7 Must-Have Platforms for a Membership Sales Chatbot for Gyms & Fitness

ManyChat has become a household name for businesses seeking to automate conversations on Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and SMS. Its visual flow builder allows gym owners to craft guided conversations that can answer membership questions, book trial classes, and push promotional offers—all while collecting user data for segmentation. ManyChat’s integration with Shopify and various e‑commerce platforms means you can automatically recommend classes or merchandise based on a member’s past purchases. The platform also offers broadcast capabilities, enabling you to send bulk updates about class schedules or new programs. While ManyChat excels in social media engagement and offers a free tier for small businesses, it requires a paid plan for advanced features like multi‑channel messaging, automation rules, and API access. The pricing structure starts at $10/month for the Pro plan, scaling up for larger audiences. For fitness businesses that rely heavily on social media and want a cost‑effective way to nurture leads through Messenger, ManyChat offers a quick‑to‑deploy solution. However, its focus on social platforms means it may not deliver the same level of integration with website widgets or e‑commerce stores as some competitors.

Chatfuel is a popular chatbot builder that excels at automating conversations on Facebook Messenger and Telegram. With a block‑based interface, fitness businesses can create guided paths that answer FAQs, schedule sessions, and promote membership packages. Chatfuel’s integration with Zapier allows for data transfer to CRMs, email marketing tools, and other third‑party services, making it a versatile choice for studios that want to funnel leads into their existing marketing stack. The platform offers an e‑commerce plugin for Shopify, enabling dynamic product recommendations and checkout flows within Messenger. While Chatfuel provides a free plan for basic usage, advanced features such as custom AI models, API access, and multi‑channel support come with a paid plan starting at $15/month. Gym owners who prioritize Messenger engagement and need a low‑code solution with robust Zapier integration will find Chatfuel useful. However, the platform’s focus on messaging apps means it may not offer the same level of on‑site widget customization or AI‑driven knowledge bases as newer entrants.

Intercom is a comprehensive customer messaging platform that combines live chat, bots, and email automation. For fitness studios, Intercom’s chatbot can handle membership inquiries, schedule classes, and push personalized offers based on user behavior. Its advanced segmentation and product catalog integration enable the bot to recommend specific classes or merchandise. Intercom also offers a knowledge base that can be linked directly to chatbot responses, ensuring consistent information across channels. However, Intercom’s pricing is on the higher end, with plans starting at $39/month for the Essential tier and scaling up for larger teams and additional features. If your gym already uses Intercom for support or marketing, adding a chatbot can streamline lead qualification and reduce response times. The platform’s robust analytics and integration ecosystem make it a solid choice for data‑driven studios, though the cost may be prohibitive for smaller operations.

Drift focuses on conversational marketing, turning website visitors into qualified leads through chatbots and automated messaging. For gyms and studios, Drift can greet prospects, collect contact details, and schedule consultations or trial classes. The platform offers a visual builder that allows non‑technical users to set up flows, and its integration with Salesforce, HubSpot, and other CRMs ensures that captured leads are immediately added to your marketing funnel. Drift’s pricing starts at $50/month for the Growth plan, with higher tiers for larger teams and advanced features like dynamic content and AI‑powered chat. Drift is ideal for studios that need a proactive chat solution on their website and want to integrate closely with their existing marketing stack. However, its focus on B2B lead generation and limited native e‑commerce integrations may not fully meet the needs of fitness businesses heavily reliant on e‑commerce sales.

Tidio blends live chat and chatbot functionality into a single platform, offering real‑time support and automated conversation flows. Fitness businesses can use Tidio to answer membership questions, schedule sessions, and provide personalized recommendations. The platform supports website widgets that can be embedded on any site, and its integration with Shopify allows the bot to recommend classes or merchandise based on cart contents. Tidio also offers email marketing integration via Zapier, giving studios a way to nurture leads after the chat session. Tidio’s pricing is tiered: a free plan with basic features, a Starter plan at $18/month, and a Premium plan at $29/month. While it may not have the advanced AI knowledge base that some competitors offer, its ease of use and affordable pricing make it a solid choice for small to mid‑size gyms.

MobileMonkey is a multi‑channel chatbot platform that specializes in Facebook Messenger, SMS, and web chat. For fitness studios, the platform offers a visual flow builder that can guide prospects through membership options, schedule classes, and offer personalized workout plans. MobileMonkey’s integration with Zapier and HubSpot enables data transfer to CRMs and email marketing tools. The platform also provides broadcast features to send bulk updates on class schedules or special offers. Pricing starts at $29/month for the Pro plan, with a higher Growth plan for larger audiences. While MobileMonkey excels at multi‑channel messaging and offers a free tier, it is more focused on social media engagement than on providing deep on‑site chatbot customization or AI‑driven knowledge bases. For studios that rely heavily on Messenger and SMS outreach, MobileMonkey can be a valuable tool.