Overview
Mindbody is one of the most popular gym management platforms, serving over 60,000 fitness businesses worldwide. It’s a comprehensive solution built for general wellness and fitness businesses.
Kombat Evolve is gym management software built specifically for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, and martial arts academies in Europe.
This page compares both platforms to help you decide which fits your gym better.
Quick Comparison
| Kombat Evolve | Mindbody | |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | BJJ, MMA, Muay Thai gyms (30-200 students) | Multi-location fitness businesses, large studios |
| Primary Market | Europe (France, Sweden, Portugal, Spain) | United States, global |
| Starting Price | €49/month | $159/month (~€150/month) |
| Transaction Fees | 0% | 4.6% + $0.30 per transaction |
| Setup Time | 30 minutes | 4-10 hours |
| Contract | Monthly, cancel anytime | Annual contract required |
| Support | Direct founder support, European hours | Tiered support based on plan |
Pricing Breakdown
Kombat Evolve Pricing
Simple tier-based pricing:
| Plan | Students | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | Up to 50 | €49/month | All features included |
| Growth | 51-150 | €89/month | All features included |
| Pro | 151-300 | €169/month | All features included + priority support |
No transaction fees. No setup fees. No hidden costs.
All plans include:
- Unlimited classes
- Unlimited staff accounts
- Payment processing (Stripe)
- Mobile check-in
- Belt tracking
- Member portal
- SEPA, cards, Klarna
Mindbody Pricing
From Mindbody’s official pricing:
| Plan | Price | Active Clients | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $159/month (~€150) | Up to 100 | Basic scheduling, payment processing |
| Accelerate | $259/month (~€245) | Up to 500 | Marketing tools, advanced reporting |
| Ultimate | $459/month (~€434) | Unlimited | Custom app, automations, priority support |
Plus processing fees:
- 4.6% + $0.30 per transaction
- OR use your own processor (higher base fee)
Example total cost for 100-student gym:
- Base: €245/month (Accelerate)
- Processing: ~€280/month (100 students × €60 × 4.6%)
- Total: €525/month = €6,300/year
Feature Comparison
Core Gym Management
| Feature | Kombat Evolve | Mindbody |
|---|---|---|
| Class Scheduling | ✅ Unlimited classes | ✅ Unlimited classes |
| Attendance Tracking | ✅ QR code, manual, kiosk | ✅ Mobile app, front desk |
| Payment Processing | ✅ Stripe (SEPA, cards, Klarna) | ✅ Mindbody Payments or Stripe |
| Recurring Billing | ✅ Automated | ✅ Automated |
| Member Portal | ✅ Book classes, manage account | ✅ Book classes, manage account |
| Mobile Check-In | ✅ Student app | ✅ Mindbody Consumer App |
| Contracts | ✅ Digital signing | ✅ Digital signing |
| Family Accounts | ✅ | ✅ |
Martial Arts Specific
| Feature | Kombat Evolve | Mindbody |
|---|---|---|
| Belt Tracking | ✅ Full promotion history | ⚠️ Via custom fields |
| Gi/No-Gi Class Types | ✅ Built-in templates | ⚠️ Manual setup |
| Seminar Management | ✅ One-time events with payments | ✅ Workshops |
| Competition Tracking | ✅ Results, medals | ❌ Not available |
| Post-Class Feedback | ✅ Student ratings after class | ❌ Not available |
Payments & Billing
| Feature | Kombat Evolve | Mindbody |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction Fees | ✅ 0% (Stripe standard fees only) | ❌ 4.6% + $0.30 |
| Multiple Currencies | ✅ EUR, SEK, USD, GBP | ✅ Multiple currencies |
| Payment Plans | ✅ Custom installments | ✅ Payment plans |
| Invoicing | ✅ Automatic | ✅ Automatic |
| Failed Payment Recovery | ✅ Automatic retry | ✅ Automatic retry |
Communication
| Feature | Kombat Evolve | Mindbody |
|---|---|---|
| Email Notifications | ✅ Class reminders, receipts | ✅ Automated emails |
| SMS Messaging | ⚠️ Coming Q1 2025 | ✅ SMS credits required |
| Push Notifications | ✅ Mobile app | ✅ Mobile app |
| Marketing Emails | ⚠️ Basic announcements | ✅ Advanced campaigns |
| Automated Campaigns | ❌ Not yet | ✅ Drip sequences |
Reporting & Analytics
| Feature | Kombat Evolve | Mindbody |
|---|---|---|
| Attendance Reports | ✅ By student, class, date | ✅ Comprehensive |
| Revenue Reports | ✅ Monthly, yearly | ✅ Advanced financial reports |
| Dropout/Retention | ✅ At-risk student alerts | ⚠️ Basic retention metrics |
| Custom Reports | ⚠️ Coming 2025 | ✅ 50+ report types |
| Export Data | ✅ CSV export anytime | ✅ CSV export |
Multi-Location & Staff
| Feature | Kombat Evolve | Mindbody |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Location | ✅ Gym Multi-location | ✅ Enterprise multi-location |
| Staff Scheduling | ✅ Assign instructors to classes | ✅ Advanced staff management |
| Staff Permissions | ✅ Role-based access | ✅ Granular permissions |
| Payroll Integration | ❌ Not available | ✅ Third-party integrations |
Apps & Integrations
| Feature | Kombat Evolve | Mindbody |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile App (Students) | ✅ iOS & Android | ✅ Mindbody Consumer App |
| Mobile App (Staff) | ✅ iOS & Android | ✅ Mindbody Business App |
| Branded Mobile App | ❌ Not available | ✅ Custom white-label app ($99/mo) |
| API Access | ⚠️ Coming 2025 | ✅ Full API |
What Kombat Evolve Does Better
1. Built for Martial Arts
Pre-configured for BJJ, MMA, Muay Thai:
- Belt promotion tracking (white → black)
- Gi/No-Gi class differentiation
- Seminar and competition management
- Lineage and affiliation tracking
Mindbody requires extensive customization to support these.
2. European-First Design
- SEPA Direct Debit: Native European payment processing
- Multi-Language: French, Swedish, English, Spanish, German
- GDPR Compliance: Built-in data privacy controls
- Local Payment Methods: Klarna, iDEAL, Bancontact
- EUR Pricing: No currency conversion
Mindbody is US-centric with limited European payment options.
3. Student Engagement Tools
- Post-Class Feedback: Students rate each class (15 seconds)
- Dropout Alerts: Automatic alerts when attendance declines
- Engagement Scoring: Track student satisfaction trends
- Early Intervention: Know which students need a check-in
Mindbody focuses on operations, not engagement monitoring.
4. Zero Transaction Fees
- Kombat Evolve: 0% platform fees (only Stripe’s standard 1.4-2.9%)
- Mindbody: 4.6% + $0.30 per transaction
Example savings (100 students @ €60/month):
- Kombat Evolve fees: ~€180/month (Stripe only)
- Mindbody fees: ~€280/month (4.6%)
- Annual savings: €1,200
5. Simple Setup
- Kombat Evolve: 30 minutes to launch
- Mindbody: 4-10 hours of configuration
No complex setup wizards. No overwhelming feature menus.
6. Flexible Contracts
- Kombat Evolve: Monthly, cancel anytime
- Mindbody: Annual contracts (some plans)
Test the platform risk-free.
What Mindbody Does Better
1. Marketing Automation
Advanced email campaigns:
- Drip sequences for new members
- Re-engagement campaigns
- Birthday promotions
- Abandoned cart recovery
Kombat Evolve has basic announcements only.
2. Extensive Integrations
100+ third-party integrations:
- Mailchimp, Constant Contact
- QuickBooks, Xero
- Google Analytics
- Facebook Pixel
- Zapier workflows
Kombat Evolve has 5 core integrations.
3. Custom Branded App
White-label iOS/Android app with your gym’s branding.
Kombat Evolve uses a shared student app.
4. Advanced Reporting
50+ pre-built reports:
- Financial dashboards
- Instructor performance
- Retail analytics
- Custom report builder
Kombat Evolve has essential reports only.
Who Should Choose Kombat Evolve
✅ Best fit if you:
- Run a BJJ, MMA, or Muay Thai gym
- Have 30-200 students
- Operate in Europe (France, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, Germany)
- Want martial arts-specific features (belt tracking, seminars)
- Need SEPA and European payment methods
- Prefer simple, focused software
- Want to avoid transaction fees
- Don’t need extensive marketing automation
Who Should Choose Mindbody
✅ Best fit if you:
- Run multiple locations (5+ gyms)
- Need advanced marketing campaigns
- Want a custom-branded mobile app
- Require extensive third-party integrations
- Run retail operations (merchandise, supplements)
- Have dedicated admin staff
- Operate primarily in the US
- Need enterprise-level reporting
Migration from Mindbody
How to Switch to Kombat Evolve
Week 1: Setup (2 hours)
- Create Kombat Evolve account
- Import student list (CSV export from Mindbody)
- Connect Stripe account
- Configure class schedule
- Set up membership tiers
Week 2: Parallel Run (1 week)
- Run both systems simultaneously
- Have students check in on Kombat Evolve
- Keep Mindbody for billing (transition next week)
- Verify data accuracy
Week 3: Full Migration (1 hour)
- Move all billing to Kombat Evolve
- Cancel Mindbody subscription
- Train staff on new system
- Notify students of new app
Total migration time: 4 hours spread over 3 weeks
We provide migration support at no charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I try Kombat Evolve before switching?
Yes. 30-day money-back guarantee. If it doesn’t work for your gym, full refund.
Will I lose my student data?
No. We import:
- Student information (names, emails, phones)
- Membership history
- Attendance records
- Belt ranks
All data transfers via CSV.
Do I need to change my Stripe account?
No. If you already use Stripe with Mindbody, connect the same account to Kombat Evolve. Students’ saved payment methods transfer automatically.
What happens to students’ mobile app?
Students download the Kombat Evolve app (iOS/Android). They log in with their email and can immediately:
- Book classes
- View schedule
- Update payment info
- Check attendance history
Is there a setup fee?
No. €0 setup fee. You only pay your monthly plan rate.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Monthly billing, cancel anytime. No cancellation fees.
Do you support my payment processor?
We use Stripe, which supports:
- SEPA Direct Debit
- Credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex)
- Klarna
- iDEAL (Netherlands)
- Bancontact (Belgium)
If you use a different processor, we can discuss integration options.
Summary: Key Differences
| Kombat Evolve | Mindbody | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Martial arts gyms (BJJ, MMA) | General fitness & wellness |
| Geographic Focus | Europe | United States |
| Complexity | Simple, focused features | Comprehensive, complex |
| Transaction Fees | 0% (Stripe only) | 4.6% + $0.30 |
| Setup Time | 30 minutes | 4-10 hours |
| Starting Price | €49/month | €150/month |
| Contract | Monthly | Annual (most plans) |
Get Started
Try Kombat Evolve:
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Free migration from Mindbody
- Setup in 30 minutes
- Cancel anytime
Questions?
- Email: contact@kombatevolve.com
- Live chat: Available in app
- Schedule demo: Book 15-min call
Last updated: December 2025
Disclaimer: Pricing and features are accurate as of publication. Mindbody pricing sourced from their official website. We are not affiliated with Mindbody.