Mindbody vs Momence vs Glofox: Booking Software for Small Pilates Studios

Your booking system is the software your clients use most. It handles the timetable, the payments and the waitlist, and it’s often the first thing a new client sees. Choose badly and you pay for it every month: features you don’t use, fees that eat into margins, or a clunky app that loses bookings.

Among the UK studios in our directory whose booking system we’ve identified, Mindbody and Momence are by far the most common, roughly level with each other. Glofox comes next, followed by a long tail of simpler tools. Here’s how they compare for a small studio.

Pricing and features change often, and most platforms quote individually. Treat this as a starting point and get current quotes before you decide.

What a pilates studio actually needs

Before comparing platforms, be clear about the essentials:

• Class booking with capacity limits. Reformer classes are capped by the number of machines.
• Waitlists that automatically fill cancelled spots.
• Class packs, memberships and intro offers, with expiry dates and automatic renewals.
• Late-cancellation and no-show fees. Every empty reformer costs you.
• Online payments, including card and wallet payments.
• A good mobile experience, through an app or a mobile-friendly booking page.
• Health questionnaires and waivers for new clients.

Nice to have: private and duet session booking, instructor payroll, on-demand video, email marketing, and reporting on retention.

Mindbody

Best for: established studios that want a full-featured system and to be found on a consumer marketplace.

Mindbody is one of the longest-established platforms in the industry. Its biggest selling point is the Mindbody consumer app, where people search for classes near them, which can bring in new clients. It covers almost everything: scheduling, memberships, payroll, marketing and reporting.

Watch for: it’s generally one of the more expensive options, with tiered plans and paid add-ons, and some owners find it complex for a small operation. Check contract terms carefully.

Momence

Best for: boutique studios and instructors who want modern booking, flexible pricing and on-demand or hybrid classes.

Momence has grown quickly with boutique fitness studios. It’s known for a clean booking experience, flexible packs and memberships, and built-in support for livestream and on-demand content. That makes it a common choice for studios that also sell online classes or run workshops and teacher training.

Watch for: it has less of a consumer marketplace than Mindbody, so new clients will mostly come from your own marketing. Check how payment fees are structured.

Glofox

Best for: studios that want a branded app and strong membership management.

Glofox, now part of ABC Fitness, is built for gyms and boutique studios. A branded app, with your studio’s name and logo, is central to what it offers, along with membership billing and lead management. It suits studios that want to look like a bigger brand.

Watch for: it’s aimed more at membership-based businesses, so if most of your clients buy class packs or drop in, check it handles that the way you want.

The simpler alternatives

If you’re a solo instructor, teach in hired halls, or run a handful of classes a week, a full studio platform may be more than you need:

• TeamUp: straightforward class and membership booking, popular with small studios and community classes.
• Bookwhen: a simple, UK-based booking page, good for courses and term-based classes.
• Gymcatch: aimed at independent instructors running their own classes.
• Acuity Scheduling: better for private sessions and appointments than group classes.

Questions to ask before you sign

1. What’s the total monthly cost? Include the plan, payment processing fees, the branded app and any add-ons.
2. How long is the contract, and what’s the notice period?
3. Can I export my data? Check your client list, booking history and active packs and memberships, in a format another system can import.
4. Will you migrate me in? Ask whether they’ll move existing clients and memberships over for you.
5. How does booking look on a phone? Book a class on the demo yourself, as a client would.
6. Does it handle reformer-specific needs, like machine-limited capacity, waitlists and late-cancel fees?

Our take

For most small reformer studios, the choice comes down to Momence or Mindbody. Choose Momence if you want a modern, flexible system and you’ll bring in clients through your own marketing. Choose Mindbody if you’re established and think its consumer app will pay for the higher cost. Choose Glofox if a branded app and membership billing are your priorities. If you’re just starting out, a simpler tool will do the job for much less.

Whichever you choose, add your booking link to your listing. Clients who find you on Pilates Classes Near can then go straight to booking. Claim your free listing to add it, along with your prices and photos.

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Frequently asked questions