Best GymSym Alternative: Exercise.com vs. GymSym

Exercise.com: Your GymSym Alternative

Why Choose Exercise.com?

Here are five reasons why fitness professionals use Exercise.com vs. GymSym.

 

 

If you’re ready to get started with an easy-to-navigate, all-in-one fitness software, designed to fuel your business, request a demo with Exercise.com today.

And, if you want to see how GymSym’s additional features stack up to Exercise.com software features, check out our in-depth guide below.

What is GymSym?

GymSym was founded in 2016 by entrepreneur and physiotherapist Deepinder Kaur. After working in a gym, learning the day-to-day managerial duties, and working from a paper spreadsheet system, Kaur put her domain knowledge to use through Salesforce and developed GymSym to assist with business management.

GymSym seeks to solve the problems many gym managers face: real-time scheduling, reports, marketing, personalized layouts, and more in an easily-accessible app. However, despite extensive research, GymSym veils many details about pricing, packages, and provided features. As a consumer, you need all the information on the product you’re considering purchasing and how it changes your business strategies. In many ways, GymSym is a risky investment simply because you’re not sure what is included with their software.

GymSym is run through Salesforce, a customer relations management solution that allows companies to deliver customized services to their customers. While Salesforce is an appreciated company, it is somewhat limiting.

GymSym is only available through AppExchange–apps owned and supported by Salesforce. This means GymSym isn’t available in your phone’s app store; instead, each user must have a Salesforce account in order to use GymSym. It also means GymSym is only compatible with other Salesforce apps and marketing integrations. This can be another hurdle for managers to overcome when using GymSym.

GymSym’s website describes the software as an all-in-one gym management system. The listed features include:

• Member Management: Create member profiles with contact information, plus track member communication, automated renewals, multiple staff members, reports and sales.
• Booking and Scheduling: In real-time, manage class scheduling, cancellations, automated reminders and updates, invoicing and recurring payments, and view class attendees.
• Personal Training: In GymSym’s app, view and manage classes, send reminders through email and SMS, and notify attendees of delays or cancellations.
• Reports and Dashboards: Customizable drag-and-drop menus and dashboards create reports that can be exported to Microsoft Excel or sent via email.

While these are all necessary functions of business management software, there’s nothing unique to GymSym that makes it stand out in a sea of booking and scheduling services. But most importantly, GymSym offers no special features that stimulate business growth.

In contrast, Exercise.com is a comprehensive platform. Not only do we excel at member management, have real-time booking and scheduling services, and a plethora of targeted reports, but we also offer limitless ecommerce opportunities and a customized website and app that grow your business through customer engagement. Personal trainers and clients alike love our personalized workout creator, nutrition planner, and performance assessment features!

Most importantly, Exercise.com’s features are clear, public, and easy to understand!

To learn how to use GymSym, refer to our article, “How do I use GymSym?”

Unless otherwise stated, all images and reviews below are of/about the Exercise.com All-In-One Fitness Business Management software platform.

Fitness Business Management Software

In your fast-paced fitness center, you need reliable business management software that does all the small tasks for you so that you can stay engaged with your staff and customers.

GymSym promises to meet these needs with automated services, scheduling, and renewals. But as you’ll see below, the Exercise.com fitness business management software platform meets these needs in a more comprehensive way.

Client/Class Scheduling

GymSym provides standard class and client scheduling services in real-time, such as creating recurring and one-time classes, custom invoicing and recurring payments, sending automatic reminders and updates, and rescheduling and refunds. However, one major deficit is that there is only an admin app, and only staff have access to the schedule. Without a customer app, clients and customers cannot make their own bookings; this must all be done by the staff either in-person or over the phone.

This is confusing and frustrating for staff and clients alike! Most customers expect the freedom and capability to schedule their own appointments, don’t have time, or forget to schedule an appointment. When scheduling is a struggle, it’s an easy excuse to drop membership.

GymSym’s booking system reduces opportunities to engage customers and build revenue, hindering your business growth.

Not so with Exercise.com! We provide booking and scheduling features personalized to your preferences and business needs, but unlike GymSym, everyone has access to the schedule in your own custom-branded app and website! Customers can easily view your schedule, book an appointment or class, and receive automatic reminders via text or email.

Gym/Facility Management

GymSym charges $40 a month per user account. This account may be shared between all staff or each staff member may have their own account synced to the same fitness center schedule. We will discuss the challenges of this policy in the pricing section of this review, but the main implication is that GymSym doesn’t allow personalized staff privileges without spending hundreds of dollars on their software.

In contrast, Exercise.com allows unlimited staff members to access the software without an upcharge per employee. Even better, you can customize all staff privileges. Perform other managerial duties with ease, like payroll, tax reports, and more.

Business Dashboard Reports

GymSym has features for reports and dashboards such as customizable reporting, data export, and customizable dashboards. Similarly, Exercise.com also allows for a customizable dashboard with business dashboard reports that can be easily customized. With Exercise.com, you can run custom reports on different areas of your business, such as your revenue, staff, or clients.

Client Automation

GymSym does have automated email and SMS reminders and updates for classes and appointments, as well as an automated membership renewal. Exercise.com goes beyond standard customer reminders and instead automates services that can eat away at your productivity such as:

• Send automatic emails for recurring appointments, classes, or customized messages
• Automatically charge and receive payments
• Deliver workouts and resources automatically
• Customize and automate reminders, alerts, and notifications to be sent through your app, text, or email

Dedicated Zapier Support

Although Exercise.com provides our clients with dozens of integrations, sometimes you need an extra boost. Exercise.com partners with Zapier so your web apps can automatically–and without coding–share data for increased business efficiency. Zapier has over 2,000 apps to choose from so your business runs efficiently and delivers a positive, personalized customer experience every time. Best of all, Zapier guides you through every step of the process!

This is a perk that is not included with GymSym; in fact, because GymSym is limited to exclusive Salesforce apps, you can be restricting your business efficiency.

Dedicated Account Manager

Exercise.com takes customer service very seriously, so we appoint a dedicated account manager to guide you through the creation and set-up process of your custom-branded app and website. But we do more than that! Your account manager is there to assist, alter, or troubleshoot anything with your account at any time in the future!

Your account manager can redesign your website to fit your changing needs, set up an e-commerce store, add other integrations, and so much more! From the mundane to the complex, we have you covered. Unlike GymSym and other business management competitors that offer a trial, one-time set-up, or limited customer service access, we’re always here for you!

Customized Software

GymSym’s strongest selling point is the customization of layouts, templates, user roles and access, reports, and dashboards. And while this might grab your attention because customized services create loyal customers, GymSym’s customization only goes so far.

GymSym only customizes admin features; it doesn’t prioritize or celebrate your personal brand, nor does backend admin customization influence a customer’s fitness experience. So, while you might be able to create a customized report to see how many members attend the 8 AM yoga class, this is not the personalized customer service your members expect.

Further, because GymSym doesn’t offer a customer app, customers have no way to engage with your brand, much less have a personalized fitness experience. This further detracts from brand engagement and can promote attrition.

On the other hand, Exercise.com software puts your brand front and center so that your customers are constantly engaged with your brand. We do this by personalizing a custom website and app for your business, plus dozens of other personalized features with communication and e-commerce! Keep reading to learn more!

Custom-Branded

As one author puts it, personalized services are no longer nice to have–they are a necessity in all aspects of the customer service experience. Customers have grown to expect personalized services. Businesses that don’t prioritize personalization are easily replaced by ones that do.

This is an area in which GymSym is greatly lacking: it doesn’t create a personalized customer experience. But Exercise.com seeks to give full customer satisfaction, and that starts by prioritizing your brand!

At Exercise.com, we’re just as excited about your brand as you are! We support you every step of the way to completely personalize your business platform. Your members can download your custom-branded gym app and will have access to all of your resources, promotions, and policies. Your platform is designed for your business, so you decide what gets featured!

iOS & Android Apps

GymSym can be run on iOS and Android devices–but it must be downloaded and run through Salesforce.

Far better, your business’s custom-branded Exercise.com app can be easily searched and downloaded in any app store! This makes your business and brand accessible to everyone and increases customer engagement. Additionally, Exercise.com sends automatic email, text, reminders, and alerts, plus workout, resource, and assessment deliveries through your app!

Websites

When checking into your business, the first place potential customers land is your business website. But if your website looks outdated or doesn’t have organized and accessible information, potential customers quickly look up the next gym down the street. Instead, your website has to grab their attention, give clear information, and keep them interested.

GymSym doesn’t offer any website creation or support services. This means you’ll have to spend precious time–or money outsourcing to a web designer–on your website.

But building and running a custom-branded, SEO-optimized gym website is part of the Exercise.com software platform! Our secure, SEO-optimized website converts visitors to leads and keeps members engaged with your brand. You can enjoy creating and personalizing your website with unlimited theme changes, custom graphic work, colors, features, custom dev, and more. We’re here for tech support every step of the way. (Plus, we’re a Google Certified Partner!)

Security Features

GymSym doesn’t state how payments are made and processed, nor does it remark on the security of members’ personal information.

But Exercise.com provides the highest standard of security for payment processing and storing clients’ health information. Our websites and apps are SSL Secure, client information is protected with the internationally secure Privacy Shield Framework, and we utilize Google Cloud for storing and transferring data. Payments are made and processed through Stripe.

Marketing Integrations

GymSym can only integrate with apps and software Salesforce supports. And while some of these are big-name companies like Google Suite and Microsoft Office, there are many fitness businesses that use other management software. In order to use GymSym, you may need to convert files over to a Salesforce-compatible program first. This can be a lot of admin hours and a huge headache!

But Exercise.com software integrates with an abundance of popular integrations such as:

• MailChimp
• ConstantContact
• ConvertKit
• Zapier
• Google Analytics
• Facebook Pixel
• And more!

We can integrate with just about every program, making Exercise.com one of the most versatile and valuable fitness management platforms around!

Workout Software

It’s one thing to convert potential customers to members, and it’s another to keep members committed to your gym and their fitness journey! Exercise.com workout software designed for personal trainers has dozens of ways to keep your members motivated and coming back for more!

GymSym has two main trainer functions: first, the ability to view their schedules and class attendees, and second, to send reminders or notifications to their clients. But these functions are the bare minimum and more of a courtesy service than a personalized experience.

According to GymSym’s website, trainers can only view their schedule–they can’t alter it or edit information. This creates a host of potential admin challenges!

Additionally, customers can only receive notifications; there’s no back-and-forth communication with their trainer that is essential for client retention. Not to mention, GymSym is missing key ways to engage customers. Luckily, Exercise.com has endless options! Let’s look more closely at what Exercise.com offers!

Workout Creator/Logger

Exercise.com has a state-of-the-art workout creator and logger to keep clients engaged and motivated towards meeting their fitness goals. Our workout creator and logger delivers personalized customer service that promotes customer satisfaction and retention! And it’s a feature GymSym doesn’t offer.

Far from old-school paper handouts, trainers can tailor workout programs for the needs of each individual client. Select pre-designed workouts or individual exercises to assign to each client. This creates a personalized customer experience while keeping your trainers productive! Clients can then view and log their workout anytime, anywhere and communicate with their trainer using your custom-branded app. To top it off, client progress is easily tracked!

Exercise.com knows that every trainer-client relationship is different, so our workout creator/logger provides users with endless possibilities for delivering workouts, tips, and encouragement to clients in any scenario, including:

1-on-1 Training

Exercise.com software keeps your clients laser-focused on their fitness success. With customized workout and nutrition plans, goals and progress reports, performance and fitness assessments, resource files, and trainer communication all easily accessible in your brand’s app, clients have everything they need to stay on track and motivated! Workouts are easy for trainers to create and clients to log–plus they can perform their workouts anytime, anywhere for better program adherence.

Group Training

People are more inclined to exercise when they are socially connected and accountable. Exercise.com maximizes this potential by enabling group training! Trainers can run a group similar to 1-on-1 training by assigning exercises, providing resources, and giving support. Group participants can also encourage one another, which boosts social connection and customer retention.

Online Training

In today’s fast-paced society, online training is becoming increasingly popular. With Exercise.com, you can capitalize on every business opportunity by providing online training services to traveling athletes or busy professionals. Clients don’t even need to check into the gym because Exercise.com provides an extensive video and exercise library that gives clear instructions for clients to follow. Stay in constant communication with clients via the app for increased customer satisfaction!

Exercise Library

Exercise.com is proud to provide an extensive library of educational and instructional exercise videos. These can be used to build customized workouts for clients that give clear instructions on proper form. Additionally, you can link to your YouTube or Vimeo accounts to provide a personalized touch with your own videos!

This is a feature unique to Exercise.com and is not included with GymSym. Users of GymSym will need to provide their own pictures and videos of exercises and send them to clients separately. This can be an inefficient system, and after a few weeks of training, the conglomeration of media can become confusing to clients. Far better, Exercise.com keeps all media organized and in one spot: your custom-branded app!

Custom Exercises

Exercise.com has dozens of professional videos of standard exercises, but perhaps you have a client who needs an exercise modified due to an injury or you attended a continuing education course that demoed a new exercise you’d like your client to try. Simply upload a video to your personalized exercise library and use it in your client’s program! The video is saved in your library and can be used for other clients.

TV Workouts

Another facet of our exercise library is the ability to cast exercise demos onto a gym television screen during group classes or one-on-one training sessions. This is yet another way Exercise.com promotes that personal touch so many customers are looking for when choosing a gym!

Gym Ecommerce Software

Gym memberships and personal training are only one side of the fitness business coin. Ecommerce is becoming more and more essential to fitness business growth! Unfortunately, with GymSym, there are no ecommerce capabilities beyond accepting mobile membership renewal payments.

In essence, GymSym squelches your business growth by reducing the opportunities for customers to engage with your brand.

But e-commerce is yet another area where Exercise.com excels! We have endless e-commerce capabilities within our gym ecommerce software to fit your brand. Check out just a few popular ways Exercise.com grows your business through e-commerce!

Payment Processing

GymSym doesn’t specify how membership payments are processed. Exercise.com uses the security of Stripe for all payments. Whether it’s membership purchases, automated renewals, an e-commerce store, a workout plan purchase, or any other purchase, you can assure your customers that their payment and personal information is protected.

Sell Products

Sell anything with your personalized ecommerce store! From workout gear to supplements and nutrition bars, you can list anything in your store! Want to boost your brand and advertise your business? Create apparel, bumper stickers, water bottles, and more that your members can use in the community to creatively advertise your business.

Sell Workout Plans

A major competitor to your fitness center isn’t the gym down the street but actually at-home workout plans. Gym memberships are often the first thing to drop when finances get tight, and many people try to achieve their fitness aspirations by trialing that trending workout plan their co-worker is using. But without accountability and encouragement from your positive gym culture, these decisions often result in the previous member losing motivation and failing to meet their goals.

With the Exercise.com software platform, we enable you to meet this competition head-on and keep your members engaged with your brand by creating and selling your own workout plans! There’s no limit to how many workout plans you can sell, so the more you offer, the greater your profit!

Offer Online Workout Memberships

Every gym has customers who want a high level of personalization for their workout program. GymSym allows for general memberships through Salesforce. Exercise.com specifically allows for workout memberships permitting you to create customized workouts in advance and deliver these automatically so your client always has a new workout to perform at their location of choice. This saves you time, increases customer satisfaction, and boosts your revenue!

Sell Workout Challenges

There’s nothing like a little in-house competition to engage clients and promote your brand! Workout challenges are a fun way for gym members to channel their competitive spirit, push themselves, and cheer on other gym members at the same time. With the Exercise.com customizable and automated software platform, this is an effortless way to boost revenue and encourage a positive gym culture! All you have to do is award the winner!

Fitness Assessments

In order for trainers to be effective, they must evaluate the health and performance of their clients before beginning intense training. Periodic re-evaluation helps trainers know how to tweak the client’s program for improved results and view progress.

Although documents can be uploaded in GymSym, it can be difficult for clients to locate their assessments. Not to mention, this system creates a lot of paperwork for trainers to manually fill out, save, and send to clients.

But Exercise.com’s fitness assessment software keeps everything in one place so it’s easily accessible for trainers and clients alike!

Assessments

Initial assessments help your clients see their baseline, and periodic re-assessments are often very motivating to your clients as they see their progress. Assessments help guide trainers to make appropriate fitness decisions so clients can maximize their potential. Personalize your own assessment template to fit your needs, plus all our assessments are quick and easy to complete! Assessments can be automatically delivered to clients and stored in the app for effortless accessibility.

Performance & Measurement Reports

Exercise.com’s personalized interactions keep your customers engaged and motivated on their fitness journey. Send workout reminders, goal achievements, recurring assessments, progress photos, measurements, and more–all automatically! This increases customer engagement without adding extra managerial tasks.

Nutrition

The best fitness software wouldn’t be complete without a nutrition feature! Clients can easily log and track their daily dietary intake and whether they prioritize pre and/or post-workout meals. This keeps clients on track to meet their fitness goals and improves customer satisfaction.

GymSym Pricing

So, how much does GymSym cost? GymSym has a base pay of $40 a month per user account. This account can be shared amongst all staff, or an account can be purchased for each staff member. But both of these approaches are problematic for management.

Purchasing an account for every staff member adds up quickly. For example, a medium-sized staff of 10 employees would be $400 a month–just for business software! If you’re a larger business or use contract trainers or instructors, this amount could easily double.

GymSym’s price per account can actually hinder your business growth because hiring additional staff cuts at your profit.

To avoid this upcharge, many managers might try to have one staff account, but this approach holds its own unique challenges. Every manager would agree that there are certain business reports, functions, and features that are reserved only for the manager. But GymSym’s system gives the entire staff complete managerial access to the whole business! Reports, private health information, customer payment, and contact information, business data, and more are all accessible to be altered, sold, or deleted by other employees. This is a huge risk and liability issue for your business!

With the Exercise.com platform, you have no need to worry. Under one monthly payment, you can add as many staff members as you need. Staff permissions can be personalized depending on unique roles so that you stay the manager of your business and protects your clients’ private information!

GymSym Alternatives

GymSym’s competitors include:

• Acuity Scheduling
• My PT Hub
• Zen Planner
• Vagaro
• Mindbody
• Rhinofit

And of course, Exercise.com!

The Bottom Line: Pros and Cons

Behind every thriving business is a stellar business management platform. It’s one area of your business where corners shouldn’t be cut! So where do GymSym and Exercise.com fall on the spectrum of business management platforms?

GymSym Cons

GymSym makes a noteworthy effort to meet the needs of fitness centers. However, there are some major shortfalls, such as:

• There is no customer app. Customers must schedule in-person or over the phone, which is frustrating for the customer and adds time-consuming admin duties. Additionally, without a customer app, customers have no way to stay engaged with your business, log workouts, view their progress or assessments, or purchase additional services with e-commerce.
• There’s no easy way to have multiple staff accounts. Either all employees have the same business-altering privileges as the manager, or you’ll spend an arm and a leg so employees can have separate accounts.
• There are no e-commerce opportunities to further engage customers.

Exercise.com Pros

Exercise.com personalizes your business software to fit the needs of your business! Your custom-branded website and app (with an account manager to help you indefinitely!) help convert leads to customers, bookings are easily accessible to customers and staff, and the exercise library and performance assessments provide a personalized touch. With the addition of countless marketing integrations, automated services, e-commerce opportunities, and more, your business is bound to succeed!

Exercise.com makes your business platform decision easy! We’re here to help your business grow. Ready to get started? Book a demo today!