iClassPro vs Zen Planner (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Zen Planner grades higher than iClassPro: 1.6 against 1.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Zen Planner grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
iClassPro
Class management software for gymnastics, dance and swim schools
Zen Planner
Membership, scheduling and billing software for gyms and studios
Which one is for you
Pick iClassPro if
- Fits if you run a gymnastics, dance or swim school with classes and camps
- Works for studios that want skill tracking built in
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you are small: $139 a month per location, and every location is charged
- Watch out: outbound texts are $0.03 a credit in the US and Canada
- Watch out: a branded app is $499 setup plus $150 a month, and Autopilot is the same
- Skip it if you want a trial, as none is listed
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
| 1.4GPAiClassProWeak | 1.6GPAZen PlannerWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D$139 a month per location, $199 and $299 on the dearer tiers, where the dearest tenth of this category starts at $139. | 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 | FNo free plan and no trial is listed on the pages read. | FNo trial or free plan on the pricing page. Plans run month to month. |
| Features | CClass, camp and event booking, attendance, skill tracking, payments and QuickBooks. The listing also sells a branded app and Autopilot as add-ons. | 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. You set up classes, programs and payments first. | CNo store rating on record. A studio builds its programs, memberships and billing first. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb only, with QuickBooks as the only named link. | CWeb only on the listing, with one integration. A member app is sold as an add-on. |
| Best for | gymnastics, dance and swim schools | 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: iClassPro and Zen Planner. How we grade
Price against what you get
iClassPro starts at $139 a month and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Zen Planner starts at $99 a month and scores 2.0.
They score the same, and Zen Planner starts $40 a month lower. Of the other salon, spa and studio booking apps on the chart, 14 score higher than iClassPro for less, and 12 score higher than Zen Planner 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
- iClassPro also covers invoicing.
At a glance
| iClassPro | Zen Planner | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Paid |
| Starts at | $139 per month per location | $99 per month and up, priced by active members |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | iClassPro | Zen Planner |
| Price read from | iclasspro.com | zenplanner.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
iClassPro
- Outbound texts are billed per credit: $0.03 per credit in the US and Canada.
- Optional add-ons include a branded app ($499 setup plus $150 a month) and Autopilot ($499 setup plus $150 a month).
- Pro Insights seats beyond the first on Premium are $19 a month each.
- Prices are per location; multi-location pricing is available on request.
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
iClassPro
- Class, camp and event booking
- Manage classes, camps, private lessons, birthday parties and events.
- Attendance and staff
- Student attendance, kiosk check-in, staff management and waivers.
- Skill tracking
- Skill tracking and student evaluations.
- Payments and point of sale
- Payment services and a point of sale with inventory tracking.
- Messaging
- Two-way texting: inbound messages are free, outbound are billed per credit.
- QuickBooks
- A QuickBooks integration, with an Autopilot add-on.
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
iClassPro
Signature$139
per month, per location, no commitment
Class and event booking, point of sale, reporting, payment services, skill tracking and staff management.
Elite$199
per month, per location, no commitment
Middle tier at $199 per location; the vendor's plan page lists its own feature set.
Premium$299
per month, per location, no commitment
Top tier at $299 per location; includes one Pro Insights seat.
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.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, iClassPro or Zen Planner?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Zen Planner is cheaper to start with: $99 a month, against $139 a month for iClassPro. iClassPro starts at $139 per month per location, and Zen Planner starts at $99 per month and up, priced by active members.
Which has a free plan, iClassPro or Zen Planner?
As of Nov 12, 2026, neither iClassPro nor Zen Planner has a free plan.
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.