Clubworx vs Zen Planner (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Clubworx grades higher than Zen Planner: 2.2 against 1.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Clubworx grades higher on the free plan and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Clubworx
Membership, booking and billing software for gyms and studios
Zen Planner
Membership, scheduling and billing software for gyms and studios
Which one is for you
Pick Clubworx if
- Fits if you run a martial arts club and want grading tools
- Works for a new studio with fewer than 20 members
Look elsewhere if
- Watch out: prices are in Australian dollars, with no US price listed
- Tight if you grow past 20 members, as the free plan ends
- Watch out: the member app costs extra on every plan
- Watch out: it doesn't process payments, and Ezidebit is named for Australia and New Zealand
- Skip it if you want multisite, which starts on Accelerating
Pick Zen Planner if
- Fits if you run a martial arts or fitness studio and bill members every month
- Works for a studio that can predict its active member count, as the price follows it
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you grow, as the bill rises with active members and the $99 figure is only a starting price
- Watch out: card readers cost $39 a month each and a branded mobile app is $39 a month
- Watch out: Engage starts at $249 a month and a stand-alone website at $99, both sold apart
- Skip it if you want a trial, as the pricing page mentions none
- Watch out: payment processing carries extra fees
How we grade them
| 2.2GPAClubworxFair | 1.6GPAZen PlannerWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CA$88 a month for 100 members on yearly billing, A$109 monthly. In US dollars that's in the middle of the category, and the member app is extra. | CFrom $99 a month, priced by active members, against a middle of $49.90 and a dearer quarter from $119. Plans run $99, $198 and $348, with readers and the app on top. |
| Free plan and trial | CFree for up to 20 active members with booking, payments and a kiosk, plus 15 days of a premium plan with no card. 20 members is a cap you'll pass. | FNo trial or free plan on the pricing page. Plans run month to month. |
| Features | CBooking, billing, CRM, kiosk and martial arts grading tools. But the member app is an add-on on every tier, and payments go through an outside provider. | CMemberships, billing, scheduling, a member app, lead capture, marketing and reports. Marketing automation is a separate product, Engage, from $249 a month. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record, and a membership and billing system needs setting up. | CNo store rating on record. A studio builds its programs, memberships and billing first. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb plus iOS and Android, with Zapier, Brivo and Ezidebit links. No computer app. | CWeb only on the listing, with one integration. A member app is sold as an add-on. |
| Best for | martial arts clubs and small gyms | membership billing for martial arts and fitness studios |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Clubworx and Zen Planner. How we grade
Where they differ
- Clubworx also covers marketing automation, inventory and appointment booking.
- Zen Planner also covers sMS marketing.
At a glance
| Clubworx | Zen Planner | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Paid |
| Starts at | A$88 per month billed yearly (A$109 billed monthly), up to 100 active members | $99 per month and up, priced by active members |
| Free plan | Free plan for up to 20 active members: 1 website, online booking, payments, email and SMS, self check-in kiosk and attendance tracking. | None |
| Free trial | 15 days of a premium plan, no credit card required | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Clubworx | Zen Planner |
| Price read from | clubworx.com | zenplanner.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Clubworx
- Prices are shown in Australian dollars; no US-dollar price is listed.
- The free plan is capped at 20 active members, and going over a plan's limit moves the account to the next plan.
- The member mobile app is a paid add-on on every tier.
- Clubworx does not process payments itself; it connects a provider, named as Ezidebit in Australia and New Zealand.
Zen Planner
- Prices are 'starting at' figures: the bill follows the active member count, and multi-location pricing is quoted in a demo.
- Payment processing carries additional charges or fees; the card readers cost $39 per month each, and a branded mobile app is $39 per month.
- Zen Planner Engage is sold separately from $249 per month, and a stand-alone website from $99 per month.
- The pricing page mentions no free trial; plans run month to month, with an annual contract available on request.
Key features
Clubworx
- Online booking and waitlists
- Members book classes and events online, with waitlists and two-way text reminders; SMS is charged per message on every tier.
- Automated billing
- Recurring payments, receipts, late-cancellation fees and re-billing rules for failed payments, through a connected payment provider.
- Member management and CRM
- Membership plans, class passes, member alerts, attendance tracking and a contact database.
- Sales and marketing tools
- Email and SMS campaigns, smart lists, introductory offers, a free hosted website and booking widgets.
- Member mobile app
- A basic member app is an add-on at A$100 a month; a custom-branded app costs A$200 a month plus a set-up fee.
- Martial arts tools
- Belt and style tracking is included; grading events are an extra A$10 a month on the higher tiers.
Zen Planner
- Memberships and billing
- Membership management with automated billing and payment processing, plus attendance tracking and payroll management.
- Class scheduling and booking
- Online scheduling with member self-service, belt and skill tracking, and a staff mobile app.
- Member app
- A member mobile app comes with every package, and a custom-branded app is sold separately.
- Website and lead capture
- Essentials adds a custom website with SEO optimization and built-in lead capture and form integration.
- Marketing automation
- Ultimate, or the separate Engage product, adds automated email and text campaigns, AI-powered tools and lead follow-up workflows.
- Reporting and dashboards
- Reporting and dashboards in every package, with a SugarWOD integration for workout tracking.
Plans
Clubworx
FreeA$0
Up to 20 active members, with online booking, payment acceptance, email and SMS, a kiosk and one hosted website.
GrowingA$88
per month for up to 100 members, billed yearly (A$109 monthly)
Everything in Free plus retail point of sale and a one-to-one onboarding session.
AcceleratingA$120
per month for up to 250 members, billed yearly (A$149 monthly)
Adds multisite management and custom online forms and waivers for sign-up.
EstablishedA$136
per month for unlimited members, billed yearly (A$169 monthly)
Adds member assessments, workout tracking, advanced email and SMS sequences and late-payment notices.
Zen Planner
Zen Planner Studio$99
per month and up, by active members
Memberships, billing, class scheduling, attendance, payroll, reporting and staff and member apps. Price rises with active members.
Zen Planner Essentials$198
per month and up, by active members
Everything in Studio plus a branded, SEO-optimized website with lead capture.
Zen Planner Ultimate$348
per month and up, by active members
Everything in Essentials plus marketing automation, CRM, AI email and text campaigns and lead tools.
Ways to pay less
Clubworx
- Annual discount
Save 20% with yearly billing
The pricing page offers a 20% saving when billed once per year, for example A$1,046 a year against A$1,308 on the Growing plan.
Zen Planner
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Clubworx or Zen Planner?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Clubworx starts at A$88 per month billed yearly (A$109 billed monthly), up to 100 active members, and Zen Planner starts at $99 per month and up, priced by active members.
Which has a free plan, Clubworx or Zen Planner?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Clubworx has a free plan. Zen Planner does not.
Which platforms do Clubworx and Zen Planner run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Clubworx lists iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.