How much does a branded studio app cost?

Anywhere from about £59/month as an add-on to £250–300/month on the big platforms — and some include it in their top-tier plan. Always compare the app add-on price against the tier that bundles it.

Do members book more with a branded app?

A branded app mainly strengthens habit and brand loyalty for members who already book regularly. It removes the marketplace distraction of shared apps, but it won’t fix an empty timetable on its own.

Can I start on a shared app and get a branded app later?

With most modern platforms, yes — the branded app is the same software wearing your name and icon, so upgrading later is a packaging change rather than a migration.

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14 July 2026 · 5 min read

Does your studio need its own branded app?

Your own app, with your studio’s name and icon on your members’ home screens, is the most visible upgrade studio software can offer. It’s also one of the most aggressively marketed — some platforms charge hundreds a month for it. So: status symbol, or genuinely worth it? Honestly — it depends on what stage you’re at.

What a branded app actually changes

Your brand on the home screen — the studio, not the software company, owns the moment of booking.
Push notifications under your name — class reminders and announcements read as messages from you.
No marketplace next door — in shared consumer apps, your members browse a directory that includes your competitors.
Perceived scale — for a boutique studio charging premium prices, a polished own-brand app signals you take the experience seriously.

What it doesn’t change

Bookings, credits, waitlists and payments work identically in a good shared app. A branded app doesn’t fill classes by itself — it compounds a brand that’s already strong. If the timetable is patchy or churn is high, fix that first; an app icon won’t.

When it’s worth it

Your members book weekly and live on their phones — the home-screen habit is real.
You’re building a brand you intend to grow: second studio, retreats, merchandise, community.
You’re paying premium-tier prices anyway — several platforms include the branded app at the top tier, which changes the maths completely.

When the shared app is fine

Brand-new studios, studios where most bookings happen on the web link, and anyone still testing a platform. Start on the shared app, watch how your members actually book, and upgrade when the brand argument starts making itself. The right software makes that a config change, not a migration.

Quick answers

How much does a branded studio app cost?: Anywhere from about £59/month as an add-on to £250–300/month on the big platforms — and some include it in their top-tier plan. Always compare the app add-on price against the tier that bundles it.
Do members book more with a branded app?: A branded app mainly strengthens habit and brand loyalty for members who already book regularly. It removes the marketplace distraction of shared apps, but it won’t fix an empty timetable on its own.
Can I start on a shared app and get a branded app later?: With most modern platforms, yes — the branded app is the same software wearing your name and icon, so upgrading later is a packaging change rather than a migration.