Gymdesk vs Kicksite (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Gymdesk grades higher than Kicksite: 2.2 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Gymdesk grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Gymdesk
Membership, billing and booking software for gyms and studios
Kicksite
Martial arts school software for billing, attendance and belts
Which one is for you
Pick Gymdesk if
- Fits if you run a gym of under 250 members and want every feature at every tier
- Works for gym owners who can use Gymdesk Payments in the US or Canada
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you grow: $150 at 101 to 150 members and $200 up to 250
- Watch out: the lower prices need Gymdesk Payments, available in the US and Canada, and your own processor costs $25 more
- Watch out: each extra location costs $50 a month with Gymdesk Payments, or $100 otherwise
- Skip it if you have over 250 members, since that is sized with the vendor
Pick Kicksite if
- Fits if you run a martial arts school and want belt tracking built in
- Makes sense if your student count is small, at $49 a month for 25
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you run a non-martial-arts studio, since it is built for dojos
- Pricey if you grow: $199 a month from 101 students
- Watch out: the page mentions discounted annual pricing but does not show it
- Watch out: the pages read list no mobile apps or named integrations
How we grade them
| 2.2GPAGymdeskFair | 2.0GPAKicksiteFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$75 a month for up to 50 members with Gymdesk Payments, $100 without, in the middle of this category ($29.99 to $119). It rises with member count. | C$49 a month for up to 25 students, $99 for 50 and $199 for 101 or more, in the middle of this category ($29.99 to $119). |
| Free plan and trial | CA 30-day free trial with no card, and no free plan. | CThe first 30 days are free, and the page does not say whether a card is needed. No free plan. |
| Features | CMemberships and billing, class booking, leads, a gym website, reporting and facility access. Everything is on every tier. | CStudent profiles, attendance and belt tracking, billing, leads and communications, all on every tier. It is built for martial arts, so it suits other studios less. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. You set up memberships, classes and payments before it is useful. | CNo store rating on record. You set up students, belts and billing first. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, iPhone and Android, with Stripe, Square, Authorize.net and Smoothcomp named. | CWeb only, and the pages read name no apps or integrations. |
| Best for | small gyms priced by member count | martial arts schools that charge by student count |
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: Gymdesk and Kicksite. How we grade
Price against what you get
Gymdesk starts at $75 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Kicksite starts at $49 a month and scores 2.0.
Gymdesk scores higher, and starts $26 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other salon, spa and studio booking apps on the chart, 8 score higher than Gymdesk for less, and 6 score higher than Kicksite for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Gymdesk also covers invoicing.
At a glance
| Gymdesk | Kicksite | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starts at | $75 per month for up to 50 active members, with Gymdesk Payments ($100 without) | $49 per month for up to 25 students |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | 30-day free trial, no credit card required | First 30 days free |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Gymdesk | Kicksite |
| Price read from | gymdesk.com | kicksite.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Gymdesk
- The lower prices apply when processing payments with Gymdesk Payments or an approved partner, which is available in the US and Canada; elsewhere the partner route needs approval.
- Each extra location costs $50 a month with Gymdesk Payments or a preferred partner, or $100 with your own processor.
- A branded member app is $100 a month with the first month free, and door access is $100 a month for up to 3 doors plus $29 per extra door and a one-time hardware cost.
- Plans above 250 active members have no published price.
Kicksite
- Built for martial arts; the vendor says one-size-fits-all software is a poor fit for them, so it suits other studio types less.
- The pricing page states discounted annual pricing exists but does not show it.
- The pages read list no mobile apps or third-party integrations by name.
Key features
Gymdesk
- Memberships and billing
- Recurring memberships with automated billing, a point of sale and payment processing through Gymdesk Payments, Stripe, Square or Authorize.net.
- Class booking and attendance
- Members book classes and staff track attendance, with a member app for iOS and Android.
- Lead management and marketing
- Lead capture, landing pages, email and SMS, automations, referrals and review requests.
- Gym website
- Every plan includes a responsive gym website.
- Reporting
- Dashboard, attendance analytics, revenue forecasting and member insights.
- Facility access
- Door access control is listed as a beta add-on, priced per month for up to three doors.
Kicksite
- Student profiles
- Each student has one record with attendance history, signed documents, membership details and belt rank history, with family account support.
- Attendance and belt tracking
- Check-in tools and belt rank tracking with custom criteria for each program.
- Billing and payments
- Automated recurring billing, failed payment alerts and reporting, with integrated card processing at a flat rate.
- Lead management
- Landing pages and a CRM for tracking prospects from first contact to enrollment.
- Communications
- Built-in email and text messages, plus app announcements.
Plans
Gymdesk
Micro Gym$75
per month for up to 50 members, with Gymdesk Payments ($100 without)
Full platform with unlimited staff accounts and a gym website; billed month to month.
Small Gym$100
per month for 51-100 members, with Gymdesk Payments ($125 without)
Same features as every tier; the price follows the active member count.
Medium Gym$150
per month for 101-150 members, with Gymdesk Payments ($175 without)
Same features as every tier; $150 a month at 120 active members is the page's own example.
Large Gym$200
per month for 151-250 members, with Gymdesk Payments ($240 without)
Same features as every tier, for gyms up to 250 active members.
EnterpriseCustom
For 251 or more active members; sized with the vendor.
Kicksite
0-25 students$49
per month for up to 25 students
All features included at every tier.
26-50 students$99
per month for 26 to 50 students
All features included; price follows student count.
51-100 students$149
per month for 51 to 100 students
All features included; price follows student count.
101+ students$199
per month for 101 or more students
All features included; one price for 101 students and up.
Ways to pay less
Gymdesk
No public discounts listed.
Kicksite
- Other savings
Free for the rest of 2026
A site banner offers switching schools no payment until 2027; it is described as a limited-time offer.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Gymdesk or Kicksite?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Kicksite is cheaper to start with: $49 a month, against $75 a month for Gymdesk. Gymdesk starts at $75 per month for up to 50 active members, with Gymdesk Payments ($100 without), and Kicksite starts at $49 per month for up to 25 students.
Which has a free plan, Gymdesk or Kicksite?
As of Nov 12, 2026, neither Gymdesk nor Kicksite has a free plan. Both have a free trial.
Which platforms do Gymdesk and Kicksite run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Gymdesk 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.