SHC vs. Zenoti
The Best Zenoti Alternative for Boutique Studios
Zenoti was built for spas and salons. Fitness is just one vertical of many, and boutique studios a sliver of that - so it was never designed around your classes or your members.
SHC was built for fitness from day one. Health clubs first, then that same depth brought to studios - software that fits how you operate.
Why Studio Owners Are Choosing SHC Over Zenoti
Built for Fitness, Not Spas
Zenoti's core is appointment-based businesses — think blowouts, facials, and massage bookings. Class packs, session-based scheduling, and instructor substitutions aren't native to how that platform thinks. For SHC, they always have been.
Simple Enough for Your Front Desk
Users who struggle with Zenoti consistently describe an overwhelming onboarding process, a steep learning curve, and a system that takes significant time before staff feel comfortable. SHC is designed for busy studio teams — fast to learn, easy to use from day one.
Pricing You Can Actually Plan Around
Zenoti doesn't publish pricing. You talk to sales, negotiate a contract, and figure out the real number later. Some users report paying close to $1,000 a month, with an overly complicated backend and limited communication when issues arise. SHC's studio plans start at $100/month with transparent pricing based on your size.
A Member App That's the Whole Point
SHC's product is built around what your members experience. Every feature — bookings, communications, check-ins, video — is designed to live in an app that feels like yours, not like software.
SHC vs. Zenoti
What You Need to Know
FEATURE
Zenoti
Branded Member App
Your logo, your colors, your experience — the app is the product
Zenoti
App customization available, but built around a platform designed for spas and salons
Class & Session Bookings
Built for class-based formats — packs, drop-ins, memberships, trials
Zenoti
Bookings supported, but the interface is designed for appointment-based businesses
Session Packs & Class Packs
Flexible pack and membership configurations native to how studios operate
Zenoti
Available but complex to configure — built for multi-service, multi-vertical businesses
On-Demand Video & Live Streaming
Supported natively in your branded app
Zenoti
Available as an add-on with additional setup complexity
Instructor Management & Payroll
Substitutions, scheduling rules, and payroll all in one place
Zenoti
Supported, but part of a larger system not optimised for class-based fitness
Marketing & Communications
Push notifications, in-app messaging, and email from one platform
Zenoti
Extensive marketing tools designed for large multi-location spa and salon operations
Reporting & Analytics
Real-time class and booking data designed for studio operators
Zenoti
Deep reporting built for enterprise operations — more than most studios need or want to pay for
Ease of Use
Designed for studio owners and front desk teams — minimal learning curve
Zenoti
Consistently described as complex and overwhelming, especially during early use
Pricing
Studio plans start at $100/month — transparent and scalable based on your size
Zenoti
No published pricing — requires a sales call and custom quote
Onboarding & Support
Dedicated onboarding, live training, and 24/7 support — live in under 4 weeks
Zenoti
Onboarding often described as lengthy, involving multiple teams to navigate
Switching is Easier Than You Think
We handle everything — data migration, account creation, and a dedicated onboarding specialist from day one. Live training, session recordings, and 24/7 support. Most studios are live in under 4 weeks.
Expect
- Live trainings with your staff
- Ongoing access to recordings
- 24/7 support for questions, fixes, or just peace of mind
Hear It from Gyms Like Yours
Ralph Rajs,
COO, Forma Gym
"It was really a partnership in the onboarding process – the things that we did and the things that the SHC teams did made it a smooth transition. So the onboarding went well, the notification to the members of the change went well. It was easy for the members to get into the new app. The learning curve was fairly flat for people, which is great. At our one club in Walnut Creek, California, we skew to an older population. And they were able to execute the change as well as the younger people. You know, we were sort of over prepared with questions and staff and we thought it was going to be a bigger deal than it was, and it actually went quite smoothly."
Fitness Software, Built for Studios
You don't need a platform designed for spa chains and medical aesthetics. You need software that understands how a studio runs — and gets your members excited to show up.
Book a Discovery Call
A quick call will show you why SHC would be much better suited to handle your complex needs and unique workflows.