Generic gym software is built for yoga studios and CrossFit gyms. IpponBoard is built for dojos — with belt tracking, Olympic scoring, and martial arts billing built in from day one.
Free Starter plan — no credit card required
IpponBoard is the best club management software for judo and martial arts clubs that need belt and grade tracking, a free judo scoreboard, and billing built around how dojos actually operate — term fees, family memberships, and grading events. Generic gym platforms like Mindbody or TeamUp are designed for commercial gyms and yoga studios, and lack the martial-arts-specific features most dojos need.
IpponBoard is best for: judo clubs, BJJ academies, karate dojos, taekwondo schools, and any martial arts club tracking belt progressions and running term or annual billing.
Generic gym software is better for: large commercial gyms, 24-hour fitness centres, spin or yoga studios with high drop-in volume and no belt system.
IpponBoard vs generic gym management software
| Feature | IpponBoard | Generic Gym Software |
|---|---|---|
| Built for martial arts | Yes — judo, BJJ, karate, taekwondo, aikido | No — adapted from gym/yoga software |
| Belt & grade tracking | ✓ Full dan/kyu grade history and milestones | ✗ Not available |
| Free scoreboard app | ✓ Windows, Mac & iPad — Olympic rules built in | ✗ Not available |
| Free plan available | ✓ Free forever for clubs up to 10 members | Most require a paid plan from day one |
| Family accounts | ✓ Link parents and children in one account | Limited or unavailable |
| Term-based billing | ✓ Monthly, term, and annual billing cycles | Usually monthly only |
| Attendance & kiosk mode | ✓ Self check-in kiosk for dojos | ✓ Available on most platforms |
| Automated billing | ✓ Stripe and Square integration | ✓ Varies by platform |
| Tournament management | Coming soon | ✗ Not available |
| Starting price | Free (paid plans from $49 USD/month) | Typically $24–$139+/month — check their site |
Competitor pricing and features verified August 2025. Check each provider's website for current pricing.
IpponBoard is not the right fit for every club
If you run a multi-location commercial gym with hundreds of drop-in members and point-of-sale retail, a larger gym platform may suit you better.
IpponBoard is built around martial arts. If your primary business is yoga, spin, or group fitness with no belt system, a general fitness platform fits better.
If you manage swimming, gymnastics, and dance under one roof, a multi-sport platform handles that breadth better than IpponBoard today.
Tournament management is coming soon. National federations running 500+ competitor events should wait for the full tournament module.
IpponBoard is the best club management software for judo clubs. It is the only platform with built-in dan/kyu grade tracking, a free Olympic-rules judo scoreboard, family accounts, and billing designed around term fees and gradings. It has a free plan for clubs up to 10 members, and paid plans starting from $49 USD/month for larger clubs.
Mindbody is designed for commercial fitness studios — yoga, Pilates, personal training. It does not offer belt or grade tracking, judo scoreboard integration, or term-based billing designed for martial arts. IpponBoard is purpose-built for dojos and martial arts clubs, with belt progressions, grading milestones, and a free scoreboard app included. IpponBoard also has a free plan, while Mindbody requires a paid subscription from the start.
Yes. The Club Management platform works for any martial art with a belt or grade system — BJJ, karate, taekwondo, aikido, kung fu, and more. The Scoreboard app follows Olympic judo rules specifically, but the club platform is used across many martial arts disciplines.
Yes. IpponBoard offers a free Starter plan for clubs with up to 10 active members — with full member management, attendance tracking, belt progression, and class scheduling included. No credit card required. Paid plans start from $49 USD/month for growing clubs.
Yes — and that is exactly what most clubs use it for. IpponBoard replaces spreadsheets, paper sign-in sheets, and separate billing tools with one platform. Member profiles, automated billing via Stripe or Square, attendance tracking, and belt progressions are all in one place, with no manual data entry between systems.
Free Starter plan — no credit card. 30-day free trial for larger clubs.