RhinoFit vs Zen Planner (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, RhinoFit grades higher than Zen Planner: 2.4 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
RhinoFit grades higher on the free plan, features and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
RhinoFit
Flat-rate gym and martial arts management with optional door access
Zen Planner
Membership, scheduling and billing software for gyms and studios
Which one is for you
Pick RhinoFit if
- Fits if you run a martial arts school and want rank and belt tracking
- Works for gyms with many members that want no per-member fees
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you stay on Start Up: 20 users, $2,500 in payments, no automated payments
- Watch out: door access is US only, needs underwriting and $1,300 hardware per door
- Watch out: a website is $25 a month plus $300 setup, and an EMV terminal $25 plus $50, both US only
- Watch out: a branded app is an add-on with no price shown
- Skip it if you want a free plan with messaging, as that starts on Standard
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
| 2.4GPARhinoFitFair | 1.6GPAZen PlannerWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$57 a month flat with unlimited members, a little above the category's middle of $49. Door access is $99 plus hardware. | 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 | CA $0 plan for 20 or fewer users and $2,500 of payments, plus 30 days free with no card. Start Up has no automated payments, email or SMS. | FNo trial or free plan on the pricing page. Plans run month to month. |
| Features | BBilling, calendar, waivers, rank tracking, door access and a product store. Nothing in the listing shows a gap in the core job. | 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 billing and door hardware take setup. | CNo store rating on record. A studio builds its programs, memberships and billing first. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb plus iOS and Android, with Mailchimp, DailyStory and WordPress 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 schools and gyms on a flat fee | 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: RhinoFit and Zen Planner. How we grade
Price against what you get
RhinoFit starts at $57 a month and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Zen Planner starts at $99 a month and scores 2.0.
RhinoFit scores higher and starts $42 a month lower. Of the other salon, spa and studio booking apps on the chart, 4 score higher than RhinoFit for less, and 36 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
- RhinoFit also covers barcode scanning and appointment booking.
At a glance
| RhinoFit | Zen Planner | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Paid |
| Starts at | $57 per month, flat, with unlimited members | $99 per month and up, priced by active members |
| Free plan | Start Up plan at $0 for 20 or fewer active users and $2,500 or less in monthly payments; communications and payment processing may be restricted. | None |
| Free trial | 30 days free with everything unlocked, no credit card | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Gulf Management Systems, Inc. | Zen Planner |
| Price read from | rhinofit.ca | zenplanner.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
RhinoFit
- The $0 Start Up plan is capped at 20 active users and $2,500 in monthly payments, and may lack communications and payment processing.
- 24/7 door access is available only to US customers, subject to underwriting, and the door hardware is $1,300 per unit unless bundled.
- Add-ons cost extra: a website at $25 per month plus a $300 setup fee, and an EMV terminal at $25 per month plus a $50 setup fee, both US only.
- A branded Android and iOS app is offered as an add-on, and its price is not shown on the pricing page.
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
RhinoFit
- Memberships and automatic billing
- Custom memberships billed by card or ACH through built-in payment processing, with member and staff management.
- Class and appointment calendar
- Group and one-on-one sessions that members can book on a website calendar embed or in the mobile app, with a check-in kiosk.
- Digital waivers
- RhinoSign lets members sign custom waivers online.
- Rank and belt tracking
- Belt and rank progressions, with some martial arts belt systems preloaded, plus workout and benchmark tracking.
- 24/7 door access
- Members scan in with barcode key tags, cards or the app to open a door after hours, on the 24/7 Access package in the US.
- Product store and POS
- Sell products online or at the front desk, with inventory and discount management. An EMV card terminal is an 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
RhinoFit
Start Up$0
per month
For 20 or fewer active users and $2,500 or less in monthly payments. Scheduling, waivers, kiosk and app, but no automated payments, email or SMS.
Standard$57
per month, flat, unlimited members
Adds automated payment processing and email and SMS messaging, with no per-member fees.
24/7 Access$99
per month, plus $1,300 door hardware
Standard plus door access control, mobile key tags and real-time member access. A $149 per month package includes one door unit, with $150 due for taxes and shipping.
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, RhinoFit or Zen Planner?
As of Nov 13, 2026, RhinoFit is cheaper to start with: $57 a month, against $99 a month for Zen Planner. RhinoFit starts at $57 per month, flat, with unlimited members, and Zen Planner starts at $99 per month and up, priced by active members.
Which has a free plan, RhinoFit or Zen Planner?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only RhinoFit has a free plan. Zen Planner does not.
Which platforms do RhinoFit and Zen Planner run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only RhinoFit 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.