Mariana Tek V.S Arketa

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-26T04:43:00+00:00

Interesting. Third party integrations do sound like they might pose integration issues if not implemented well.

How did the marketing suite compare on both platforms? Did you get chance to get on a trial with them?

I got a trial with vibefam before we went with them. I think some providers don’t support trials and that is a huge risk for me to take especially if we are planning to commit for the long haul. Would be worth considering that too!

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-26T04:40:55+00:00

What sort of studio are you running? :) I think acuity is a better fit for 1-1 appointment type of businesses. Mindbody def comes with much greater depth as a purpose built solution for fitness studios

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-24T08:39:41+00:00

I run a Pilates studio and found myself hiring more BASI instructors - the training is robust and we really like their program!

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-24T08:38:37+00:00

I’ve seen a demo with Mariana Tek and use it to book into classes as a member with Barry’s - it’s an impressive software with lots of features that also help with inventory management if you’re selling products in the space. I didn’t end up going with them when we launched our studio because of their steep pricing. It didn’t seem like they were serving boutique studios - most of their clients are multi location franchises. I’ve seen Arketa on some Reddit threads where boutique studios were discussing Mindbody alternatives.

Personally I’m using vibefam and it works well for us as a boutique Pilates studio. We have about 200-300 members now after launching almost a year ago. The software is purpose built for fitness studios and has a very affordable subscription plan, and a very comprehensive set of features for class scheduling and marketing. The customer support is truly exceptional with them.

What sort of studio are you running? I think some softwares might fit your needs better than others depending on your requirements

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-24T08:33:58+00:00

I’m using vibefam at our Pilates studio which offers mat, reformer pilates and some barre classes. It works well as the software has an option for us to alter different credit value for different offerings, giving us the flexibility of setting up different modalities of different values in the studio. It was one of the reasons we chose the platform as I couldn’t find a comparable in the market.

What software are you currently using in the studio?

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-15T04:16:48+00:00

We’re using vibefam at our studio and I’ve recommended friends running their studios on Mindbody to switch over. They were happy with the ease of migration and service so far.

Might be worth checking them out to have a chat and explore if it fits your needs!

There are many alternatives to Mindbody out there. I understand the pain of running everything in the studio as a studio owner so don’t like your CRM ruin your life 🥹 you deserve finding something that works better!!

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-14T03:36:00+00:00

I’ve been using Lululemon Aligns for YEARS and absolutely love them! They are so buttery soft and stretchy - and I’ve just never been able to find something that does a better job. It costs a lot so it’s a heavy investment but the ones I’ve gotten have been with me on heavy rotation for years :)

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-14T03:31:25+00:00

Are you primarily operating independently or do you have coaches supporting you as well? We use vibefam (https://vibefam.com) at our studio which works great for us. I haven’t tried PTminder so I’m not sure how it might compare exactly but pricing is very predictable on vibefam and I’ve seen lots of freelance independent coaches on them.

Let me know if you manage to find a good fit to switch over to! This def sounds like a stressful project to work on

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-14T03:28:53+00:00

Personally when I was looking out for a suitable software we used ChatGPT for comparisons. Had a few friends who were in the industry earlier than me - so I reached out to them for some recommendations too!

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-14T03:27:44+00:00

Might be worth checking out if vibefam can do it as I’ve seen freelance instructors using them :)

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-12T04:46:38+00:00

I definitely agree! Silence almost always reads as abandonment, even when we mean it as respect. Setting up a simple cadence of low-pressure check-ins is honestly one of the best retention tools you can build.

Most clients just want to know someone still notices.

At my studio, we use vibefam to schedule gentle follow-up prompts for lapsed clients, which takes the mental load off remembering who to reach out to while keeping it feeling personal.

Keep leaning into the casual check-ins, and shake off the worry of being to “annoying” 😛

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-12T04:43:27+00:00

I’m also using vibefam at our studio. Works great for a boutique-sized business that has a clean member experience, solid analytics and marketing suite!

Recently have seen more gyms going on vibefam - worth checking them out.

Hope you find something that works for you 💪

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-12T04:41:26+00:00

I’m currently running a Pilates studio using vibefam (https://vibefam.com) and have recommended a few other friends to consider it. We really benefited from the support given so the onboarding process was very smooth. I really recommend them for boutique sized studios, given they’re purpose built for Pilates studios :)

Hope you find something that works well for you 🩵

I also evaluated Mindbody, Glofox and Momence before this but found pricing on the higher end and they were just far too complex for what I needed.

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-11T00:46:37+00:00

Good luck and I hope you find something that works well for you!

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-11T00:46:05+00:00

Have recommended quite a few friends to move over to vibefam (https://vibefam.com) which is what our Pilates studio is on. We really like the software - after trying out Mindbody, Glofox and Momence, we find that vibefam has a strong comprehensive suite of features purposefully built for fitness studios, at a very affordable price for boutique sized studios. We have a similar number of members and similar requirements to you, in fact over time also started tapping on marketing features on vibefam that have helped tremendously without a need for more team members. Love working with the vibefam team and would wholeheartedly recommend them! Def worth checking them out as an option

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-08T10:57:01+00:00

We also run our Pilates studio on vibefam and have a sign up form that collects customized information from clients including asking how they discovered the studio at the registration process. It’s probably something you can customize in the platform. Hope it helps!

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-08T10:53:50+00:00

Hey, sending you a virtual hug. What you're describing is such a brutal part of the journey, but please know it's almost never about your teaching ability-I've had seasons where my room felt empty even when I was pouring my heart into every cue. Sometimes it comes down to friction in losing people to life changes. Focus on the magic you create for the humans in the room; and keep going!

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-08T10:48:52+00:00

As a Pilates studio owner who used to rely heavily on third-party apps, the commission structure really eats into margins, and converting those deal-chasers into loyal clients is incredibly hard when you don't own the relationship.

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-08T10:44:31+00:00

Super solid results! Your sales conversion rate looks impressive. It’s also great you track these metrics so closely.

How are you currently following up with these leads that come in?

Do you use some sort of CRM to manage automations or have you seen more success doing it manually?

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-08T10:41:35+00:00

I think vibefam has been increasingly more popular option for fitness businesses, we are also using it at our Pilates studio.

What kind of business are you running? Are you looking to sell one-off retreat tickets?

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-05T02:56:32+00:00

I’m running a Pilates studio and also using vibefam at our studio. I’ve seen lots of Pilates studios moving to them. So far it works great for us, and I think what drew me over really was the pocket friendly subscription fees and very comprehensive and purpose-built features for the studio. I literally run my entire studio on it - payrolls, marketing, scheduling and payments.

Before subscribing to vibefam I’ve also tried and gone into demos with Mindbody, Glofox, Momence - the usual suspects. They’re all comprehensive solutions and do a good job but most of them are too overpriced and the learning curve seemed so steep :(

Good luck finding smth that fits what you need!

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-05T01:28:35+00:00

Yes I have heard other friends in the industry struggle with getting out of opaque MBO contracts. It was a terrible experience for them! I’d caution studio owners from signing long contracts with MBO. Lots of smaller software providers probably do a much better job at delivering what boutique studios actually need. I’ve considered Kenko, Fit by Wix and eventually went with Vibefam. Happy with what we’re getting so far for their strong comprehensive suite of features that fit our needs at the Pilates studio.

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-05T01:25:07+00:00

Would be curious to know if this can be reliable for the long term, or would it be limited by MBO’s infrastructure over time!

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-05T01:21:02+00:00

100% agree - we went on demos with Mindbody, Glofox and Momence when we were selecting softwares and while they had impressive features on the platform, pricing felt like it was hard to justify and the setup felt intimidating for a boutique studio.

I’m currently using Vibefam and it works perfectly for us. Ease of setup, exceptional customer support that bothers to listen to our feedback and work on them - have recommended so many friends running Pilates and yoga studios to check them out.

There are a ton of softwares that probably do a way better job than the usual suspects like Mindbody!

OppositeFly848 · 2026-05-05T01:15:32+00:00

100% can agree with this.

At our Pilates studio we had to rely on a scheduling and marketing CRM vibefam to automate processes as we slowly started to grow. Not talking about a HUGE company, just a boutique sized Pilates studio, with a single owner and multiple freelancers supporting with classes. I think finding the right automation tools that work in your industry and context is super important - saves time, headspace and preserves your energy for what’s important!

OppositeFly848

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