CoreBookings vs Mindbody: What Australian Studios Need to Know

A quick note before we start: this comparison is published by CoreBookings. We have linked to Mindbody's own Australian pricing and support pages so you can check the details yourself. Comments from Facebook and Reddit are clearly marked as personal experiences. Prices change, so get a written quote and read the contract before you sign anything.

The Quick Comparison

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Pricing: Compare the Tier You Will Actually Use

CoreBookings pricing

• Starter: A$59/month. Unlimited clients and bookings, workshops, pass packs and one location.
• Growth: A$99/month. Adds recurring memberships, coupons, manual waitlists, two rooms and the teacher app.
• Scale: A$149/month. Adds automatic waitlists, multiple rooms/locations, marketing automation and hands-on onboarding.

CoreBookings connects to your own Stripe account. Its published charge is Stripe's processing rate plus a 1% CoreBookings platform fee. See the current CoreBookings pricing page, or read our guide to choosing a POS system for yoga, Pilates and fitness studios if payments are a major part of your decision.

Mindbody pricing in Australia

• Go: A$89/month per location. Core scheduling, payments, website booking widgets, app listing and basic reports.
• Core: A$279/month per location. Adds advanced reports, room/resource management, Pick-a-Spot, promo codes and access to premium add-ons.
• Growth: A$369/month per location. Adds automated email and text marketing, lead management, AI Concierge and deeper analytics.

These are Mindbody's published Australian prices as of September 2026. Mindbody says total cost is the base plan plus selected add-ons and transaction-related fees. Check the official Australian pricing page.

Payment and app-acquisition fees

Mindbody's support material lists Australian Mindbody Payments rates of 1.99% + A$0.55 for card-not-present payments, 1.75% + A$0.25 for eligible card-present payments, and A$0.88 for bank-account payments. Confirm the rate offered to your business.

Mindbody also documents a 20% new-client commission, capped at $30, when a new client makes their first eligible purchase through the Mindbody app. This is not a fee on every booking, and direct channels such as branded web tools are treated differently. Read Mindbody's app fees FAQ before including marketplace discovery in your forecast.

What Australian Owners Say in Facebook Groups

We looked through Australian Facebook discussions to see what studio owners say when they are talking to each other, rather than writing a formal software review. The picture is mixed. Owners who use Mindbody's full feature set often value it. Smaller studios are much more likely to question the price and complexity.

Long-term users still see the value

“I have used MindBody for 20 years, and for the most part it has been a great tool for managing a studio business... The question is, would you use all their functions? If so then it's worth it. But if there are only a few of their functions that you need, you can probably find another product that is less expensive.”

This owner called Mindbody a “business-saver”, especially in the years when there were few serious alternatives. Their business is simpler now, so they no longer use enough of the platform to justify staying. They also found Mailchimp better than Mindbody's Marketing Suite. Their advice was practical: work out what you actually need before a salesperson talks you into a package, because moving later is a pain.

Another long-term user pays around $350 per month for Mindbody software and a branded app. They use separate tools for SMS and email, but still think the overall package is good value. Two studios can pay a similar amount and come to completely different conclusions because they use the software differently.

Small studios often feel they are paying for too much

“Way too expensive for what you get and it's super complicated with the onboarding and training, a lot of glitches and very pricey for a basic package.”

Several owners said they moved to WellnessLiving and felt it offered better value for their needs. One three-year WellnessLiving customer called it imperfect but “a far superior product” for the price. Another said effective marketing had required a Mindbody premium plan that did not make financial sense for a small boutique studio.

Other comments criticised support, onboarding complexity, glitches and payment-provider costs. One former customer reported difficulties with refunds, app reliability and account conflicts when clients used Mindbody at multiple businesses. A separate commenter simply recommended saving the money and choosing a local provider.

Switching and payment-provider disputes

One owner said a payment provider wanted more than $30,000 in future lost revenue after the studio decided to leave, and would not release the data until the dispute was settled. This is a serious but unverified individual allegation. We have not seen the contract or invoices, and the comment does not make it clear whether this involved Mindbody, a separate processor, equipment finance or something else. It is not evidence of a standard Mindbody exit fee.

Even so, it is a good reminder to check every agreement tied to the system. Ask for the software term, payment-processing term, equipment lease, notice period, data-export process and any early-exit calculation in writing. Mindbody's own cancellation and export pages, linked below, are the best place to start. Australian studio owners should also read the ACCC guidance on small-business contracts and unfair terms, especially if a standard contract contains automatic renewal or a large cancellation charge.

Not every alternative is automatically better

The comments were not simply anti-Mindbody. One owner had tried Wix and WellnessLiving and still preferred Mindbody overall. Another was leaning towards staying with Wix because its booking app was easy to use and support was good, although the tax reports were not ideal. There is no universal winner here. The right choice depends on how your studio actually works.

WellnessLiving drew sharply different usability assessments. A studio that moved after six years with Mindbody described WellnessLiving as the only product they considered directly comparable, with more included for the money and a promotional price they understood to be fixed for life. Another commenter called it more user-friendly than Mindbody with most of the same features. But a different user had heard it was cheaper while finding it “far less user friendly”, and believed Mindbody's broader exposure could justify the extra cost.

One studio also recommended Momoyoga, describing the Dutch platform as easy to use and enough for its needs. The commenter said it cost the equivalent of roughly $44 per month at the time. That is historical, commenter-reported pricing, not a current quote. A smaller platform can be perfectly adequate if you do not need Mindbody's marketplace, resource controls or wider ecosystem.

We have omitted referral and demo links from these comments. Claims such as “price set for life” may refer to an individual promotion and should be confirmed in the vendor's written contract.

These supplied comments align with publicly indexed discussion:

• In the Australian Yoga Teachers group, a seven-person studio owner described both Mindbody and Momence as pricey. One commenter said they had used Mindbody for a larger venue but moved after a price increase.
• In a Melbourne Barre & Pilates Instructors discussion, one contributor relayed concerns from studio-owner colleagues about cost and support for smaller boutiques.
• A Pilates Community thread includes both sides: one commenter preferred a less expensive alternative after using Mindbody at previous jobs, while another called Mindbody a good system and valued its ease of use and studio-search visibility.

Quotes have been lightly corrected for spelling and punctuation without changing their meaning. Facebook posts and comments may require group membership or login. They are individual, unaudited experiences and are not evidence of typical results.

What Reddit Studio Owners Repeatedly Raise

Reddit owners tend to bring up the same four issues: rising costs, marketplace commission, inconsistent support and the effort involved in leaving. They also give Mindbody credit where it is due. The scheduling system is mature, Australian payment rates can be competitive at volume, and the marketplace and integration library are difficult for smaller providers to match.

1. Subscription price is only one part of total cost

In an r/pilates switching discussion, one operator pointed out that a cheaper monthly plan can still cost more if its processing rate is higher. A small percentage difference adds up quickly for a busy studio. Put your own sales mix into a spreadsheet and include the subscription, card fees, add-ons and acquisition fees.

2. Marketplace discovery is valuable, but owners question attribution

In a 2026 r/mindbody thread, an owner was frustrated that clients they believed had found the studio independently could still trigger commission by making their first purchase in the Mindbody app. The marketplace does bring new people to studios. You need to decide whether it brings in enough business to cover the fee.

3. Support experiences vary

Threads such as “Mindbody is horrible” report missed downgrade records and difficult escalation. Other reviews say support becomes helpful after reaching the right specialist. Mindbody officially offers phone, chat, email, an AI assistant and paid Technical Account Management. Ask what response path is included in your exact plan.

4. Leaving requires planning

Reddit owners frequently mention notice periods and data-export concerns. Mindbody's own policy is the better source of truth: cancellation generally requires at least 30 days' notice, fixed-term agreements run to the contract end, and cancellation is not final until approved. Its comprehensive Subscriber Data Export is a paid service for cancelling customers. Review the official cancellation instructions and export the reports you need before access ends.

How They Compare Day to Day

Scheduling, classes and equipment

CoreBookings: Handles classes, workshops, courses, terms, rooms, teachers, capacities, passes and memberships. It is well suited to straightforward yoga and reformer-class schedules.

Mindbody: Handles classes, appointments, resources and large multi-service schedules. Core and Growth add Resource Management and Pick-a-Spot, which is a real advantage where clients select a reformer, mat, chair or room.

Our take: CoreBookings is easier to live with for a straightforward independent studio. Mindbody has the edge when the schedule involves lots of resources, appointments and service types.

Client acquisition and mobile experience

CoreBookings: Provides mobile-responsive booking and a client app, while the studio remains responsible for attracting clients. Our guide to yoga studio apps explains what owners and clients should test before choosing one.

Mindbody: Lists every customer on its consumer app, which Mindbody says reaches more than three million monthly shoppers. A branded app is an add-on on Core and Growth.

Our take: Mindbody makes more sense if marketplace visibility brings you regular new business. If most clients already find you through your own community and marketing, CoreBookings keeps things simpler.

Marketing

CoreBookings: Newsletters and operational emails are available, with marketing automation on Scale and an optional SMS package. If email is important to your studio, see our practical guide to email marketing and newsletters.

Mindbody: Growth includes automated email/text campaigns, lead management and AI Concierge. Core can add AI Concierge, while the full marketing feature set is not included on Go or Core.

Our take: CoreBookings covers the common automations at a lower price. Mindbody Growth goes further if you want the sales pipeline and marketing tools in the same system.

Reporting and integrations

CoreBookings: Focuses on practical studio reports, Stripe payments and Australian workflows such as private-health claim receipts.

Mindbody: Offers deeper analytics from Core and advertises more than 60 integrations. This breadth is valuable for established businesses with a larger technology stack.

Our take: Pick Mindbody if you know you need its integrations or advanced analytics. CoreBookings reports cover the everyday questions most independent studios ask, with local features such as private health claim receipts.

Support and onboarding

CoreBookings: Australian-based support, with hands-on onboarding on Scale.

Mindbody: Live support, self-service training, an AI assistant and optional Technical Account Management. Forum reports on consistency are mixed.

Our take: CoreBookings gives you a small Australian team in the same timezone. Mindbody has more support channels, but it is worth asking who handles urgent issues and what is included in your plan.

Realistic Australian Studio Scenarios

Solo teacher or very small studio

CoreBookings Starter at A$59 is the lower-cost choice. Mindbody Go at A$89 is competitive if its marketplace listing, website or unlimited users replace tools you would otherwise buy separately. New teachers may also find our booking system starter guide useful.

Reformer studio needing clients to choose equipment

Compare CoreBookings Scale at A$149 with Mindbody Core at A$279. CoreBookings can cap classes to the number of reformers and manage rooms; Mindbody's Pick-a-Spot gives clients a specific visual spot-selection workflow. Test the exact booking experience before deciding.

Growing studio needing lead management and automated SMS

CoreBookings Scale includes marketing automation at A$149. Mindbody Growth is A$369 and adds a broader lead pipeline, email/SMS campaigns, AI Concierge and advanced retention analytics. Mindbody may be worth the difference if those tools let you cancel other subscriptions or save your team a meaningful amount of work. Our guide on growing a yoga or Pilates studio can help you decide which growth features you will actually use.

Multi-location or franchise operation

Mindbody has the more mature enterprise story and broader integration network, but its advertised plans are priced per location. CoreBookings Scale can support multiple locations at a lower headline cost. Validate consolidated reporting, permissions, tax, support and payment workflows with both vendors, and compare them with the other options in our Australian studio management software guide.

Switching from Mindbody to CoreBookings

CoreBookings offers free team-assisted data import. Its documented Mindbody process uses reports such as Visits Remaining, Mailing Lists and Last Visit to transfer client details and active pass balances. Historical attendance and future bookings generally are not imported, so retain your own archive.

1. Review your Mindbody Order Form, renewal date and cancellation notice.
2. Create the required passes and memberships in CoreBookings.
3. Export your Mindbody reports and keep secure archival copies.
4. Send the agreed files to CoreBookings at least three working days before go-live.
5. Validate client balances and test bookings before switching links and payments.
6. Keep written confirmation of Mindbody cancellation and the final billing date.

See the step-by-step guide to exporting and importing from Mindbody.

Common Questions

How much does Mindbody cost in Australia?

Mindbody advertises Go at A$89, Core at A$279 and Growth at A$369 per month, per location. Payment processing, selected add-ons and eligible Mindbody app acquisition fees can add to the subscription.

Is Mindbody cheaper than CoreBookings?

No published Mindbody tier is cheaper than the comparable CoreBookings headline price. However, a fair total-cost comparison must include the features each tier replaces, payment rates, number of locations, add-ons and any marketplace-generated sales.

Does Mindbody lock studios into a contract?

Mindbody says terms depend on the plan and Order Form. Its support page states that cancellation is unavailable in the first 90 days unless the Order Form says otherwise; after that, accounts without a fixed term are generally month-to-month. Fixed-term contracts cannot normally be cancelled until the term ends, and at least 30 days' notice is required.

Can CoreBookings import all Mindbody history?

No. CoreBookings' free migration focuses on client details and active pass balances. Keep exports of attendance, accounting, payroll, waivers and other history required for operations or record keeping.

Which is easier for clients?

Both support online and mobile booking. Mindbody adds broad marketplace search and, on eligible plans, Pick-a-Spot and a branded-app add-on. CoreBookings offers a simpler studio-specific booking experience. Test both with a real pass purchase, waitlist and cancellation on a phone.

So, Which One Should You Choose?

For most independent Australian studios, we think CoreBookings is the more practical choice. The pricing is clear, support is local, payments go through your own Stripe account and you are not paying for a large enterprise system.

Mindbody is still a sensible choice for a larger or more complicated business. If the marketplace sends you clients and you genuinely use the integrations, resource management, lead pipeline and analytics, the higher price may be money well spent.

Sources and Methodology

Product facts were checked against public vendor pages on September 4, 2026. Forum comments were selected because they were publicly indexed and relevant to studio ownership; they were not treated as representative survey data.

• Mindbody Australian pricing and plan features
• Mindbody Payments processing rates by region
• Mindbody app fees FAQ
• Mindbody cancellation guidance
• Mindbody Subscriber Data Export FAQ
• CoreBookings pricing and plan features
• CoreBookings Mindbody migration guide
• r/pilates: Anyone switched away from Mindbody?
• r/mindbody: Three years on Mindbody
• Australian Yoga Teachers booking-software discussion

Related Reading

• Best Yoga Studio Management Software in Australia
• Best Yoga Software for Teachers in Australia
• Best Online Appointment Scheduling Software in Australia
• CoreBookings vs Momence