Running a 24/7 gym means your building needs to work when you're not there. Members need to get in at 5 AM. Failed payments need to lock the door automatically. And you need to know who's in the building at 2 AM without watching a camera feed.
Here's what actually matters: your door needs to know who's a paying member right now — not who was a paying member last week. Get that wrong and you're running a free gym for anyone who stops paying.
Most gym owners end up buying management software that doesn't control doors, then buying a separate access system that doesn't know who's paid. Two systems. Two bills. Zero communication between them.
I've installed access control hardware at multiple 24/7 facilities through ManageMemberships. I'll be upfront about that bias. But this guide works regardless of what platform you choose — the hardware, the costs, and the decisions are the same.
How 24-Hour Gym Access Control Actually Works
The concept is simple. The execution is where most people get it wrong.
The whole check happens in under 2 seconds. No staff needed. The critical part is step 2 — billing status must control the door in real-time. If your access system and billing system are two separate platforms that sync once a day (or worse, manually), you've got a gap where non-paying members walk in.
This is the single most important thing to get right. Everything else — hardware brand, fob vs phone, mag lock vs electric strike — is secondary to whether your door knows who's paid.
Quick Comparison
| GymMaster | PushPress | Glofox | Gymdesk | ManageMemberships | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $89–249/mo | $0–229/mo + add-ons | $100–600/mo (opaque) | $75–200/mo + $100/mo access | $0–99/mo + $89/mo access |
| Door access built-in? | Yes (their hardware) | No — needs Kisi ($50–80/door/mo) | No — needs Kisi | Smart lock ($100/mo) | Yes — built-in ($89/mo) |
| Auto-locks on failed payment? | ✓ | Depends on Kisi setup | Depends on Kisi setup | ✓ | ✓ Automatic |
| Branded mobile app | ✗ | $97/mo add-on | ✓ included | ✗ | ✓ Included |
| Digital waivers | ✓ | ✓ | Via integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| POS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| SMS/email marketing | ✓ | $329/mo add-on | ✓ | Basic | ✓ Included |
| Real total cost (with access + app) | $89–249/mo | $376–655/mo | $200–750/mo | $175–300/mo | $188/mo all-in |
The bottom row is the one that matters. When you add up the real cost of management software + door access + a branded app, most platforms double or triple their advertised price.
The Real Problem With 24/7 Gym Software
Most gym management platforms were built for staffed gyms. They handle scheduling, billing, and check-ins — all things that assume someone is behind the front desk. When you go 24/7, those platforms break in three ways:
- No door control. Your management software knows who's paid. But it can't open or lock a door. So you buy a separate access system — Kisi, a key fob setup, a PIN pad — and now you're running two systems that don't talk to each other.
- No automatic lockout. A member's payment fails on Tuesday. They walk in Wednesday at 5 AM because your access system has no idea their billing failed. You're giving away free access to people who aren't paying.
- No visibility. Who's in the building right now? Who was there at 2 AM last Saturday? Most gym software can't tell you because check-in and access are two different systems.
The platforms below handle this differently. Some solve it natively. Most don't.
Key Fobs vs. Phone App vs. PIN vs. Biometric
This is the first question every gym owner asks. Here's the honest breakdown:
| Factor | Key Fobs | Phone App (QR/BT) | PIN Code | Biometric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per member | $3–8/fob | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Hardware cost | $150–400 | $200–600 | $100–300 | $2,000–5,000 |
| Sharing risk | High | Very low | Very high | None |
| Lost/replacement | 15–20%/yr | N/A | Forgotten PINs | N/A |
| Billing integration | Rarely | Yes — real-time | No | Sometimes |
| Duplication risk | Cloneable for $5 | Not cloneable | Trivially shared | Not possible |
| ADA compliance | Good | Good | Good | Problematic |
The verdict: Phone-based access (QR code or Bluetooth) tied to billing is the gold standard. Payment fails on Tuesday, door stops working on Tuesday. No manual intervention. No fobs to buy, replace, or worry about getting cloned.
The only argument for fobs: members without smartphones. That's a shrinking group. If you need to accommodate them, offer fobs as a fallback, not the primary method. More on this in our guide on how to replace gym key fobs with an app.
What 24/7 Access Control Actually Costs
Adjust the sliders to match your gym. These are real numbers from real installs.
What You're Actually Installing on the Door
Every access-controlled door has three components. Here's what they do and what they cost:
Electric strike ($50–120): Replaces the door frame strike plate. Works with existing door hardware. Better for glass doors.
The brain. Connects to WiFi, talks to your software, tells the lock to open or stay shut. Good controllers cache member data locally — so access works even if internet drops.
Critical question: Does it cache locally? If not, an internet outage locks everyone out at 2 AM.
RFID reader ($50–150): Reads key fobs or cards. Simple, proven, but no billing tie-in.
Keypad ($30–80): PIN entry. Cheapest but least secure — codes get shared immediately.
Total per door: $200–800 depending on lock type, controller quality, and reader choice. A basic 1-door phone-based setup runs about $350–500 installed. For a deeper look at hardware options, see our guide on the best access control systems for gyms.
What Happens at 2 AM When a Payment Fails
This is the scenario that separates good access control from bad. And nobody in the industry talks about it because most systems don't handle it well.
2. Payment fails Wednesday morning
3. Member scans fob Wednesday at 6 AM — door opens
4. Nobody notices until Friday when staff checks billing
5. Staff manually deactivates fob
6. Member already got 3 free days
7. Multiply by every failed payment, every month
2. Payment fails Wednesday morning
3. Door stops working immediately
4. Member gets automated text: "Update your payment to restore access"
5. Member updates card on their phone
6. Payment processes automatically
7. Door works again — zero staff involvement
This is why integrated platforms beat separate billing + access systems. When the billing system and the door controller are the same platform, there's no sync delay, no manual step, no gap. See how ManageMemberships handles this.
Platform-by-Platform Breakdown
GymMaster — $89–249/mo
The access control specialist. Solid if you can live with the rest.
GymMaster is the platform most often recommended for 24/7 gyms, and for good reason — door access control is their core feature, not an afterthought. They sell their own hardware and the integration between billing status and door locks is tight.
What it does well:
- Native door access control with their own hardware
- Membership status directly controls door access
- Self-service kiosks for unmanned check-in
- Reasonable pricing ($89–249/mo based on member count)
Where it falls short:
- Based in New Zealand — support is in NZ time zones. Door stops working at 9 PM Eastern? You're waiting.
- No branded mobile app — members use the generic GymMaster app
- Dated UI, clunky reporting, expensive add-ons
- Locked into their proprietary hardware — switch platforms and the hardware doesn't come with you
PushPress — $0–229/mo (before add-ons)
Great billing platform. Door access? That'll be extra. Way extra.
PushPress is popular in CrossFit and functional fitness. The billing and membership tools are solid. The free tier is genuinely useful. But 24/7 access control is not something PushPress does natively.
To run a 24/7 gym on PushPress, you bolt on Kisi at $50–80 per door per month, plus $749–1,099 per hardware unit upfront. And billing status doesn't automatically sync to Kisi without additional setup.
Real cost for a 24/7 gym on PushPress:
- PushPress Core Pro: $159/mo
- Branded app: $97/mo
- Kisi (1 door): $50–80/mo
- PushPress Grow (marketing): $329/mo
- Total with all features: $635–665/mo
Even without the marketing add-on, you're at $306–336/mo for billing + app + one door.
Glofox (ABC Glofox) — $100–600/mo
Enterprise polish. Enterprise pricing. Still need Kisi for the door.
Glofox is owned by ABC Fitness (the Mindbody / Club Automation parent company). Polished, enterprise-grade software with a branded member app. But like PushPress, it doesn't control doors natively — relies on Kisi integration. Pricing is completely opaque. You have to contact sales to find out what you're paying.
Gymdesk — $75–200/mo + $100/mo for access
Good martial arts platform. Access control is a paid add-on.
Gymdesk started in martial arts and expanded to general gym management. They added smart lock integration — but it's an add-on at $100/mo for up to 3 devices, plus $29/mo per additional device. Clean UI, easy to learn, no branded mobile app. Good value for martial arts gyms that need basic 24/7 access.
ManageMemberships — $0–99/mo + $89/mo access
Built for 24/7 from day one. Door access isn't an add-on — it's the foundation.
ManageMemberships was built in 24/7 gyms and MMA facilities — environments where the door has to work when nobody's there. Access control isn't a feature that was bolted on after the fact. It's the reason the platform exists.
How 24/7 access works:
- Member opens their phone → scans at the door → door unlocks. No fobs. No PINs. No codes to share.
- Payment fails? Door locks automatically. No manual intervention. The billing system and the door system are the same system.
- Membership expires? Access revokes instantly. Premium members get in 24/7 while basic members only get access during staffed hours.
- Who's in the building? Real-time occupancy tracking. Every door open is logged with member ID, timestamp, and membership status.
What else it does:
- Automated recurring billing via Stripe with failed payment retry
- Branded mobile app — your gym's name in the App Store and Google Play
- Class scheduling with capacity limits and waitlists
- Kiosk check-in with digital waiver signing
- Email and SMS campaigns
- POS system
- Free migration assistance — including Stripe payment token transfers
Pricing:
- Free: $0/mo (50 members, 6% processing)
- Starter: $29/mo (150 members, 5% processing)
- Core: $99/mo (unlimited members, 3.5% processing)
- Door Access: $89/mo add-on
- All-in at Core + access: $188/mo
What makes it different:
- Billing and access are one system. No webhooks to configure. No integration to break.
- No proprietary hardware lock-in. Standard access control hardware. Switch platforms, hardware stays.
- Branded mobile app included. Not a $97/mo add-on.
- Direct support from the founder. Call a phone number. Talk to a human who built the platform.
Common Failure Scenarios (and How to Handle Them)
Security, Insurance, and Liability
Going 24/7 means taking on liability for hours when nobody's watching. Here's the minimum:
Camera System (non-negotiable)
- Cover every area: entrance, main floor, locker room entrances (not inside), parking lot
- Cloud-based recording with at least 30 days retention
- Remote viewing from your phone
- Visible cameras are a deterrent. Hidden cameras create liability.
- Budget: $500–2,000 for a 4–8 camera system
Insurance & Legal
- Your policy must explicitly cover unmanned hours. Some insurers won't. Ask directly.
- Separate liability waiver for unstaffed hours
- Attorney review of member agreement: $500–1,000 one-time
- AED ($1,200–2,000) — required in many states
- Emergency phone or panic button
Tier Your Memberships Around Access
Don't give everyone 24/7 access at the same price. Your door system should support access level restrictions by membership tier:
(6 AM – 9 PM)
Your upsell target
+ priority booking
Members pay more for "anytime access" even if they only come during normal hours. The perceived value of 24/7 is higher than the actual usage. Your access control system needs to enforce these tiers automatically — basic members get denied at the door after 9 PM.
How Long Does Setup Actually Take?
The Hidden Cost of "Free" Access Control
When a platform says "integrates with Kisi for access control," what they're really saying is: "We don't do access control. But this other company does, and if you pay them too, it mostly works."
| Cost | Kisi (3rd party) | ManageMemberships |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly per door | $50–80/door | $89/mo flat (all doors) |
| Hardware upfront | $749–1,099 per unit | Standard hardware, no lockout |
| Syncs with billing? | Only via webhook | Native — same system |
| Separate vendor? | Yes | No |
| 2-door gym annual cost | $1,200–1,920/yr + hardware | $1,068/yr |
How to Decide
If door access is your #1 priority and you want purpose-built hardware: GymMaster. Just know you're locked into their ecosystem and support is in New Zealand.
If you're a staffed CrossFit/functional fitness gym that doesn't need 24/7: PushPress. Great billing, great community. Don't try to make it a 24/7 platform.
If you want enterprise polish and have the budget: Glofox. You'll pay for it, and you'll still need Kisi.
If you're a martial arts gym that needs basic 24/7 access: Gymdesk. Affordable, clean, smart lock integration.
If you want billing, access control, a branded app, and marketing from one vendor at one price: ManageMemberships. $188/mo. One system. One bill. The door and the billing engine are the same thing.
Questions to ask before choosing:
- What happens to the door when a member's payment fails — automatically, or manually?
- Is door access built into the platform, or does it require a third-party integration?
- What's my real monthly cost including access control, a branded app, and marketing?
- If I switch platforms, does my door hardware still work?
- Can I try it before I commit?
Frequently Asked Questions
ManageMemberships door access control starts at $89/mo. Billing-tied. Offline-capable. Hardware from $250. No long-term contract.
Related: 24-Hour Gym Solution · Best Access Control for Gyms · Replace Key Fobs With an App · Phone-Based Door Access · All Features
