Walla vs. Mindbody

Choosing the Right Fit for Your Studio

The Smart Studio’s Choice: Walla vs Arketa

The right platform is essential for fitness and wellness studios to thrive in today’s competitive landscape. While Arketa markets itself as a simple solution, that simplicity often comes at the cost of functionality and scalability. On the other hand, Walla offers the simplicity you need to start, combined with the advanced tools to grow—making it the clear choice for studios looking to scale smarter and faster.This in-depth comparison breaks down how Walla and Arketa stack up across core features, advanced capabilities, and overall usability.

Both Walla and Mindbody are robust platforms built to help fitness and wellness businesses run smoothly—from scheduling and payments to marketing and reporting. But their approach to user experience, automation, and platform control differs in ways that matter.
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Below is a side-by-side breakdown to help you evaluate the right solution for your business—whether you're just getting started or managing multiple locations.

⚠️ Recent Platform Update: Mindbody & Client Login Changes

As of July 2025, Mindbody no longer allows studios to edit client email addresses or reset passwords. This update is part of a shift toward centralized login, where client account access is managed by the platform.

While this streamlines login for consumers across the Mindbody ecosystem, it also limits a studio’s ability to directly support clients with basic account needs.

Walla takes a different approach—studio teams retain full control over client records and profiles, including contact updates and password resets.

Head-to-Head Features: Walla vs. Mindbody

Feature

Walla

Mindbody

Scheduling



Easy-to-use scheduling for classes, appointments, and events. Built-in reminders reduce no-shows.



Comprehensive scheduling tools for classes and staff. Some setup complexity.

Membership Management



Automated billing, renewals, and upgrades with client self-service options.



Supports flexible memberships with manual configuration options.

Payment Processing



Fully integrated with Stripe. Supports discounts, gift cards, and retail inventory.



Stripe integration and POS tools. Setup may require additional configuration.

Waivers & Contracts



Digital document hosting, e-signature support, and centralized client records.



E-signatures supported. Document management is available but less streamlined.

Staff Management



Permissions, sub management, and scheduling built into the platform.



Includes payroll and reporting, often through integrations.

Reporting



Real-time performance insights and AI-powered client retention forecasting.



Standard reporting for attendance, revenue, and staff performance.

Advanced capabilities

Feature

Walla

Mindbody

Automation



Automates bookings, cancellations, renewals, and reminders via email or SMS.



Offers automation, but advanced workflows require configuration and maintenance.

Marketing



Native tools for email campaigns, newsletters, push notifications, and promo messages—plus AI content generation.



Built-in campaign tools available. May require third-party platforms for advanced use.

AI Features



Includes WallaPredict: AI-powered retention insights and email personalization.



Limited AI functionality. Reporting and marketing tools are primarily manual.

Client Engagement



Clean, modern booking experience with personalized communications and reminders.



Includes follow-ups and surveys. Client experience depends on custom setup.

Integrations & Flexibility

Feature

Walla

Mindbody

Third-Party Integrations



Connects with Google, Meta, and other key tools. Core platform is built to minimize reliance on external software.



Broad integration library, including CRMs and marketing platforms. Adds complexity and cost.

Marketing Integrations



Built-in marketing tools—no external email service required.



Often paired with Mailchimp or Constant Contact for email marketing.

Payment Processing



Stripe-based system supports flexible billing and plan types.



Stripe + POS integration available.

User Experience

Feature

Walla

Mindbody

Interface Design



Modern, intuitive interface designed for ease of use.



Feature-rich, but interface is dated and can feel complex.

Mobile Apps



Clean, easy-to-navigate apps for both staff and clients.



Standard apps for clients and staff. Customization is limited.

Custom Branding



Studio-branded experiences available on mobile and web.



Branding options are limited; platform emphasizes Mindbody’s identity.

Client Portal



Streamlined for bookings, schedule management, and payments.



Functional portal with advanced features. User experience may vary by setup.

Scalability & Pricing

Feature

Walla

Mindbody

Best Fit



Designed for fitness and wellness businesses of all sizes—single location to franchise.



Suited for studios, wellness centers, and growing multi-site operations.

Scalability



Scales easily with tools for multi-location and franchise support.



Supports larger and more complex businesses well.

Pricing



Starts at $199/month. No surprise fees for core features.



Starts at $129/month. Advanced features often come with additional fees.

How Walla Delivers More Than Simplicity

Walla simplifies operations without sacrificing reliability.

Membership Tools That Work: Freeze, upgrade, and manage memberships without glitches—unlike Mindbody's error-prone system.
Automated Reminders and Waitlists: Reduce no-shows and fill open class spots automatically with Walla’s built-in workflows.
Client Self-Service Portal: Clients can manage bookings, payments, and memberships without contacting staff.

Mindbody’s complexity doesn't work under pressure. Walla delivers tools that work every day.

Product Feature Headline

While Mindbody's tools stop at the basics, Walla goes further with AI-powered features and advanced automation that make scaling your business easier.

AI-Powered Retention: WallaPredict pinpoints clients at risk of leaving and suggests actionable steps like discounts or re-engagement campaigns.
Behavior-Based Marketing: Target messaging based on client activity, such as missed classes or frequent attendance.
Customizable Reporting: Track revenue, attendance, and retention trends in real time.

Product Feature Headline

While Mindbody's tools stop at the basics, Walla goes further with AI-powered features and advanced automation that make scaling your business easier.

AI-Powered Retention: WallaPredict pinpoints clients at risk of leaving and suggests actionable steps like discounts or re-engagement campaigns.
Behavior-Based Marketing: Target messaging based on client activity, such as missed classes or frequent attendance.
Customizable Reporting: Track revenue, attendance, and retention trends in real time.

Product Feature Headline

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Why Mindbody Falls Short

Core features you can't count on

Memberships don’t process correctly. Waitlists disappear. Booking links break. Mindbody's recurring glitches in essential features create daily headaches for staff — forcing them to troubleshoot tech instead of focusing on clients. The result? Lost revenue, poor client experience, and trust that’s hard to rebuild.

Product Feature Headline

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Product Feature Headline

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Key Differences at a Glance: Why studios choose Walla



Good design

Modern, user-friendly design improves staff efficiency and client engagement



AI tools

AI-powered tools like WallaPredict help you understand and retain clients



Client control

Full client data access and control—including emails and password resets

Why Studios Choose Mindbody



Industry history

Long-established platform with wide feature depth and market recognition



Integrations

Strong integration ecosystem for businesses that rely on third-party systems



Multi-industry

Robust tools for enterprise and multi-service operations

Thinking of Switching? Here’s What to Expect

Switching platforms doesn’t have to be hard. Walla offers white-glove onboarding to help migrate:

Client records and membership
Schedules and staff settings
Contracts and waivers
Reporting and data insights

You don’t lose momentum—you gain flexibility.

Which platform is right for you?

Choose Walla if you want a platform that:

Simplifies operations
Delivers actionable insights
Gives you full control of your studio’s client experience
Supports your growth without hidden costs

Choose Mindbody if you prioritize:

Deep third-party integrations
A legacy platform with extensive functionality
Tools tailored to larger, complex businesses—even if the UI is dated

What's next in AI for Walla

Spot at-risk members—before they disappear

WallaPredict flags subtle signs of disengagement so you can step in early with the right message at the right time:

Know exactly who’s at risk with clear member-level insights
Use auto-generated tags and filters to target retention campaigns
Be proactive without added guesswork or manual tracking

Turn insights into action with built-in next steps

WallaPredict goes beyond alerts—it shows you how to act:

Get custom recommendations based on each member’s behavior
Prioritize outreach with the highest potential return
Automate personalized re-engagement strategies

Backed by Amazon, built for boutique studios

Developed in partnership with AWS, WallaPredict offers unmatched accuracy and reliability:

Enterprise-level machine learning tailored for fitness studios
Built-in scalability, security, and performance
Always improving with industry-leading infrastructure

Tap into a mainstream, mobile-friendly studio class booking solution.

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Experience a Modern Approach to Studio Management

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