Best Point of Sale Systems for Gym Owners (2024)
Our #1 pick for point of sale system for gyms is Exercise.com, which accepts a variety of payments and offers features designed specifically for fitness facilities.
8 min readUpdated December 24th, 2023
MKWritten By Michelle King
OVERVIEW
You can’t sell gym memberships, fitness products, or wellness services without a system to collect payments. Point-of-sale (POS) systems help gyms streamline sales, process transactions, and simplify bookings, improving financial management and customer satisfaction.
Below, we’ll explore the top POS systems for gyms, helping you make the best decision for your fitness facility.
Gymbird’s Top Picks for Point of Sale Systems
Best Overall: Exercise.com
Best Free Option: Square
Best for Small Gyms: Vagaro
Best for Large Gyms: Motionsoft
Best for Personal Trainers: My PT Hub
Best for 24 Hour Gyms: GymMaster
Individual Reviews
Exercise.com, tailored exclusively for fitness businesses, consolidates all your software needs (including POS) into one solution, making it our top POS system choice. Designed to handle all commercial transactions, Exercise.com supports both in-person and mobile payment options, including tap to pay on iPhone.
This point of sale system software doesn’t just provide standard features like class scheduling, inventory tracking and billing; it goes a step further offering advanced payment processing functionalities. These features make it easier for owners to manage subscriptions, split commissions, and operate across multiple locations.
The Exercise.com team understands that transitioning to a new point of sale system can be challenging. To help ease the transition, they offer done-for-you data migration.
User Reviews
With an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars on G2, many users highlighted the software's stellar customer service team as one of their favorite features. Others noted the smooth migration and onboarding process that allowed a swift adoption of the software.
Exercise.com Pros
- In-person & mobile transactions
- Online booking
- Custom-branded fitness apps
- POS hardware
- Online calendaring
Exercise.com Cons
- May be overkill for smaller gyms
- Pricing not available online
Starting at $0/month
Square
Best value
- Online appointment and class scheduling
- Migration assistance
- Simple setup
In 2009, Square launched the first mobile card reader, allowing business owners to take payments anywhere. Today, the company powers over four million businesses worldwide and has a 29.70% market share in the POS system market.
While this POS solution isn't explicitly designed for gyms, it's been around long enough to truly nail its offerings. Square's POS solution for fitness businesses enables owners to schedule classes, take payments, and connect with clients using client profiles.
For added support, Square offers additional tools users can integrate into their POS system, including Square Marketing, Square Loyalty, Square Payroll, and Square Invoices.
If you're on a tight budget and only have one location, Square's free option provides the support you need to stay ahead.
User Reviews
Overall, customers seemed pleased using Square, giving it 4.7 out of 5 stars on G2. Many cited the platform's easy-to-use interface as their favorite attribute.
Square Pros
- Free option
- Accepts digital wallets
- In-person & digital transactions
- POS hardware
- Online Booking
Square Cons
- Fees for advanced features
- Limited features compared to other options
Starting at $25/mo for single location
Vagaro
Best for small gyms
- Online bookings
- Easy integration with third party apps
- Manage your online store
- Create recurring memberships
- 24/7 support
Designed for small businesses and independent service professionals in the beauty, wellness, and fitness space, Vagaro provides a simple software solution to foster your gym’s growth. With low fees, an intuitive interface, and simple booking and payment solutions, Vagaro stands out as an ideal partner for small gyms seeking a streamlined approach to business operations.
“My favorite gym point-of-sale system is Vagaro Pro.” said celebrity trainer Luka Hocevar. “It has very low fees, both for the cost of using the platform and its CC processing fees. Vagaro Pro’s POS system is simple to learn and use, and it comes with a sizable screen that is customer-friendly. You can also display Daily Deals on it - I don’t know of any other POS that offers this–and you can customize it to your brand. It truly has everything you need and nothing that you don’t.”
Looking for a POS solution that also supports your growth? Vagaro offers add-on features like email and text marketing to help level up your business.
User Reviews
Vagaro users appreciate that this software solution has all the features they’re looking for without being complicated or overwhelming, earning it 4.4 out of 5 stars on G2.
Vagaro Pros
- In-person & digital transactions
- Online booking
- All-in-one solution
Vagaro Cons
- Fees for advanced features
Trusted by major fitness brands like Crunch Fitness, Gold’s Gym, and Equinox, Motionsoft specializes in serving commercial gyms. Their POS system seamlessly integrates with 28 club software applications, catering to all of your gym’s software needs.
Unlike competitors who charge based on individual member interactions, Motionsoft uses a location-based cost-of-ownership model. This means operators only pay for the location where they do business rather than every contact in their database. This approach offers a cost-effective solution for larger gyms, providing clarity on the exact monthly cost of their bundled gym management software.
User Reviews
Earning 3.6 out of 5 stars on G2, Motionsoft reviews are mixed. While many users appreciate how the software simplifies daily operations, some note that navigating it can be tricky.
Motionsoft Pros
- In-person and digital transactions
- POS hardware
- Online booking
Motionsoft Cons
- Pricing not available online
Starting at $48 per month
My PT Hub
Best for personal trainers
- Custom branding
- Create and sell packages to customers
- Simple pricing model
My PT Hub provides personal trainers and coaches with a comprehensive software solution to manage clients. Using the program’s finance section, trainers can view, track, and edit payments.
Outside of its finance features, My PT Hub also provides essential solutions designed to simplify managing your personal training business. We’re particularly impressed with the program’s Workout Builder software, which allows users to build unlimited workouts for their clients.
User Reviews
Most trainers were happy using My PT Hub, giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars on G2. Users were pleased with the software’s customer support and the capability to create workouts easily. However, some wished the exercise library was more extensive.
My PT Hub Pros
- In-person & mobile transactions
- Online booking
- 24/7 gym access feature
- POS hardware
My PT Hub Cons
- Basic design
Starting at $89 per month
Gym Master
Best for 24/7 gyms
- No long-term contracts
- 60-day money back guarantee
- 24/7 door access
- Managebookings, classes & club resources
Supporting industry icons like Gold’s Gym and YMCA, GymMaster strives to provide clients with the best possible system to run their business. GymMaster’s POS system supports various payment methods and works with different hardware setups, making it a flexible option for gym owners.
Outside of payment processing and inventory management, GymMaster offers unique features catering to 24-hour gyms. The software’s 24/7 gym access system allows members to securely access your facility without needing front desk assistance.
User Reviews:
Users gave GymMaster an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars on G2, citing that the software is easy to use and improves operational efficiency. A few reviews noted that they would love to see more features added to the software, but overall, people were pleased with their experience.
Gym Master Pros
- In-person & mobile transactions
- Online booking
- 24/7 gym access feature
Gym Master Cons
- Basic design
Compare Best Gym Point of Sale Systems
| Gym POS System | Starting Price | Accepts Digital Wallets | Comes with POS Hardware | Custom Branded App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise.com | Request a Quote | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Square | Free | Yes | Yes | No |
| Vagaro | $25 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Motionsoft | Request a Quote | Yes | No | |
| My PT Hub | $55 | No | No | Yes |
| GymMaster | $89 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Benefits of a Gym POS System
Modern POS systems provide benefits beyond collecting payments and processing transactions. They can also be a valuable tool for improving your members’ experience.
“Without a POS system, the overall quality of the customer experience isn’t optimal, since the sign-up process isn’t as smooth and simple as it could be otherwise,” said Celebrity Trainer and Vagaro Brand Partner Luka Hocevar.
“Enhancing your clients’ experience wherever possible is key to retention and loyalty, which ultimately boosts your revenue.”
Let’s take a look at a few ways POS systems improve your customer experience and simplify financial management.
Provides More Ways to Pay
While many customers will likely pay with credit or debit cards, 20% of consumers opt for other payment options like digital wallets. To accommodate all member preferences, it’s important to offer a variety of payment options. Modern POS systems offer multiple payment methods, including debit cards, credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Enables Mobile Transactions
If you rely solely on in-person membership sign-ups, you're leaving a lot of money on the table. Over 56% of consumers prefer shopping online over in-person. POS systems help gym owners tap into this trend and expand their reach by enabling mobile transactions.
Provide Online Booking Options
Point of sale systems help gyms avoid a queue of frustrated customers by providing online booking options. Offering online booking enhances convenience for members, allowing them to schedule workouts or wellness services at their preferred times without the need to visit the gym or call the front desk. This also helps streamline administrative processes, reducing the workload for gym staff and ensuring more efficient operations.
Simplified Bookkeeping
Ditch the complicated spreadsheet for a more practical approach to accounting. Point of sale systems offer gyms a simple solution for automating daily accounting processes like tracking sales, monitoring expenditures, and managing inventory. This helps save you time and minimizes the risk of human errors.Mailchimp EmbedEnabled
How to Choose a Gym POS System
Since a gym POS system plays a significant role in customer satisfaction and financial operations, it’s essential that you take the time to evaluate multiple software options.
“As with anything, it’s important to do some research to discover what fits your business best, including asking your trusted community what they use and like and what they consider the most hassle-free,” said celebrity trainer Luka Hocevar.
Consider the following factors to help you determine the ideal software for your fitness studio.
Features
Besides processing payments, most POS systems provide additional features to help streamline operations. When selecting a POS system, look for one offering multiple features that improve your customers’ experience and daily business tasks.Features to look for in your POS system:Membership managementSchedulingReportingBillingOnline bookingInventory management
Ease of Use
The ideal POS system saves time for your team and customers, but complicated software can become a time-consuming hassle.
"I'm a big fan of useful, simple, and effective POS systems, meaning it's easy to use, efficient, and doesn't have a big learning curve," said celebrity trainer Luke Hocevar. "There have been plenty of times I've heard a system has all these features, but they were either difficult to figure out, or certain features that were touted weren't necessarily important or the most useful for my business."
Unsure if a POS tool is too complicated for your needs? Most software solutions offer free demos, allowing you to see the system in action before making a purchase.
Cost
Payment structures that work for one gym may not be ideal for another. Before choosing a POS system, evaluate the pricing structure, including any subscription fees, transaction costs, or additional charges.Celebrity trainer Luke Hocevar echoes this sentiment saying,
"I believe it's very important to research the fees, both the monthly cost to use the software, as well as the CC fees that go along with it. When you don't pay attention to these details, some POS systems can really rack up your costs and you pay the price of hidden fees."
Bottom Line
Choosing the best POS system streamlines business operations and reduces friction for customers. When evaluating POS systems, consider what features will be the most helpful for your facility. Exercise.com’s comprehensive POS solution is our top choice for gyms.
More Advice for Gym Owners
- The Ultimate Guide to Opening a Gym
- How to Increase Gym Membership Sales
- Grow Your Gym: Capitalize on Fitness Business Trends
- Best Fitness Industry Events for Fitness Professionals
- How Much Does it Cost to Open a Gym?
- How to Choose Your Gym Insurance and Protect Your Gym
Resources
Related Articles
Take the next step in your fitness journey.
