TL;DR: the biggest data points
- The Health & Fitness Association’s 2025 Benchmarking Report found median revenue growth of 9.9%, net membership growth of 5.5%, and member retention of 66.4% across surveyed operators (HFA).
- Mindbody says its 2025 industry report is based on 1,400+ industry decision-makers worldwide, benchmarked against 1,000+ businesses in other industries (Mindbody).
- In that same Mindbody research, 72% of operators said they were confident about performance, rising to 81% among businesses investing in technology (Mindbody).
- Mindbody also reports 56% of operators say personalized outreach is their most effective retention strategy and 63% cite Instagram as their top acquisition channel (Mindbody).
- WellnessLiving publicly lists pricing at $69/month for Starter, $199/month for Business, and $349/month for BusinessPro (WellnessLiving).
- Mindbody says 2.8 million active users use its app to discover, book, and buy wellness experiences, which is still its strongest differentiation (Mindbody).
If you are deciding between WellnessLiving and Mindbody in 2026, you are really deciding between two different software philosophies.
Mindbody sells the idea of reach, brand gravity, and enterprise-ish growth. WellnessLiving sells value, bundled features, and a more straightforward operating system for independent studios.
Both can run a studio. Only one is likely to produce the better ROI for your specific business model.
Why does this choice matter more in 2026 than it did a few years ago?
Because the industry is healthier — and more demanding.
The Health & Fitness Association’s 2025 Fitness Industry Benchmarking Report found median revenue growth of 9.9%, net membership growth of 5.5%, and member retention of 66.4% across the businesses surveyed (HFA). In plain English: operators are growing again, but they still need better systems for retention, reporting, and non-dues revenue.
That is why the software decision is no longer just about scheduling classes. It is about whether your platform helps you:
- keep members longer
- market more efficiently
- sell more than memberships
- reduce staff admin time
- make better decisions from operational data
What do the two platforms cost in 2026?
WellnessLiving is the clearer one because it publishes pricing directly on its site.
| Platform | Entry plan | Mid-tier plan | Higher published tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WellnessLiving | $69/mo Starter | $199/mo Business | $349/mo BusinessPro | Publicly listed pricing |
| Mindbody | Higher entry pricing varies by package and sales path | Often higher total cost once add-ons are included | Enterprise/custom tiers available | Marketplace reach is the premium argument |
Source: WellnessLiving Pricing and Mindbody pricing/research pages
On price transparency alone, WellnessLiving wins.
It not only publishes pricing, but also includes a larger set of core functions in the platform: classes, appointments, client app, staff app, POS, notifications, forms, and reporting. Mindbody can absolutely match much of the functional footprint, but the buying experience is often less straightforward, and real-world spend rises quickly when studios add marketing, branded experiences, or premium support.
What does the market say studios need right now?
Mindbody’s own 2025 research gives us a useful lens. It found:
- 72% of operators are confident about performance
- 81% of businesses investing in technology are confident
- 56% say personalized outreach is their most effective retention strategy
- one in three businesses plan to add retail
- nearly 30% plan to launch events and retreats
- 63% cite Instagram as their top acquisition channel
Source: Mindbody 2025 State of the Industry press release
That data matters because it tells us what software should optimize for in 2026:
- retention and personalization
- diversified revenue
- marketing execution
- operational efficiency
“This year’s findings show an industry that’s not only adapting but thriving—pairing innovation with trust to drive growth.” — Fritz Lanman, CEO of Playlist, Mindbody’s parent brand (source)
Where does WellnessLiving have the edge?
1. Better value density
WellnessLiving’s biggest advantage is not that it is cheap. It is that it packs more usable functionality into the visible sticker price.
The public pricing page includes classes and appointments, POS and credit-card processing, client and staff apps, forms, reporting, and marketing-related tooling from relatively early tiers (WellnessLiving). For owners comparing software spend line by line, that matters more than abstract feature counts.
2. Strong retention tooling without enterprise complexity
Mindbody’s research says 56% of operators view personalized outreach as the most effective retention strategy. WellnessLiving leans into that operating reality with built-in rewards, lead management, email and text marketing, review collection, and automated reminders on published plans (Mindbody; WellnessLiving).
For many yoga, Pilates, martial arts, and boutique fitness operators, that is enough to make the platform feel more complete day-to-day.
3. Pricing clarity
Software fatigue is real. Operators are tired of discovering that the posted price is just the start. WellnessLiving’s transparent tiers create fewer surprises.
Where does Mindbody still have the strongest case?
1. Consumer marketplace reach
This is still the killer reason some operators stay with Mindbody. The company says more than 2.8 million active users use the Mindbody app to discover and book experiences (Mindbody).
If your studio gets meaningful incremental discovery from that ecosystem, the premium becomes easier to defend.
2. Brand and ecosystem gravity
Mindbody is the most recognizable category brand in studio software. That brand familiarity matters more in dense urban markets, franchised concepts, or businesses that want a platform customers already know.
3. Growth-stage optionality
Mindbody is often better positioned for operators who care about a broader integration stack, multiple locations, and a more established marketplace/discovery layer. If you are building a chain rather than running one profitable flagship, that can matter.
A side-by-side feature and ROI comparison
| Decision factor | WellnessLiving | Mindbody | Who usually wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published price clarity | Strong | Weaker | WellnessLiving |
| Built-in value for smaller studios | Strong | Moderate | WellnessLiving |
| Marketplace discovery | Limited vs Mindbody | Strong | Mindbody |
| Retention/loyalty tools | Strong | Strong | Tie, slight value edge to WellnessLiving |
| Brand recognition with consumers | Moderate | Strong | Mindbody |
| Cost control | Stronger | Harder | WellnessLiving |
| Enterprise perception | Moderate | Stronger | Mindbody |
What do expert and industry sources imply about the better choice?
HFA’s benchmark report makes one thing clear: operators are competing on performance, not just survival. Revenue growth, retention, non-dues revenue, and occupancy efficiency all matter (HFA).
Mindbody’s own research makes a second point clear: the studios feeling best about the future are the ones investing in technology and using personalization well (Mindbody).
Pull quote: 72% of operators are confident about performance, but that rises to 81% among businesses investing in technology. Software is not overhead if it improves retention and revenue mix. (Mindbody)
Put those together, and the answer is not “which platform has more features?” It is:
Which platform gives my studio the highest return per software dollar?
For most independent studios, the answer is WellnessLiving.
For studios that truly benefit from marketplace exposure, consumer app visibility, and brand familiarity, the answer can still be Mindbody.
Which platform should different types of studios choose?
Choose WellnessLiving if you are:
- a single-location studio
- a growing independent operator
- cost-sensitive but still serious about automation
- looking for more bundled value and fewer add-on surprises
- focused on retention, loyalty, and operating efficiency
Choose Mindbody if you are:
- heavily reliant on marketplace discovery
- operating in a highly competitive urban boutique market
- managing a more complex brand/integration footprint
- comfortable paying more for ecosystem reach
If you are still shopping, compare this guide with Mindbody Review, WellnessLiving Review, Mindbody Pricing Guide, and How to Choose Studio Management Software.
Final verdict: who wins in 2026?
WellnessLiving wins on ROI for most small and mid-size studios.
Mindbody wins when marketplace reach materially affects growth.
That may sound less dramatic than a blanket winner-takes-all answer, but it is the data-based conclusion. Studios in 2026 need software that supports retention, diversified revenue, and fast execution. If you can get that without overspending, you should.
In most cases, WellnessLiving is the smarter financial decision.
In a smaller set of cases — especially when app discovery matters enough to change acquisition economics — Mindbody still earns its premium.