What is the best martial arts school software in 2026?

The best martial arts school software in 2026 depends on school size and style. Zen Planner is the industry leader purpose-built for martial arts with belt/rank tracking starting at $99/month. Kicksite is the best value option for small schools starting around $79/month. WellnessLiving is best for schools wanting a comprehensive wellness platform. PerfectMind is best for multi-location academies. Wodify is popular with CrossFit-adjacent MMA gyms.

How much does martial arts management software cost?

Martial arts management software typically costs $79–$299/month for a single-location school. Kicksite starts around $79/month. Zen Planner starts at $99/month. WellnessLiving and PerfectMind range from $99–$249/month depending on student count. Most platforms offer a free trial of 14–30 days.

Does martial arts software include belt tracking?

Yes — most martial arts-specific platforms include belt and rank tracking. Zen Planner, Kicksite, and PerfectMind all include customizable rank systems for BJJ, Karate, TKD, and other disciplines. You can set promotion requirements, track attendance milestones, and automate stripe/belt promotion notifications.

What software do BJJ academies use?

BJJ academies most commonly use Zen Planner, Kicksite, or WellnessLiving. Zen Planner is the most popular choice for BJJ schools due to its flexible belt/stripe tracking, attendance logging for promotion requirements, and strong member management. Kicksite is popular with smaller BJJ academies for its simpler interface and competitive pricing.

Can martial arts software handle family billing?

Yes — family billing with sibling/family discounts is a key feature in most martial arts software. Zen Planner, Kicksite, WellnessLiving, and PerfectMind all support family accounts with multiple members billed under one account. You can set flat family rates, percentage discounts per additional member, or custom billing arrangements.

Average Cost of Martial Arts Software in 2026 | Dojo Stack

## What Martial Arts Software Actually Costs in 2026

The short answer: **expect to pay $100-$300 per month in subscription fees plus 2.5-3% of your monthly revenue in payment processing fees.** For a typical 100-student dojo collecting $15,000/month, total software costs run $400-$600 per month. That includes the subscription, payment processing, and common add-ons like SMS credits. Below, we break down every cost component so you can budget accurately and avoid surprises.

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## Subscription Pricing by Platform

Here is what the major martial arts software platforms charge in 2026:

| Platform | Entry Plan | Mid-Tier | Premium | Pricing Model | |----------|-----------|----------|---------|---------------| | **Kicksite** | $99/mo | $149/mo | $199/mo | By features | | **Zen Planner** | $117/mo | $197/mo | $297/mo | By # of students | | **Mindbody** | $139/mo | $239/mo | $339/mo | By # of staff/locations | | **Wodify** | ~$150/mo | ~$225/mo | ~$300/mo | Custom | | **WellnessLiving** | $89/mo | $159/mo | $349/mo | By features | | **PerfectMind** | Custom | Custom | Custom | Enterprise |

**Key observation:** Entry-level pricing clusters around $89-$150/month. Premium tiers run $200-$350/month. The difference is usually advanced features (marketing automation, multi-location, branded apps) rather than core functionality.

For a side-by-side breakdown of what each plan includes, check our [martial arts software pricing page](/pricing).

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## Payment Processing Fees: The Hidden Cost

Subscription price is only half the story. **Payment processing fees add 2.5-3% on top of every dollar you collect.** This is the cost most dojo owners underestimate.

### Credit Card Processing Fees

| Platform | Rate | Per-Transaction Fee | |----------|------|-------------------| | Kicksite | 2.9% | + $0.30 | | Zen Planner | 2.9% | + $0.30 | | Mindbody | 2.75% | + $0.25 | | Wodify | 2.9% | + $0.30 | | WellnessLiving | 2.75% | + $0.25 |

### ACH (Bank Transfer) Processing Fees

| Platform | Rate | Cap | |----------|------|-----| | Kicksite | 1.0% | None | | Zen Planner | 1.0% | $10/transaction | | Mindbody | 1.0% | $10/transaction | | Wodify | 1.0% | None |

### What This Means in Real Dollars

**Scenario: 100 students, $15,000/month in tuition**

If 60% pay by credit card and 40% pay by ACH: - Credit card fees: $9,000 x 2.9% + ($0.30 x 60) = $261 + $18 = **$279/month** - ACH fees: $6,000 x 1.0% = **$60/month** - **Total processing: $339/month**

**Scenario: 200 students, $30,000/month in tuition**

- Credit card fees: $18,000 x 2.9% + ($0.30 x 120) = $522 + $36 = **$558/month** - ACH fees: $12,000 x 1.0% = **$120/month** - **Total processing: $678/month**

Processing fees scale with revenue. As your school grows, these fees become a significant line item.

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## Total Cost of Ownership by School Size

Here is what you should realistically budget:

### Small Dojo (30-50 Students, ~$6,000/month Revenue)

| Cost Component | Monthly Range | |----------------|---------------| | Software subscription | $99-$150 | | Processing fees | $120-$175 | | SMS credits | $10-$20 | | **Total** | **$229-$345/month** |

**Best platforms:** Kicksite ($99 plan) or Kicksite Free (if under 25 students). See our [best software for small martial arts schools](/best/small-martial-arts-schools) guide.

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### Mid-Sized Dojo (100-150 Students, ~$15,000-$22,500/month Revenue)

| Cost Component | Monthly Range | |----------------|---------------| | Software subscription | $149-$250 | | Processing fees | $300-$520 | | SMS credits | $20-$50 | | Branded app (optional) | $0-$100 | | **Total** | **$469-$920/month** |

**Best platforms:** Zen Planner or Kicksite Pro. Read our [Zen Planner vs Kicksite comparison](/vs/zen-planner-vs-kicksite) for details.

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### Large Dojo (200+ Students, ~$30,000+/month Revenue)

| Cost Component | Monthly Range | |----------------|---------------| | Software subscription | $200-$350 | | Processing fees | $600-$900 | | SMS credits | $50-$100 | | Branded app | $50-$100 | | Add-ons (marketing, reporting) | $50-$150 | | **Total** | **$950-$1,600/month** |

**Best platforms:** Zen Planner Premium, Mindbody, or PerfectMind. See our [best martial arts software for multi-location dojos](/best/multi-location-dojos).

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## Costs Most Dojos Forget to Budget

### SMS Credits Most platforms charge per text message: $0.02-$0.05 per SMS. If you send class reminders, billing notices, and marketing texts to 100 students, expect $20-$50/month in SMS costs.

### Branded Mobile App A branded app with your school's name and logo costs $50-$100/month on most platforms. Without it, students use the platform's generic app.

### Setup and Migration Fees Some platforms charge $100-$500 for initial setup, data migration, and onboarding. Others include it free. Always ask.

### Hardware Check-in kiosks (iPad + stand) run $400-$800 one-time. Card scanners or key fob readers cost $50-$200. These are one-time purchases, not recurring.

### Staff Training Time Budget 10-20 hours of staff time for initial training. At $15-$20/hour for a front desk employee, that is $150-$400 in indirect costs.

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## How to Reduce Your Software Costs

### 1. Encourage ACH Payments ACH processing (1%) costs less than a third of credit card processing (2.9%). If you move 50% of your students from credit card to ACH, a 100-student school saves roughly $120/month.

**How:** Offer a small discount for ACH (e.g., $5/month off tuition) or simply make ACH the default during enrollment.

### 2. Negotiate Annual Pricing Most platforms offer 10-20% off for annual payment. On a $200/month plan, that is $240-$480/year in savings.

### 3. Start Small, Upgrade Later Begin with an entry-level plan. Upgrade when you actually need advanced features — not when a salesperson says you might need them eventually.

### 4. Compare Total Cost, Not Just Subscription Mindbody's lower processing rate (2.75% vs. 2.9%) saves high-revenue schools $20-$50/month compared to platforms with higher rates. But Mindbody's subscription is higher. Run the numbers for *your* revenue level.

### 5. Eliminate Unused Add-Ons Review your plan every 6 months. If you are paying for a branded app but only 10% of students use it, drop it. If you are paying for advanced marketing but not running campaigns, downgrade.

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## Is It Worth It? The ROI Calculation

**Cost of software (100-student school):** ~$500/month

**Value software provides:** - **Time saved:** 15-25 hours/month x $30/hour = $450-$750 saved - **Improved collections:** 10-20% better payment rates on $15,000 = $1,500-$3,000 recovered - **Reduced churn:** 2-3 extra students retained per month x $150/student = $300-$450 - **Total monthly value: $2,250-$4,200**

**ROI: 350-740%**

Even conservatively, martial arts software pays for itself within the first month. The key is choosing a platform that actually addresses your specific pain points.

According to the [IHRSA's 2025 industry report](https://www.ihrsa.org/publications/the-ihrsa-global-report/), fitness and martial arts businesses using management software retain 22% more members than those relying on manual processes.

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## Pricing Trends for 2026

Based on our tracking of martial arts software pricing over the past 3 years:

- **Subscription prices are rising 5-10% annually** (Zen Planner raised prices in late 2025) - **Processing fees are stable** at 2.75-2.9% for credit cards - **Free tiers are shrinking** (fewer features, lower student caps) - **Bundling is increasing** (platforms packaging marketing + billing + scheduling into required bundles) - **AI features command premium pricing** (automated marketing, predictive churn alerts)

**What this means for you:** Lock in annual pricing when possible. Platforms that offer price-lock guarantees save you from annual increases.

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## The Bottom Line

For a typical martial arts school, **budget $300-$600/month total for software** (subscription + processing + add-ons). The exact amount depends on your school size, payment mix, and feature needs.

Do not choose based on subscription price alone — processing fees are often the larger cost. And do not skip software to save money — the admin time and lost revenue from manual processes costs far more than any subscription.

**Compare current pricing:** [View all martial arts software pricing →](/pricing)