WellnessLiving Review for Pilates Studios (2026)
WellnessLiving is often described as a lower-cost Mindbody alternative. It has a broad feature set, a genuine loyalty program, and a recently updated interface. But it was built for the general fitness and wellness market, not pilates studios. Here is what that means in practice.
Our Verdict
WellnessLiving is a capable, all-in-one platform that works well for general fitness studios. The loyalty and rewards module is one of the best in the industry. The interface has been updated recently and is noticeably cleaner than it used to be. Pricing starts lower than Mindbody, which makes it attractive at first glance.
For pilates studios specifically, the picture is more complicated. There is no native equipment or reformer tracking. The platform was designed for group fitness, so private and semi-private session management requires workarounds. The pricing adds up quickly once you factor in the modules you actually need. Several users report hidden fees from the mandatory payment processor and difficult contract exit terms. And while the interface looks friendlier than before, it still lags behind purpose-built competitors in terms of workflow efficiency.
If you are looking for a platform built specifically for pilates studios, StudioGrowth is worth a close look. It was designed with pilates and boutique fitness studios in mind, includes equipment and reformer management, and has a 4.9/5 rating on Capterra. WellnessLiving is a reasonable choice if you run a multi-discipline wellness business and need a broad platform at a mid-range price. It is not the best fit if pilates is your primary or only offering.
How WellnessLiving Scores for Pilates Studios
We rate each platform on nine features that matter most to pilates studio owners. Here is how WellnessLiving scores.
| Feature | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Scheduling | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | Group classes work well. Private session management requires workarounds. |
| Equipment and Room Management | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 | No native reformer or equipment tracking. Book-a-Spot feature handles basic asset reservations only. |
| Online Booking and Payments | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Solid booking flow. Mandatory payment processor has reported hidden fees. |
| Client Management | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Strong CRM with detailed client profiles, attendance history, and spending records. |
| Marketing and Retention Tools | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Email, SMS, lead management, and drip campaigns. Loyalty and rewards module is a genuine standout. |
| Branded Mobile App | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | Available on BusinessPro plan ($349/mo). Functional but not as polished as newer competitors. |
| Reporting and Analytics | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | Extensive reporting suite. Some users find navigation between reports clunky. |
| Ease of Use | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | Interface has improved with recent updates but still lags behind modern competitors in workflow efficiency. |
| Customer Support | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | Phone support requires a callback. Some users report slow response times and unresolved issues. |
What Is WellnessLiving?
WellnessLiving is a Canadian-founded, all-in-one business management platform for the fitness and wellness industry. It was founded in 2012 and positioned itself as a more affordable alternative to Mindbody. The company serves over 7,500 businesses worldwide across gyms, yoga studios, pilates studios, spas, salons, and other wellness businesses.
The platform covers scheduling, client management, payments, marketing, reporting, and a branded client app. It also includes a loyalty and rewards module, which is one of its most distinctive features. WellnessLiving has invested in AI tools in recent years, including an AI churn predictor called Isaac and an AI front desk assistant called CAASI.
WellnessLiving is a general-purpose wellness platform. It was not designed specifically for pilates studios. The feature set is broad, which makes it attractive for multi-discipline studios. For a studio where pilates is the primary or only offering, the lack of pilates-specific tools is a real limitation.
WellnessLiving Pricing for Pilates Studios
WellnessLiving publishes its pricing, which is a positive sign of transparency. There are four plans. The entry-level Starter plan is priced at $69/month but is limited to one staff member and lacks marketing tools and the loyalty program. Most pilates studios will need the Business plan at $199/month or higher to access the features that matter.
| Plan | Monthly Price | What’s Included | Good for Pilates? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $69/mo | Scheduling, client app, staff app, POS, email/SMS notifications. One staff member only. | No. Too limited for a real studio. |
| Business | $199/mo | Everything in Starter plus unlimited staff, rewards and loyalty, events scheduling, email and text marketing, lead management. | Partial. Workable for most studios. |
| BusinessPro | $349/mo | Everything in Business plus white-label branded client app (iOS and Android). | Yes. Best option if you want a branded app. |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Everything in BusinessPro plus multi-location management, dedicated account manager, enterprise reporting. | Yes. For multi-location studios. |
Hybrid Scheduling for Pilates Studios
WellnessLiving supports group classes, private appointments, and events. The scheduling interface allows you to set class capacity, manage waitlists, and create recurring schedules. The Book-a-Spot feature allows clients to reserve specific spots or assets within a class, which can be used for reformer machines in a limited way.
The platform was built primarily around group fitness. Private and semi-private session management, which is central to most pilates studios, works but requires more configuration than it should. There is no dedicated workflow for managing a reformer-based schedule where individual machines are assigned to specific clients in a session.
For studios that run a mix of group mat classes, reformer classes, and private sessions, WellnessLiving can handle the scheduling. It is not as clean or efficient as a platform built specifically for that type of schedule. Studios running a high volume of private sessions may find the admin overhead adds up over time.
Equipment and Room Management
WellnessLiving does not have native reformer or equipment tracking. The Book-a-Spot feature allows you to designate specific spots or assets within a session, which is the closest the platform gets to equipment management. A client can book “Reformer 3” rather than just a spot in a class. But this is not the same as a full equipment management system.
There is no maintenance tracking, equipment history, or reformer-specific reporting. If your studio needs to track which machines are in use, when they were last serviced, or how many sessions each reformer has accumulated, WellnessLiving does not provide that natively. You would need a separate system or manual tracking.
Online Booking and Payments
The client-facing booking experience in WellnessLiving is solid. Clients can book classes and appointments through the web portal, the branded app (on BusinessPro), or through embedded website widgets. The booking flow is clean and works well on mobile. Clients can manage their own memberships, purchase packages, and view their booking history.
Payment processing is handled through Paragon Payment Solutions, which is mandatory. You cannot use a different processor. This is a meaningful constraint. Multiple users have reported unexpected fees from Paragon, including annual fees and PCI compliance charges that were not clearly disclosed during the sales process.
“They use one merchant processor that charges you with hidden fees such as annual fee, monthly PCI compliance, etc without notifying your business. When you want to cancel, they play you and waste the time so, they charge you extra money.”
“Price has increased and hopefully no more increases. Customer service never picks up when I call, they call back and sometimes it takes a while to get a call back.”
Client Management
Client management is one of WellnessLiving’s stronger areas. The platform maintains detailed client profiles including attendance history, spending records, membership status, and communication logs. You can segment clients, track visit frequency, and use the Isaac AI churn predictor to identify clients who may be at risk of leaving.
The CRM tools are well-suited for studios that want to build long-term client relationships. You can see a client’s full history at a glance, which makes it easier to have informed conversations and offer relevant packages or memberships.
“We have detailed profiles for all of our clients, their attendance and spending history. We can plan events and send marketing emails all from WellnessLiving. This saves time and money having everything on one platform.”
Marketing and Retention Tools
WellnessLiving’s marketing suite includes email campaigns, SMS marketing, lead management with drip campaigns, and push notifications. These tools are available from the Business plan upward. The platform also includes a lead pipeline tool for tracking prospective clients through the sales process.
The Loyalty and Rewards Module
The rewards and loyalty program is WellnessLiving’s most distinctive feature. Clients earn points for attending classes, referring friends, writing reviews, and other actions. Points can be redeemed for discounts, free classes, or merchandise. This kind of structured loyalty program is genuinely rare in studio management software and can be a meaningful retention tool for pilates studios with a regular client base.
The loyalty module is available on the Business plan and above. If client retention is a priority for your studio, this feature alone may justify the platform. No other platform reviewed on this site offers a comparably structured loyalty and rewards system.
Branded Mobile App
WellnessLiving offers a white-label branded client app called Achieve, available on the BusinessPro plan at $349/month. The app allows clients to book classes, manage memberships, and access their account from their phone. There is also a staff app called Elevate for managing schedules and check-ins.
The app is functional and covers the core client-facing needs. However, compared to newer competitors in the space, the interface feels dated. WellnessLiving has been updating its platform in recent years, and the web interface has improved noticeably. The mobile app experience has not kept pace with the same level of modernisation. Studios that place a high value on a polished, contemporary client app experience may find it falls short of what newer platforms offer.
“Clients love my user-friendly mobile app, which simplifies bookings and engagement. There has been a noticeable increase in efficiency and client satisfaction since implementing Wellness Living.”
Reporting and Analytics
WellnessLiving has an extensive reporting suite. You can access reports on revenue, attendance, client retention, staff performance, and marketing campaign results. The breadth of data available is one of the platform’s strengths. For studio owners who want to make data-driven decisions, there is a lot to work with.
The navigation between reports can be clunky. Some users find it takes more clicks than expected to get to the specific report they need. The data is there, but the experience of accessing it is not as streamlined as it could be. This is a minor issue for most studios but worth noting for owners who rely heavily on reporting.
“Some of the transactions or reports can be a bit clunky. All the information is available, but sometimes it doesn’t feel super intuitive.”
Ease of Use and Interface
WellnessLiving has invested in improving its interface in recent years. The current version is noticeably cleaner and more modern than earlier iterations. The navigation is more logical, and common tasks are easier to find than they were previously. For studio owners switching from Mindbody, the interface will feel like an improvement.
That said, the interface still lags behind the newest generation of purpose-built studio software. Platforms designed in the last three to four years have set a higher bar for workflow efficiency and visual design. WellnessLiving’s interface is functional and improved, but it is not at the same level as the most modern competitors. For studios that prioritise a clean, fast admin experience, this is worth factoring into your decision.
“The platform’s intuitive design makes it easy to navigate and master. Its clear layout and logical workflow prevent users from feeling overwhelmed, even when tackling complex tasks.”
Customer Support
WellnessLiving offers 24/7 support on Business and BusinessPro plans via community forum, live chat, email, and phone. The Starter plan is limited to community and live chat only. Phone support operates on a callback model, meaning you leave your number and a representative calls you back rather than waiting on hold.
The callback system works for some users and frustrates others. Several Capterra reviewers mention that response times can be slow, particularly for more complex issues. There are also reports of account manager turnover, which can slow down ongoing requests or feature discussions. For critical issues that need immediate resolution, the callback model is a limitation.
“This has been a difficult experience trying to get a hold of anyone. I can’t in good faith recommend this company for any of my clients. They took money but don’t offer any support. I have numerous emails, I’ve reached out on their social media, I’ve never received an acknowledgement or any call backs.”
“Automating my small business with Wellness Living is one of the best business decisions I’ve made. No matter how big or small the question or issue, they are right there to help with timely responses, patience and careful instruction.”
Support quality appears to vary significantly by account manager and by the nature of the issue. Positive reviews frequently cite excellent onboarding support. Negative reviews tend to focus on post-onboarding responsiveness. This inconsistency is worth factoring in if reliable ongoing support is important to your studio.
Contracts and Cancellation: What to Know
WellnessLiving requires a contract. The standard contract length is typically one year, though multi-year contracts are available. Before signing, it is important to understand the full terms around cancellation, data export, and what happens to your client data if you leave the platform.
WellnessLiving: Pros and Cons for Pilates Studios
Pros
- Best-in-class loyalty and rewards module
- Transparent published pricing
- Strong client management and CRM tools
- Broad feature set for multi-discipline studios
- Extensive reporting suite
- Recently updated, cleaner interface
- Email, SMS, and lead management tools
- Free data migration included
Cons
- No native reformer or equipment tracking
- Mandatory payment processor with reported hidden fees
- Interface lags behind newer competitors
- Pricing adds up with add-on modules
- Phone support is callback-only, can be slow
- Contract exit reported as difficult by some users
- Branded app requires $349/mo BusinessPro plan
- Not designed specifically for pilates workflows
Is WellnessLiving Right for Your Studio?
A Good Fit If You…
- Run a multi-discipline wellness or fitness studio
- Want a structured loyalty and rewards program
- Are switching from Mindbody and want a lower price
- Need strong marketing and email automation tools
- Want published, transparent pricing
- Run primarily group classes with some appointments
Not a Good Fit If You…
- Need reformer or equipment tracking
- Run a high volume of private or semi-private sessions
- Want a modern, fast admin interface
- Are concerned about contract lock-in
- Need immediate phone support for critical issues
- Want a platform built specifically for pilates
How WellnessLiving Compares
Here is how WellnessLiving stacks up against Mindbody and StudioGrowth on the features that matter most to pilates studios.
| Feature | WellnessLiving | Mindbody | StudioGrowth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $199/mo (usable plan) | $129/mo (basic) | $159/mo |
| Reformer Tracking | No | No | Yes |
| Loyalty Program | Yes (standout feature) | Basic | Yes |
| Capterra Rating | 4.4/5 (602 reviews) | 3.8/5 (2,800+ reviews) | 4.9/5 |
| Branded Mobile App | $349/mo plan required | Add-on cost | Included |
| Pilates-Specific Design | No | No | Yes |
| Contract Required | Yes | Yes | Flexible |
Final Verdict
WellnessLiving is a solid platform for general fitness and wellness studios. The loyalty and rewards module is genuinely excellent and stands out in the market. The pricing is more transparent than many competitors. The interface has improved and is now more user-friendly than older versions.
For pilates studios, the limitations are real. There is no reformer or equipment tracking. The platform was not designed for the private and semi-private session workflows that define most pilates businesses. The mandatory payment processor has a documented history of hidden fees. And the contract terms require careful reading before you commit.
If you run a multi-discipline studio that includes pilates alongside yoga, barre, or other fitness formats, WellnessLiving is worth evaluating. If pilates is your primary offering, you will likely find a purpose-built platform like StudioGrowth a better fit. It was designed with pilates studios in mind, includes the equipment tracking and private session workflows that WellnessLiving lacks, and has a 4.9/5 rating on Capterra from verified studio owners.