Updated: Febuary 2026
*This article is reviewed and updated annually to reflect the latest software features and pricing
Running a Pilates studio should feel calm and intentional, not buried in admin. The right booking software helps you manage classes, clients, and payments without pulling your attention away from teaching.
This guide breaks down the best Pilates studio booking software in 2026, what actually matters when choosing a platform, and which tools make sense depending on your studio size and budget.
What Pilates Studio Booking Software Needs to Do
Pilates studios have specific operational needs that generic scheduling tools don’t handle well.
At a minimum, your software should support:
- Online booking with a clean, mobile-friendly experience
- Class management for group classes, privates, workshops, waitlists
- Memberships & class packs with automated billing
- Client management including attendance history and notes
- Automated communication (confirmations, reminders, announcements)
- Basic reporting for attendance and revenue trends
If a platform can’t handle memberships, class packs, or waitlists properly, it’s not built for Pilates studios.
The Best Pilates Studio Booking Software (2026)
1. Recess: Free and Fully Featured
Cost: $0/month (not a trial)
What’s included:
- Unlimited classes and bookings
- Online booking (mobile-optimized)
- Memberships and class packs
- Automated billing with failed payment retries
- Client profiles, notes, and attendance tracking
- Email and SMS communication
- Digital waivers
- Client mobile app
- Website integration
- Built-in reporting
Why it works: Recess is built for class-based fitness studios and includes everything most Pilates studios need, without monthly fees or feature gates.
Best for: Independent instructors and small-to-medium Pilates studios
2. Mindbody: Enterprise but Expensive
Cost: Starts around $99–129/month, scales to $500-700+/month
Strengths:
- Large consumer marketplace
- Deep feature set
- Multi-location support
- Advanced reporting and automation
Limitations:
- $1,200-8,000+ per year in software costs
- No public pricing (sales call required)
- Steep learning curve
- Extra fees for branded apps, integrations, and features
- Support reviews are mixed
Best for: Large, multi-location studios that value marketplace exposure and can absorb higher costs.
3. Glofox: Strong Branding, High Price
Cost: ~$180-800/month (custom pricing)
Strengths:
- Custom-branded mobile apps
- Clean client experience
- Solid scheduling tools
Limitations:
- $2,000-9,000+ per year
- Limited pricing transparency
- Reporting is less robust
- Support quality varies
Best for: Studios that prioritize custom branding and white-label apps.
4. Acuity Scheduling: Basic Appointments Only
Cost: $16–61/month
Strengths:
- Simple setup
- Affordable
- Works well for private sessions
Limitations:
- Not built for class-based studios
- No memberships or class packs
- No attendance tracking or studio reporting
Best for: Solo instructors teaching primarily private sessions.
Cost Comparison (3-Year View)
That difference often covers reformer upgrades, marketing spend, or instructor hours.
Quick Decision Guide
Choose Recess if you want:
- $0 monthly cost
- A branded mobile app
- Class packs + memberships
- Simple setup
- No feature paywalls
Choose Mindbody if you:
- Run multiple locations
- Want marketplace discovery
- Have a large software budget
Choose Glofox if you:
- Require a branded mobile app
- Are comfortable with premium pricing
Choose Acuity if you:
- Only offer private sessions
- Don’t need class management
What Actually Matters for Pilates Studios
Must-haves
- Class scheduling and waitlists
- Memberships and packages
- Automated billing
- Attendance history
- Automated reminders
Nice-to-haves
- Advanced reporting
- Marketing automation
- Branded mobile apps
Often unnecessary
- Discovery marketplaces
-Enterprise-level features
- Complex tools you won’t use daily
Most Pilates studios benefit more from reliability and simplicity than feature overload.
Final Thoughts
The best Pilates studio booking software is the one that quietly does its job, without draining your budget or your energy.
For most studios, that means:
- Clean booking
- Reliable billing
- Clear client records
- Minimal overhead
Recess covers those fundamentals completely, without monthly fees. Mindbody and Glofox remain strong enterprise tools, but they’re often more than smaller studios need.
Choose the platform that supports your teaching, not one that becomes another job.
.png)
