Key Takeaway
Fitness studio app costs range from $0 (free tiers with severe limits) to $700+/month (enterprise platforms). The hidden costs - per-member fees, transaction charges, integration add-ons - often double the sticker price. At 500 members, a Mindbody plan costs $349-699/month before add-ons. Rehost Business at $850/month gives you a custom-branded app with loyalty, push notifications, class booking, and analytics - flat price, no per-member charges, no surprise fees.
The Per-Member Pricing Trap
Most fitness studio software uses per-member pricing. It sounds reasonable when you have 50 members. It becomes a problem when you grow.
Here's what happens: you start on a $139/month plan. Business grows - you hit 200 members. Your plan jumps to $279. At 500 members, you're paying $349-$699. At 1,000, you might be looking at $900+. The software didn't get better; you just have more members, and the platform is taxing your growth.
This model punishes success. The more your studio grows, the more you pay - with the same features you had at 50 members.
What Fitness Studio Owners Actually Pay (Real Numbers)
We surveyed studio owners running yoga studios, CrossFit gyms, Pilates studios, cycling studios, and boutique fitness operations. Here's what they reported paying monthly:
| Platform | Base Price | At 200 Members | At 500 Members | At 1,000 Members |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mindbody | $139/mo | $279-399/mo | $349-699/mo | $699-999/mo |
| Glofox | $110/mo | $200-300/mo | $400-600/mo | Custom pricing |
| WellnessLiving | $89/mo | $149-249/mo | $299-449/mo | $449-599/mo |
| Vagaro | $30-85/mo | $85-170/mo | $170-300/mo | $300-500/mo |
| Rehost Business | $850/mo | $850/mo | $850/mo | $850/mo |
Notice the pattern. Every per-member platform gets more expensive as you grow. Rehost's flat $850/month stays the same whether you have 200 members or 2,000.
Hidden Fees Most Studio Owners Don't Catch Until Month 3
Payment Processing Markups
Several platforms tack on a markup above standard payment processing. Mindbody charges 2.75% + $0.25 per transaction. If your studio collects $30,000/month in membership fees and class pack sales, that's $825/month in processing fees - on top of your subscription. Stripe's standard rate is 2.9% + $0.30, but some platforms negotiate lower rates and pocket the difference.
SMS and Email Fees
Those "automated class reminders" that seem included? Some platforms charge per SMS. At 500 members receiving 4-8 messages per month, that's 2,000-4,000 SMS - easily $40-$100/month extra.
Integration Add-Ons
Want your booking system to talk to your accounting software? That's an integration fee. Payroll integration? Another fee. Website widget? Depends on your plan tier. Each costs $20-$75/month individually, and studios typically need 3-5 integrations.
What Members Actually Want From a Fitness App
We wish we could say members care about your backend scheduling algorithm or your CRM pipeline. They don't. Here's what members consistently rank as most valuable:
- One-tap class booking - Not a 4-screen login flow. Open the app, tap Tuesday 6pm Vinyasa, confirmed
- Waitlist notifications - "A spot opened in the 7am HIIT class" via push notification, not an email they see 3 hours later
- Progress tracking - Class attendance streaks, personal records, workout logs. The data that makes them feel invested
- Community features - Member challenges, leaderboards, social feed. The reason they picked a studio over a home workout app
- Loyalty rewards - "You've attended 20 classes this month - free smoothie on us." Gamification that drives consistency
Most booking platforms handle item #1 and ignore the rest. The community, progress tracking, and loyalty features are what transform a booking tool into a retention engine.
Building vs. Buying: The Four Options
Option 1: Generic Booking Platform ($89-700+/month)
Mindbody, Glofox, WellnessLiving. You get scheduling, basic payments, and a member database. The app has their branding on it. You're renting their infrastructure.
Best for: Studios under 100 members that just need basic scheduling.
Option 2: Website-Only Booking ($0-$50/month)
Vagaro, Acuity Scheduling, Square Appointments. Web-based booking embedded on your website. No app, no push notifications, no community features.
Best for: Solo trainers and very small studios with minimal tech needs.
Option 3: Custom Development ($50,000-$200,000+ upfront)
Hire a dev agency to build exactly what you want. Full control, full ownership. Also: full cost. Plus $2,000-5,000/month ongoing for maintenance, hosting, and updates.
Best for: Franchise operations with 10+ locations and dedicated IT staff.
Option 4: Done-for-You Platform ($850/month)
Rehost Business builds a custom-branded app for your studio - your name in the App Store, your colors, your features. Class booking, loyalty program, push notifications, community feed, and analytics are all included. No $50,000 upfront cost. Flat $850/month, cancel anytime.
Best for: Studios with 100+ members that want custom quality without the enterprise budget.
The 3-Year Cost Comparison
| Approach | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mindbody (500 members) | $6,000-8,400 | $7,200-9,600 | $8,400-10,800 | $21,600-28,800 |
| Glofox (500 members) | $4,800-7,200 | $5,400-7,800 | $6,000-8,400 | $16,200-23,400 |
| Custom development | $60,000-80,000 | $24,000-36,000 | $24,000-36,000 | $108,000-152,000 |
| Rehost Business | $10,200 | $10,200 | $10,200 | $30,600 |
At year 3, Rehost costs roughly the same as Mindbody - but you own the app, the brand, and the member data. And the price doesn't increase when your 501st member signs up.
Related: Fitness studio solutions | Gym technology | Yoga studio apps | Personal training technology | Full app cost breakdown
FAQ
How much does a fitness studio app cost?
Booking platforms range from $89-$700+/month depending on member count, with additional fees for payment processing, SMS, and integrations. Custom development costs $50,000-$200,000 upfront. Rehost Business builds a custom-branded fitness app for $850/month flat - no per-member fees, no upfront costs.
Is Mindbody worth the cost for small studios?
For studios under 100 members, Mindbody's lower tiers ($139-$199/month) offer decent value for basic scheduling. Above 200 members, the per-member pricing starts scaling aggressively, and many studios find they're paying $400-700/month for features they don't fully use.
Can I switch from Mindbody to a custom app?
Yes. Member data (names, emails, membership status) can be exported from most platforms and migrated to a new system. Class schedules and booking history transfer as well. Rehost handles the migration as part of onboarding.
Do members actually download fitness studio apps?
Studios with a branded app report 50-70% of active members downloading within the first 90 days, especially when incentivized (bonus loyalty points, exclusive content). Push notification engagement runs 7-10x higher than email for class reminders and promotions.