Roundup · 2026

Best gym management software in Canada

Seven platforms compared across pricing, member app quality, AI, scheduling, access control and marketing. Written by one of them — which is why every entry says what it does better than us.

Figures last checked 14 August 2026All pricing NZD unless statedRe-verified quarterly (68d)

The questions that decide it

1. What’s the total cost?
Subscription plus any percentage on member payments, plus any per-transaction platform fee. Several platforms in this list combine all three — the total is rarely the headline number.
2. Can it direct-debit Canadian members?
Pre-Authorised Debit (PAD/ACSS) is the CA bank-debit scheme. GoCardless and Stripe ACSS both support it. Confirming this before shortlisting saves a painful switch later.
3. Is this a home-grown platform or a US-first adaptation?
WellnessLiving is based in Toronto. Most others are US or UK products with Canadian support added later. Both can work — but support hours, billing currency and CA-specific features differ.
4. What does ‘included’ actually mean?
CRM and marketing automation are included on some platforms, behind a higher tier on others, and a separate paid product on PushPress. Check before comparing subscriptions.

The options

Seven, in no particular order

GymMasterbest for 24/7 gyms needing integrated access + Canadian billing partners

Christchurch, New Zealand · founded 1997

Christchurch-built and operating in 75+ countries including Canada. Confirmed billing partners for Canadian gyms: Global Payments, Paysafe, Bluefin, Square and GoCardless (2,300+ Canadian banks). 4.7/5 from 165 NZ reviews.

Pricing: Canadian subscription tiers not publicly verified in CAD — request in writing. $129–299/mogymmaster.com(opens their pricing page in a new tab) is the NZD grid; ask for equivalent CAD pricing. No minimum contract; 60-day money-back guarantee (excludes hardware shipping). Processing: NZ$0.50 per transaction, plus your processorgymmaster.com(opens their pricing page in a new tab) (CA$0.50 per transaction on top of your processor).
Member app: Generic GymMaster Member iOS and Android app. Custom-branded gym apps available but pricing not published. No verified member AI companion, nutrition tracking or AI chat.
AI: No production AI schedule generator or member AI companion verified from official sources. Rules-based automation for billing, access revocation and retention outreach is well-established and production-quality.
Scheduling: Class scheduling, check-in, trial memberships, PT packs, recurring billing, access tied to live membership and payment status. Joins issue access; lapses and cancellations revoke it automatically.
Access control: Proprietary Gatekeeper hardware (controller, RFID readers, fobs) is GymMaster’s differentiator for 24/7 gyms. Integrates access, door locks and kiosks with live membership status. Hardware purchased separately and installed. Post-cancellation hardware behaviour is not publicly documented — get it in writing.
Marketing: Rules-based automation for email outreach, retention campaigns and failed-payment follow-up included. No multi-step lead pipeline or AI-generated sequences confirmed from official sources.
Best for: Canadian 24/7 gyms whose primary requirement is integrated access control and a wide choice of confirmed local billing partners.
Watch for: CAD subscription tiers not publicly listed. Hardware is proprietary — moving away may require replacing access readers. No verified member AI companion. The structural risk is software lock-in: if you ever want to switch gym software, your access hardware decision complicates the move — readers only work with GymMaster’s controller. A software change can require a hardware change too.

Full comparison with PATO →

Mindbodybest for studios needing the consumer marketplace for discovery

United States · founded 2000

Dominant in Canadian yoga, Pilates and boutique fitness through its consumer marketplace (~3 million users). 4.0/5 overall, 3.6/5 on value. CA processing rates are published (unlike their AU counterpart).

Pricing: Canadian subscription price not verified in CAD from official sources — a US-dollar entry price is cited in third-party sources but should not be treated as a CAD quote. Get pricing in writing. Published CA processing rates (third-party verified): 2.39% + C$0.10 card-present · 2.89% + C$0.25 card-not-present · C$0.15 Interac · 1% + C$0.40 PAD. Marketplace commission: 20% of a new client’s first purchase, capped at $30. Branded app: $249–299/mo, or their top tier.
Member app: Members use the generic Mindbody consumer app for discovery and booking, or a custom-branded version (paid add-on, price unpublished). App supports class booking, appointments, packages and account management. No verified member AI companion.
AI: AI front desk answers common questions, books sessions and follows up missed calls with a text — a customer-service tool, not a member coaching companion. Marketing automation is on higher tiers only.
Scheduling: Broad scheduling: classes, appointments, rooms, equipment and staff. Waitlists, website widgets and consumer marketplace distribution. Strongest for studios where consumer discovery matters.
Access control: Brivo integration for access control — not a native door system. Quote the Brivo hardware and integration cost separately.
Marketing: The consumer marketplace is the platform’s main lead-generation engine. Traditional CRM and email automation are on higher-tier packages — On higher tiers, not the entry plan.
Best for: Boutique studios where new customer discovery through the Mindbody consumer app generates meaningful first-time bookings.
Watch for: CAD subscription not clearly published. Processing is per-transaction; total cost including marketplace commission needs to be evaluated in writing. Priced per location for multi-site gyms.

Full comparison with PATO →

PushPressbest for CrossFit and functional fitness with unlimited members

United States

US-based with confirmed Canadian direct-debit support (PAD migration documented). Strongest owner AI assistant in this comparison. Unlimited members on every plan. Popular in Canadian CrossFit and martial arts communities.

Pricing: $0 on Free · $159 Pro · $229 Maxpushpress.com(opens their pricing page in a new tab), all plans unlimited members. On card payments: 4.99% + $0.30 on cards (Free plan)pushpress.com(opens their pricing page in a new tab). Every plan takes a percentage — including paid ones. Grow (CRM + automation + website): Grow — US$329/month + US$699 setuppushpress.com(opens their pricing page in a new tab). Branded app: +$81–97/mo. Canadian PAD/ACSS rate not published separately — verify with PushPress.
Member app: Generic PushPress Members app covers reservations, workout history and billing. Members cannot settle invoices themselves; staff must process these. No verified member AI companion.
AI: PushPress AI Assistant(included Pro/Max) can answer questions against live gym data and — after confirmation — books members, charges fees, updates memberships and flags at-risk accounts. Strongest owner AI in this comparison. Not a member-facing companion.
Scheduling: Classes, appointments, waitlists, workout tracking, memberships and recurring billing included in Core. Particularly strong for CrossFit, functional fitness and martial arts with gym-specific operational tools.
Access control: No verified integrated smart-lock or door-access system confirmed for the CA market from official PushPress sources. Treat physical access as unconfirmed.
Marketing: Grow is a separate US$329/month module (+ US$699 setup) for lead management, automated trial follow-up and a website. Not part of Core — the whole argument for PATO and others that include it.
Best for: Canadian CrossFit boxes, functional fitness and martial arts gyms where unlimited members, strong owner AI and a transparent US-dollar pricing model matter more than access control or included CRM.
Watch for: Every plan takes a percentage of card payments. Grow CRM and marketing is a separate US$329/month module. CA PAD rate not published. No native access control.

Full comparison with PATO →

Gymdeskbest for transparent pricing, martial arts and processor independence

United States · remote

Clearest pricing in this comparison: every feature included at every tier, no platform commission. Canadian PAD via Stripe confirmed. Best native martial-arts toolset. Capterra 4.8/5 from 148 reviews.

Pricing: US$75–325/monthgymdesk.com(opens their pricing page in a new tab), priced in USD. No platform commission. Lower software tier when using Gymdesk Payments; US$25–50 more per tier for other processors. Canadian PAD direct debit via Stripe confirmed. Access control: US$100/month for up to 3 devices. Branded app: US$100/monthgymdesk.com(opens their pricing page in a new tab). 30-day free trial, no card, no setup fee.
Member app: Generic Gymdesk Members App for class booking, check-in and payments. Custom-branded app at US$100/month. No verified member AI companion.
AI: Sophisticated rules-based automation (email, SMS, push, webhooks) but no verified AI schedule generator, owner AI analyst or member AI companion. Sequences are manually configured by the gym.
Scheduling: Classes, attendance, kiosk check-in, rank progression, POS, family accounts, lead/trial management and website builder all included. Best-in-class martial arts tools: belt progression, attendance-based promotion requirements, skill libraries.
Access control: Integrates with Rhombus, Seam, Kisi and hundreds of compatible locks — standard hardware, not proprietary. US$100/month for up to 3 access devices. Post-cancellation access operation should be confirmed with hardware vendor.
Marketing: Lead capture, automated nurture, winback, referrals, reviews and website builder included — most complete marketing toolkit at this price level. The gym designs sequences manually.
Best for: Martial arts academies, CrossFit boxes and independent gyms that want transparent USD pricing, every feature included, confirmed Canadian PAD direct debit and standard third-party access hardware.
Watch for: Prices are in USD — budget in CAD needs to account for the exchange rate. Branded app and access each add US$100/month. No verified native AI.

TeamUpbest for class-led studios wanting scheduling done right

United Kingdom

The highest-rated option globally: 4.8/5 (346 reviews). Free migration and one-to-one onboarding included. Confirmed GoCardless direct debit in Canada. Branded app: C$119/month.

Pricing: Current CA pricing grid not published as a static table — use the pricing slider for a live figure. Historical range approximately US$99–309/month by active customers. Branded app Canada: A$149/monthgoteamup.com(opens their pricing page in a new tab) (C$119/month). No TeamUp surcharge on GoCardless or Stripe processing.
Member app: Generic TeamUp Member Booking app (iOS and Android) for class browsing, registration and membership management. Branded app supports in-app membership purchases. No verified member AI companion.
AI: TeamUp Perform includes AI Workout Builder and AI Business Advisor (coaching and owner tools, not a member companion). No automated timetable generation confirmed.
Scheduling: Classes, appointments, private coaching, rentals, courses, packs, waitlists, no-show charges and online booking. Free migration and one-to-one onboarding are genuine operational advantages for gyms switching from another platform.
Access control: Kisi integration available but no robust native door-access ecosystem confirmed for Canada. Treat smart-lock integration as needing direct verification.
Marketing: Booking confirmations, reminders, billing retries and basic marketing automation included. Simpler than Gymdesk’s engine or ClubOS’s CRM.
Best for: Class-led studios that want the highest-rated scheduling system, confirmed GoCardless CA direct debit, and hands-on onboarding support.
Watch for: Base subscription not clearly listed in CAD. No strong native access-control story. Marketing automation is basic compared to alternatives.

WellnessLivingbest for Canadian gyms wanting a home-grown platform

Toronto, Canada · founded 2012

The only Canadian-headquartered platform in this comparison. Operates in Canada, the US and beyond. 4.4/5 · 613 global reviews. 4.1/5 · 41 ratings · CA App Storeapps.apple.com(opens their pricing page in a new tab). Comprehensive all-in-one platform covering scheduling, billing, CRM and a member app.

Pricing: US$69–349/mo (Starter/Business/BusinessPro)wellnessliving.com(opens their pricing page in a new tab). Processing rates not published; confirm with WellnessLiving directly for CA PAD and card rates. No publicly verified setup fee, trial length or contract terms.
Member app: WellnessLiving Achieve member app (iOS and Android) for bookings, schedules and account management. 4.1/5 · 41 ratings · CA App Storeapps.apple.com(opens their pricing page in a new tab). A branded gym app is available at an unpublished additional cost. No verified member AI companion.
AI: WellnessLiving describes automation for follow-up, retention and onboarding workflows but no verified production AI schedule generator or member AI coaching companion was confirmed from official sources as at October 2026.
Scheduling: Classes, appointments, memberships, packages, self-service booking, online payments and reporting are all described as core features. Strong breadth for a Canadian market all-in-one.
Access control: Physical access control integration not confirmed from official sources. Verify door-access capability directly with WellnessLiving before shortlisting for a 24/7 gym.
Marketing: Lead capture, automated email/text follow-up, trial nurturing and re-engagement workflows are described as part of the platform. The automation engine is a core feature, not an add-on.
Best for: Canadian gyms that want a home-grown platform with a comprehensive all-in-one feature set and a local support presence. Boutique studios and fitness businesses with straightforward booking needs.
Watch for: All pricing requires a demo/sales conversation. Processing rates not published — get them in writing. Support wait times are a recurring review complaint.

PATObest for gyms that want everything in one AI-first platform

Aotearoa New Zealand · built by NEZIAK · CA-available

Our own entry — weigh it accordingly. PATO is an AI-first gym operating system: not AI added to existing software, but built around an agent that already knows your gym’s members, classes, pricing and coaches, and can act on it. Every feature on every plan — no tier gates. Used by general fitness gyms, 24/7 facilities, MMA gyms and PT studios. The most complete base offer at this price point.

Pricing: NZ$99 / NZ$249 / NZ$499 per month by member count, billed in NZD. Direct debit via Stripe ACSS or GoCardless Canada. No commission on member payments. 14-day free trial, no card.
Member app: PATO on iOS and Android. Members log meals from a photo, track workouts with 2,900+ movements, monitor body composition, chat with an AI companion and earn rewards. Gym-branded App Store version: NZ$499 setup + NZ$99/month.
AI: For members: AI companion for nutrition, workout plans, habit tracking, answers at any hour. For owners: AI agent across management, marketing and retention — sequences written from a brief, not a template.
Scheduling: Classes add-on (NZ$49/month): templates, AI week generation, batch edits, waitlists, 1:1 sessions with per-trainer hours, self check-in, visitor passes and booking page on your website. Door scan marks class attendance automatically.
Access control: Access is not a proprietary ecosystem — it’s an integration. Gym Access Basic (NZ$39/month): QR check-in with static or rotating codes, physical card printing, existing key import (Code 128 supported). Access Pro connects with major providers via Seam and Kisi — hardware you own, that works with or without PATO. The point: you’re not locked into a reader ecosystem that chains you to one SaaS. If you change software, your doors keep working.
Marketing: Included on every plan: lead capture, pipeline board, four pre-written automated sequences, Instagram and Facebook inbound message handling, broadcast email and website builder. Written by PATO from a brief.
Best for: General fitness gyms, 24/7 facilities, MMA and martial arts academies, CrossFit boxes and PT studios that want one platform for everything. Member AI companion, coaching tools, gamification, scheduling with a built-in website, marketing that writes itself, and billing with no commission — all on every plan. No feature gating. The most complete base offer at this price point.
Watch for: Billed in NZD, not CAD. Newer in Canada, with fewer Canadian gyms than our NZ/AU base. No consumer marketplace — if discovery by strangers is the priority, Mindbody has one and we don’t.

At a glance

	CA subscription	Commission	CA direct debit	Marketing	Access	Capterra
GymMaster	NZD tiers, CA unverified	CA$0.50/transaction		Included (rules-based)	Proprietary	4.7
Mindbody	CA tiers unpublished (USD)	Rates published (not official)		Higher tiers only	Brivo (3rd party)	4.0
PushPress	US$0–229	2.75–4.99% cards		Grow add-on US$329/mo	Unconfirmed	4.7
Gymdesk	US$75–325	None		Included (self-config)	Standard (+US$100/mo)	4.8
TeamUp	USD tiers, CA unverified	None		Basic included	Kisi (3rd party)	4.8
WellnessLiving	Quote required	Not published	Verify	Included automation	Not confirmed	4.4
PATO	NZ$99–499/mo (NZD)	None		Included, AI-written	Standard (+NZ$39/mo)	—

Member AI = companion for member coaching/nutrition. Owner AI = management tool. “Verify” = not confirmed from CA-facing vendor documentation. Capterra scores are global aggregates. Data verified October 2026.

The honest summary

You want a consumer marketplace to be found inMindbody
24/7 gym with local CA billing partners + integrated accessGymMaster
Transparent pricing, martial arts, processor independenceGymdesk
Home-grown Canadian platform, all-in-oneWellnessLiving
Scheduling done right, GoCardless CA confirmedTeamUp
Retention is the problem and you want members using something dailyPATO

Five of those six point somewhere other than us. That’s the point of a roundup — if your problem isn’t the one we solve, we’d rather you found the right answer here than the wrong one from us.

Figures from vendor-published sources, verified October 2026. GymMaster NZD tiers; CA pricing requires a sales conversation. Mindbody CA processing rates from third-party sources — verify against their current merchant agreement. PushPress and Gymdesk prices in USD. WellnessLiving and ClubOS pricing requires a demo/quote.

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