StudioAnchorCompare · Studio software
Class Manager and StudioAnchor
Class Manager is class-management software for dance studios and clubs, free to use with a fee on online payments. StudioAnchor is a set of separate modules; today that means email (Reach) and an online shop (Store), with scheduling (Book) in development. Here’s where they overlap, from each company’s own pages.
Updated
Class Manager
What Class Manager offers.
- No monthly subscription. A platform fee on online payments, listed as 3.9% + 30¢ in the US.
- Enrollment with a parent and student portal, drop-in classes, free or paid trials, and payment links that respect class capacity.
- A class calendar, digital attendance, capacity controls and make-up lesson scheduling.
- Automated billing through Stripe (monthly, weekly, by class or by term), with overdue reminders.
- In-app chats, broadcast messages by class or season, and push notifications.
- An integrated shop for uniforms and merchandise.
- Recital ticketing through a sister company, Stage Stubs, rather than in Class Manager itself.
Side by side
Where they overlap.
| Class Manager | StudioAnchor | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | None; fee on online payments | Reach: free plan, Studio $20/month |
| Class scheduling and enrollment | Yes | Book, in development |
| Make-up lessons | Yes | Not in Book yet |
| Billing and payments | Yes, through Stripe | Store takes payments; Book billing not yet |
| Messaging families | In-app chats, broadcasts and push notifications | Reach: email campaigns to tags or everyone |
| Automated email sequences | Not advertised | Reach Studio and Pro (up to 5 steps on Studio) |
| Who opened an email | Not advertised | Reach shows opens and clicks |
| Shop | Uniforms and merchandise | Store: merch, digital downloads, gift cards |
| Recital tickets | Through Stage Stubs, a separate site | Store, with QR scanning at the door |
| Use from ChatGPT or Claude | Not advertised | Reach, on Studio and Pro |
Which to pick
An honest answer.
Class Manager is the better fit if you want one free system for your timetable, enrollment, attendance and billing, and you’re happy paying a fee on online payments instead of a subscription. StudioAnchor can’t run your class schedule yet.
StudioAnchor fits beside it when you want more than in-app messages: email newsletters and welcome sequences to families and leads with Reach, or recital tickets and merch in one shop with Store.
Questions
How much does Class Manager cost?
Class Manager has no monthly subscription. Its prices page says it charges a flat service charge on payments processed online; the page lists that platform fee as 3.9% + 30¢ in the US.
Can StudioAnchor replace Class Manager?
Not today. Class Manager covers class scheduling, enrollment, attendance and billing. StudioAnchor’s scheduling module, Book, is still in development. What StudioAnchor offers now is email (Reach) and an online shop with tickets (Store).
Does Class Manager send email newsletters?
Its communication page describes in-app chats, broadcast messages filtered by lesson, class or season, one-to-one messages, group chats and push notifications. It doesn’t advertise email marketing campaigns or automated email sequences.
Can I use Reach alongside Class Manager?
Yes, as a separate email tool. If you can export your families as a spreadsheet (CSV), Reach can import them. The two don’t sync automatically.
Sources
Competitor and rule details come from each organization’s own pages, checked on the date shown. Prices and plans change; check the source before you buy.
- Class Manager prices checked October 24, 2026
- Class Manager: studio communication checked October 24, 2026
- Class Manager: shop checked October 24, 2026