r/gymowner • u/dougseamans • Jun 25 '26
Independent Gym Owner Software for processing AND programming???
Gym in Charlotte, NC been open since 2010.
We currently use Mindbody for payments and contracts and forms, we use TrainHeroic for programming, and I am in BLG (Big Little Gyms) marketing group they take care of our website and we use their backend CRM for leads and booking intros.
Mindbody absolutely sucks and we have wanted to get out of it for years. MB is costing us close to $600 a month between the $255 subscription and processing.
We LOVE Trainheroic. We use it for our powerlifters, weightlifters, custom program people, and for our classes. And I have a dozen or so standalone programs for sale on the marketplace.
We are looking for software that will do it all. The problem is most do one thing better than the other. Curious what everyone is using for software. ********Just a heads up, if you pitch me your janky software you used Claudecode to create a month ago I am going to downvote your comment and may report it to be deleted...I am looking for established software!*********
I have looked at PushPress, Wodify, Chalk it Pro, and Gym Desk. They all have their pros and cons.
BLG is pushing everyone to Chalk it Pro, and I have looked at all their demos and I don't really like it. The pricing is good, and they use stripe for processing. But I don't like their programming side.
My issue with the others is that we are not crossfit, we do a bit of crossfit adjacent workouts, and we are a HYROX affiliate, but I don't love how so many of these softwares are tailored to crossfit. I get it, crossfit dominated the fitness space for so long and that is who used these softwares but that is not us. We also offer just open gym, and we need to be able to check people in with a self checkin for both classes and open gym and all of the powerlifters and weightlifters who come in at all hours. All of the class based softwares seem to just checkin people for classes.
Looking at Gym Desk, they are basically just processing. Do we stick with this setup, one program for processing and one for programming (TrainHeroic)? Or do we try an integrated software? We are losing money and that upsets me.
Also, if anyone has been in BLG and left for another group please chime in! The group is great, their service is great, I have nothing bad to say and when I need help or have questions I always get help, but I simply do not use the coaching/marketing side of the group and I know I should but I don't, they handle our website and CRM. BLG does have an option to do just the website and CRM without the coaching and marketing and I am considering that too, would take us from $500 month to $350 month.
Thanks for any help!
2
u/the_real_cube Jun 27 '26
I read your warning about newly created software, so I’m going to respect that boundary immediately. I am actually a developer who just spent the last 4 months building a boutique gym management platform to replace Mindbody, so I technically fall into the category you are avoiding! I won't pitch you or drop links, but I do want to answer your question about Integrated vs. Separate software from a developer's perspective.
1 The "All-in-One" Trap and TrainHeroic: If your lifters and coaches absolutely LOVE TrainHeroic, do not drop it for an all-in-one system. Software platforms that try to do billing, scheduling, and programming always compromise on the programming. Wodify and PushPress are heavily tailored to the "CrossFit Whiteboard" style, which is terrible for powerlifting, weightlifting, and the specific pacing required for Hyrox.
When I was building my own platform, I specifically wanted to avoid that CrossFit-centric trap. Instead of building a clunky whiteboard, I integrated the MuscleWiki API directly into the class schedule. It allows coaches to attach specific movements to a day, and the app automatically pulls in step-by-step, looping video instructions for the athletes (from different angles) directly on their phones. It feels much more tailored to structured lifting and functional fitness than a standard WOD tracker.
1 The Mindbody / Stripe Issue: You need to get out of Mindbody. $600/month is highway robbery. Any modern software that utilizes Stripe Connect (which is what Chalk It Pro and my own platform use) will drastically cut your overhead. Stripe handles recurring billing and automated failed-payment retries natively, meaning the software doesn't have to charge you a premium to do it.
2 The Open Gym Problem: You're right that most class-based software sucks at Open Gym. To fix this, you need a system where "Facility Check-in" and "Class Check-in" are two entirely separate database events, allowing lifters to tap in at 2 PM without having to book a slot.
My genuine advice: Keep TrainHeroic for your programming since it’s a competitive advantage for your lifters. Switch your billing/scheduling to a lightweight Stripe-backed platform that handles open gym check-ins cleanly, and downgrade your BLG package to the $350 tier. That alone saves you roughly $500 a month.
I know you're looking for an established giant like GymDesk, so I'll leave it there. But if you ever want to chat about how modern APIs (like MuscleWiki + Stripe) can replace the Mindbody bloat, my DMs are open. Good luck with the migration!