Best Yoga Studio Software 2026: Mindbody vs Mariana Tek vs Zen Planner
Mindbody, Mariana Tek, and Zen Planner dominate yoga studio software. Here's how they compare on features, pricing, and ease of use.
## Choosing Yoga Studio Software: What Actually Matters
You're shopping for yoga studio management software. You need online class registration, member management, billing, and a mobile app — without a steep learning curve or enterprise-level pricing.
You've heard of Mindbody, Mariana Tek, Zen Planner, and WellnessLiving. They all look similar. Pricing ranges from $89/month to $400/month.
How do you choose?
This guide compares the top yoga studio platforms on features, pricing, and real-world usability.
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## Quick Recommendation by Studio Size
**Solo instructors or new studios (<50 members):** WellnessLiving ($89/mo) — affordable, easy to set up
**Small studios (50-200 members):** Zen Planner ($117-$197/mo) — best value for growing studios
**Mid-size studios (200-500 members):** Mindbody ($239/mo) — most integrations, proven reliability
**Large/multi-location studios (500+ members):** Mariana Tek ($200-$400/mo) — enterprise features, best analytics
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## Feature-by-Feature Comparison
### 1. Class Scheduling and Registration
Every platform handles class scheduling. Differentiators:
**Mindbody:** - Drag-and-drop schedule builder - Recurring class templates - Waitlist automation - Multi-instructor scheduling - Capacity limits per class - Drop-in + membership hybrid support
**Mariana Tek:** - Visual schedule editor - Waitlist with auto-notifications - Class series (multi-week packages) - Instructor availability integration - Advanced capacity management
**Zen Planner:** - Class scheduling with attendance tracking - Waitlist support - Recurring templates - Mobile check-in
**WellnessLiving:** - Scheduling with drag-and-drop - Waitlist - Class packs + memberships - Mobile app check-in
**Winner:** Mindbody or Mariana Tek (tie — both excellent)
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### 2. Member Management (CRM)
Track member info, preferences, attendance history, and notes.
**Mindbody:** - Robust member profiles - Custom fields - Attendance history - Tags and segments - Visit tracking
**Mariana Tek:** - Member profiles with visit history - Custom fields - Behavior tracking (favorite classes, instructors) - Engagement scoring
**Zen Planner:** - Member database - Family/household grouping - Custom fields - Attendance tracking
**WellnessLiving:** - Client profiles - Visit history - Tags - Notes
**Winner:** Mariana Tek (most advanced behavior tracking)
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### 3. Billing and Payment Processing
**Mindbody:** - Auto-recurring billing - ACH + credit card - Failed payment retry (customizable) - Contract management - Family billing - Mindbody Pay processing: **2.75% + 25¢** (credit card), **1% capped at $10** (ACH)
**Mariana Tek:** - Auto-recurring billing - ACH + credit card - Retry logic - Membership + class pack hybrid billing - Processing fees: **2.75% + 25¢** (credit card), **1%** (ACH)
**Zen Planner:** - Auto-recurring billing - ACH + credit card - 3 automatic retries on failed payments - Contract tracking - Processing fees: **2.9% + 30¢** (credit card), **1% capped at $10** (ACH)
**WellnessLiving:** - Auto-recurring billing - ACH + credit card - Retry automation - Processing fees: **2.9% + 30¢** (credit card), **1%** (ACH)
**Winner:** Mindbody or Mariana Tek (lowest processing fees)
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### 4. Mobile App (Member-Facing)
Your members need to book classes, view schedules, and manage accounts from their phones.
**Mindbody:** - Industry-leading mobile app - One app for all Mindbody studios (members can discover your studio via the marketplace) - Book classes, purchase packages, manage account - Integrated with Apple Wallet
**Mariana Tek:** - Custom-branded mobile app (your studio name + logo) - Book classes, manage account - No third-party marketplace (your brand only)
**Zen Planner:** - Mobile app for booking and check-in - Not as polished as Mindbody or Mariana Tek
**WellnessLiving:** - Branded mobile app - Book classes, manage memberships - Decent UX
**Winner:** Mindbody (best app, largest user base) or Mariana Tek (best for brand control)
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### 5. Online Booking Widget (Website Integration)
Embed class booking directly on your studio website.
**All platforms offer this:** Mindbody, Mariana Tek, Zen Planner, WellnessLiving
**Differentiator:** Mariana Tek's booking widget is the most customizable and brand-friendly (looks native to your site).
**Winner:** Mariana Tek
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### 6. Attendance Tracking and Analytics
**Mindbody:** - Attendance by class - Attendance by member - Revenue reports - Class performance analytics
**Mariana Tek:** - Advanced analytics dashboard - Attendance heatmaps (which classes fill, which don't) - Member engagement scoring - Retention metrics - Revenue per class/instructor
**Zen Planner:** - Attendance tracking - Basic reporting - Member visit history
**WellnessLiving:** - Attendance reports - Revenue tracking - Basic analytics
**Winner:** Mariana Tek (most advanced analytics)
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### 7. Waitlist Automation
When a student cancels from a full class, the software auto-notifies waitlisted students.
**All platforms support waitlists:** Mindbody, Mariana Tek, Zen Planner, WellnessLiving
**Best waitlist experience:** Mariana Tek (fastest notifications, cleanest member UX)
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### 8. Marketing and Communication
**Mindbody:** - Email marketing (basic templates) - SMS campaigns (pay-per-message) - Integrates with Mailchimp, Constant Contact
**Mariana Tek:** - Built-in email marketing - SMS campaigns - Automated flows (welcome series, re-engagement)
**Zen Planner:** - Email + SMS campaigns - Automated reminders
**WellnessLiving:** - Email + SMS marketing - Automated campaigns
**Winner:** Mariana Tek (most advanced automation)
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## Pricing Comparison
### Mindbody **Tiered pricing:** - Starter: $139/month - Accelerate: $239/month - Ultimate: $339/month
**Processing fees:** - Credit card: 2.75% + 25¢ - ACH: 1% (capped at $10)
**What's included (Accelerate plan — most common):** - Unlimited class scheduling - Member management - Auto-billing - Mobile app - Marketing tools - Reporting
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### Mariana Tek **Custom pricing** (typically $200-$400/month depending on studio size)
**Processing fees:** - Credit card: 2.75% + 25¢ - ACH: 1%
**What's included:** - Everything (no tiered plans) - Custom-branded mobile app - Advanced analytics - Waitlist automation - Marketing automation
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### Zen Planner **Tiered pricing:** - Core: $117/month - Pro: $197/month - Ultimate: $297/month
**Processing fees:** - Credit card: 2.9% + 30¢ - ACH: 1% (capped at $10)
**What's included (Pro plan — recommended):** - Class scheduling - Auto-billing - Mobile app - Marketing tools - Attendance tracking
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### WellnessLiving **Tiered pricing:** - Starter: $89/month - Advanced: $149/month - Professional: $269/month
**Processing fees:** - Credit card: 2.9% + 30¢ - ACH: 1%
**What's included (Advanced plan — most common):** - Class scheduling - Auto-billing - Branded mobile app - Marketing tools
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## Total Cost Comparison (Real-World Example)
**Scenario:** 150-member yoga studio, $20,000/month in revenue (60% credit card, 40% ACH)
| Platform | Monthly Subscription | Processing Fees | **Total/Month** | **Total/Year** | |----------|---------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| | **Mindbody (Accelerate)** | $239/mo | $384/mo | **$623/mo** | **$7,476/year** | | **Mariana Tek** | ~$300/mo | $384/mo | **$684/mo** | **$8,208/year** | | **Zen Planner (Pro)** | $197/mo | $408/mo | **$605/mo** | **$7,260/year** | | **WellnessLiving (Advanced)** | $149/mo | $408/mo | **$557/mo** | **$6,684/year** |
**Winner on price:** WellnessLiving (lowest total cost)
**Winner on value:** Zen Planner (good features at mid-tier price)
**Winner on features:** Mariana Tek (most advanced, worth the premium for data-driven studios)
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## Which Platform for Your Studio?
### New Studios or Solo Instructors **Best choice:** WellnessLiving
Affordable, easy to set up, covers all essentials.
**Avoid:** Mariana Tek (overkill and too expensive)
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### Small-to-Mid-Size Studios (50-200 members) **Best choice:** Zen Planner
Best balance of features, price, and ease of use.
**Consider:** Mindbody if you want the brand recognition and marketplace exposure.
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### Established Studios (200-500 members) **Best choice:** Mindbody or Mariana Tek
Mindbody if you want marketplace exposure and the largest app ecosystem. Mariana Tek if you prioritize analytics and brand control.
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### Multi-Location or Premium Studios **Best choice:** Mariana Tek
Custom-branded apps, best analytics, enterprise support.
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## Common Mistakes When Choosing Yoga Studio Software
**Mistake #1: Only comparing base subscription prices** A platform charging $89/month with 3% processing fees costs *more* than a platform charging $149/month with 2.75% fees for high-revenue studios.
**Always calculate:** Subscription + processing fees at your revenue level.
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**Mistake #2: Not testing the mobile app** Your members will book 70%+ of classes via mobile. Download the member app and test the booking flow during your trial.
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**Mistake #3: Choosing based on features you won't use** If you're a solo instructor with 30 students, you don't need advanced analytics, multi-location support, or enterprise integrations. Start simple.
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## The Bottom Line
**Best for most studios:** Zen Planner — solid features, fair pricing, excellent support
**Best for brand-focused studios:** Mariana Tek — custom apps, no marketplace, advanced analytics
**Best for budget-conscious new studios:** WellnessLiving — affordable, covers essentials
**Best for marketplace exposure:** Mindbody — largest member base, most integrations
Try 2-3 platforms during free trials. The one with the easiest setup and clearest dashboard is the right choice.
**Compare yoga studio software side-by-side:** [View all yoga studio software →](/software)