studioPilot vs Zen Planner
Great for rank tracking. Dated for the rest.
Zen Planner is a capable, long-standing choice for martial-arts and CrossFit gyms — especially if belt and progress tracking are central, which we don’t focus on. For boutique fitness and wellness, a modern, flat-priced, local platform fits better.
The honest version
Zen Planner has deep roots in martial arts and CrossFit, with strong progress tracking. The trade-offs for a boutique studio are a dated interface, US-centric payments, and website/marketing sold as separate products.
Here’s the whole picture — what’s good, what isn’t, and where we land.
What it costs
What you’d actually pay.
Sticker price is only part of it — per-location fees, add-ons and payment processing often double the real total.
studioPilot
or S$500 a year — two months free · ≈ US$37/mo
- Every feature, every location included
- Stripe pass-through — no payment markup
- Month-to-month, no contract
Zen Planner
- Software· tiered by active members From ~US$99 (~S$135)
- Website· separate product Paid add-on
- Engage (marketing)· separate product from US$249 (~S$335)
- Processing
- Card processing applies
- Contract
- No long contracts · larger plans quote-based
Core software scales by active members; website and marketing are separate paid products.
Zen Planner figures are indicative, compiled from public pricing and reviews (2025–2026); USD-priced plans show an approximate SGD equivalent (≈1.35), and incumbent pricing is often quote-based. studioPilot pricing is indicative pre-launch.
Point by point
studioPilot vs Zen Planner, in full.
The whole comparison — where we come out ahead, where Zen Planner does, and where it’s honestly a tie.
| Feature | studioPilot | Zen Planner |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Boutique fitness & wellness | Martial arts & CrossFit |
| Interface | Modern & focused | Capable but dated |
| Pricing | One flat price, all-in | Tiered; website & marketing separate |
| Custom domain & branding | Included | Website is a paid add-on |
| Local payments (PayNow / GrabPay) | Yes — via Stripe | US-centric |
| Based in | Singapore — your timezone | United States |
| Instructor payroll | Built in | Limited |
| Belt / progress tracking | Not a focus | Strong — their niche |
Straight down the middle
Where they win — and why studios still move.
We’re not going to pretend it’s all one-sided.
Where Zen Planner genuinely wins
- Belt, rank and progress tracking — a genuine niche strength
- Heritage in martial arts and CrossFit
- All core features across tiers, with no long contracts
- Established and dependable for its niche
Why studios move to us
A modern, focused interface
A clean, current experience for members and staff, rather than a capable-but-dated one.
Everything in one flat price
Website and branding are included, not sold as separate add-on products.
Local payments and support
PayNow and GrabPay through Stripe, and a Singapore team in your timezone.
The bottom line
Zen Planner is a capable, long-standing choice for martial-arts and CrossFit gyms — especially if rank and progress tracking are central, which we don’t focus on. For boutique fitness and wellness studios wanting a modern, flat-priced, locally-supported platform, we’re the better fit.
Switching from Zen Planner? We’ll map it out with you.
A 20-minute demo, and a migration plan tailored to whatever you’re on today. No contract, no pressure.