Exercise.com vs Vagaro
Exercise.com scores 8.0/10 vs 7.5/10. Best for: Personal trainers and gym owners who need robust workout programming and delivery alongside management features.
Exercise.com scores higher overall at 8.0/10 vs 7.5/10. Exercise.com stands out for workout programming and delivery, ideal for trainers and gyms selling online training alongside in-person. High starting price and no public pricing are barriers. Not the best fit if you only need scheduling and billing.
Exercise.com
Vagaro Rank
#2 of 15
Rank
#8 of 15
Features
18/18
Features
16/18
Starting at
$239/mo
Starting at
$30/mo
User reviews
4.7/5 (355)
User reviews
4.6/5 (3787)
What they cost
| Exercise.com | Vagaro | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting at | $239 /mo | $30 /mo |
| Free trial | No | 30 days |
| Number of plans | 1 | 4 |
What the pricing really means
At first glance, Vagaro looks cheaper at $30/month vs $239/month. But sticker price is only part of the story. Look at what is included on the base plan, how many users you get, and whether you need add-ons to get the features you actually need. The $99/month plan that requires $200 in add-ons is actually more expensive than the $250/month plan that includes everything.
Where Exercise.com wins
- Best-in-class workout and program builder with automated progression
- Highest-rated customer service at 4.9/5 on Capterra
- Custom branded apps for iOS and Android included
- Covers in-person gym ops, online training, and e-commerce
Where Vagaro wins
- Extremely affordable pricing starting at $30/month with all features unlocked at every tier
- Monthly cost caps at $90 regardless of how many staff calendars you add
- Built-in marketplace gives your business free exposure to Vagaro's consumer user base
- Generous 30-day free trial with no credit card required
Where Exercise.com falls short
- No transparent public pricing, must go through sales
- Higher starting price at $239/mo for solo trainers
- Complex interface with steeper learning curve
- No consumer marketplace like Mindbody
Where Vagaro falls short
- Primarily built for salons and spas, so gym-specific features like workout programming are missing
- No public API limits custom integrations and third-party development
- Users report recurring bugs, slowdowns, and crashes during peak booking hours
- Many useful features like forms and branded apps are paid add-ons that increase the real cost
Who is each product built for?
Exercise.com
Target: 1-10 locations
Exercise.com stands out for workout programming and delivery, ideal for trainers and gyms selling online training alongside in-person. High starting price and no public pricing are barriers. Not the best fit if you only need scheduling and billing.
Vagaro
Target: 1-500 members
Vagaro is the best value pick for solo trainers and small fitness studios that also offer wellness or beauty services. The flat pricing model is unbeatable, but the lack of workout builders and API access means serious gym-only operations may outgrow it quickly.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Exercise.com | Vagaro |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduling & Booking | ||
| Class/session scheduling | ||
| Online booking | ||
| Attendance tracking | ||
| Members & Staff | ||
| Member management | ||
| Membership plans | ||
| Staff management | ||
| Client portal/app | ||
| Payments & Billing | ||
| Payment processing | ||
| Automated billing | ||
| Retail/POS | ||
| Fitness Tools | ||
| Workout/program builder | ||
| Mobile app (client) | ||
| Mobile app (staff) | ||
| Waivers/forms | ||
| Marketing & Growth | ||
| Website builder | ||
| Marketing/email tools | ||
| Reporting/analytics | ||
| Integrations/API | ||
Common questions
Vagaro is designed for 1-500 members, making it a better fit for small shops. Exercise.com targets 1-10 locations.
Exercise.com starts at $239/month. Vagaro starts at $30/month. Pricing was last verified in 2026-03-01.
No, Exercise.com does not offer a free trial. You will need to contact sales or sign up for a paid plan.
Yes, you can switch between Gym & Fitness Studio tools. The main effort is migrating your data and setting up new workflows. Plan for 1-2 weeks of overlap where you run both systems.
The bottom line
Pick Exercise.com if...
Personal trainers and gym owners who need robust workout programming and delivery alongside management features.
Pick Vagaro if...
Budget-conscious fitness studios, personal trainers, and multi-service businesses (salon/spa/fitness combos) that want full features at an affordable flat rate.