Once, while chatting with a gym owner about membership management, he said something that really stuck with me:

“It’s not that I don’t want to provide great service; I’m just getting crushed by the busywork. Renewals, scheduling, payment reminders, makeup classes… I’m staring at spreadsheets all day long.”
The frustrating part is that management often becomes more chaotic just as business starts picking up.
Slowly, you realize: many gyms aren’t defeated by a “lack of members,” but are dragged down by “management inefficiency.”
This is why more and more gyms are starting to use membership management software. It offers several key benefits:
  1. Centralized management of member information.
  2. Automated payment and renewal reminders.
  3. Digitized booking, scheduling, and check-ins.
  4. Data insights into churn, attendance, and repeat purchases.
But here is the catch: there are too many options on the market, and they aren’t cheap.
If your gym is in the startup or testing phase with a limited budget, the smartest choice is often to use free membership management software to get your processes running first.
In this article, I will share 13 free or low-barrier membership management software options worth trying from a real-world operational perspective, helping you find the one that fits you best.
Let’s get started.

Quick Comparison Table

Different software has very different positionings: some focus on studio scheduling, some on membership management, and others on marketing. Use this table to quickly decide which one you need:
Software Core Focus Learning Curve Best For
Serpent Membership + Billing + Reports Moderate Small to mid-sized gyms
OpenStudio Scheduling + Members + Marketing Low Personal training studios, boutique gyms (100% Free)
Rhino All-in-one management Moderate Mid-sized gyms (30-day trial)
Gym Clock Check-in / Scheduling / Basic Low Startups, budget-sensitive (6-month trial)
Omnify Strong booking system Low Group class studios / Class-driven gyms
Jivine Membership + Communication Low Stores needing frequent notifications
Virtuagym Coaching & Training plans Moderate Gyms with a strong coaching focus
Mindbody Strong ecosystem Mid-High Gyms with expansion plans
Amilia Community / Club management Moderate Community fitness / Sports centers
Pike13 Training center / Studio Moderate Small but specialized class-based gyms
TeamUp Classes + Members + Payments Low Boutique studios
Gym Assistant Desktop-based legacy system Moderate Traditional gyms
FitDegree Member experience + App Moderate Gyms needing a branded experience
Note: Strictly speaking, many are not “permanently free” but offer free versions, trial periods, or low-cost entry plans. For a gym, the key is to get your operations running first before deciding whether to upgrade.

1.Serpent Gym Software (Comprehensive, Gym-oriented)

Serpent follows a typical “gym management system” logic: putting members, billing, scheduling, and reports into one backend.
This is for you if:
  1. Your member count is growing and management is becoming difficult.
  2. You need standardized membership management rather than just scheduling.
  3. You want to use data to track renewal rates, attendance, and revenue trends.

2.OpenStudio Software (Studio-oriented, Fast Setup)

The biggest feature of OpenStudio is its simple interface and quick implementation. Many PT studios and boutique gyms love this “lightweight but sufficient” software.
This is for you if:
  1. You run a PT studio or boutique group class gym.
  2. You need an all-in-one solution for scheduling, booking, and billing.
  3. You want to go live quickly without a fuss.

3.Rhino Software (All-in-one, Best for Mid-sized Gyms)

Rhino acts like a “butler for mid-sized gyms.” It doesn’t lean too heavily on one feature but is very balanced overall.
This is for you if:
  1. You have multiple coaches and multiple courses.
  2. You need unified management for members, contracts, and revenue data.
  3. You want to standardize your workflows.

4.Gym Clock (Lightweight Entry, Budget-friendly)

Gym Clock is an “entry-level tool for gym management.” If you are just starting and the budget is tight, this is a viable choice to digitize basic processes.
This is for you if:
  1. Your member count is still small.
  2. You want to solve check-ins, scheduling, and basic billing first.
  3. You don’t want to invest too much at the beginning.

5.Omnify (Strong Booking, Class-driven)

If your gym is primarily a “class-based studio” (group classes, yoga, Pilates, bootcamps), Omnify is likely your best fit—its strength lies in the booking, scheduling, and purchasing experience.

6.Jivine (Strong Notifications, Communication-heavy)

Jivine offers powerful support for reaching your customers, such as:
  1. Renewal reminders
  2. Class notifications
  3. Absence alerts
  4. This is for you if: You want to rely on communication to drive renewals rather than waiting for members to remember on their own.

7.Virtuagym (Strong Training Plans & Coaching)

Virtuagym’s advantage is that it isn’t just a management tool; it emphasizes training plans, nutrition advice, and coach collaboration.
This is for you if:
  1. You have a mature coaching system.
  2. You want to digitize training plans.
  3. You want members to keep following workouts within the App.

8.Mindbody (Strong Ecosystem, Higher Cost)

Many gym owners have heard of Mindbody. It’s more of an ecosystem than just software. However, a strong ecosystem comes at the cost of higher learning curves and complex configurations.
This is for you if:
  1. You have expansion plans.
  2. You want to systematize “Booking + Payment + Marketing.”
  3. You may open multiple locations in the future.

9.Amilia (Community & Sports Centers)

Commonly found in community organizations and sports clubs. It emphasizes member management, event registration, and team/family accounts.

10.Pike13 (Specialized Training Centers)

Highly used in specialized training gyms and studios, focusing on:
  1. Client profiles
  2. Class packages
  3. Automated notifications

11.TeamUp (Practical for Boutique Gyms)

TeamUp is practical—it has the features you need and is easy to learn. If you run a boutique gym or class-based studio, TeamUp is an excellent choice.

12.Gym Assistant (Legacy System for Traditional Gyms)

Gym Assistant is a “traditional system” favored by many old-school gyms. Its advantage is stability, though the user experience may not feel as modern.

13.FitDegree (Member Experience & Branding)

FitDegree prioritizes the member-side experience: App, classes, booking, and interaction. It makes your gym look like a “brand” rather than just a “facility.”
This is for you if:
  1. You want to improve the member experience.
  2. You need user-friendly operations on the member side.
  3. You want to take the boutique gym route.

How to Choose the Right Software for You?

Don’t just look at “how many features” a software has; look at your operational goals. Here are 4 suggestions:
  1. Confirm Your Gym Type:
    1. PT Studio: Prioritize lightweight scheduling.
    2. Group Class Studio: Prioritize the booking experience.
    3. Commercial Gym: Membership, billing, and contracts are most important.
  2. Don’t Be Dazzled by “All-in-One”:
  3. Many software packages look comprehensive, but you probably won’t use 70% of the features. What really matters are the few features you use smoothly every day.
  4. Check the “Member-Side Experience”:
  5. Many owners only care about the backend and ignore the members. But renewals often depend on how easy it is to book and how smooth the reminders are.
  6. Consider Future Expansion:
  7. If you plan to open branches, choose a scalable system from the start to avoid the pain of migrating data later.

Conclusion: Software Saves Time; Systems Make Money

Many gyms struggle not because the owner isn’t working hard, but because their management is stuck in the era of spreadsheets and manual communication.
The right membership management software frees you from “busywork,” allowing you to focus on what matters: class quality, service experience, and member retention.
Of course, software only improves efficiency. What truly keeps members coming back is the overall experience of your facility.
When you are ready to upgrade your training zone or plan a new facility, INPEK Strength can help you find the balance between quality and cost—ensuring your equipment is professional, durable, and fits your budget.
If you need a “Facility Equipment List + Space Planning Advice,” feel free to contact us. We can provide a practical solution tailored to your area and positioning.
Contact Us