Compare martial arts apps
AppBuild.diy compared with 5 providers and the option to vibe code your own app: prices, fees, contracts and whether you get your own branded app.
Best for: martial arts & bjj businesses that want their own branded app on the App Store, Google Play and the web, starting free with 0% AppBuild commission on paid plans.
Your business. Your own app.
A look inside AppBuild: branded app starter, contact and directions example, loyalty rewards example, push notification example.
See martial arts & bjj apps
Providers in this comparison
Spark MembershipMartial arts school software
KicksiteMartial arts school software
GymdeskGym/martial arts software
Zen PlannerGym/martial arts software
MindbodyStudio management software + marketplace app
- Vibe coding
Build from scratch with Lovable, Claude, Base44 or similar tools
Price and features at a glance
| Provider | Type | Starting price (as published) | Your own branded app | Order / booking fees | Contract / trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 AppBuild.diy | Branded app builder for local businesses | Free (up to 10 users); $49/month or $299/year; $99/month or $499/year | Yes — App Store, Google Play and web | 0% AppBuild commission on paid plans; Stripe card fees apply | No contract; free plan |
| Vibe coding | Build from scratch with Lovable, Claude, Base44 or similar tools | Variable: AI subscriptions / credits, plus hosting, database and any paid services as usage grows. Free allowances may apply; not a fixed all-in price. | Bespoke branding and features; store packaging and submission require additional setup | Depends on your chosen payment provider and services; processing fees still apply | Depends on the tools and services you choose; free tiers may have limits |
| Spark Membership | Martial arts school software | "8-Week Free Trial, Then Just $199/Month" | Spark Member App listed; white-label price not on live page. (third-party: fitgap.com reports $499 setup plus $199/year) | "Average Processing Rate: 2.86%" (rates vary) | 8-week free trial; price "locked in" for life |
| Kicksite | Martial arts school software | 0-25 students $49/mo; 26-50 $99/mo; 51-100 $149/mo; 101+ $199/mo | Not stated on pricing page | Not stated (preferred processor Basys, "flat rate processing fees") | Free trial ("Try for Free"); annual discount on request |
| Gymdesk | Gym/martial arts software | From $75/mo (up to 50 active members, with Gymdesk Payments) or $100/mo without | Add-on: "$100/mo, first month free" | Not stated as platform fee | No contracts; 30-day free trial, no card |
| Zen Planner | Gym/martial arts software | Studio "Starting at $99 /mo" | Add-on: $39/mo | Not stated | Month-to-month; annual on request |
| Mindbody | Studio management software + marketplace app | Starter "Starting at £89 GBP/month per location" | Add-on (price not published) | Processing rate plus "$0.10 to $0.30" per transaction | Depends on plan |
How AppBuild differs
- vs Spark Membership: Spark starts at $199/mo after the trial; AppBuild starts free and its Unlimited plan is $99/mo with the branded app included.
- vs Kicksite: AppBuild delivers the school's own store app; Kicksite's pricing page does not list a branded app.
- vs Gymdesk: Gymdesk adds $100/mo for a branded app; AppBuild includes it.
- vs Zen Planner: Zen Planner's branded app is a $39/mo add-on; AppBuild includes it on every plan.
- vs Mindbody: AppBuild includes the branded app; Mindbody sells it as an add-on.
Where AppBuild is strong
- Your own branded app on the App Store, Google Play and the web, starting free with every feature for up to 10 users.
- Class timetables, bookings and paid memberships without per-member fees.
- Branded app included rather than a paid add-on.
Where others may suit you better
- No door-entry or access-control hardware integration.
- Fewer back-office management and reporting tools than dedicated gym software.
Key features by provider
| Provider | Market | Key features | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spark Membership | US (mainly) | Member management, two-way SMS, billing, attendance, free data migration | sparkmembership.com, sparkmembership.com |
| Kicksite | US (mainly) | Lead capture, landing pages, online membership sales, email/text automation, past-due tracking | kicksite.com |
| Gymdesk | US, Canada, 34 countries | Full platform, unlimited staff, gym website, Smoothcomp competition link | gymdesk.com |
| Zen Planner | US (mainly) | Membership, scheduling, billing, website, marketing | zenplanner.com |
| Mindbody | UK, US, global | Booking, payments, website, marketplace listing | mindbodyonline.com |
| Vibe coding | Depends on your chosen tools | Full design freedom. Ordering, bookings, loyalty, permissions and integrations must be built, tested and maintained. Native push, certificates and store submissions need additional technical work or a service such as AppBuild. | lovable.dev, claude.com, base44.com |
Gaps in published data: Spark white-label app price (third-party only); Kicksite branded app and processing rates; Mindbody branded app price.
Build from scratch with AI, or start with AppBuild?
Lovable, Claude, Base44 and similar tools are a genuine alternative in any industry. A bespoke build gives you more control over the design and business logic. AppBuild offers a shorter route to launch for supported business needs, with ready-made capabilities you can add without building each one yourself.
| Consideration | AppBuild.diy | Vibe coding |
|---|---|---|
| Time to market | Start with ready-made pages and features; configure your content and services. Store review still takes time. | A prototype can be quick; production testing, payments, permissions and store preparation add work. |
| Costs | Published plan price, plus applicable payment processing, store-account and third-party service costs. | Variable: AI subscriptions / credits, plus hosting, database and any paid services as usage grows. Free allowances may apply; not a fixed all-in price. |
| Flexibility & ease of use | Add supported capabilities such as loyalty, bookings and ordering through the builder; less freedom than a fully custom product. | Bespoke layouts and logic; each new capability needs implementation, testing and ongoing maintenance. |
| Push & app stores | AppBuild provides push and app infrastructure, subject to setup requirements and store approval. | Native push certificates, signing and store submissions are technical work, not automatically solved by generating a website. |
| Ongoing responsibility | Shared business-app framework and managed infrastructure; you manage your business content and settings. | You are responsible for security, data access, updates and the services behind your app. |
These approaches can work together: build your bespoke experience with AI, then use AppBuild to wrap your app and add supported native capabilities such as push notifications. Wrapping does not automatically add AppBuild’s business features to your custom app.
Tool pricing and allowances vary: Lovable pricing · Claude pricing · Base44 pricing. Check the services your project actually needs.
AppBuild pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/month | Up to 10 app users. Your own app on iPhone, Android and the web. |
| Business | $49/month or $299/year | Up to 1,000 app users. 0% AppBuild commission on orders. |
| Business Pro | $99/month or $499/year | Unlimited app users. 0% AppBuild commission on orders. |
Card processing fees are charged by Stripe on top of any plan and are not set by AppBuild. Full details on the pricing page.
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Last checked 7 October 2026. Competitor prices come from their own public pages, linked below each table. Where a price isn't published we say so. Spotted something out of date? Tell us via support.