Helmr vs Mindbody for Indian gyms
In short
Helmr vs Mindbody is a comparison of two products for running a gym. It covers who holds member payments, how prices are stated, per-location charges, migration, WhatsApp number ownership and data on exit. Mindbody's pages quote prices in US dollars. Helmr is in early access and built for Indian gyms.
#How they differ on the money and lock-in axes
Vendor cells come from Mindbody's own pages, read on 2 Nov 2026. "Not published for India" means the pages I read do not mention India or give a rupee figure.
| Axis | Helmr (early access) | Mindbody (sources, checked 2 Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Who holds member money, and the take rate | 0% of member payments. Money goes to the gym's own payment account, never Helmr's. | Mindbody Payments charges "a payment processing rate plus a fixed fee of $0.10 to $0.30 (in North America and Asia)" per transaction, per its pricing page. The percentage rate: not published. Indian payment processing and UPI: not published for India. |
| Price structure | Early access. Price per business plus a per-branch add-on, published before launch. | In US dollars, per location. Individual plan prices are not shown on the page, see below. Rupee pricing: not published for India. |
| Branch pricing | A per-branch add-on, published before launch. | Quoted "per location" on the pricing page. |
| Migration | Free, assisted and included, as a commitment. | "We offer a data transfer service (fees may apply)." No onboarding fee on any plan. |
| WhatsApp number | Your members hear from your own WhatsApp number. The WhatsApp rail Helmr uses already runs my own studio's number since 22 Oct 2026. | Not published on the pricing or payments pages. |
| Data on exit | You export it: members, payments, invoices, attendance. Export stays available for 30 days after cancellation, per helmr.in/pricing. | Not published on the pricing or payments pages. |
| Indian ownership and support | Built for Indian gyms. Early access support is by WhatsApp. | The site footer names MINDBODY, Inc. Its site offers English (North America), English (Australia), English (United Kingdom), Spanish, French and Italian, and no Indian version. |
#How much does Mindbody cost?
Mindbody lists three plans, Starter, Accelerate and Ultimate, plus an Enterprise tier that is "Let's talk". Its pricing page (checked 2 Nov 2026) says "Starting at $99 USD/month per location". The same page's FAQ says "Starting at $79 USD/month (North America and Asia)" and does not explain the difference between the two figures. Prices for each plan are not shown.
Other points from that page, checked 2 Nov 2026:
- Payment fees: a rate plus $0.10 to $0.30 per transaction in North America and Asia, as above.
- Setup: "There's no onboarding fee on any Mindbody plan." Premium implementation and custom data conversion are priced separately.
- Consumer app: a fee of 20%, capped at $30 USD, applies to a new client's first purchase through the Mindbody app.
- Add-ons: AI Concierge and a branded app are add-ons on Accelerate. The branded app is also an add-on on Ultimate. Add-on prices are not shown.
- Trial: not published on the page.
- Regions: "Not all features are available in all regions or on all tiers."
Rupee pricing, Indian payment processing and UPI: not published for India. The payments page lists local payment methods "across 40+ countries" and does not mention India. If you are in India, ask Mindbody for a rupee quote in writing, with GST shown.
#What Helmr is building
Helmr is building one gym app for the owner, front desk and coach. It plans to cover billing with GST invoices, PT commission per delivered session, payroll, QR kiosk check-in and biometric attendance through ESSL and ZKTeco devices with a bridge, where templates stay on the device and QR is always the alternative. For multi-location gyms it plans a business, brand and branch structure, with a GSTIN and payment account per branch. None of it is live today. The multi-branch gym guide explains the setup.
#Mindbody alternatives for Indian gyms
Helmr is the early-access option made for Indian gyms. It commits to 0% of member payments, a price per business plus a per-branch add-on published in rupees before launch, free assisted migration, and your own WhatsApp number for members. See best gym software in India for the wider list, and Helmr vs MyGymDesk for another India-built product.
#Questions to ask any vendor before you sign
- What is the full price in rupees, with GST, for one branch and for three?
- What do you take from each member payment, and does it work with UPI?
- Is migration free, who does it, and how long does it take?
- Which WhatsApp number do my members hear from, and who pays Meta's per-message charges?
- If I cancel, what can I export, and for how long?
- How long is the contract, and can the price change during it?
#Sources
- Mindbody pricing: https://www.mindbodyonline.com/business/pricing (checked 2 Nov 2026)
- Mindbody payments: https://www.mindbodyonline.com/business/payments (checked 2 Nov 2026)
- Mindbody home: https://www.mindbodyonline.com/ (checked 2 Nov 2026)
- Helmr pricing page: https://helmr.in/pricing
#Where Helmr fits
Helmr, gym management software for India, is in early access. To see the commitments in writing, message us on WhatsApp. If you are leaving another tool, the switch gym software guide has a checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Does Mindbody publish prices in rupees?
Not for India. Its pricing page, read on 2 Nov 2026, quotes US dollars and does not mention India.
How much is Mindbody per month?
The pricing page says "Starting at $99 USD/month per location", and its FAQ says "Starting at $79 USD/month (North America and Asia)". Checked 2 Nov 2026.
Does Mindbody support UPI?
Not published for India. The pages I read do not mention UPI or India.
Does Helmr take a cut of member payments?
No. Helmr commits to 0% of member payments. Money goes to the gym's own payment account, never Helmr's.