Kicksite vs Zen Planner (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Kicksite grades higher than Zen Planner: 2.0 against 1.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Kicksite grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Kicksite
Martial arts school software for billing, attendance and belts
Zen Planner
Membership, scheduling and billing software for gyms and studios
Which one is for you
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
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
| 2.0GPAKicksiteFair | 1.6GPAZen PlannerWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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). | 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 | CThe first 30 days are free, and the page does not say whether a card is needed. No free plan. | FNo trial or free plan on the pricing page. Plans run month to month. |
| Features | 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. | 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 students, belts and billing first. | CNo store rating on record. A studio builds its programs, memberships and billing first. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb only, and the pages read name no apps or integrations. | CWeb only on the listing, with one integration. A member app is sold as an add-on. |
| Best for | martial arts schools that charge by student count | 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: Kicksite and Zen Planner. How we grade
Price against what you get
Kicksite starts at $49 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 Kicksite starts $50 a month lower. Of the other salon, spa and studio booking apps on the chart, 6 score higher than Kicksite 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
- Kicksite also covers email campaigns.
At a glance
| Kicksite | Zen Planner | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Paid |
| Starts at | $49 per month for up to 25 students | $99 per month and up, priced by active members |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | First 30 days free | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Kicksite | Zen Planner |
| Price read from | kicksite.com | zenplanner.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
Zen Planner
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Kicksite or Zen Planner?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Kicksite is cheaper to start with: $49 a month, against $99 a month for Zen Planner. Kicksite starts at $49 per month for up to 25 students, and Zen Planner starts at $99 per month and up, priced by active members.
Which has a free plan, Kicksite or Zen Planner?
As of Nov 12, 2026, neither Kicksite nor Zen Planner has a free plan. Kicksite has a free trial.
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.