EFC vs. Mindbody
Purpose-Built for Martial Arts vs. Generic Fitness Platform
EFC has been purpose-built exclusively for martial arts and dance schools since 1967. Every feature, every workflow, every training resource is designed specifically for martial arts and dance education—not adapted from wellness or salon software.
Mindbody is a well-known platform originally built for yoga studios, salons, and spas—then adapted for gyms and fitness. It's powerful but complex, expensive, and wasn't designed for martial arts schools.
Mindbody is a well-known platform originally built for yoga studios, salons, and spas—then adapted for gyms and fitness. It's powerful but complex, expensive, and wasn't designed for martial arts schools.
Feature
EFC
Gymdesk
Website Included
Website Included
Conversion-optimised
Website Included
Paid add-on
Base Pricing
Base Pricing
All-inclusive membership
Base Pricing
Starts $179+ USD/month
Hidden Fees
Hidden Fees
None
Hidden Fees
Many additional costs
App Commission
App Commission
No commissions
App Commission
20% on new bookings (capped $30)
CRM & Lead Management
CRM & Lead Management
Martial arts-specific
CRM & Lead Management
Generic fitness CRM
Payment Processing
Payment Processing
Integrated Direct Debit
Payment Processing
Mindbody Payments required
Local ANZ Support
Local ANZ Support
Real humans, local team
Local ANZ Support
Global support only
Student Fee Follow-Up
Student Fee Follow-Up
Team chases overdue accounts
Student Fee Follow-Up
DIY only
Martial Arts Specific
Martial Arts Specific
Built for martial arts 58 years
Martial Arts Specific
Adapted from wellness/spa
Dance Schools
Dance Schools
Martial arts AND dance
Dance Schools
Generic fitness only
Business Coaching
Business Coaching
50+ strategies & templates
Business Coaching
Not available
Community Access
Community Access
Global martial arts network
Community Access
Not available
Live Events
Live Events
Regional Summit included
Live Events
Not available
Belt/Rank Tracking
Belt/Rank Tracking
Purpose-built for martial arts
Belt/Rank Tracking
Basic add-on feature
Mobile App
Mobile App
FREE, branded for your school
Mobile App
Branded app (additional cost)
Ease of Use
Ease of Use
Simple, intuitive
Ease of Use
Complex, steep learning curve
Setup Complexity
Setup Complexity
2-4 weeks guided
Setup Complexity
Can take months
Best For
Best For
Martial arts & dance schools
Best For
Large multi-service facilities
What Makes EFC Different From Mindbody?
EFC
Mindbody
Why it matters
Purpose-Built for Martial Arts vs. Adapted Wellness Software
EFC
Specializing in martial arts and dance schools since 1967 with features—like belt tracking and grading—designed specifically for industry-leading education.
Mindbody
Originally created for wellness, salons, and spas, Mindbody expanded into gyms and fitness, now serving martial arts as one of many industries.
Why It Matters
EFC aligns with martial arts school operations—handling rank progressions, grading eligibility, and specialized retention strategies effortlessly.
Transparent Pricing vs. Hidden Fees
EFC
Clear, all-inclusive pricing with no hidden fees. Includes website, CRM, billing, coaching, community, support, and apps. No setup or annual administration fees.
Mindbody
Pricing starts at $179 USD/month plus 20% booking commissions, with extra fees for branded apps, professional services, and access to higher-tier features.
Why It Matters
Mindbody’s base price plus hidden fees can total $300-600+ AUD monthly. EFC offers more features at a predictable, all-inclusive cost.
Simple & Intuitive vs. Complex & Overwhelming
EFC
Designed for martial arts school owners, not IT professionals. Clean interface focused on daily tasks you actually need. Most schools are fully operational within 2-4 weeks.
Mindbody
Feature-rich but notoriously complex, with a steep learning curve and setup process designed primarily for large-scale spas, salons, and wellness centers.
Why It Matters
You opened a martial arts school to teach, not master software. EFC’s simplicity ensures faster implementation and more time focusing on your students.
Local Australia & New Zealand Support vs. Global Support
EFC
Based in Australia with ANZ-wide support. Real humans via email, phone, Zoom, and chat. We understand your local market, time zones, and compliance requirements.
Mindbody
Global company with offshore support centres. Staff may not understand Australian banking systems, Direct Debit requirements, or local market conditions.
Why It Matters
Get immediate help from locals who understand Australian banking and time zones—no need to explain domestic issues to international support teams.
Student Fee Follow-Up Service
EFC
Our team actually chases overdue student accounts for you. When a payment fails, we handle the follow-up. On average, 96% of collections successful on first attempt.
Mindbody
Automated billing and payment processing, but you're responsible for all follow-up on failed payments. You must personally chase overdue accounts and handle collections.
Why It Matters
The average school spends 5-10 hours per week chasing payments. With EFC, that time is freed up to teach, market, and grow your school.
Business Coaching & Martial Arts Community
EFC
Access EFC Academy’s 50+ lead-generation strategies, templates, and systems. Connect with martial arts school owners across six countries who understand your challenges.
Mindbody
Software-only focus without coaching, community, or growth training. You receive technical support, but must navigate business growth on your own.
Why It Matters
Software doesn't grow your school—systems do. EFC provides the proven playbook that's helped thousands of martial arts schools succeed over 58 years.
Website Included vs. Paid Add-On
EFC
Mobile-optimised, conversion-focused websites—included in your plan. EFC Websites (powered by Abbi.ai) uses AI to outrank local competition on Google.
Mindbody
Website is a paid add-on or you must maintain your own site separately. Many schools pay separately for website design, hosting, and maintenance.
Why It Matters
Your 24/7 salesperson: an EFC high-converting website feeding leads to your CRM, avoiding the extra fees Mindbody charges for basic website services.
No Commissions on New Student Leads
EFC
When someone finds your school and books a trial, you pay nothing extra. No commissions, no per-transaction fees on new student acquisitions. You keep 100% of your enrolment revenue.
Mindbody
When a new client discovers your studio through the Mindbody app and makes a purchase, there's a 20% commission on the total purchase price (capped at $30 per transaction).
Why It Matters
A $150 trial membership costs you $30 in commissions through Mindbody. Over a year, these commissions add up to thousands of dollars. EFC never takes commissions on your student enrolments.
How EFC's Complete System Works Together
This is what "complete growth system" means: Every piece connects. No manual data entry between platforms. No leads lost in transition. No logging into multiple tools to run your school.
When you factor in Mindbody's add-ons, commissions, and hidden fees, EFC's complete martial arts-specific system provides significantly better value.
See the Complete System in Action
Leads
Trial & Enrolment
Retention
Black Belt
Who Should Choose EFC Over Mindbody?
EFC
Choose EFC if you want:
Purpose-built martial arts and dance software (not adapted spa software)
Transparent pricing with no hidden fees or commissions
Website included (not a paid add-on)
Local Australia & New Zealand support in your time zone
Student fee follow-up handled by our team
Business coaching and proven growth systems included
Simple, intuitive platform built for martial arts
A partner with 58 years martial arts experience
No commissions on new student enrolments
Mindbody
Choose Mindbody if you:
Run a large multi-service facility (spa + gym + yoga + martial arts)
Need extensive marketplace exposure (willing to pay 20% commissions)
Want access to Mindbody's large consumer app (2.8M+ users)
Have dedicated IT staff to manage complex software
Are comfortable with US-based global support
Don't mind paying separately for website, coaching, and add-ons
Prefer a well-known brand regardless of cost
Common Questions About EFC vs. Mindbody
Can I import all my data from Mindbody?
Yes. Our onboarding team handles the complete migration from Mindbody to EFC. Mindbody makes data export available, and we handle the technical work.
Is EFC really simpler than Mindbody?
Yes. Because EFC is purpose-built for martial arts and dance schools, you won't see features designed for hair salons, massage therapists, or yoga studios cluttering your interface. Most school owners are surprised at how intuitive EFC is compared to Mindbody's complexity.
What about Mindbody's consumer marketplace with 2.8M users?
While the Mindbody app has many users, most martial arts schools find their best students come from their own marketing, local search, and referrals—not from marketplace discovery. Plus, you pay 20% commission on every new student from the marketplace. EFC helps you build your own marketing engine without ongoing commissions.
How much will I actually save switching from Mindbody?
Most schools save $300-500+/month AUD when they factor in Mindbody's subscription, website add-on, commissions, and extra fees. Plus, you gain business coaching and local support that would cost hundreds more per month separately.
Is the transition difficult from Mindbody?
Our onboarding team has helped many schools migrate from Mindbody. We handle the technical work, data migration, and training. Most schools say the transition is smoother than they expected, and they wish they'd switched sooner.
.jpg)
Compare EFC to Other Platforms
See EFC in Action
Schedule a personalized demo and see how EFC's complete growth system works for a school like yours.
Schedule A Demo
.jpg)