Martial Arts Management Software: The 7 Best Platforms in 2026
We compared the leading dojo and academy management platforms on belt tracking, billing, CRM, marketing automation, and total cost of ownership. Here's how they actually stack up.
At-a-Glance Comparison
| # | Software | Best For | Pricing | Pricing model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Dojo Champ | Any martial arts school that wants every feature included at one flat price | $199/month flat, unlimited students | Flat price |
| #2 | Zen Planner | Larger studios already on the Zen Planner ecosystem | $99 - $248/month + per-student fees | Varies |
| #3 | GymDesk | Small to mid-size schools that want polish without deep specialization | $75 - $200+/month, scales with member count | Varies |
| #4 | Martialytics | Schools that want a martial-arts-only tool at a low entry price | From $39/month, tiered by students | Varies |
| #5 | Spark Membership | Schools focused on lead nurture campaigns | From $69/month + per-student fees | Varies |
| #6 | Mindbody | Multi-discipline studios that also offer yoga, pilates, or fitness | From $169/month + transaction fees | Varies |
| #7 | Kicksite | Traditional schools that want simple software | From $89/month | Varies |
Detailed Reviews
In-depth look at each platform, what they do well, where they fall short.
Dojo Champ
The most complete martial arts management software for the money. Everything is unlocked at $199/month - billing, attendance, ranks, CRM, marketing, churn prediction - with no per-student fees or upsells.
- Purpose-built for martial arts (Karate, BJJ, TKD, Judo, Muay Thai, MMA, Kung Fu)
- Multi-style belt and rank progression with grading and certificate generation
- AI-powered churn prevention identifies at-risk students before they quit
- Built-in CRM, lead capture, landing pages, email + SMS marketing
- ACH at 0.8% (capped $5) and Stripe card pass-through, no per-student fees
- Family portal, parent communications, and waiver e-signing included
- Newer brand than Zen Planner or GymDesk
Zen Planner
Reliable but expensive once you scale, and the martial-arts feel is bolted on rather than native.
- Established brand
- Solid integrated billing
- Robust reporting
- Dated interface
- Core features (marketing, retention) gated behind higher tiers
- Slow support reported in many reviews
- Originally built for CrossFit, adapted for martial arts
GymDesk
A polished generalist. Good for studios that don't need martial-arts-specific workflows.
- Clean modern interface
- Per-school subdomain websites
- Reliable billing and attendance
- Pricing scales with members
- Marketing automation is shallow
- Limited belt-style customization
Martialytics
A capable starter tool, but you'll outgrow it once you start running marketing campaigns.
- Martial-arts focused
- Belt tracking included
- Affordable entry tier
- Limited marketing and CRM features
- Reporting is basic
- No AI churn prevention
Spark Membership
Strong on marketing automation, weaker on the dojo-specific operations side.
- Built-in funnels
- Mobile-first design
- Good SMS workflows
- Per-student fees add up fast as Spark schools grow
- Belt and grading features limited
- Some workflows feel rigid
Mindbody
Overkill for most dojos and missing the belt and grading workflows you actually need.
- Brand recognition
- Consumer-facing marketplace
- Broad integrations
- Expensive
- Not built for ranks or martial arts
- Heavy onboarding
- Mixed support reviews
Kicksite
Familiar to long-time users, but increasingly behind on modern marketing and retention tools.
- Long-running martial arts tool
- Simple to learn
- Aging interface
- Limited automation and CRM
- No AI features
What to Look For in Martial Arts Management Software
Belt & rank progression
Multi-style support, grading workflows, certificate generation, and parent-visible progress.
Recurring billing & ACH
Pass-through processing rates, ACH for high-ticket memberships, and automatic failed-payment recovery.
Family management
Family accounts, sibling discounts, parent portal, and consolidated billing.
Built-in CRM & marketing
Lead capture forms, email + SMS campaigns, and automated nurture workflows.
Attendance & kiosk
Tablet check-in, QR codes, and at-risk attendance alerts.
Flat, transparent pricing
Avoid per-student tiers that punish growth. One flat fee is friendlier as you scale.