Mindbody vs Upper Hand

Goldie

Vagaro

Acuity Scheduling

Goldie is a comprehensive software designed for salon and beauty professionals. The platform offers appointment scheduling, automated client reminders, and integrated payment processing capabilities to help reduce no-shows and streamline business operations. Beauty professionals can manage their calendars, create branded online booking websites, and track business performance through detailed reports.

Vagaro is all-in-one software for beauty, wellness, and fitness professionals. Manage appointments, accept payments, run marketing campaigns, and grow your business all from one easy-to-use platform designed to help you save time and boost revenue.

Acuity Scheduling is an online appointment scheduling solution that allows clients to self-schedule appointments or classes online, complete custom forms, receive confirmation notifications and reminders, and pay or donate with a credit card.

Simplify appointment scheduling, automate reminders, and streamline your business management with Mindbody scheduling software.

Access Controls/Permissions

Accounting

Activities Booking

Activity Dashboard

Alerts/Notifications

Appointment Management

Appointment Scheduling

Assessment Management

Attendance Management

Attendance Tracking

Automated Scheduling

Barcode/Ticket Scanning

Billing & Invoicing

Booking Management

Booking Notes

Booth Rental Management

Calendar Management

Calendar Sync

Capacity Management

Charting

Class Management

Class Scheduling

Client Database

Client Management

Client Portal

Client Profiles

Commission Management

Confirmations/Reminders

Contract/License Management

Costume Management

Credit Card Management

Credit Card Processing

Customer Accounts

Customer Database

Customer Engagement

Customer Support

Customizable Forms

Customizable Reports

Customizable Templates

Customization

Data Import/Export

Debit/Credit Card Processing

Document Storage

Dues Management

eCommerce Management

Electronic Payments

Email Management

Email Marketing

Email Reminders

Email Templates

Employee Management

Employee Scheduling

EMR/EHR

Event Calendar

Event Management

Event Scheduling

Facility Scheduling

Faculty/Staff Management

Financial Management

Fitness Plan

For Barbershops

For Dance Studios

For Gyms

For Martial Arts

For Medical Spas

For Physical Therapy

For Salons and Spas

For Yoga/Pilates Studios

Gift Card Management

Group Reservations

Group Scheduling

HIPAA Compliant

Inventory Management

Inventory Tracking

Item Management

Lead Management

Live Chat

Loyalty Program

Marketing Automation

Marketing Management

Member Communication

Member Database

Member Directory

Member Portal

Membership Management

Membership Renewals

Member Types

Mobile Access

Mobile App

Multi-Location

Multiple User Accounts

Online Booking

Online Payments

Online Registration

Online Store

Onsite Registration

Patient Scheduling

Payment Processing

By industry, Mindbody reviewers are most commonly professionals in health, wellness and fitness (42%). The most frequent use case for Mindbody cited by reviewers is appointment scheduling (44% of reviewers).

Users and use cases

Reviewers indicate that Mindbody’s features and integrations can justify the price for some, and a few users appreciate occasional discounts. However, many reviewers feel the pricing is complex, with frequent increases, extra fees, and poor value for small businesses.

Value for money

The Mindbody integration most frequently cited by reviewers is Google Calendar, a scheduling product rated 4.5 out of 5 for its integration with Mindbody.

Integrations

Mindbody is an appointment scheduling solution offering key features such as appointment management, online booking, confirmations/reminders, mobile access, payment processing, and calendar management, among others.

Mindbody

Android

Windows

iPhone

Web-based

Zen Planner

ABC Glofox

WellnessLiving

Booker

Momence

Fresha

Jane

Jackrabbit Dance

Calendly

Mariana Tek

ZENOTI

fitDEGREE

SmartRec

ABC Trainerize

Square Appointments

Arketa

Timely

Starter

Accelerate

Ultimate

Difficult cancellation and refunds

88% of reviewers feel negative about Mindbody’s cancellation and refund processes. Reviewers report that canceling subscriptions or services is often complicated, requiring lengthy notice periods and multiple follow-ups. They indicate frustration with continued billing after cancellation requests, lack of timely refunds, and unclear or restrictive contract terms. Users say the inability to easily cancel classes or memberships, enforce no-show fees, or process refunds directly impacts their business operations and customer satisfaction.

Slow and ineffective phone support

Owner

It has not at all been convenient for me, I must figure out everything on my own and every time I call for an issue I am placed on hold for an hour with the situation and then I get sent emails on how to fix it, and then I just never end up figuring it out.

68% of reviewers feel negative about Mindbody’s phone support. Reviewers describe long wait times, unreturned calls, and difficulty reaching knowledgeable staff. They indicate that resolving issues often requires multiple calls, with inconsistent or generic responses from support agents. Users say the lack of effective phone support is disruptive to business operations, especially when urgent technical problems arise, and they feel frustrated by the time and effort required to get help.

Frequent software glitches

Studio Owner

Outdate user interface, so many bugs, takes weeks for support to understand any issues you report, if you call support you sit on hold for over an hour with somebody coming back on every now and then to tell you do something you have already tried many times before and it doesn't work.

83% of reviewers feel negative about Mindbody’s reliability due to bugs and technical issues. Reviewers indicate that system outages, crashes, and slow performance disrupt daily operations and frustrate both staff and clients. They mention recurring glitches with scheduling, payment processing, and mobile app functionality, often requiring time-consuming troubleshooting. Users say support for resolving these issues is slow, and unresolved bugs can lead to lost revenue, missed bookings, and diminished trust in the platform.

Problematic payment processing

64% of reviewers feel negative about Mindbody’s payment processing features. Reviewers report delays in fund transfers, high merchant fees, and frequent technical problems with credit card transactions. They indicate that system outages or glitches can halt business operations, cause lost revenue, and complicate payroll or client billing. Users say the inability to customize payment workflows, difficulties with online payments, and lack of transparency in transaction reporting create ongoing challenges for managing finances.

High and complex pricing

73% of reviewers feel negative about Mindbody’s pricing structure. Reviewers report frequent and significant price increases, additional fees for essential features, and confusing tiered plans. They indicate that small businesses struggle with affordability, especially when required to upgrade for basic functionality or pay high credit card processing fees. Users say the value does not always match the cost, and they feel nickel-and-dimed by charges for add-ons, currency exchange rates, and migration or cancellation fees.

Optimized yoga studio operations

82% of reviewers feel positive about Mindbody’s yoga studio management tools. Reviewers appreciate being able to book, organize, and manage yoga classes and appointments from a single platform. They indicate that the software is widely adopted in the yoga community, making staff training easier and providing a seamless experience for both instructors and clients. Users value the ability to find and schedule classes in different locations, receive reminders, and access a variety of wellness services, which supports both business growth and client satisfaction.

Comprehensive wellness platform

Freelancer

Mindbody is a well-rounded wellness platform that offers a wide range of services to help users manage and track their fitness, wellness, and beauty routines.

92% of reviewers feel positive about Mindbody’s fitness and wellness capabilities. Reviewers appreciate having a single platform to manage fitness, wellness, and beauty services, making it easy to book, track, and manage appointments across multiple providers. They indicate that integrations with other wellness apps and devices help them monitor progress and streamline operations. Users say the platform reduces administrative burdens, offers robust business management tools, and provides a broad network of local studios and services, which is especially valuable for both business owners and clients seeking convenience and variety.

Centralized fitness class booking

89% of reviewers feel positive about Mindbody’s gym and fitness class features. Reviewers indicate that the ability to view, compare, and book classes at various gyms and studios in one place is highly convenient. They appreciate being able to manage schedules, access a wide variety of class types, and book last-minute sessions while traveling or at home. Users find the platform helps them stay consistent with their fitness routines and simplifies administrative tasks for gym owners, making class management and client engagement more efficient.

We are barely thousandaires and we are not able to decrease the delivery of our process when the program wants us to reduce our prices. When I go to the store, I see the price and I pay it, but for some reason, Pilates, Fitness, Yoga, we are all asked to reduce our prices when we pay thousands and put in hundreds hours of training to provide a high-quality service to people.

Founder

You can manage your staff & clients, collect member data, sell packages, track metrics, and even take payment in one tab on your browser.

vice-president

The acounting page is the best with the scheduling features, the marketing links and the payment processing.

I run a premium boutique fitness studio in Southern California and we switched to Mindbody about a year ago which has made our operations, reporting, and member onboarding faster, easier, and more efficient.

Manager

It offers a comprehensive suite of tools that make it easy to manage class schedules, appointments, client bookings, and payments all in one place.

Another significant advantage is that MINDBODY’s POS payment processing fees are notably lower than those of many competitors, helping us keep overall operating costs down.

Owner and Teacher

You'll talk to a nice, professional person during your first phone call who (at least in my case) will tell you what you want to hear in order to sign the contract. Once I started getting into the set up, I started to realize that it was an extremely long process (onboarding can take up to 8 weeks) and that I wasn't going to get what I thought I would and that it takes a painfully long time to get answers.

Owner and Operator

It gives me in my small business more than enough options to make changes to my billing and schedule easily.

The print out for the class list/roster contains all the information about the students so you can't use it for sign in.

So, we are seriously considering stopping our partnership with Classpass. Despite the volume we have to consider, we can't take a price decrease; we have to not accept that we have to decrease our prices to accommodate a program run by billionaires.

Self care

This app allows me to see and schedule any class within my area.

Front Desk Receptionist

Mindbody allows me to run reports that shows how well my services are doing including client retention.

Relaxation Specialist

So if someone has a credit card on their Mindbody file, we can't use that at the business as a card on file when people book through the app because it doesn't pull the card information to their profile.

Director of Marketing and Communications

I especially appreciate the integrated marketing tools and automation features, which help us stay in touch with our clients and keep them engaged without added effort.

Our business is Pilates, and we have to create continuity for clients to learn the whole concept of Pilates.

On that first phone call, when I asked about cancelling if things didn't go well, Sam (sales rep) made it seem like if I tried to cancel then they would give me a sales pitch but eventually would let me out of my contract which isn't true.

Managing Member

Even though our music lesson business was not in it's vertical, we were able to adapt to it's functionality and configure it to meet most of our needs.

Exercise Scientist

Mindbody registered my business name incorrectly despite clear instructions, and their onboarding deactivated appointment types, stopping me from processing client sessions.

I like the ease of managing with Mindbody, and the cost is less than an administrative assistant for sure, but I am a Gen Xer, and it does take time for me to process it easier in the long run.

Client Experience Manager

Would like the option to book into multiple same classes for a client (almost a button to book a certain number of the same class into the future).

Customer support via live phone calls and follow up emails covering the topic of conversation with help articles.

The dashboard allows you to see everything at a glance which is a time saver.

Director of Membership

One of its standout features is its intuitive interface, which facilitates easy booking for clients and efficient schedule management for staff.

Co-owner

Our staff feels the same, except when their are major changes and it takes them time to locate where things are

General Manager

Occasional confusion in online booking an appointment and charging guest but not giving the time on schedule.

Personal Trainer

I can book clients myself or have them book in with my link making it very easy to schedule and bill the client after each session.

Mindbody vs Upper Hand Comparison (2026)

Mindbody

Upper Hand

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives