Sooner or later, every studio or gym owner asks whether to join ClassPass. The practical question is always the same: how much do I earn per spot, who sets the price, and when does the money arrive?
This article summarizes how ClassPass works for partners using only its own official pages, then compares the alternatives for selling single classes.
How ClassPass pays studios
According to ClassPass’s guide to payouts and rates, last updated in March 2026, the model has four parts:
- A confidential rate floor: it is agreed with the studio, kept confidential, and based on a percentage of the direct membership or drop-in price.
- SmartRate: ClassPass’s tool that raises or lowers the credits charged to the user based on demand, timing and how full the class is, without going below the rate floor.
- Monthly payouts: in the first week of each month ClassPass calculates the previous month’s balance and pays through Tipalti. Partners in New York City and eligible Mindbody partners may be paid every two weeks.
- Late cancellations: ClassPass mirrors the studio’s policy up to a maximum of 12 hours, and within that window the studio is typically paid.
On how this compares with direct bookings, the partner FAQ is explicit: "ClassPass often pays a lower per-spot rate than a direct booking." ClassPass’s explanation is that it only sells excess capacity, meaning spots that would otherwise stay empty.
What ClassPass asks of partners
The same FAQ describes a few rules worth knowing before you sign up:
- Classes are listed in credits, not dollars, and only to ClassPass subscribers. Your direct price is not shown.
- All fitness partners must take part in the Trial Program, offering one free class to users during their trial period.
- Studios may invite ClassPass users to join their email list, but may not target them with dedicated offers or make comparative references to ClassPass.
- There is no upfront cost to join, and partners can leave after a 90-day opt-out window.
When ClassPass makes sense, according to ClassPass
ClassPass itself lists the cases where it is not the right fit: studios that already sell out every spot, areas with few ClassPass users, struggling businesses looking for a quick turnaround, and classes that are easy to replicate at home.
In its FAQ, ClassPass also writes that, in its integrated partner data, the average studio directly fills 37% of its capacity. If your problem is empty spots, the real question becomes: at what price do you want to sell them, and who decides?
The alternatives for selling single classes
| Channel | Who sets the price | Cost to the studio |
|---|---|---|
| Direct (your website or booking software) | The studio | Software subscription and payment fees, which vary |
| ClassPass | Dynamic credits above an agreed rate floor | No upfront cost; per-spot rate often below direct pricing |
| FlexDropin | The studio, class by class | No fixed costs; 15% commission only on paid bookings |
These channels are not mutually exclusive: many studios sell directly to their members and use a marketplace only for the spots left open.
How FlexDropin works for studios
- You publish single or recurring classes from the app and set the price and the number of spots. You can also offer free classes, if you choose to.
- Athletes see the actual price, book and pay in the app.
- The payment is charged on your own Stripe account and the 15% commission is deducted automatically. Stripe pays out to your bank once a month.
- No subscription and no setup fee: you only pay when you sell.
Questions to ask before choosing
- How many spots actually go empty each week, and at what times?
- What is the lowest price you are willing to sell a class for?
- Do you want your price to be visible, or are you fine with it being shown in credits?
- Do you want to be free to market to people who book through a marketplace?
- How often do you need the money to arrive?
