Comparison
BudoHQ vs Zen Planner
Zen Planner is a capable management platform used across fitness and martial arts. BudoHQ is purpose-built for martial arts schools, with belt and rank progressions front and center, flat per-school pricing, a built-in marketing toolkit, and an optional AI assistant.
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | BudoHQ | Zen Planner |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat price per school — unlimited students | Scales with members — verify current pricing on their site |
| Students & family management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Recurring billing & invoices | ✓ | ✓ |
| Class scheduling & attendance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Belt & rank progressions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lead capture & follow-up | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-in email & SMS | ✓ | Varies / add-on |
| Parent & student portal + online store | Included on Pro | Varies |
| Gamification (badges & challenges) | Included on Pro | Limited |
| Page builder for landing pages | Included on Pro | — |
| Optional AI assistant | Add-on ($49/mo) | — |
| Your own custom domain | Included on Pro | Varies |
| Multiple locations | Discounted per extra school | Varies |
| Long-term contract required | No | Varies |
Zen Planner details are based on publicly available information and may change — please verify current features and pricing on their website. Zen Planner is a trademark of its respective owner; this comparison is provided for informational purposes and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Zen Planner.
Where Zen Planner does well
- • Mature, full-featured platform
- • Works across many fitness business types
- • Robust reporting
It comes down to fit. If you want flat per-school pricing, built-in marketing, a parent/student portal, and optional AI — read on.
Why schools choose BudoHQ
Flat, predictable pricing
One price per school with unlimited students and families — your bill doesn't climb every time you sign a new student.
Optional AI that does the busywork
The AI add-on drafts emails and texts, summarizes leads, nurtures new leads automatically, and even builds your automations — something most school software simply doesn't offer.
Everything in one place
Students, billing, scheduling, attendance, belts, leads, marketing, and a parent/student portal — no bolt-on tools or duct-taped spreadsheets.
Built for the way schools actually run
A clean, modern interface your front desk will actually enjoy using — built specifically for martial arts schools.
Questions, answered
- Is BudoHQ a good Zen Planner alternative?
- Yes — especially for schools that want martial-arts-first features (belts, ranks, testing) plus marketing and AI, at a flat per-school price with unlimited students.
- Is BudoHQ only for martial arts?
- Yes, BudoHQ is built specifically for martial arts schools — so the belt/rank, testing, and class workflows fit how dojos actually run.
- Can I migrate from Zen Planner?
- We'll help you import your students, billing, and schedules to get started quickly.
See BudoHQ for yourself
Start today, or book a quick demo and we’ll show you exactly how it fits your school.