Updated: Febuary 2026
*This article is reviewed and updated annually to reflect the latest software features and pricing
Running a martial arts school involves far more than teaching classes. Between belt progression, trial students, family accounts, payments, schedules, and communication, admin can quietly take over your week.
Good software removes friction from those tasks so you can spend more time coaching, retaining students, and growing your school. Bad software adds complexity, cost, and work you didn’t ask for.
Below is a practical breakdown of the main martial arts software platforms in 2026, based on what schools actually need day to day.
What Martial Arts Software Needs to Handle
Martial arts schools have workflows that standard gym software doesn’t cover well. At a minimum, your platform should support:
- Belt and rank tracking with testing schedules
- Family accounts (multiple students, one payer)
- Trial and lead management
- Automated recurring billing
- Class scheduling with online booking
- Attendance tracking with at-risk student visibility
- Email and SMS communication
- Curriculum hosting (documents, videos, requirements)
If a platform struggles with these basics, it usually creates more admin instead of reducing it.
Best Martial Arts Software Platforms (2026)
1. Recess - Free & Built for Martial Arts
Cost: $0/month
Includes:
- Belt and rank tracking with full progression history
- Family accounts and unified billing
- Trial student workflows
- Unlimited class scheduling
- Automated billing with failed-payment retries
- Attendance tracking
- Email and SMS automation
- Curriculum library
- Digital waivers
- Mobile app for students and parents
Best for: Martial arts schools of any size that want professional software without monthly fees or student caps.
2. Zen Planner - Feature-Heavy and Expensive
Features:
Belt tracking, family management, billing, scheduling, marketing automation, reporting, mobile apps
Pros:
- Broad feature set
- Established platform
- Solid reporting
Cons:
- High ongoing cost
- Pricing increases as student count grows
- Can feel heavy for smaller schools
Best for: Established schools with 100+ students and room in the budget.
3. Kicksite - Simple Entry Option
Cost: $49/month ($588/year)
Features:
Belt tracking, attendance, billing (via third party), communication, student portal
Pros:
- Lower starting price
- Easy to learn
- Martial arts-specific
Cons:
- Limited marketing and automation
- Schools often outgrow it
Best for: New schools under 50 students looking for a basic setup.
4. Spark Membership - Marketing-First Platform
Cost: Custom pricing (typically $100+/month)
Features:
Lead funnels, trial workflows, heavy SMS and email automation, attendance tracking
Pros:
- Strong marketing tools
- Good for high-ad-spend schools
Cons:
- No public pricing
- Less focused on day-to-day school management
Best for: Schools running aggressive paid marketing campaigns.
5. Mindbody - Complex and Costly
Cost: $117+/month ($1,404+/year)
Features:
Marketplace booking, POS, scheduling, marketing tools, reporting
Pros:
- Discovery marketplace
- Broad functionality
Cons:
- Not built for martial arts
- No native belt tracking
- Steep learning curve
Best for: Large multi-discipline facilities operating more like fitness studios.
6. Gymdesk - Budget-Friendly Basics
Cost: $75/month ($900/year)
Features:
Attendance, belt tracking, memberships, waivers, scheduling, billing
Pros:
- Affordable
- Clean interface
- Responsive support
Cons:
- Limited martial arts depth
- Basic marketing tools
Best for: Smaller schools wanting straightforward management features.
Cost Comparison: 3-Year Total
- Recess: $0
- Kicksite: $1,764
- Gymdesk: $2,700
- Zen Planner: $3,564+
- Mindbody: $4,212+
That difference often equals new mats, improved marketing, or retained profit.
Choosing the Right Platform
By Budget
- $0/month: Recess
- Under $50/month: Kicksite
- $75–100/month: Gymdesk or Zen Planner
- $100+/month: Zen Planner, Spark, Mindbody
By School Size
- Under 50 students: Recess or Kicksite
- 50–150 students: Recess or Zen Planner
- 150+ students: Recess or Zen Planner
By Priority
- Lowest cost: Recess
- Marketing automation: Spark
- Enterprise features: Zen Planner
- Simplicity: Recess or Kicksite
What Actually Matters in Practice
Essential features:
- Belt tracking with testing schedules
- Family billing
- Reliable recurring payments
- Trial student workflows
- Class scheduling with online booking
Nice to have:
- Marketing automation
- Advanced reporting
- SMS reminders
- Mobile apps
Rarely needed:
- Retail POS (unless gear sales are significant)
- Access control hardware
- Nutrition tracking
Most schools benefit from software that handles the fundamentals cleanly and predictably.
Understanding the Real Cost of Software
Monthly pricing rarely tells the full story. Many platforms add costs through:
- Setup fees
- Per-student pricing increases
- SMS and communication charges
- Payment processing markups
- Contract cancellation fees
A $99/month platform adds up to $1,188 per year. Over time, that cost often exceeds what schools gain from additional features.
Final Thoughts
Most martial arts schools don’t need complex software. They need scheduling, billing, belt tracking, and communication that works without constant oversight.
Recess covers those needs with no monthly fees, no caps, and no contracts. Zen Planner suits schools that want enterprise tooling and can justify the cost. Kicksite works well for very small schools just getting started.
The right choice depends on how much complexity, and cost, you actually want to carry.
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