Zen Planner vs Kicksite
Which martial arts school software is right for your dojo or academy?
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Quick Summary
Zen Planner and Kicksite are the two most commonly compared martial arts-specific software platforms — and both are genuinely good. The choice comes down to school size, budget, and how deep you need your belt tracking to go. Zen Planner has been purpose-built for martial arts schools since 2006; Kicksite arrived in 2012 with a simpler approach and more competitive pricing. This comparison breaks down every meaningful difference.
At a Glance
| Zen Planner | Kicksite | |
|---|---|---|
| Price Range | $99–$348/month | $79–$199/month |
| Founded | 2006 | 2012 |
| Users | 15,000+ | 8,000+ |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Zen Planner | Kicksite | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $99/month | $79/month | Kicksite |
| Belt/Rank Tracking | Advanced | Standard | Zen Planner |
| Attendance Tracking | Tie | ||
| Integrated Payments | Tie | ||
| Member Portal App | iOS + Android | iOS + Android | Tie |
| Family Accounts | Tie | ||
| Trial Management | Tie | ||
| Email/SMS Marketing | Tie | ||
| Online Registration | Tie | ||
| Inventory Management | Zen Planner | ||
| Skill Tracking | Advanced | Basic | Zen Planner |
| Reporting & Analytics | Advanced | Standard | Zen Planner |
| API / Integrations | Limited | Limited | Tie |
| Free Trial | 30 days | 14 days | Zen Planner |
| Setup Fee | None | None | Tie |
When to Choose Each
Choose Zen Planner if...
- You run 100+ active students and need advanced promotion tracking
- You need inventory management for gear and uniforms
- You want the deepest belt/rank system tied to attendance milestones
- You offer multiple programs across BJJ, Karate, and kids' classes
- You want advanced reporting on student retention and revenue
Choose Kicksite if...
- You're under 75 students and watching costs carefully
- You want a cleaner, faster-to-learn interface
- You're a newer school that doesn't need inventory management yet
- You want a lower entry price while you're growing
- You prefer phone-based customer support that's highly rated
Our Verdict
Zen Planner wins for established schools that need depth — especially for belt tracking, integrated payments, and a robust member portal. Kicksite wins for newer schools or those on tighter budgets who want a cleaner, faster onboarding experience. If you're running more than 100 active students and need serious promotion tracking tied to attendance milestones, Zen Planner earns its higher price. Under 75 students? Kicksite is the smarter financial move.
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Start Free Trial →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zen Planner worth the extra cost over Kicksite?
For schools under 75 students, probably not. Kicksite covers the core needs — billing, attendance, member management — at a lower price point. The gap widens once you cross 100+ students and start relying heavily on belt tracking tied to attendance requirements, inventory management, and retention analytics. At that point, Zen Planner's depth justifies the premium.
Which is easier to set up: Zen Planner or Kicksite?
Kicksite is consistently rated as faster to get up and running. Most schools report being fully configured in 1–2 days. Zen Planner has more features, which means more configuration time — expect 3–5 days for a complete setup with all belt tracks, programs, and payment plans configured.
Does Kicksite have belt tracking?
Yes. Kicksite includes belt/rank tracking for standard martial arts disciplines. It's more straightforward than Zen Planner's system — you can track ranks and add promotion notes, but it lacks the granular attendance-to-promotion milestone tracking that Zen Planner offers. For most schools, Kicksite's system is sufficient.
Can I switch from Kicksite to Zen Planner?
Yes. Zen Planner offers a data migration service. You'll export your member data, billing history, and attendance records from Kicksite and Zen Planner's onboarding team handles the import. Most migrations complete within a week. Budget extra time if you have complex belt history data to migrate.