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Best PushPress Alternatives in 2026: What to Switch To (And Why Gym Owners Are Leaving)

Best PushPress Alternatives in 2026: What to Switch To (And Why Gym Owners Are Leaving)

Jon Klem By Jon Klem ·
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PushPress is a solid gym management platform. But if you're here, something isn't working. Maybe it's the add-on pricing that turned a $0 free plan into a $600/mo stack. Maybe it's the AI-first support when you need a human. Maybe you went 24/7 and realized PushPress doesn't control your door.

Whatever brought you here, you're not alone. We talk to gym owners leaving PushPress every week. Here are the most common reasons — and the platforms they're switching to.

The Problem

Why Gym Owners Leave PushPress

PushPress Core Free is genuinely useful — memberships, billing, scheduling, check-ins, waivers, and a member app for $0/mo. The problem starts when you need more:

  • Add-on pricing adds up fast. Branded app: $97/mo. CRM and marketing (Grow): $329/mo. Workout tracking (Train): $79/mo. A gym on PushPress Pro + Grow + branded app is paying $585/mo before door access. (See PushPress pricing)
  • No native door access. PushPress doesn't control doors. If you run a 24/7 gym, you need Kisi ($50–80/door/mo) or another third-party system. That's another vendor, another bill, and no guarantee billing status syncs with the door lock.
  • AI-first support. PushPress routes support through AI with a reported 60% resolution rate. That means 40% of the time, the AI can't help you. Live human support is available on paid tiers, but the AI layer comes first.
  • Transaction fees on the free plan. PushPress Core Free charges 4.19% + $0.30 per transaction. On a gym processing $10,000/mo in memberships, that's $449/mo in fees — more than most paid plans on other platforms.

None of these are dealbreakers for every gym. But if two or three apply to you, it's worth looking at what else is out there.

Do The Math

See What You're Actually Paying

Interactive Calculator

What are you really paying PushPress?

Tick what your gym actually needs. Watch the add-on stack pile up next to one flat ManageMemberships bill.

My gym needs…
Head-To-Head

PushPress vs. Top Alternatives

Tap what matters most — we'll rank them for you.

* No native door access — add a third-party smart lock. Ratings from G2 and Capterra as of 2026.
The Alternatives

Platform-by-Platform Breakdown

1. ManageMemberships — Best for 24/7 Gyms and MMA Facilities

Why gym owners switch from PushPress to ManageMemberships:

The #1 reason: door access control. PushPress doesn't do it. ManageMemberships was built for 24/7 gyms where the door has to lock when a payment fails and unlock when it's reinstated — automatically, without a third-party integration.

What you get that PushPress charges extra for (or doesn't offer):

  • Door access control — $89/mo. Built into the platform. Billing status controls the door in real-time. PushPress requires Kisi at $50–80/door/mo with no native billing sync.
  • Branded mobile app — included. PushPress charges $97/mo for this.
  • CRM with lead tracking — included. PushPress charges $329/mo (Grow product) for CRM and marketing.
  • Email and SMS marketing — included. Also part of the $329/mo Grow add-on on PushPress.
  • Human support — always. Call a phone number, talk to the founder. No AI gatekeeper.
Pros
  • Native door access tied to billing — payment fails, door locks automatically
  • CRM, branded app, email/SMS marketing all included at $99/mo
  • Stripe-to-Stripe migration — members keep saved cards
  • Human support from the founder, no AI gatekeeping
  • Automated payment recovery built in
Cons
  • No workout programming or WOD tracking (not a CrossFit-first platform)
  • No belt/rank tracking yet (in development)
  • Processing rate (3.5%) higher than some competitors
  • Newer platform — smaller user base than established players

The migration is painless:

Both platforms run on Stripe. When you switch from PushPress to ManageMemberships, your members' payment tokens transfer — they don't have to re-enter credit card info. Free migration assistance is included.

Pricing: $99/mo (Core, unlimited members) + $89/mo (door access) = $188/mo all-in. Compare that to PushPress Pro + Grow + branded app + Kisi = $585–655/mo. See all features.

Reviews: 4.8/5 on G2 · "Switched from PushPress — the door access alone was worth it." — Read the MayhemMMA case study

See the full ManageMemberships vs PushPress comparison →

2. Wodify

Best for CrossFit Boxes

Combines gym management with workout programming and performance tracking. Branded app included. Starts at $79/mo. 4.4/5 on G2

WOD programming built-in
Branded app included
Marketing automation
No door access
CrossFit-centric
Pricing: Core $79/mo, Professional $149/mo, Enterprise custom. Processing: 2.5% + $0.30.
Best for: CrossFit affiliates that need WOD tracking and leaderboards.
Skip if: You need door access or run a non-CrossFit gym.

3. TeamUp

Best for Studios That Want Support

Highest customer support ratings in the category. Clean interface, strong scheduling. Starts at $99/mo. 4.6/5 on G2

Best-in-class support
Clean, intuitive UI
Strong scheduling
No door access
No branded app
Pricing: Starts $99/mo, scales by member count. Processing: Stripe standard (2.9% + $0.30).
Best for: Boutique fitness studios, yoga, Pilates, personal training.
Skip if: You need a branded app, door access, or CRM.

4. Gymdesk

Best for Martial Arts on a Budget

Built for martial arts — belt tracking, grading, curriculum. All features at every tier. Smart lock add-on available. Starts at $75/mo. 4.7/5 on G2

Belt tracking & grading
All features included
~ Door access $100/mo add-on
No branded app
Basic marketing
Pricing: $75/mo (50 members) to $200/mo (unlimited). Processing: 2.75–2.9% + $0.25–0.30.
Best for: Traditional martial arts schools with belt testing and rank progression.
Skip if: You need a branded app or native door access. See more martial arts software options.

5. GymMaster

Honorable Mention — Door Access

Native door access with proprietary hardware. Tight billing-to-door integration. $89–249/mo. NZ-based support. 4.7/5 on Capterra

Native door access
Billing-to-door sync
Proprietary hardware lock-in
No branded app
NZ support hours
Pricing: $89/mo (starter) to $249/mo. Hardware is proprietary — you buy it from GymMaster only.
Best for: Mid-size gyms that want door access and don't mind hardware lock-in.
Skip if: You want flexibility on hardware or US-based support.

6. Zen Planner

Budget Pick With Branded App

Owned by Daxko. Decent feature set for smaller gyms. Branded app included on higher tiers. Starts at $49/mo. 3.8/5 on G2

Branded app on higher tiers
Low starting price
~ Hidden processing fees (PCI, batch, surcharges)
No door access
PE-owned (Daxko) — declining reviews
Pricing: $49–199/mo. Processing: 2.97% + $0.47 (qualified) but non-qualified surcharges add up to 4.79%.
Best for: Small gyms under 100 members on a tight budget.
Skip if: You process over $5K/mo or care about long-term platform stability.

7. RhinoFit

Cheapest Paid Option

No-frills gym management at the lowest price point. Basic scheduling, billing, check-in. Starts at $57/mo. 4.2/5 on Capterra

Lowest price point
Simple, no bloat
No door access
No branded app
Email-only support
Pricing: $57/mo (up to 2 staff) to $197/mo. Processing: Stripe standard.
Best for: Solo trainers or micro-gyms under 50 members who want the bare minimum.
Skip if: You need CRM, marketing, door access, or anything beyond basics.
Find Your Fit

Not Sure Which One? Take the Quiz.

The Switch

How to Switch From PushPress Without Losing Members

The biggest fear with switching gym software is members having to re-enter payment info. Here's the good news: PushPress runs on Stripe. Several alternatives (including ManageMemberships) also run on Stripe, which means payment tokens can transfer. Your members keep their saved cards. No disruption. Full migration guide here.

1
Export members from PushPress
CSV export with member data, plans, and contact info
2
Transfer Stripe payment tokens
Saved cards move over — members don't re-enter anything
3
Go live — members keep their cards
Billing continues uninterrupted, door access active day one

Most migrations take 1–2 weeks. ManageMemberships includes free migration assistance — we handle the data transfer and token migration for you.

Already on different software? We also help gyms switch from Mindbody, Zen Planner, Gymdesk, and others.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on your gym type. For 24/7 gyms and MMA facilities that need door access control tied to billing, ManageMemberships is the best fit at $188/mo all-in. For CrossFit boxes focused on workout programming, Wodify is strong at $79/mo. For martial arts schools that need belt tracking, Gymdesk starts at $75/mo. For boutique studios that prioritize customer support, TeamUp starts at $99/mo.
PushPress Core Free is $0/mo but charges 4.19% + $0.30 per transaction — that's $449/mo on $10K in processing. PushPress Pro is $159/mo. Add the Grow CRM ($329/mo), branded app ($97/mo), and third-party door access like Kisi ($50–80/door/mo), and a fully loaded PushPress stack runs $585–655/mo before processing fees. (Source: PushPress pricing page)
Yes. PushPress runs on Stripe, and several alternatives (including ManageMemberships) also use Stripe. This means your members' payment tokens can transfer — they keep their saved credit cards and don't have to re-enter payment info. Member data exports as CSV. Most migrations take 1–2 weeks. Read the full migration guide.
No. PushPress does not offer native door access control. If you run a 24/7 gym, you need a third-party system like Kisi ($50–80/door/mo). The gap is that Kisi doesn't natively sync with PushPress billing — so if a member's payment fails, you may need to manually revoke their door access. Platforms with native billing-tied door access handle this automatically.
ManageMemberships offers a free tier for up to 50 members with 6% processing. PushPress Core Free is also free but charges 4.19% + $0.30 per transaction. On $5,000/mo in processing, PushPress Free costs ~$225/mo in fees while ManageMemberships Free costs ~$300/mo. The difference narrows on paid tiers where ManageMemberships Core is $99/mo at 3.5% processing.
Gymdesk is the strongest option for traditional martial arts schools that need belt tracking, curriculum management, and grading — it was built for martial arts. For MMA and BJJ academies that need door access for open mat or 24/7 hours, ManageMemberships is a better fit because it includes native billing-tied access control. Gymdesk offers door access as a $100/mo add-on.
RhinoFit starts at $57/mo. Gymdesk starts at $75/mo with all features included. ManageMemberships has a free tier (50 members) and a Starter plan at $29/mo. PushPress Core Free is $0/mo but charges 4.19% + $0.30 per transaction, which can cost more than paid alternatives depending on your processing volume. Don't compare base prices — compare total cost of ownership including processing fees and add-ons.
Don't compare base prices — compare total cost of ownership. Add up: base platform fee, processing fees (percentage + per-transaction), add-ons you actually need (CRM, branded app, door access, marketing tools), and any third-party tools to fill gaps. A $0/mo platform with 4.19% processing can cost more than a $99/mo platform with 3.5% processing once you factor in add-ons. Use the calculator above to see the real math.
Ready to stop overpaying?

See why gym owners are switching from PushPress to ManageMemberships — $188/mo for everything PushPress charges $585+ for.

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