Which Fitness Software is Right for Your Business?
If you’re deciding between Mindbody and Recess for managing your fitness studio or gym, this detailed comparison breaks down features, pricing, and more to help you choose the best fit.



Why Your Software Choice Matters
The right fitness software can streamline operations, enhance member engagement, and drive revenue. Both Mindbody and Recess offer robust platforms, but the best choice depends on your specific business needs and budget. This guide evaluates them across key criteria to help you make an informed decision.
Mindbody vs. Recess
Here’s how Mindbody and Recess compare across features like usability, pricing, and customer support. Hover over each feature for detailed descriptions.
Pros and Cons of Mindbody and Recess
Here’s how Mindbody and Recess compare across features like usability, pricing, and customer support. Hover over each feature for detailed descriptions.
Established brand, extensive integrations, popular with large fitness chains.
Higher cost for premium features, steeper learning curve, occasional reports of inconsistent support.
Modern interface, competitive pricing, highly personalized customer support.
Fewer integrations compared to Mindbody (but growing), newer to the market.
What’s the Cost of Each Platform?
Understanding the cost of software is key to making a decision. While Mindbody offers tiered pricing with gated features, Recess’ pricing is straightforward at $0/mo with unlimited premium features
What Do Fitness Professionals Say?
We gathered feedback from gym owners and studio managers who’ve used Mindbody and Recess. Here’s what they shared.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Recess felt like it was designed for boutique studios like mine. The onboarding team migrated everything for me and made the switch super simple. Plus I’m saving about $3,600 a month now in software and merchant fees.
Making Your Decision
Both Mindbody and Recess have their strengths. For large, multi-location gyms with advanced integration needs, Mindbody might be the right fit. However, for growing studios looking for intuitive design, excellent support, and cost-effective scalability, Recess is an excellent choice.

Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can try us for free for 30 days. If you want, we’ll provide you with a free, personalized 30-minute onboarding call to get you up and running as soon as possible.
We charge a transparent and nominal platform fee at checkout. No it's not like Ticketmaster or DoorDash, we are talking a few dollars. This allows you to reinvest your savings into the business, your members have a better app experience, and benefit from your reinvestment. Everyone wins! 🙌🏼
We charge a transparent and nominal platform fee at checkout. No it's not like Ticketmaster or DoorDash, we are talking a few dollars. This allows you to reinvest your savings into the business, your members have a better app experience, and benefit from your reinvestment. Everyone wins! 🙌🏼
We charge a transparent and nominal platform fee at checkout. No it's not like Ticketmaster or DoorDash, we are talking a few dollars. This allows you to reinvest your savings into the business, your members have a better app experience, and benefit from your reinvestment. Everyone wins! 🙌🏼