Is Zen Planner or Kicksite cheaper?

Zen Planner starts at quote-based; Engage & Studio plans; Kicksite at $99–$298/mo. Real spend is often higher once payment processing and add-ons are included.

Which is better for martial arts gyms?

For martial arts gyms: Zen Planner suits martial arts, CrossFit boxes, small-mid gyms, billing-heavy ops; Kicksite suits martial arts, dojo, karate / taekwondo schools.

Do Zen Planner and Kicksite lock you into a contract?

Check current terms on each vendor's site — annual contracts and setup fees are common in this category and are a frequent source of owner frustration.

Zen Planner vs Kicksite for martial arts gyms (2026)

Zen Planner vs Kicksite: real pricing, hidden costs, who each fits, and what owners complain about for martial arts gyms. Independent 2026 comparison.

Disclosure: some links are affiliate links — if you sign up through them we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Rankings are based on features, real pricing, and aggregated owner feedback, never payout size.

If you run martial arts gyms, the choice between Zen Planner and Kicksite usually comes down to price transparency and workflow fit. We put the two side by side on the factors that actually decide the monthly bill.

Criterion	Zen Planner	Kicksite
Starting price	quote-based; Engage & Studio plans	$99–$298/mo
Real-world cost	—	—
Best for	martial arts, CrossFit boxes, small-mid gyms, billing-heavy ops	martial arts, dojo, karate / taekwondo schools
Segment	small to mid gyms	martial arts schools
Affiliate/referral	up to 20% monthly for 12 months (15% first 5 refs, then 20%), Net-60	confirm at partner page

Real cost, not sticker price

Zen Planner's published pricing starts around quote-based; Engage & Studio plans.

Kicksite's published pricing starts around $99–$298/mo.

Worked example — Zen Planner is quote-based, so there is no published base to estimate from. Use the real cost calculator once you have a quote to see what card-processing typically adds on top.

Worked example — a 150-member gym charging ~$100/mo per member would pay roughly $99–$298/mo in software fees plus an estimated ~$480/mo in typical card-processing (2.9% + $0.30/member, if using the built-in processor), for a ballpark all-in total of $579–$778/mo. Plug in your own numbers on the real cost calculator →

What owners actually complain about

Zen Planner

The recurring gripes owners raise about Zen Planner: dated interface (per reviews). Weigh these against your own priorities before committing to an annual contract.

Kicksite

Kicksite draws relatively few recurring complaints in the owner discussions we reviewed — a point in its favour.

Which should you choose for martial arts gyms?

Choose Zen Planner
if you match: martial arts, CrossFit boxes, small-mid gyms, billing-heavy ops. Starting quote-based; Engage & Studio plans.Visit Zen Planner & check current pricing →

Choose Kicksite
if you match: martial arts, dojo, karate / taekwondo schools. Starting $99–$298/mo.Visit Kicksite & check current pricing →

How we research: GymSoftwareHQ compiles published pricing, feature sets, and recurring themes from public owner reviews and community discussions (Reddit, G2, Capterra). Pricing changes often — figures were last checked 2026-09-27; always confirm on the vendor site before buying.