Dojo Champ vs PushPress: Which Is Better for a Martial Arts School?
Reviewed by Jonathan Yee, Dojo Champ. Prices verified Oct 9, 2026 from each vendor's public pricing page.
Our verdict
PushPress is gym software that started in CrossFit and fitness and also serves martial arts academies with rank tracking. Its pricing trades software fees for processing fees: Core is free at 4.99% + $0.30 per card payment, Core Pro is $159/month at 2.89% + $0.30, and Core Max is $229/month at 2.75% + $0.30. Dojo Champ is a flat $199/month with standard Stripe rates and no platform markup, and it includes marketing automation, a school website and predictive churn alerts that PushPress sells separately or does not offer. If you process little by card and want to start for free, PushPress Core is the cheaper entry point. If you run a martial arts school with steady tuition and want retention and marketing tools in one plan, Dojo Champ is built for that.
Why Schools Choose Dojo Champ
Flat $199/month, no processing markup
Marketing automation and website included
Unlimited staff, members and locations
Pricing: PushPress vs Dojo Champ
PushPress lowers your card rates as you move up its plans. Dojo Champ charges one flat price and passes Stripe processing through with no platform markup.
| PushPress Core | PushPress Core Pro | PushPress Core Max | Dojo Champ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly software fee | $0 | $159 | $229 | $199 |
| Card processing | 4.99% + $0.30 | 2.89% + $0.30 | 2.75% + $0.30 | Stripe standard (e.g. 2.9% + $0.30) |
| ACH processing | 2.89% + $0.30 | 0.79% + $0.30 | 0.79% + $0.30 | 0.8%, capped at $5 |
| Total at $15,000/mo in card payments | about $778.50 | about $622.50 | about $671.50 | about $664.50 |
Totals assume $15,000 a month in card payments across 500 transactions, software plus processing. PushPress add-ons include the Grow CRM plan ($329/mo) and a branded member app ($97/mo). Dojo Champ includes marketing automation, a school website, unlimited staff and member accounts, and multiple locations in the $199 plan.
See every platform side by side in the martial arts software pricing comparison or the best martial arts software roundup.
Who should pick PushPress instead
- You want to start with no monthly software fee. PushPress Core is free, and you only pay processing.
- You run a CrossFit, functional fitness or mixed gym alongside martial arts classes. PushPress was built for that market first.
- You process very little by card. With low card volume, Core can cost less than any paid plan.
- You want a long track record. PushPress has served gyms for years; Dojo Champ is a newer platform.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Dojo Champ Recommended | PushPress |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat $199/mo, unlimited students | $0, $159 or $229/mo; card rates fall on higher plans |
| Payment processing | Stripe standard rates, no platform markup | PushPress processing, rate set by plan |
| Built for | Martial arts schools only | Gyms, CrossFit and martial arts |
| Belt and rank tracking | Yes, with curriculum and promotions | Yes |
| Automated recurring billing | Yes | Yes |
| Retention / churn alerts | Predictive churn score on every student | Not a predictive score |
| CRM and marketing automation | Included | Grow plan, $329/mo |
| Public website and landing pages | Included | Sold separately |
| Branded member app | Family and student portal included | $97/mo add-on |
| Staff and member accounts | Unlimited | Varies by plan |
| Multi-location | Included | Confirm with PushPress |
| Data migration | Free migration help from our team | Onboarding support |
Transparent Pricing Comparison
Dojo ChampBest Value
$199/month, unlimited students
- All features included
- No setup fees
- 30-day free trial
- Cancel anytime
PushPress
$0 to $229/month, plus processing
PushPress Core: $0 at 4.99% + $0.30 per card payment. Core Pro: $159/mo at 2.89% + $0.30. Core Max: $229/mo at 2.75% + $0.30. Grow CRM: $329/mo.
What Schools Say About Switching
"The automated billing is flawless and has saved us countless hours chasing payments. It understands the needs of a dojo, especially belt tracking and class scheduling."
Stacey Bessmer
Martial arts school owner · Trustpilot
"It keeps student information, attendance, billing, and communication organized in one place. It has already saved us time and made managing our school much more efficient."
Karla L.
Capterra review
Where Dojo Champ Is the Better Pick
Lower processing costs
Dojo Champ uses Stripe at standard rates and adds no platform fee, so you keep more of every tuition payment than on PushPress Core.
Marketing included
Lead capture, trial workflows, email and SMS campaigns come in the $199 plan instead of a $329/month add-on.
Know who's about to quit
Every student gets a churn score from attendance, payment and engagement signals, so you know who needs a call this week.
Built only for martial arts
Belt ranks, curriculum, promotions and family billing are the core of the product, not an add-on to gym software.
Unlimited accounts
Add as many staff and member accounts as you need at no extra cost.
Multiple locations
Run more than one school from one account, included in the same price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PushPress free?
PushPress Core has no monthly fee, but it charges 4.99% + $0.30 per card payment. On $15,000 a month in card payments that is about $778 in fees, more than Core Pro or Dojo Champ cost in total.
Is Dojo Champ cheaper than PushPress?
It depends on your card volume. With little card volume, PushPress Core is cheaper. For a school processing around $15,000 a month, Dojo Champ ($199 plus Stripe rates) costs about the same as Core Pro and less than Core or Core Max, and it includes marketing tools PushPress sells as a $329/month Grow plan.
Does PushPress have belt tracking?
Yes, PushPress supports rank tracking for martial arts academies. Dojo Champ also includes belt and rank tracking, curriculum, promotions and certificates.
Does Dojo Champ charge per staff member or location?
No. Dojo Champ includes unlimited staff and member accounts and supports multiple locations in the $199/month plan.
Do I need a credit card to try Dojo Champ?
Yes. Dojo Champ's 30-day trial requires a card, and the first $199 charge happens on day 31 only if you haven't cancelled.
Can I move my data from PushPress to Dojo Champ?
Yes. Export your data from PushPress and Dojo Champ's team imports it for free, usually within a week.
Switching from PushPress to Dojo Champ
Free white-glove migration, usually completed within a week. Here's exactly how it works.
1. Export from PushPress
Export your members, memberships and attendance from PushPress and send us the files.
2. We import everything
Our team loads members, families, memberships, ranks and history into your Dojo Champ workspace for free, usually within a week.
3. Reconnect billing
Move recurring memberships to Stripe. We help schedule the cutover so no student gets double-charged.
4. Go live
Train your staff in a single session and start using churn alerts and automation on day one.
Sources, verified Oct 9, 2026
Disclosure: Dojo Champ publishes this comparison. Competitor details come from their public pages and can change.