Compare
Dojo Forge next to the other martial arts school software
Every competitor answer below comes from that company's own website, pricing page or help docs. If a feature isn't on their site, we mark it No.
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Features side by side
| Feature | Dojo Forge | Gymdesk |
|---|---|---|
| Alerts when students stop showing up | Yes | YesWin-back automation |
| Mobile roll call | YesKiosk coming | YesPhone, tablet or kiosk |
| Belt exam readiness | Yes | Yes |
| One family login for several children | Yes | Yes |
| Parents report absences ahead of time | Yes | No |
| Instructor notes parents can see | Yes | PartlyGrading feedback |
| Digital waivers | Yes | Yes |
| Online payments and autopay | PartlyComing next | Yes |
| Setup | Self-serve, or free import | Guided onboarding and migration |
| Free trial | 30 days, no card | 30 days, no card |
| Feature | Dojo Forge | Open Black Belt | Gymdesk | Kicksite | Spark Membership | Zen Planner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alerts when students stop showing up | Yes | YesFlagged after 14 days | YesWin-back automation | No | YesFlags missed classes | PartlyMissed-class texts |
| Mobile roll call | YesKiosk coming | PartlyRoll call and kiosk | YesPhone, tablet or kiosk | PartlyKiosk and student phones | YesMember app and kiosk | YesStaff app and kiosk |
| Belt exam readiness | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | YesTied to attendance | Yes |
| One family login for several children | Yes | NoOne member per login | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Parents report absences ahead of time | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Instructor notes parents can see | Yes | No | PartlyGrading feedback | No | No | No |
| Digital waivers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Online payments and autopay | PartlyComing next | PartlyStripe payment links | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Setup | Self-serve, or free import | Self-serve CSV import | Guided onboarding and migration | Import help from their team | Done by their rep | Guided setup sessions |
| Free trial | 30 days, no card | 14 days, no card | 30 days, no card | Free through 2026, after a call | 8 weeks | Demo call, no trial listed |
Yes Partly No
The family portal next to Open Black Belt and Gymdesk
What parents can do on each platform.
| For your families | Dojo Forge | Open Black Belt | Gymdesk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belt progress, per child | YesTime to next test | PartlyCurrent rank only | YesIf the school enables it |
| One family login for several children | Yes | NoOne member per login | Yes |
| Attendance history | Yes | PartlyLast 50 sessions | Yes |
| One-tap absence reporting onto your roster | Yes | No | No |
| Notes from the instructors | Yes | No | PartlyGrading feedback |
| Digital waiver signing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Yes Partly No
One by one
Dojo Forge vs Open Black Belt
Open Black Belt makes Lotus, software for martial arts schools and fitness studios (its tagline is "Built for the Mat. Built for Business."). It charges one low flat price and includes belt testing eligibility, at-risk flags after two weeks absent, automatic retention emails, waivers, and a member portal. Dojo Forge is made for the same schools and does more for families: one login covers every child, parents can report absences, and families can read the notes instructors write.
Dojo Forge
$100 a month per school, with every student, family, and instructor included. The first 30 days are free and you don't need a card. There's no setup fee, and your price stays the same as long as you stay.
Open Black Belt
$49.99/month flat, all features, unlimited members. Card payments through Stripe at 3.15% + 30¢ (2.9% Stripe plus a 0.25% Lotus fee).
Open Black Belt costs less. Dojo Forge's price also covers the family features in the table: one login per family, absence reporting by parents, and instructor notes families can read.
Where Dojo Forge is different
- A family gets one login for all their kids instead of one per member.
- Parents can report an absence before class, and it shows up on your roster.
- Parents can read the notes instructors write, which keeps them involved in their kid's progress.
- Every cold-student alert goes into a follow-up queue, and each one gets assigned to someone on staff to call.
Open Black Belt details checked on their own site in October 2026.
Dojo Forge vs Gymdesk
Gymdesk is an established gym management platform. Its site says more than 4,500 gym owners in 34 countries use it, and it's rated 4.8 on Capterra. It's built for every kind of gym, martial arts included, and billing, family accounts, promotion tracking and absence-triggered win-back emails are already live, with a 30-day free trial and no card. Dojo Forge only serves schools that run on belts, classes, families, and testing, and its portal lets parents report absences ahead of class and read instructor notes, which Gymdesk's site doesn't describe.
Dojo Forge
$100 a month per school, with every student, family, and instructor included. The first 30 days are free and you don't need a card. There's no setup fee, and your price stays the same as long as you stay.
Gymdesk
By active members, with Gymdesk Payments: $75 (1 to 50), $100 (51 to 100), $150 (101 to 150), $200 (151 to 250), quoted above 250. With your own payment processor, $25 to $40 more per month. Extra locations $50/month each.
At 51 to 100 members the price is the same. Above 100 members, Dojo Forge costs less, and its price doesn't grow with your roster.
Where Dojo Forge is different
- It's made only for martial arts schools, so it's organized around belts, exams, and families instead of gym memberships and door access.
- Parents can report absences before class and read what instructors write about their kid.
- Every cold-student alert goes into a follow-up queue, and each one gets assigned to someone on staff to call.
- You pay the same price whatever size your roster is.
Gymdesk details checked on their own site in October 2026.
Dojo Forge vs Kicksite
Kicksite is software for martial arts schools. Its site says more than 2,100 schools in 23 countries use it, it has been around for over 18 years, and it shows a 4.8-star rating. Billing with autopay, a family portal, waivers, and an eligible-to-promote dashboard are already live, and right now new customers pay nothing until 2027. Dojo Forge is made for the same schools, watches for students going cold with a follow-up list, and lets parents report absences and read instructor notes, none of which Kicksite's site describes.
Dojo Forge
$100 a month per school, with every student, family, and instructor included. The first 30 days are free and you don't need a card. There's no setup fee, and your price stays the same as long as you stay.
Kicksite
No payments until 2027 for new customers (a limited-time offer, claimed by booking a call). After that, $49 to $199 a month by active students: $49 (up to 25), $99 (26 to 50), $149 (51 to 100), $199 (101 and up).
Through 2026 Kicksite charges new customers nothing. From 2027, Dojo Forge costs less above 50 students, and its price stays flat as your school grows.
Where Dojo Forge is different
- Cold-student alerts put every student who starts missing class on a follow-up list, assigned to someone on staff to call.
- Parents can report an absence with one tap before class starts.
- Families can read instructor notes in the portal.
- Start a free trial on your own, with no call to book first.
Kicksite details checked on their own site in October 2026.
Dojo Forge vs Spark Membership
Spark Membership is software for martial arts schools and studios. Billing, a member app, a front-desk kiosk, and automatic flags for missed classes are already live, and a dedicated rep sets your school up for you. It's one price with every feature included. Dojo Forge is made for the same schools at about half the price, you set it up yourself in about two minutes, and its family portal lets parents report absences and read instructor notes.
Dojo Forge
$100 a month per school, with every student, family, and instructor included. The first 30 days are free and you don't need a card. There's no setup fee, and your price stays the same as long as you stay.
Spark Membership
$199 a month, with every feature included and no tiers. No setup fee, and they move your student data for free. 8-week free trial.
Both charge one flat price. Dojo Forge's is $99 a month less.
Where Dojo Forge is different
- It's built around keeping students: every cold-student alert goes into a follow-up queue, and each one gets assigned to someone on staff to call.
- Parents can report an absence with one tap before class, and families can read instructor notes in the portal.
- You set your school up yourself in about two minutes, with no onboarding calls to schedule.
- It costs about half as much, and the price stays the same as your school grows.
Spark Membership details checked on their own site in October 2026.
Dojo Forge vs Zen Planner
Zen Planner is a large platform for gyms, studios and martial arts schools. Billing with autopay, belt tracking, a staff app, a member app, and a check-in kiosk are already live, and its team guides your setup in sessions. It's priced by active members. Dojo Forge is made only for martial arts schools, you set it up yourself in about two minutes, and you can try it free without booking a call first.
Dojo Forge
$100 a month per school, with every student, family, and instructor included. The first 30 days are free and you don't need a card. There's no setup fee, and your price stays the same as long as you stay.
Zen Planner
Studio plan by active members: $99 (up to 45), $133 (46 to 60), $155 (61 to 75), $189 (76 to 100), $229 (101 to 150), $239 (151 to 200), $269 (201 to 250), $289 (251 and up). Bundles with their website and marketing tools cost more. Month to month.
From 46 active members up, Dojo Forge costs less, and its price doesn't go up as your roster grows.
Where Dojo Forge is different
- Every cold-student alert goes into a follow-up queue, and each one gets assigned to someone on staff to call.
- Parents can report an absence with one tap before class, and families can read instructor notes in the portal.
- Start a free trial today and set up your school yourself in about two minutes. No demo call first.
- One flat price, whatever size your roster is.
Zen Planner details checked on their own site in October 2026.
Try it with your own roster
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Competitor details come from each company's public site, pricing page, and help docs, and they may have changed since. If something here is out of date, tell us and we'll fix it.