Who's In vs Vagaro
Vagaro started in the salon and beauty industry. Who's In Studio was purpose-built for fitness — multi-room class scheduling, instructor profiles, and automatic waitlists, from $19/mo.
All features included · No credit card required
Last updated: March 20, 2026
Who's In
From $19/mo • Fitness-First
- Multi-room class scheduling from $19/mo
- Built for group fitness, not salon appointments
- Automatic waitlist with WhatsApp notifications
- Client self-booking — no accounts needed
- Apple & Google Wallet passes for class bookings
- Real-time QR check-in scanner (multi-admin)
- Only 2.7% fee on paid bookings
Vagaro
Affordable • Salon-Centric • Versatile
- Affordable entry point ($25/mo)
- Good appointment-based booking
- Automated email & text reminders
- Salon/beauty focused — fitness is secondary
- Add-on costs for basic features ($10+/mo each)
- Weak multi-location support
- Limited fitness-specific reporting
- No WhatsApp integration
Vagaro Books Haircuts.
You Teach Classes.
Vagaro was built for one-on-one salon appointments — haircuts, facials, massages. Its class scheduling exists, but it's an afterthought bolted onto an appointment system.
Who's In Studio was designed from day one for group fitness. Multi-room scheduling, capacity management, waitlists, class packs, and instructor profiles are core features — not add-ons.
💰 Vagaro: $25/mo base + $10/mo per add-on. Who's In Studio: from $19/mo — 2.7% on paid bookings only.
Vagaro's Salon-First Limitations for Fitness
- • Appointment-centric booking model
- • Class scheduling is secondary workflow
- • Limited multi-room/space management
- • No WhatsApp-native client communication
- • Add-on pricing for forms, marketing, payroll
- • Consumer marketplace focused on beauty
- • Weak group fitness reporting
- • No instructor-specific public pages
Who's In Studio: Built for Group Fitness
- Multi-room class scheduling as the core experience
- Automatic waitlist promotion with WhatsApp alerts
- Instructor profiles with public booking pages
- Class packs & memberships — no add-on fees
- Configurable booking windows & cancellation policies
- Community-first — yoga, pilates, dance, martial arts, CrossFit
- Apple & Google Wallet passes — clients tap to check in
- Real-time QR check-in with multi-admin scanning
- LinkedIn verified organizer badges
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Who's In | Vagaro |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Subscription | From $19/mo (Starter) | $25+/mo per user (as of March 2026, subject to change) |
| Transaction Fee | 2.7% flat | 2.75% (Vagaro payments) |
| Primary Use Case | Group fitness classes | Salon appointments |
| Guest Account Required | No — self-booking | Yes — Vagaro account |
| Multi-Room Scheduling | Included — core feature | Basic — single calendar focus |
| Automatic Waitlist | Included + WhatsApp alerts | Basic waitlist |
| Instructor Profiles | Included — public pages | Staff profiles (internal) |
| Class Packs | Included | Available (paid plans) |
| Memberships | Included | Available (paid plans) |
| Booking Window Config | Included — configurable | Available |
| Cancellation Policies | Included — configurable | Available |
| WhatsApp Sharing & Alerts | Native | No |
| Appointment Booking | Class-focused | Core strength |
| Salon/Beauty Features | No | Comprehensive |
| Marketing Add-ons | Basic | $10/mo per add-on |
| Email & Text Reminders | WhatsApp + push | Email + SMS |
| Payment Processing | Stripe (2.7%) | Vagaro Pay (2.75%) |
| Consumer Marketplace | No | Yes — beauty-focused |
| Payroll | No | $10/mo add-on |
| Apple & Google Wallet Passes | Included — clients tap to check in | No |
| QR Check-In Scanner | Included — multi-admin real-time | No |
| LinkedIn Verified Badges | Included — organizer trust signals | No |
| Setup Complexity | Minutes | Hours |
Who's In is Perfect For
Yoga Studios
Multi-room scheduling built for group classes
Dance Classes
Drop-in and series booking with class packs
Group Fitness
HIIT, bootcamp, CrossFit box scheduling
Martial Arts
Belt-level classes with capacity management
Pilates Studios
Reformer & mat class booking with waitlists
Wellness & Meditation
Sound baths, breathwork, and mindfulness sessions
Running a salon or spa? Vagaro is built for you. Running a fitness studio? Who's In Studio is built for you.
Why Fitness Studios Switched from Vagaro
"Vagaro was great for my friend's hair salon, but for my yoga studio it felt backwards. Classes were a secondary feature. Who's In Studio was built for exactly what I do."
Michelle L.
Yoga Studio Owner
"I was paying $25/mo for Vagaro plus $10 for forms, $10 for marketing — it adds up fast. Who's In Studio gives me everything I need for my dance classes starting at $19/mo with no add-on fees."
Carlos D.
Dance Instructor
"My clients hated creating Vagaro accounts just to book a class. With Who's In, they tap a link, pick a time, done. No app download, no login. Attendance jumped 25%."
Jake P.
CrossFit Box Owner
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Who's In Studio a good Vagaro alternative for fitness?▼
Yes, especially for group fitness. While Vagaro excels at salon and beauty appointment booking, Who's In Studio is purpose-built for class-based businesses — multi-room scheduling, automatic waitlists with WhatsApp alerts, instructor profiles, and class packs are all core features, not add-ons. Plans start at $19/mo with no per-feature add-on costs.
How much does Vagaro cost vs Who's In Studio?▼
Vagaro starts at $25/mo per user, but essential features like custom forms ($10/mo), marketing tools ($10/mo), and payroll ($10/mo) are paid add-ons. Who's In Studio starts at $19/mo (Starter) or $49/mo (Growth) with all core features included — you pay 2.7% on paid class bookings only. (Vagaro pricing as of March 2026, subject to change.)
Can I switch from Vagaro to Who's In Studio easily?▼
Yes. Export your client list from Vagaro and share your new Who's In Studio booking page. Since clients don't need to create accounts, there's zero migration friction — they just bookmark your studio page and start self-booking.
Does Who's In Studio handle appointment-based booking like Vagaro?▼
Who's In Studio is optimized for group class scheduling, not one-on-one appointments. If you run a salon or spa with individual appointment slots, Vagaro is likely a better fit. If you run group classes, Who's In Studio is purpose-built for that workflow.
Does Who's In Studio have a consumer marketplace?▼
No. Vagaro's consumer marketplace is focused on beauty and salon services. Who's In Studio helps you manage and grow the community you already have — with scheduling, waitlists, instructor pages, and social sharing tools including WhatsApp-native notifications, all included from $19/mo.
Can my instructors manage their own schedules?▼
Yes. Each instructor gets a public profile page with their class schedule, bio, and direct booking link. Clients can find and book classes directly from an instructor's page. This is included in all Who's In Studio plans starting at $19/mo.
Fitness Studios Deserve Fitness Software
Stop forcing group classes into a salon booking tool. Try Who's In Studio from $19/mo.
From $19/mo • No add-on fees • Only 2.7% on paid bookings · All features included
