Overview

Bookamat is studio-management software built around the schedules, memberships and client transactions of boutique fitness businesses. It is strongest for independent teachers and small studios that want clients to manage bookings themselves, with larger teams able to move to higher client-count plans. The trade-off is that costs scale with active clients, and SMS may add expense.

Founded in 2016 and based in Melbourne, Bookamat was shaped by the administrative needs of a Pilates studio. Its scope remains deliberately studio-focused: it combines front-desk and online bookings with attendance, sales, billing and reporting rather than aiming to serve every kind of business.

Key features

Scheduling and attendance

Online and desk bookings, calendar scheduling, recurring classes, capacity controls and booking policies cover the routine work of running a timetable. Waitlists, automated reminders, QR check-in and attendance tracking help studios manage busy sessions and record participation. Room and instructor scheduling extend that timetable management beyond a single class list.

Payments and sales

Payment processing is regional: Stripe is supported in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Canada; Square in Australia; and Paystack in South Africa. Studios outside those markets should check whether this payment coverage suits their operations before choosing Bookamat. Recurring memberships, class packs, credits, coupons, private sessions, gift cards, billing and invoicing give studios several ways to package and collect revenue without limiting the product to class bookings.

Client access and integrations

Clients can book, pay and reschedule in a mobile browser. Bookamat is a Progressive Web App, so clients or staff can optionally add it to a phone or desktop home screen; this offers a browser-based route to access rather than requiring a conventional app installation. Google Calendar and Mailchimp sync, along with links for online and hybrid classes through Zoom and Google Meet, connect scheduling and communications with familiar tools.

Locations, security and support

Unlimited venues on one subscription and business-wide reporting make the service viable for studios operating across locations. Bookamat describes safeguards including HTTPS/TLS encryption in transit, access controls, tenant data separation, backups, audit logs and secure development practices. Its privacy policy says it does not sell personal information. Support comes by personal email from the product builders, with priority support on Team and Growth. Migration help can include client-list imports, with timing dependent on the data and studio setup.

Pricing

Bookamat is freemium, with a 14-day trial. Pricing is based on clients who make at least one booking during the subscription month; inactive clients do not count. That model can suit studios with fluctuating client rosters, but the monthly bill can rise as more clients book. SMS may cost separately.

Free access: 0.00 USD per free after the trial for studios with 10 or fewer active clients. It includes core studio-management features, making it the sensible starting point for a small roster. Usage-based SMS may cost separately, and exceeding the 10-client threshold means this free option no longer fits.
Solo: 3.50 USD per month, billed USD $3.5 /active client after the first 10, capped at $49/month. It supports up to 2 staff members and includes core features, all integrations and unlimited locations. The cap makes costs more predictable as a solo studio grows, but the two-seat limit rules it out for a larger team.
Team: 68.60 USD per month, billed USD $68.60 /month at 35 active clients, from $59. It allows up to 5 staff members and includes core features, all integrations, unlimited locations, pay-as-you-grow pricing and priority support. It is a better fit for a staffed studio than Solo, though the five-person limit may constrain larger operations.
Growth: 113.75 USD per month, billed USD $113.75 /month at 70 active clients, from $99. It includes unlimited staff, core features, all integrations, unlimited locations, pay-as-you-grow pricing and priority support. This is the plan for larger teams that need room to add staff; smaller teams may not need its unlimited-seat allowance.

The client-count prices shown for Team and Growth are reference points, while the plans use pay-as-you-grow pricing. Studios should account for their booking activity and any SMS charges when comparing their likely monthly spend.

Platforms

Bookamat supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows and the web. Its PWA approach gives clients mobile-browser access and an optional home-screen installation, while the broad platform list suits studios and staff using a mix of devices.

Who it's for

Yoga, Pilates, barre, dance and fitness studios are the clearest fit, as are independent teachers who need bookings, payments and memberships in one system. Small operations can begin on Free access, while multi-location businesses can use unlimited venues and centralized reporting. Businesses outside boutique studio work, or those whose preferred payment processor is not among the supported regional options, should consider another platform.

Pros and cons

Pro: The booking workflow spans online and desk reservations, waitlists, QR check-in and reminders, covering both client self-service and studio attendance tasks.
Pro: Memberships, packs, credits and other sales tools sit alongside invoicing and payments, reducing the need to manage those studio offerings separately.
Pro: Unlimited locations across plans and reporting across the business support multi-site studios without a venue-count ceiling.
Pro: Free access covers studios with 10 or fewer active clients, giving a very small operation a route to core management features after the trial.
Con: Costs depend on clients booking during each subscription month, so busy periods can increase the bill; SMS may add a separate charge.
Con: Payment integrations vary by country, which limits suitability for studios that need a processor outside the supported regional choices.
Con: Solo and Team impose staff caps of two and five respectively, so a growing team may need the higher-priced Growth tier.

Alternatives

For broader comparison, browse Class Scheduling Software or Membership Management Software.

WellnessLiving is worth comparing if a studio wants booking, client and staff apps plus POS in a paid plan; its Starter plan is 62.00 USD per month billed annually for one staff member.
CourseDeck may suit a course provider that can work within its web-only Starter plan: it is free forever for 25 active students, one location and one admin, with basic scheduling.
PushPress is another freemium option for businesses that value unlimited leads, admins, members and staff on its no-monthly-fee Free plan, which charges transaction fees.
Class Manager offers a free plan with no monthly subscription and a flat service charge for online payments, an alternative for studios prioritizing a subscription-free model.
The Studio Director is a paid option with a free trial and separate software-only or software-and-payments plans for 0–100 students.
Stepsi is a freemium alternative with no free trial; its Plus and Grow plans are billed annually and cover up to 100 and 250 active members respectively.
Gymdesk is a paid option with a free trial and a monthly plan for up to 50 members at 75.00 USD per month.
Arketa is a paid alternative with a free trial; its Individual plan is 49.00 USD per month billed annually and includes one team login and a 3% transaction fee plus Stripe fees.

Verdict

Bookamat is a strong choice for boutique studios and independent teachers who want class scheduling, memberships, payments and client self-service in one studio-centered system. Its free entry point, unlimited locations and broad operational toolkit make it adaptable from a small roster to multi-site work. Look elsewhere if the active-client billing model, staff caps on lower tiers or regional payment coverage do not suit your business.

	Bookamat	FormaPortal
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	Yes	Yes
Paid from	$3.50/mo	£49/mo
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows	Web
Free plan	Yes	No

Bookamat vs FormaPortal

Bookamat

FormaPortal