups is their reputation for affordability compared to competitors with similar feature sets. Many users report finding the platform to be good value against the competition, especially for small businesses. Like most comprehensive platforms, WellnessLiving does have a learning curve due to its extensive feature set. However, their responsive customer service helps new studio owners navigate the initial setup process. Ready to streamline your studio operations without breaking the bank? Try Vibefam free for 7 days and experience how the right scheduling software can help your fitness startup thrive from day one. No credit card required, and setup takes just one hour with their dedicated support team.
Hidden Costs to Watch For When Choosing Budget Software
When evaluating affordable scheduling options, it is important to look beyond the advertised monthly fee. Many platforms charge additional fees that can significantly impact your total cost:Transaction Fees
Most scheduling platforms that process payments charge transaction fees on top of what your payment processor takes. These typically range from 1–3% per transaction and can add up quickly, especially for studios selling packages or memberships.Setup and Implementation Fees
Some platforms charge one-time setup fees that can range from $100 to several thousand dollars. This is one area where Vibefam stands out by offering just a one-hour onboarding session to get you fully operational without additional fees.Support and Training Costs
Consider whether customer support is included in your plan or requires an additional fee. Some platforms limit support hours or channels on their entry-level plans, which can be frustrating when you’re learning a new system.Custom App Development
If having a branded mobile app is important for your business, compare the costs carefully. While many platforms charge $200-400 per month for custom apps, Vibefam includes this feature as a top-up in all their plans.