Choosing the right booking system is one of the most important decisions a UK class provider can make. From children’s activity clubs and fitness instructors to wellness coaches and dog trainers, the system you pick will shape how you take payments, manage bookings, and save time on admin.
Four names often come up: Book That In, ClassForKids, Gymcatch, and BookWhen. Each offers tools for online booking, but they differ in features, pricing, and focus. This guide provides a transparent comparison, based on available information, to help you decide which is right for your business.
1. Payment handling
- Book That In – Works with Stripe to take secure card payments. Flexible enough to cover PAYG, block bookings, subscriptions, and trials. It also supports features like automated retries for failed payments and card updates without extra admin. You can learn more about BTI’s online booking system if payments are your biggest challenge.
- ClassForKids – Uses Stripe for online payments. Supports term bookings and recurring payments. Commonly used by children’s clubs to take payments for blocks or terms.
- Gymcatch – Supports Stripe and GoCardless. Strong focus on PAYG and membership passes, with support for bundles and block bookings.
- BookWhen – Supports Stripe and PayPal. Offers PAYG and passes, though recurring subscription management is less advanced.
2. Subscription and recurring billing
- Book That In – Supports weekly, monthly, termly, and annual subscriptions with options like minimum terms, trials, pauses, and auto re-enrolment. This makes it suitable for class providers who want predictable income alongside flexibility.
- ClassForKids – Strong for term-based payments. Rolling subscriptions are not a core focus.
- Gymcatch – Supports memberships and passes for fitness businesses. Subscription tools are used mainly for gyms and studios.
- BookWhen – Provides passes and flexible payment options. Recurring billing exists but is less comprehensive for long-term subscriptions.
3. Trials and tasters
- Book That In – Includes built-in trial functionality, so you can offer free or discounted tasters and then convert customers smoothly into ongoing bookings. It’s all handled within the same system.
- ClassForKids – Trial classes can be created, but conversion to ongoing bookings may involve extra steps.
- Gymcatch – Does not market a dedicated trial function, though PAYG can be used as a taster option.
- BookWhen – Allows free or discounted sessions but does not emphasise trial-to-subscription workflows.
4. Marketing and customer growth tools
- Book That In – Offers automation for reminders, re-enrolments, and follow-ups. It also provides a marketplace where customers can discover new classes, which can help with visibility without extra marketing spend.
- ClassForKids – Provides a parent-facing marketplace mainly focused on children’s activities. Includes parent communication tools.
- Gymcatch – Provides in-app booking and membership management. Marketing tools are limited compared to dedicated class platforms.BookWhen – Offers booking pages and email confirmations. Marketing automation tools are minimal.
5. Ease of use and scalability
- Book That In – Built to scale with your business. Suitable for solo providers, those managing multiple locations, or even franchise operations. Features like staff scheduling and brand consistency make expansion easier. If you’re thinking long-term, BTI’s franchise tools are worth considering.
- ClassForKids – Designed mainly for children’s activity providers. Works well for term-based models but is less flexible across other sectors.
- Gymcatch – Strong fit for individual fitness instructors and small gyms. Less tailored for children’s activity settings.
- BookWhen – Broadly applicable across different sectors. Good for event-style bookings but less focused on recurring class models.
6. Pricing comparison
- Book That In – Uses a transparent pay-per-booking model, with no large upfront costs. This means affordability for small providers while still giving access to advanced tools. More information is available on BTI’s homepage.
- ClassForKids – Takes a percentage of booking fees plus transaction charges. Costs increase with booking volume.
- Gymcatch – Monthly subscription pricing at competitive entry points. Good value for fitness businesses but may lack class-specific tools.
- BookWhen – Monthly subscription with tiered pricing depending on usage. Cost-effective for low-volume users but less flexible for complex class models.
Final decision guidance
For children’s activities and class-based businesses, Book That In provides one of the most tailored mixes of subscriptions, trials, and automation tools. Its pay-per-booking pricing keeps costs predictable while giving you advanced features like auto re-enrolment and franchise support.
ClassForKids is a strong choice for term-based children’s providers. Gymcatch works well for fitness-focused businesses, while BookWhen provides flexibility across events and general bookings.
Ultimately, your choice depends on your business model. For those who want a system that grows from PAYG to subscriptions, single classes to franchises, Book That In is positioned as a complete, scalable solution for UK class providers. If you’d like to see what others think, the reviews page shares experiences from providers already using it. Ready to see how it can work for you? Book your demo today.