1club is what martial arts software looks like today.
For most small and mid-sized martial arts schools in 2026, 1club is the strongest pick: modern AI-native tools, belt and rank tracking, family billing, and a free plan for up to 100 members with a free mobile app. Kicksite is a long-established, martial-arts-dedicated platform, a solid choice for schools that prefer a traditional system over newer, AI-assisted tools.
Both are built for academies, but they take different approaches. Here's how 1club's martial arts software compares to Kicksite in 2026.
Members can't book or cancel classes themselves. No waitlisting, no 24/7 self-service portal. Everything runs through you or your front desk.
Kicksite includes unlimited one-way SMS. Members can't reply. It's broadcast communication, not a real conversation. On 1club, SMS is two-way, and replies land in the same inbox as email and WhatsApp.
Kicksite has no AI capabilities at any price point. No insights, no automation, no intelligent setup. Every task is manual, every report is something you have to go find yourself.
Kicksite has no app in the App Store or Google Play. Members add a Kicksite web page to their home screen. Not a real app, and not your brand.
1club was very easy to set up and easy to use - members and staff love it. The communication tools are great - group messages, automated reminders, it all works. We are way more organized than before. I'd recommend it to any martial arts gym owner.
Here's a side-by-side overview of how 1club and Kicksite compare across the features that matter most - from daily operations and member experience to total cost and AI capabilities.
| Feature | 1club | Kicksite |
|---|---|---|
| AI-Capabilities | 1club has AI-CapabilitiesBuilt-in across the entire platform | Kicksite does not have AI-CapabilitiesNo AI capabilities in any plan |
| Online self-service bookings | 1club has Online self-service bookingsMembers book and cancel 24/7 | Kicksite does not have Online self-service bookingsNot available |
| Waitlisting | 1club has WaitlistingAutomatic when classes fill | Kicksite does not have WaitlistingNot available |
| Modern User Interface | 1club has Modern User InterfaceModern, clean design - intuitive for owners, staff, and members from day one
| Kicksite does not have Modern User InterfaceInterface launched in 2006. Owners and members consistently report it as dated, clunky, and requiring too many clicks |
| Modern Member-Facing Experience | 1club has Modern Member-Facing ExperienceSeamless self-service booking, payments, and profile management | Kicksite does not have Modern Member-Facing ExperienceMember app is limited in functionality. Multiple owners report booking on behalf of members manually |
| Belt & progression tracking | 1club has Belt & progression trackingFull rank and milestone tracking | Kicksite has Belt & progression trackingFull belt tracking |
| Attendance tracking | 1club has Attendance trackingKiosk, portal, and app | Kicksite has Attendance trackingPIN and barcode kiosk |
| Automated Payment Processing | 1club has Automated Payment ProcessingTransparent flat-rate processing via Stripe and other processors | Kicksite has Automated Payment Processing⚠️ Via Basys partner |
| Member communication | 1club has Member communicationEmail, two-way SMS, WhatsApp, and push notifications | Kicksite has Member communicationEmail + one-way SMS |
| Website Builder | 1club has Website BuilderAI-built, SEO and AI-optimised - modern, sleek, natively integrated with scheduling, plans, and booking | Kicksite has Website BuilderWebsite add-on available |
| Membership Management | 1club has Membership ManagementComprehensive membership management with AI insights | Kicksite has Membership ManagementSolid membership management |
| Class Scheduling | 1club has Class SchedulingAdvanced scheduling with capacity control, waitlisting, and dynamic pricing | Kicksite has Class SchedulingFull scheduling and class management |
| Marketing Automation | 1club has Marketing AutomationIncluded in 1club Grow
| Kicksite does not have Marketing AutomationBasic automated alerts only |
| Reputation Management | 1club has Reputation ManagementAI-driven review collection and management directly within the platform | Kicksite does not have Reputation ManagementNot available |
| Branded mobile app | 1club has Branded mobile appAdd-on ($99/month) | Kicksite does not have Branded mobile appNot available |
| Family accounts | 1club has Family accountsOne login to manage the whole family | Kicksite does not have Family accountsNot available |
| Free plan | 1club has Free planGenuinely free - up to 100 active members, core features, no credit card required
| Kicksite does not have Free planNo free plan |
Two trusted platforms. Different approaches. Choose the one that fits your goals.
No credit card required
No free plan
1club is AI-native from day one - member management, scheduling, billing, reporting, reputation management, and an AI-built website, all in one place, all working with you. Members book themselves, reviews collect automatically, and your marketing runs without you lifting a finger.
Kicksite has been around for nearly two decades. No AI at any price, no self-service bookings, one-way texting, and a website that's sold separately. For school owners who want more than manual, it increasingly falls short.
Free forever
Up to 100 active members, core features, no credit card required
$63/month (Run)
Member management, attendance tracking, scheduling, billing, AI agents, AI Insights, belt tracking, family accounts, branded member portal and mobile app
$369/month (Grow)
Everything in Run, plus AI-built branded website, marketing automation, and reputation management
Branded Mobile App
$99/month add-on
20% discount on annual plans
No free plan
$49/month
0–25 students
$99/month
26–50 students
$149/month
51–100 students
$199/month
101+ students
Website design and local search visibility are sold separately
At 100 students, Kicksite costs $149/month. 1club Run costs $63/month, with AI, online self-service bookings, and a full member portal that Kicksite doesn’t offer at any price.
Based on published pricing at the time of writing.
For a full breakdown across disciplines, read our guide to Kicksite alternatives for martial arts schools.
Yes. Members book, cancel, and join waitlists through the member portal or mobile app, 24/7. No back-and-forth, no front-desk bottleneck.
Yes, free onboarding and data migration are included in the paid plans, guided by our team with AI support with no downtime.
Yes. 1club includes belt and progression tracking, family accounts, attendance tracking, and automated billing - everything a martial arts school needs. And because it supports all fitness business types, your platform grows with you if your school expands or diversifies.