The Gym Software Designed for Growth (Not Just Management): Why Buzops Is the Choice in 2025.
Gym owners… you are living in one of the most exciting times in our industry’s history! With all the technology that we have in our hands, the sky is the limit. Just think about it: never before have we had so many tools, so much technology, and so much innovation designed to make running a gym (or any business) easier, smarter, and more effective.
Even 20 years ago, the idea of having state of the art automations for billing, scheduling, class booking, member communication, 24/7 access control with fingerprints or QR codes was something almost crazy to think about. Today, all of these can even be handled from a single platform or right from your phone. It almost feels normal now, but let’s all just remember: it wasn’t always this way.
The Journey That Inspired Buzops
Let me take you back to 2009, when our co-founder Michael Benso was building what would become one of the largest personal training operating companies in USA. Starting with just $163 and no outside funding, he grew Fitness Management Group to nearly $40 million in total revenue in five years, listed by JP Morgan Chase as one of the fastest growing companies in their first 6 months of operating, creating more than 200 jobs in the first eight months and repeating this growth process with over 100 gym locations.
But behind that rapid growth, there was a constant battle with messy systems. Michael was juggling client billing in one place, staff schedules in another, and pulling reports that made his accountant sigh. Every day felt like duct-taping operations together, and yet the dream of a system that unified it all was always in his mind.
A couple years later, he co-founded a chain of 24/7 health clubs with a groundbreaking concept: members were rewarded for workout adherence, and the gyms even partially ran on human kinetic and solar power. Within 36 months, he opened three profitable locations, with the 2nd and 3rd generating positive cash flow from day one thanks to presale efforts.
The vision was clear: fitness businesses could (and should) operate smarter. But the technology just wasn’t there yet.
And that’s why in 2018, he co-founded Buzops; Built from the trenches of real gym ownership, and informed by the pain points Michael lived for over a decade. He knew firsthand what it was like to grow fast but be held back by clunky software.
That frustration became the blueprint. And today, Buzops delivers what Michael wished he had in 2009: a simple, powerful, transparent platform that gym owners can actually grow with.
Finding the right fit for your Gym / Fitness club
Fast forward to today, the industry has seen an explosion of gym management software. There are more options than ever! Mindbody, ABC Fitness, and many others…the list goes on and on, along with many that have been acquired and folded into the big umbrella of legacy companies.
But here’s the thing: not all of them are created equal… It’s not enough to have good intentions as a software company. What matters is whether the platform actually serves you and your members, and whether it helps you grow without adding unnecessary stress.
At Buzops, we respect the other platforms in this industry. Many of them paved the way. Some features they’ve built are fantastic, and yes, we’ve been inspired by what others have done well.
But we also believe in listening, so in this blog, our intention is not to tear at the seams of any company, they all deserve respect; Our intention is to share real voices from gym owners through online reviews, public testimonials, and direct feedback from those who switched to us, to give you a guide to decide which software could work better for you, so you can make the best informed decision for your business and its unique goals.
With that in mind, let’s dive into the most common questions gym owners ask when comparing Buzops to other leading platforms.
FAQs: How Buzops Compares to Other Gym Management Software
Q: Mindbody vs Buzops: Which is easier to use for gyms?
Mindbody is the best-known name in gym management. It’s powerful, feature-rich, and has been around for decades. Many boutique studios use it for scheduling, billing, and class management. It has a huge ecosystem of integrations, and once you climb the learning curve, it really can do a lot.
However, one big downside is that gym owners often describe Mindbody as “overwhelming and expensive” meaning that the learning curve is steep, so steep they created Mindbody University, a paid training just to figure it out. While the entry price for the software might look like $79/month, most gyms quickly realize they need features hidden in higher-tier plans or expensive add-ons.
Another recurrent comment is that support isn’t good enough and it’s not 24/7, which is a problem for global or 24-hour gyms.
How BUZOPS can help you:
We created Buzops to give you the power of a full suite, without complexity and stress. It’s extremely easy to learn… so you won’t need a “software university”; We do have a training hub where you can learn easily how to start getting familiarized with the software, but it’s completely free. We are also very transparent with our prices from the beginning, you’ll know exactly what you’ll pay monthly or annually, and last but not least… our customer support is held by real humans, not chatbots.
Q: Vagaro vs Buzops: Which is better for fitness studios?
Vagaro is known for being affordable and user-friendly. Small studios love it because it’s simple to get started, with scheduling, payments, and payroll tools that are easy to learn.
Vagaro also serves salons and spas, so its features can feel generic rather than designed for gyms. That being said, it’s a great option for small studios but not for scaling gyms. Vagaro, just as BUZOPS, has their own app… but it’s always Vagaro-branded, so your gym is essentially a listing in their marketplace and not a fully branded experience for your members.
The BUZOPS solution:
As we described in the beginning of this blog, BUZOPS was built exclusively for gyms! with features like 24/7 access control, growth tools, CRM and a 100% branded app with your logo, colors and identity, it could be a perfect option if you want to scale.
But we won’t lie, the option of a branded app comes as an add-on. As we said, we like to be transparent with our prices. Vagaro is great for a first step, but Buzops is designed for gyms who want reliability and true ownership of their brand.
Q: Glofox vs Buzops: Which gym app gives the best member experience?
Glofox is sleek, modern, and much-loved for its branded app and polished design. Backed by ABC Fitness, it has resources, credibility, and many boutique studios love the member-facing experience.
The only thing… you have to book a sales call just to find out what it costs! So that makes it hard to budget or compare. Their interface is user-friendly, but some advanced tools (especially in marketing and analytics) aren’t as robust.
Some owners worry about being tied into the ABC Fitness umbrella, with less flexibility.
The BUZOPS solution:
We give you clear up-front pricing… what you see is what you pay. our advanced marketing and growth services could help your gym expand with clarity and with a clear action plan.
Q: ClubReady vs Buzops: Which software is better for franchises?
ClubReady is a powerhouse for franchises!! Its CRM and sales tools are strong, and many big brands rely on it.
However, owners often describe the interface as confusing, with “too many ways to do the same thing.” Reviews frequently mention poor support experiences, with long wait times and unresolved issues.
Also, according to comments that we found, It takes weeks to onboard staff! one owner said it felt like needing a “degree” just to use it, so it might be a little overwhelming at the beginning, but it can be a great option if you don’t mind that part.
The BUZOPS solution:
We believe power shouldn’t come with pain! and that’s why we focused on creating a user-friendly design that staff can learn in minutes. And even all of the automations that we have are intuitive and extremely powerful as well.
Where ClubReady might feel overwhelming, Buzops empowers.
Q: PushPress vs Buzops: Which gym software is best for new gyms?
PushPress has built a loyal following, especially in the CrossFit and boutique space. Its main appeal is the free plan, though this can actually cost several hundred dollars due to extremely high processing fees. They strategically restrict features on the free plan, a clever business strategy on their part. But you can avoid these fees if you run a primarily cash business with only a few clients.
Also, to get CRM or workout tracking, you’ll need to pay for additional modules like Grow or Train, so suddenly, it’s not so cheap.
As gyms scale, they often find PushPress lacking in advanced automations or analytics, forcing them to look elsewhere.
How BUZOPS can help you:
We built Buzops to be a platform you can grow into, not out of. You’ll get CRM, marketing automations and real-time analytics included from day one. Also, you won’t be paying transaction fees since we work with several processors (Stripe, Square, Authorized.net, etc) so you have your pick! We pre-negotiate rates for you to get the lowest rate possible.
Plus, we offer cryptocurrency payment options with zero transaction fees.
Every single tool in BUZOPS was designed for both small gyms and those scaling into franchises… PushPress is a great starter kit, but BUZOPS is the growth partner you’ll never outgrow.
How do I choose the right gym software in 2025?
Every platform has its strengths. Mindbody, Vagaro, PushPress, ClubReady, they’ve all helped gym owners in different ways. But the reality is, not all gym owners are served equally by each one.
The real question to ask yourself is this: Is my software truly supporting my growth, or is it holding me back?
If you feel that it’s holding you back and it’s not giving you the flexibility and freedom you wish, i invite you to book a free 10 minute call with our team to discover what running your gym without headaches looks like:
➡️ BOOK A DEMO WITH OUR TEAM HERE
Hope to see you soon!
