By Industry
Best Hiring Software for Gyms and Fitness Studios in 2026
Quick answer: CareerPlug and HigherMe are the names that dominate fitness hiring recommendations, both quote-only and both strong on multi-location structure. AvaHR at $99/mo is the best-value option for independent gyms and small studio groups that want transparent pricing without a sales call.
Fitness hiring has an unusual property: your best candidates are often already in the building. Members become instructors, front desk staff become trainers. That makes referral and internal application handling more valuable here than in most industries.
The rest is standard part-time hourly hiring — high turnover, schedule-driven, phone-first.
What shapes it
- Certification screening for trainers and group instructors, with a wide range of accepted bodies.
- Availability is the real constraint. Classes happen at fixed times; a great instructor who cannot cover 6am is not a hire.
- Mostly part-time, so per-employee pricing is poor value.
- Referrals matter more than in most sectors.
What it costs, side by side
| Platform | Typical monthly cost | Billed as |
|---|---|---|
| AvaHR | $99–$457/mo | Flat per plan |
| Breezy HR | $0–$439/mo | Flat per plan |
| CareerPlug | Not published | Flat per plan, unlimited users |
| HigherMe | $10/employee or $80/location/mo | Per employee or per location |
| WizeHire | $249–$549/mo | Flat per plan |
| JuggleHire | $79–$149/mo | Flat per team |
Pricing above was taken from each provider's own pricing page in August 2026. Always confirm the current numbers before buying — hiring software pricing changes often, and the three billing models in this category (flat per plan, per recruiter seat, and per employee on your payroll) make headline prices hard to compare without doing the arithmetic for your own headcount and number of open roles.
CareerPlug and HigherMe — the specialists
CareerPlug appears constantly in fitness hiring recommendations and fits well structurally: no per-user charge, so every studio manager gets access free, with location-scoped permissions. Quote-only, 12-month commitment.
HigherMe focuses on hourly and franchise hiring with text-to-apply and interview reminders that reduce no-shows — a real problem when interviewing part-time candidates. No published pricing on its own site; third-party figures start around $80 per location per month for the ATS, worth confirming directly.
AvaHR — best value for independents
AvaHR at $99/mo gives a single gym or small studio group published pricing and no sales call. Questionnaires screen certification body, class formats and — most importantly — specific availability. Employee referral tracking is available, though on the Max tier.
Limits: one user and three live jobs at $99. A gym posting trainer, front desk and group instructor is at the cap immediately, making Plus at $165/mo realistic. Texting is Max only.
Others
Breezy HR at $157/mo gives unlimited users and positions — good for a group where each studio manager reviews their own. Free tier available. WizeHire at $249/mo names fitness among its industries and bundles coaching. Workstream handles high-volume hourly well but is restaurant-shaped. JuggleHire at $79/mo is the cheapest paid option.
What to do
- Ask for availability in specific hours, not "flexible". This single change removes most wasted interviews.
- Advertise to your members. Put the role on the noticeboard and in the app before paying for job boards.
- Name the certifications you accept explicitly.
- Confirm interviews by text. Part-time candidate no-show rates are high, and reminders measurably help.
Pricing
| Platform | Plans | What that actually gets you |
|---|---|---|
| AvaHR | Lite $99 · Plus $165 · Premium $332 · Max $457+ | Per month, billed monthly; annual billing saves up to 17%. Unlimited candidates on every plan. Lite covers 3 live jobs and 1 user; Plus 50 jobs and 5 users; Premium unlimited jobs and 25 users. 7-day free trial. |
| Breezy HR | Bootstrap $0 · Startup $157 · Growth $273 · Business $439 | Per month; annual billing includes 2 months free. Unlimited users on every plan, including the free Bootstrap tier — but Bootstrap allows only 1 active position at a time. SMS and Breezy Intelligence are paid add-ons on all tiers. 14-day trial. |
| CareerPlug | Limited · Hire · Grow — prices not published | CareerPlug publishes plan tiers but not prices. Notably there is no per-user charge on any plan, so you can add every hiring manager for free. Both monthly and annual billing are 12-month commitments, and monthly billing is only offered on the top Grow tier. 14-day Grow trial, once per account lifetime. |
| HigherMe | Full Suite from $10/employee · ATS from $80/location | Aimed at quick-service restaurants and franchises. HigherMe does not publish prices on its own site; these figures come from third-party software directories and should be confirmed with HigherMe directly before you rely on them. |
| WizeHire | Quickstart $249 · Growth $549 · Concierge custom | Per month; annual billing gives 2 months free. Quickstart covers up to 3 active job postings, Growth up to 6. Extra jobs are $99/mo each and extra locations $349/mo, so cost climbs quickly if you hire in several markets. |
| JuggleHire | Light $79 · Pro $149 | Per month, flat for the whole team rather than per recruiter — Light includes 5 team members and Pro is unlimited. Light caps the database at 5,000 candidates; Pro is unlimited. Aimed at placement agencies more than direct employers. 14-day trial, card required. |
Pricing above was taken from each provider's own pricing page in August 2026. Always confirm the current numbers before buying — hiring software pricing changes often, and the three billing models in this category (flat per plan, per recruiter seat, and per employee on your payroll) make headline prices hard to compare without doing the arithmetic for your own headcount and number of open roles.
Frequently asked questions
What is an applicant tracking system?
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is software that collects job applications in one place, moves candidates through hiring stages, and handles the job postings, screening, and communication around that — instead of tracking applicants in an email inbox or a spreadsheet.
What is the best option for this use case?
HigherMe is our top pick for this use case, based on setup time, pricing, and how well it fits the way these teams actually hire — though the right choice depends on headcount and budget, which the sections above cover.
Do I need a paid ATS, or is a free plan enough?
A free plan or a job board alone is usually enough if you hire once or twice a year. Once you're running multiple open roles at a time, or more than one person is reviewing applicants, a paid ATS starts paying for itself in time saved.