Gym software: 12 questions to ask before you pay
Print this page or copy the questions into a message. Each question has a reason, and an example from a real product page where we found one.
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1. Which plan covers my members, and what happens when I pass the limit?
Plans are sometimes measured by active clients and sometimes by providers or branches. Count your members today and the number you expect in a year.
Examples cited to the vendors' own pages
- in2 (Published price)
Per month at list price: Starter $99 (up to 100 active clients, 1 branch), Advanced $189 (300), Pro $329 (600, 2 branches). Enterprise by quote. The page also shows prices 10% and 15% lower without saying which billing term they apply to. Branded app +$175 a month; extra branch $100; each extra 100 clients $60.
2. What is in the price, and what costs extra?
A branded app, the data move and messages may sit outside the plan. Ask for a list of everything that is charged.
Examples cited to the vendors' own pages
- Rekaz (Published price)
Monthly: Individuals SAR 99, Advanced SAR 299, Premium SAR 499. Yearly: Advanced SAR 2,999, Premium SAR 5,999, VIP SAR 14,999. The Individuals yearly price is not shown on a visible card (the page's data shows SAR 799): TO CONFIRM. A branded mobile app is SAR 9,200 a year extra.
- in2 (Setup and data move)
A full data migration costs $1,200 once, and each package includes 3 free training sessions. Our 7 Oct reading also noted free import templates; we did not see that again on 16 Oct.
3. Who moves my old data, and for how much?
You may import it yourself, or the vendor does it for you, free or for a fee. Ask for the number in writing.
Examples cited to the vendors' own pages
- ArabGym (Setup and data move)
Self-serve. No setup, training or data-import fees. Existing members are imported by the gym; support by email and WhatsApp chat, Sunday to Thursday. An export to Excel or CSV is available.
- Tamarran (Setup and data move)
One-to-one setup, training and data-migration support are listed in all plans.
4. Can I bill in two currencies on one invoice?
Ask to see a real two-currency invoice. Supporting your country's currency does not mean a two-currency invoice.
Examples cited to the vendors' own pages
- ArabGym (Dollar and lira billing)
Members can be billed in the currencies of 14 countries, and Lebanon is among those countries; the Lebanese pound is not named by code. The ArabGym subscription itself is billed in dollars. A dollar-and-lira invoice is not described.
- in2 (Dollar and lira billing)
One base currency. Another currency is recorded at an exchange rate typed in by hand.
5. Is the Arabic right to left inside the product?
Open the staff screen and the printed invoice in Arabic yourself.
Examples cited to the vendors' own pages
- ArabGym (Arabic (right to left))
A full Arabic interface with right-to-left layout, plus English. Its support team speaks Arabic.
- in2 (Arabic (right to left))
Its release notes say the web app can be switched between English, Arabic, French, Hindi, Tagalog and Urdu. Right-to-left layout is not stated.
6. Are WhatsApp messages automatic, or does staff press send? Is each one charged?
The difference between an automatic message and a ready one sent by hand lies in cost and in WhatsApp's own rules.
Examples cited to the vendors' own pages
- ArabGym (WhatsApp)
Automatic WhatsApp and SMS messages: expiry reminders 7 and 3 days ahead, payment receipts, booking confirmations and class reminders. Bulk campaigns are manual. The page does not say which WhatsApp connection or SMS provider it uses.
- Rekaz (WhatsApp)
WhatsApp notifications for bookings and renewals are listed on its academy page.
7. What kind of member app: store, browser, or my own brand?
Ask what the branded app costs and whether it appears in the stores.
Examples cited to the vendors' own pages
- ArabGym (Parent app)
A member app that is installed from the browser (a PWA), not from the App Store or Google Play, and not under the gym's own brand. It works offline for key features.
- in2 (Parent app)
A parent app in the App Store and Google Play.
8. How do members pay: card, cash, local wallets?
Payment gateways differ by country. Ask about the method your members actually use.
Examples cited to the vendors' own pages
- ArabGym (Online payments)
Card payments through Moyasar (Saudi Arabia), Tap (UAE) and Paymob (Egypt), or cash and bank transfer logged by hand. No gateway is named for Lebanon.
- in2 (Online payments)
Card and Whish payments through several gateways.
9. Does it fit my sport: belts, teams, fixtures, classes?
Ask for your feature by name and ask to see it.
Examples cited to the vendors' own pages
- ArabGym (Football and martial-arts features)
Group classes with a calendar, capacity limits, waitlists, QR attendance and coach reports. No football teams or fixtures, and no martial-arts belts, were found.
- Tamarran (Football and martial-arts features)
For martial arts: belt tracking, grading events, a parent portal and family billing. A football-specific page was not found.
- Rekaz (Football and martial-arts features)
Its own help centre says it has no gym-specific feature: academies use general services and packages.
10. What happens when the internet or the power drops?
Most products we read are cloud-based. Ask the vendor to show the front desk working offline, if that is possible at all, rather than taking their word.
11. Can I export all my data, and in what format?
Ask for a full export in an open format before you sign, and how long your data stays available after you stop.
Examples cited to the vendors' own pages
- ArabGym (Setup and data move)
Self-serve. No setup, training or data-import fees. Existing members are imported by the gym; support by email and WhatsApp chat, Sunday to Thursday. An export to Excel or CSV is available.
12. Who answers when something breaks, in which language and hours?
Base your decision on the support channel, its hours and its language, not a general promise.
Examples cited to the vendors' own pages
- ArabGym (Setup and data move)
Self-serve. No setup, training or data-import fees. Existing members are imported by the gym; support by email and WhatsApp chat, Sunday to Thursday. An export to Excel or CSV is available.
- Tamarran (Setup and data move)
One-to-one setup, training and data-migration support are listed in all plans.
Read next
Sources
- https://joinin2.com/pricing
- https://rekaz.io/home/en/pricing
- https://arabgym.pro/en/help
- https://tamarran.co/en/pricing/
- https://arabgym.pro/en/features/multi-currency
- https://customer.joinin2.com/knowledge/-setting-up-payment-methods
- https://joinin2.com/release-notes-portal/
- https://arabgym.pro/en/features/notifications
- https://rekaz.io/home/en/academies-and-sports-clubs/
- https://arabgym.pro/en/features/mobile-app
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.codefish.in&hl=en&gl=LB
- https://arabgym.pro/en/features/payments
- https://customer.joinin2.com/knowledge/set-up-your-whish-payments
- https://arabgym.pro/en/features/classes
- https://tamarran.co/en/karate-school-management-system/
- https://help.rekaz.io/en/articles/16425451-how-do-i-set-up-and-manage-a-gym-in-rekaz