Active Network is an online registration platform for various organizations, including sports leagues, camps, and fitness programs. It provides an all-in-one solution for online registration, payment processing, event tracking, and automated communications, making it the first choice for organizations seeking reliability and efficiency.
Many organizations choose Active Network for a few reasons:
However, some users have encountered challenges with Active Network, such as:
This article will explore 7 alternatives to Active Network, including our own, Activity Messenger. We’ll examine how each option addresses the above challenges. We’ll also highlight their unique, standout features.
Author’s note: Olivier shares tips and tricks he’s learned over the past decade as the owner of a kids’s sports program in Montreal. Today, as the co-founder of Activity Messenger, he helps hundreds of dance studios, gymnastics clubs, swim schools and camps across North America simplify their operations and increase revenue.
While ACTIVENet excels at event and payment management, its complexity and higher cost often deter users, especially those in the sports and recreation industry. Its limited customization can be a concern for organizations that require personalized solutions. User feedback highlights these issues, leading to frustration in managing specific needs.
Our solution, Activity Messenger, directly addresses these shortcomings by providing a flexible, easy-to-use platform designed for seamless communication and marketing. This makes it ideal for the recreation, fitness and education sectors.
Activity Messenger goes beyond basic class management. It offers a unique focus on communication and marketing. Our platform provides:
These elements not only improve the user experience, but also increase operational efficiency.
There are tangible benefits to switching to Activity Messenger. Organizations experience reduced administrative time, more effective communication strategies, and improved participant engagement. Our customers experience
Let me show you three specific ways we solve your biggest program management challenges differently from other options in the market.
Program managers often juggle 4-5 different software tools to run their operations. They pay separate subscriptions for Mailchimp, SurveyMonkey, SmartWaiver and Jotform. This scattered approach wastes money and creates data sync problems.
Activity Messenger combines all these functions in one platform. You get registration, marketing, communication, and waiver management in a single system. No more copying data between programs or paying multiple subscriptions.
A mid-sized youth sports program switched from using separate tools to Activity Messenger. They cut their monthly software costs from $500 to $200. Their staff now saves 5 hours per week simply by not having to move data between tools.
Low attendance is often due to poor communication timing. Sending generic emails to everyone at once leads to ignored messages and missed sessions. This creates gaps in your programs and reduces revenue.
Activity Messenger sends personalized messages based on each participant’s schedule. The system automatically sends reminders before sessions and follows up with absent members. Each message uses the participant’s name and specific program details.
Complex registration forms can cause potential customers to abandon sign-up. Traditional systems force parents through lengthy processes with unnecessary steps like creating an account. Each abandoned registration is lost revenue.
Activity Messenger guides parents to the right program in three steps. The system shows only relevant options based on age, skill level, and schedule preferences. Parents complete registration in under 2 minutes. And you can even retarget the few who abandon the process.
Talk to us about setting up a Activity Messenger plan that fits your needs.
RecDesk is designed for community centers and parks and recreation centers that want to keep things simple while keeping everyone in the loop.
You can expect a simple flow from program setup to facility management. Feedback from the community indicates satisfaction with how it lifts the admin burden, freeing them to focus on community building.
Costs rise with advanced integrations, such as local access control, not included in standard pricing. A complete package with free support and training is available.
Read More: 7 Best Jumbula Alternatives
Regpack stands out for those who need tailor-made registration processes. It’s like having a personal touch in every part of your sign-up system. The platform offers intuitive tools to make forms and manage registrations, setting it apart in a crowded market.
Using Regpack feels like having an assistant who handles each step of registration. Users start by designing forms with the drag-and-drop builder. Conditional logic then personalizes the process, adapting each step based on applicant responses. Once registrations start coming in, tracking features allow easy management of sessions and attendance. This streamlined process helps organizations maintain a professional and organized system.
Regpack is ideal for organizations looking for a tailored registration experience. Its ability to customize processes with ease makes it a strong contender for those prioritizing personalization.
Read more: Best RegPack Alternatives
Amilia stands out in the recreation management market with its flexibility and ease of use. It’s designed to handle various needs, from booking sports facilities to managing complex membership structures. Amilia is perfect for those who want to streamline operations while boosting efficiency.
Amilia is user-friendly, centralizing data for easy access. Users can handle registrations, payments, and bookings from one platform. It’s internet-based, allowing access from any place with a connection. Users have reported that it improves their workflow by being straightforward and flexible.
Amilia is ideal for organizations needing a versatile and reliable management system. Its comprehensive features ensure smooth operations and improved user experiences.
Xplor Recreation stands out for clubs and gyms aiming for seamless operations. This tool centralizes member management, scheduling, and billing. It allows clubs to focus on crucial tasks – like keeping members happy.
Xplor Recreation simplifies daily tasks by centralizing them into an easy-to-use system. Clubs can manage member information, schedules, and online payments from a single platform. The user-friendly dashboard helps staff quickly adapt and ensures clubs keep running without hiccups. Many users praise its strong customer support and reliability.
Ideal for clubs and gyms that want an all-in-one management tool. Xplor Recreation helps save time, enhances efficiency, and boosts member satisfaction.
Are you managing a youth sports club and tired of juggling spreadsheets and emails? Sport Engine might be what you need. It’s a platform aimed at making sports club management smoother. It allows you to handle registrations, schedules, and financials all in one place. Clubs looking to simplify their operations and improve communication will find it useful.
Using Sport Engine is like working with an organized, digital assistant. Set up a new season, manage registrations, and schedule games with a few clicks. Communicate with teams easily; you can track payments and send reminders without hassle. As Donna K. from Santa Rosa Stallions says, “The money management tools have freed up so much of our time.”
Sport Engine is best for youth sports clubs aiming to streamline management and improve communication. It’s a solid choice if you want to focus on the sport, not the paperwork.
Active Network and Activity Messenger both provide robust solutions for organizations managing classes, memberships, and event registrations, each with distinct advantages. Active Network is a well-established platform known for handling large-scale events and providing extensive reporting, marketing tools, and payment processing capabilities. It caters well to organizations needing advanced features for complex event management. However, some users may find the platform’s pricing structure and interface less intuitive, especially for smaller organizations with simpler needs.
Activity Messenger, in contrast, offers a modern, mobile-first solution that combines registration, communication, and workflow automation into a single, easy-to-use platform. It simplifies key processes such as dynamic capacity management, multi-class registrations, and automated follow-ups, ensuring an intuitive experience for both administrators and participants.
To learn more about Activity Messenger, book an introduction call with an expert.