WodBoard vs Zen Planner (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, WodBoard 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
WodBoard 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.
WodBoard
Gym management with workout programming for CrossFit-style gyms
Zen Planner
Membership, scheduling and billing software for gyms and studios
Which one is for you
Pick WodBoard if
- Fits if you run a CrossFit-style gym and post workouts and scores
- Works for gyms of 50 to 200 athletes
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you grow, as price follows athlete count and above 200 is a quote
- Watch out: the white-label app and marketing automation are $125 a month each
- Watch out: websites run $49 to $129 a month by tier
- Watch out: cancelling needs 30 days notice
- Skip it if you want a long trial, as the length isn't stated
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
| 2.4GPAWodBoardFair | 1.6GPAZen PlannerWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$110 a month for up to 50 athletes, $155 for 100, $220 for 200. That's past the dearer quarter of the category, though below its dearest tenth. | 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 free trial with full access and no card, but its length isn't stated. | FNo trial or free plan on the pricing page. Plans run month to month. |
| Features | BMemberships, classes, programming, score logging, community tools, payments and door access. 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 programming and payment setup take work. | CNo store rating on record. A studio builds its programs, memberships and billing first. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb plus iOS and Android, with Stripe, GoCardless and Kisi links. No computer app. | CWeb only on the listing, with one integration. A member app is sold as an add-on. |
| Best for | CrossFit-style gyms that program workouts | 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: WodBoard and Zen Planner. How we grade
Price against what you get
WodBoard starts at $110 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.
WodBoard scores higher, and starts $11 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, 5 score higher than WodBoard 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
- WodBoard also covers marketing automation and appointment booking.
- Zen Planner also covers sMS marketing.
At a glance
| WodBoard | Zen Planner | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Paid |
| Starts at | $110 per month for up to 50 athletes | $99 per month and up, priced by active members |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | Free trial with full access to all features, no credit card required; the length is not stated. | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | WodBoard | Zen Planner |
| Price read from | wodboard.com | zenplanner.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
WodBoard
- Price is set by athlete count and gyms above 200 athletes must ask for a quote.
- Add-ons cost extra: the white-label app and marketing automation are each $125 a month, and websites run $49 to $129 a month by tier.
- Third-party services such as payment processors may charge their own fees.
- Cancellation needs 30 days notice; the vendor lists no long-term contract.
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
WodBoard
- Memberships and passes
- Memberships, class passes, hybrids, intro offers, discounts and upgrades or downgrades.
- Classes, courses and appointments
- Bookings with waitlists, booking limits, penalty fees, recurring bookings and calendar sync.
- Programming and score logging
- Class and personal programming, athlete score logging, PR tracking, a whiteboard and class display screens.
- Community tools
- Social feed, challenges, announcements and email broadcasts.
- Branded app and website
- iOS and Android apps, with a white-label app and gym websites sold as paid add-ons.
- Payments and door access
- Member payments through Stripe and GoCardless, and an access-control integration with Kisi.
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
WodBoard
0-50 athletes$110
per month for up to 50 athletes
All features included. Unlimited use, staff and member app, and support are part of every tier.
51-100 athletes$155
per month for up to 100 athletes
Same features as every tier, at a higher athlete cap.
101-150 athletes$190
per month for up to 150 athletes
Same features as every tier, at a higher athlete cap.
151-200 athletes$220
per month for up to 200 athletes
Same features as every tier. Gyms above 200 athletes are quoted individually.
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, WodBoard or Zen Planner?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Zen Planner is cheaper to start with: $99 a month, against $110 a month for WodBoard. WodBoard starts at $110 per month for up to 50 athletes, and Zen Planner starts at $99 per month and up, priced by active members.
Which has a free plan, WodBoard or Zen Planner?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither WodBoard nor Zen Planner has a free plan. WodBoard has a free trial.
Which platforms do WodBoard and Zen Planner run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only WodBoard 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.