Mako

Mako is a web-based retention review and studio CRM for Pilates, yoga, barre and HIIT businesses. It suits operators who want attendance changes to trigger staff action while bookings, memberships and payments stay in one system. Pulse is genuinely useful without the CRM, while the paid plans make sense only when a studio needs the broader operating stack.

Overview

Mako’s core idea is practical: compare a member’s recent visits and rebooking activity with that member’s normal pattern, then assign an internal follow-up. This gives staff a specific reason to contact someone whose attendance has changed, rather than relying on broad monthly totals. Studios can use Mako’s own records or bring in compatible CSV or Excel attendance exports.

The separate CRM covers customer records, bookings, classes, memberships, invoices, payments, staff and reporting. Clients can book online, with services, staff availability and reminders shown on the calendar. That combination is strongest for studios replacing several administrative workflows at once; a business wanting only attendance signals can stay with Pulse and avoid the CRM subscription.

Key features

Retention workflow

Pulse reviews recent attendance and rebooking against each member’s usual pattern and supports internal follow-up assignments. It is a focused retention-monitoring tool, not a free trial of the full CRM: CRM access is purchased separately.

Studio operations

Mako CRM brings records, class and membership administration, invoicing, payments, staff management and reporting together. Online booking and calendar reminders reduce the need to coordinate those tasks elsewhere. Sales-pipeline functionality is also included in the product’s feature set.

Payments, messaging and integrations

Where enabled, customers can pay by credit card, debit card or ACH bank transfer through Stripe. Stripe payment processing and two-way Google Calendar synchronization are described as integrations; QuickBooks Online is marked in progress. Each CRM location includes 1,500 outbound US SMS segments per monthly usage cycle, and sending pauses when that allowance is reached. The plans also list 5,000 provider-accepted outbound email recipients, so studios should size campaigns around those quotas.

Security and data handling

Mako’s stated safeguards include TLS/HTTPS encryption in transit, organization-level row security, role-based access controls, verified authentication and API rate limiting. Stripe handles payment processing, while Mako does not directly store card or bank-account details. Deleted account data remains in a 30-day recovery period before permanent deletion. Support and data-practice questions go to [email protected].

Pricing

Mako Pulse

Pulse costs 0.00 USD, billed free, and requires an account. It includes attendance review, retention signals and internal follow-up tasks. Mako CRM is not included, making this the right choice for a studio that needs a lightweight retention process rather than scheduling, billing and membership administration.

Mako CRM annual introductory offer

The annual Back to School offer is displayed as $89 a month equivalent, billed as 1,068 USD upfront for the first year, then 1,548 USD per year, plus applicable tax. It covers the first location, unlimited staff, all available CRM features, 1,500 outbound US SMS segments per monthly cycle and 5,000 provider-accepted outbound email recipients. The upfront commitment lowers the monthly equivalent during the first year but requires cash payment and renews at the higher annual amount.

Mako CRM monthly introductory offer

The monthly Back to School offer costs $99 a month for the first six months, then $159 a month, plus applicable tax. It covers one location, unlimited staff, all available CRM features and the same listed SMS and email allowances. This avoids an annual upfront payment, but the renewal increase arrives after six months. Paid CRM therefore starts at $159 a month once introductory pricing ends.

A guided CRM demo requires a valid work email and says no credit card is required. Both paid offers are limited to one location, so multi-site operators should confirm expansion terms before committing.

Platforms

Mako runs on the web. No native mobile platform is included in its platform offering.

Who it's for

Mako is a strong fit for fitness studios that want attendance-led retention follow-up alongside bookings, memberships, payments and reporting. Pulse is particularly suitable for a studio that already has operational tools but needs a dedicated retention review. The CRM plans are better for a single-location operator consolidating systems and able to work within the SMS allowance. Multi-location businesses, studios dependent on QuickBooks Online now, or teams needing mobile apps should look carefully at alternatives.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Actionable retention review: attendance and rebooking changes are tied to internal follow-up tasks.
• Broad studio CRM: records, classes, memberships, invoices, payments, staff and reporting share one system.
• Free entry point: Pulse can be used without paying for CRM features.
• Flexible payment support: Stripe can process cards and ACH where enabled.
• Clear security controls: encryption, row security, role controls and rate limiting address core account protections.

Cons

• One-location paid plans: the listed CRM offers cover only a first location.
• Renewal increases: introductory pricing rises to 1,548 USD annually or 159.00 USD monthly.
• SMS ceiling: sending stops at 1,500 outbound US SMS segments per monthly cycle for each CRM location.
• Integration gap: QuickBooks Online is still marked in progress.
• Web-only access: there is no native Android or iOS option in the platform offering.

Alternatives

For a wider category shortlist, see Fitness CRM Software and Salon Commission Management Software.

• BuddyPT Fitness CRM is the better pick when Android or iOS access and client-count-based plans matter; its free Starter plan supports 10 clients, with paid Growth and Professional tiers.
• TatvaCRM suits teams wanting a web CRM with a forever-free tier for three users, 1,000 records, one pipeline and 100 MB storage.
• UrbanGym is aimed at smaller gyms needing a free single-location plan for up to 50 members, two staff accounts and 100 SMS per month.
• MapleConnect is worth considering for a flat per-account CRM with automation rather than Mako’s location-based structure.
• GymSales is an alternative for businesses prepared to agree subscription terms and pay separately for optional SMS credits.
• Cratio CRM fits organizations seeking Android, iOS and API access with a five-user minimum on its Pro plan.
• GymShakti is designed around per-member pricing for growing gyms, starting at ₹6 per member per month for 26–50 members.
• Mywellness CRM is an alternative for studios focused on structured programs, questionnaires and functional tests.

Verdict

Choose Mako if you run a single-location fitness studio and want retention signals, follow-up tasks and everyday CRM operations in one web service. Its strongest reason to buy is the connection between attendance changes and staff action; its main reason to look elsewhere is the one-location structure, SMS cap, renewal pricing and web-only access. Pulse is the sensible starting point when retention review is the priority, while the CRM earns its cost when Mako can replace several operational systems.