AMES

AMES is enrolment and activity-management software for operators running recurring classes, from swim schools to dance studios and martial arts academies. It is best suited to providers that need bookings, attendance, payments and family communication to work together. Its no-subscription Standard plan keeps fixed costs down, but transaction and service charges still matter.

Overview

AMES brings class scheduling, enrolment, attendance and parent communication into one workflow. Families can register online, use a parent portal and book through mobile flows; staff can manage class capacity, record absences and handle rosters. That combination is more relevant to a class-based operator than to a business seeking general-purpose booking software.

The company began in 2020 after its founder, an activity-business operator, struggled to find software suited to this type of organisation. AMES says it serves businesses from independent teachers to multi-location enterprises, though member bands and custom terms shape how its transaction pricing scales.

Key features

Bookings and class administration

Class scheduling includes occupancy visibility and waitlists, while families can book multiple classes and enrol siblings. Those tools help operators handle capacity and family registrations in the same system. Staff roster management is also included, making the platform broader than a booking form alone.

Payments, absences and communication

AMES Pay supports card, Apple Pay and Google Pay through Stripe Connect, as well as GoCardless Direct Debit for recurring class fees. Attendance and absence records can generate credits, and parents can book replacement sessions when availability rules allow. Parent updates, reminders and message history sit alongside automated absence and credit notifications, reducing the need to manage those exchanges separately.

Payment-provider processing fees are separate from the AMES fee. SMS, phone services—including number rental—and metered AI also carry separate charges, so a provider should account for service usage as well as successful payment volume.

Integrations, security and onboarding

Listed integrations include Google Calendar, Xero, QuickBooks, Gmail, Outlook, Facebook, Instagram and Google Reviews. AMES says custom API integrations can be built during onboarding. It also says it helps import member data, configure the system with a team and provide support after launch. Its stated security measures include GDPR UK and EU compliance, PCI DSS via Stripe Connect, TLS 1.3 and AES-256 encryption, and immutable audit logs.

Pricing

AMES uses a freemium model and offers a free plan and free trial. The supplied Standard terms describe no monthly platform subscription and no setup fee; the charge is a transaction fee on successful payments collected through AMES, with a standard starting rate of 1.25 % per contact. This structure favors operators wary of a fixed monthly platform bill, but it does not eliminate payment-processing or service costs.

Member bands blend into an effective rate: the first 150 members are charged at 1.25%, the next 350 at 1.00%, the next 1,500 at 0.75%, and the next 8,000 at 0.50%. At 10,000 or more members, custom terms are agreed. The lower band rates may suit larger operators, while the starting rate and additional charges are important for smaller providers weighing per-payment costs.

Platforms

AMES is available on Android, iOS and the web, giving families mobile booking options while keeping the service accessible through a browser.

Who it's for

AMES is a strong fit for swim schools, dance studios, martial arts academies, gymnastics clubs and other businesses built around scheduled classes. Its connected handling of enrolment, payments, attendance, absences and parent updates is particularly useful where replacement sessions and recurring fees are part of the routine. It is less compelling for an operator whose needs do not center on classes or who wants a predictable platform subscription rather than transaction-linked charges.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Class capacity, waitlists, sibling enrolment and multi-class bookings address common family and scheduling needs in one workflow.
• Pros: Recurring Direct Debit, card and wallet payments sit alongside absence credits and replacement-session booking.
• Pros: No monthly platform subscription or setup fee on Standard avoids fixed platform charges.
• Cons: The Standard fee applies to successful payments, and provider processing fees are additional.
• Cons: SMS, phone services and metered AI are separately charged, so total costs depend on usage.
• Cons: Operators at 10,000 or more members need custom terms rather than a stated band rate.

Alternatives

For a camp-focused comparison, browse Camp Management Software; for music tuition scheduling, see Music Lesson Scheduling Software.

• CampOrganizer may suit event-based camp providers who prefer usage pricing: it charges €0.25 per participant per event or €1.00 per participant per day, with no fixed monthly subscription and unlimited sessions, staff and parents.
• SixSevenBall Camp Management is a web-only option for coaches who can work within its free cap of one team, 12 players and three saved plays, or pay $29 a month for up to five teams, 100 players and 50 AI credits.
• Camp Network offers free, pay-as-you-go registration software, with transaction fees typically paid by participants; that may appeal to camps prioritizing that pricing approach.
• eCamp is another free option, available on web, Windows and Linux.
• Summer Camp Portal is worth considering for managed hosting, with setup, onboarding, updates, backups, monitoring and priority support; pricing is custom.
• nextRec is another paid option for readers comparing recreation software.
• ACTIVE Camp & Class Manager is a paid alternative with pricing details available from an account manager.
• Arly is a paid alternative for readers comparing learning-experience software; its Learning Experience plan is custom quote.

Verdict

Choose AMES if you run recurring activity classes and want enrolment, family bookings, attendance, payments and absence handling connected in one system. The no-subscription Standard structure is its clearest advantage, while transaction-linked fees and separate processing and service costs are the main reasons to compare alternatives.