Only three gym management platforms offer genuinely free plans in 2026 — Mat Track (up to 200 contacts), PushPress (unlimited members, higher card processing) and GymDesk (15-student cap). Everything else marketed as “free” is a trial with a clock on it. This guide compares the three real free plans honestly — including exactly where each vendor recovers its cost — and lists what the trials actually offer. Updated August 2026.
Key takeaways
- Only three real free plans exist: Mat Track (200 contacts), PushPress (unlimited, funded by 4.19–4.99% + $0.30 processing) and GymDesk (15 students).
- Every free plan has a recovery mechanism — a contact ceiling, a processing premium, or a size cap. Knowing which is the whole decision.
- Mat Track’s is the most complete at real gym size: analytics, belt tracking and 0% platform fees to 200 contacts.
- PushPress wins below ~$4,000/mo of card volume; above ~$8,000/mo the processing premium eats the saving.
- Free trials are not free plans: Kicksite, TeamUp, Wodify and Jackrabbit offer trials or guarantees, then paid tiers from $49–$119/mo.
- Free is a strategy, not a compromise — all three free plans are full platforms, not crippled demos.
Free plan vs free trial: the distinction that matters
A free plan has no clock; a free trial has one. That distinction decides whether “free” is a way to run your gym or a way to evaluate software. As of July 2026, exactly three vendors in this category back a permanent free tier — and each recovers its cost differently: Mat Track through a 200-contact ceiling (upgrade when you grow), PushPress through higher card processing on the free tier (upgrade when volume grows), GymDesk through a 15-student cap (upgrade almost immediately). Below, the three real free plans in depth, then the trial landscape for completeness.
1. Mat Track Starter
Best for: gyms up to 200 contacts that want a complete platform free, forever.
Mat Track Starter is a permanently free plan, not a trial: member management, attendance and QR check-in, belt/rank tracking, billing through Stripe or GoCardless at standard processor rates with 0% platform transaction fees, and analytics included, for up to 200 contacts. There’s no card required to start and no clock running. The honest limits: 200 contacts is the ceiling (upgrades are published at $99/$199), and the branded member app is still coming soon. Built by operators of a multi-site BJJ academy that grew from 120 to 1,200 members.
Where it wins: complete free platform, 0% fees, 200-contact ceiling.
Where Mat Track wins: —
Pricing:Free up to 200 contacts; Growth $99/mo, Pro $199/mo when you outgrow it.
Start free with Mat Track → — no credit card required.
2. PushPress Core Free
Best for: small gyms with modest card volume that want a $0 subscription.
PushPress Core Free is a genuinely free full platform — memberships, billing, scheduling, check-ins, member app — with the cost moved into processing: 4.19–4.99% + $0.30 per card transaction versus 2.75–2.89% on its paid tiers. The maths: under ~$4,000/mo of card volume it’s a real saving; around $8,000/mo the processing premium roughly equals a Pro subscription. A legitimate free start with a built-in upgrade point.
Where it wins: true $0 subscription, member app included, easy upgrade path.
Where Mat Track wins: standard processing rates on the free tier, deeper analytics, martial-arts depth.
Pricing: $0/mo; card processing 4.19–4.99% + $0.30. As of June 2026 — verify at pushpress.com.
3. GymDesk Free
Best for: brand-new clubs with 15 or fewer students.
After its 30-day trial, GymDesk Free offers a permanently free plan capped at 15 students — with the full feature set including belt tracking and the website builder. That cap makes it genuinely useful for pre-launch and brand-new clubs and quickly outgrown by everyone else; paid plans start at a published $75/mo.
Where it wins: full features free at micro scale, website included.
Where Mat Track wins: a ceiling 13× higher (200 contacts), churn analytics.
Pricing: Free (15-student cap) after 30-day trial; then $75+/mo. As of June 2026 — verify at gymdesk.com.
Comparison table
| Platform | Free plan? | Ceiling | Processing on free | What’s included | First paid tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mat Track Starter | ✅ Free forever | 200 contacts | Standard Stripe/GoCardless, 0% platform fee | Full platform incl. analytics | Growth $99/mo |
| PushPress Core Free | ✅ Free forever | Unlimited | 4.19–4.99% + $0.30 card | Full platform incl. app | Pro $159/mo |
| GymDesk Free | ✅ After 30-day trial | 15 students | Standard (5 processors) | Full features at micro scale | $75/mo |
| Kicksite | ❌ 30-day trial | — | BASYS 2.9% + $0.25 | — | $49/mo |
| TeamUp | ❌ 30-day trial | — | Standard | — | $119/mo |
| Wodify | ❌ Trial/demo | — | From 2.6% + 25¢ | — | $79/mo |
| Jackrabbit | ❌ Trial + 90-day guarantee | — | Standard | — | $49/mo |
All figures as of June–July 2026; verify on each provider’s site. Trials and guarantees change frequently.
Which free option is right for you?
Under 200 contacts and want the business handled properly — attendance, belts, billing, analytics: Mat Track Starter, free with no card and no clock. Larger member count but modest card volume: PushPress Core Free, with the upgrade maths above. Pre-launch or under 16 students: GymDesk Free. And if a platform you prefer only offers a trial, treat the trial as an evaluation window, not a plan — the pricing that follows is the real decision.
Start your free trial with Mat Track → — no credit card required.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free gym management software in 2026?
Mat Track Starter — a permanently free plan for up to 200 contacts with member management, attendance, belt tracking, billing (0% platform fees) and analytics included. PushPress Core Free is the best unlimited-member free option if your card volume is modest, and GymDesk’s 15-student free plan suits brand-new clubs.
Is free gym software really free?
Three genuinely free plans exist as of July 2026: Mat Track (200-contact ceiling, standard processing), PushPress (unlimited members, but 4.19–4.99% + $0.30 card processing funds it) and GymDesk (15-student cap). Everything else marketed as “free” is a trial. The honest question is where each vendor recovers the cost — ceiling, processing rate, or time limit.
What’s the catch with PushPress’s free plan?
Processing: the free tier charges 4.19–4.99% + $0.30 per card transaction versus 2.89% on Pro. A gym collecting $8,000/mo by card pays roughly $104–$168/mo more in processing on Free — about the cost of the Pro subscription. Below ~$4,000/mo of volume it’s a genuine saving.
How long can I stay on free gym software?
Indefinitely, on real free plans: Mat Track until you pass 200 contacts, PushPress for as long as the processing maths suits you, GymDesk until student 16. There’s no forced upgrade clock on any of the three — the ceilings do the work.
Does free gym software include belt tracking for martial arts?
Mat Track’s free plan includes native belt/rank tracking with promotion criteria and history, and GymDesk’s includes its belt tools within the 15-student cap. PushPress includes rank tracking on all tiers. Free plans on generalist platforms typically don’t handle ranks natively.
