If your organization has been using Uplifter for years, you’re not alone — many clubs adopted it early because it solved a very specific problem: managing seasonal registrations and compliance requirements, especially in sports like skating.
And while Uplifter still works well for tightly structured programs, many growing organizations now find it too rigid for today’s reality.
That’s why more organizations are switching to Activity Messenger, a modern, participant-focused alternative that supports classes, memberships, drop-ins, workshops, camps, competitive teams, and facility operations all in one place.
Whether you run skating, gymnastics, martial arts, swimming, after-school programs, or multi-sport recreation, this guide breaks down where Uplifter excels, where it struggles, and the all-in-one option organizations are choosing instead.
Disclaimer: Activity Messenger is our software. We created it after experiencing the limitations of sports management software like Uplifter for small- to medium-sized businesses.
Uplifter supports basic registrations and memberships, but these red flags usually appear when your operations expand:
Uplifter works best for seasonal, linear programs, but falls short when you offer rolling enrollment, recurring classes, or multiple formats under one roof.
Long forms, clunky interfaces, and confusing family accounts often lead to abandoned registrations or support requests.
Because Uplifter doesn’t offer fully integrated digital forms, staff spend extra time uploading or chasing paperwork.
No built-in SMS, no attendance-triggered reminders, and no automated workflows mean more manual emailing, especially for weather cancellations or last-minute changes.
Coaches, instructors, or admin staff can’t easily get the exact roster or attendance data they need without exporting spreadsheets.
Unlimited classes, punch passes, mobile check-ins, or multi-membership families require complicated workarounds.
These issues affect skating clubs, but they become major blockers for organizations running diverse programs or growing beyond a single sport.
| Feature | Uplifter | Activity Messenger |
|---|---|---|
| Ideal Use Case | Seasonal sports programs | Year-round classes, camps, memberships, teams & multi-program operations |
| Registration Forms | ⚠️ Basic; limited logic; long flows | ✅ Fully customizable forms with conditional logic, waivers & questionnaires |
| Scheduling | ✅ Strong for seasonal sessions | ✅ Flexible formats: rolling classes, drop-ins, camps, workshops, private lessons |
| Program Types | ⚠️ Primarily linear session-based progression | ✅ Lessons, drop-ins, open gym, freestyle skating, day camps, clinics, tournaments |
| Memberships | ⚠️ Limited; tied to seasons | ✅ Unlimited access, punch passes, drop-ins, perks, automated renewals |
| Attendance Tracking | ⚠️ Basic attendance lists | ✅ QR check-in, Apple/Google Wallet passes, tablet check-ins, automated reporting |
| Family Accounts | ⚠️ Available but rigid | ✅ Modern family accounts with multi-child enrollment & shared payment methods |
| Progress Tracking | ✅ Mobile evaluations & digital report cards | ✅ Custom tracking for belts, badges, swim levels, skills & assessments |
| Payment Plans | ⚠️ Basic options | ✅ Deposits, installments, multiple payment plan structures |
| POS / E-commerce | ✅ Online product sales, admin-only POS transactions, ticket sales (depends on tier) | ✅ Built-in online store for merch, passes, add-ons & event tickets |
| Waivers | ⚠️ PDF upload; minimal integration | ✅ Fully integrated digital waivers with automation & storage |
| Communication | ⚠️ Basic email only | ✅ Advanced email + SMS + automation triggers |
| Automations | ⚠️ Very limited | ✅ Reminders, surveys, renewals, instructor alerts, waitlist auto-promotion |
| Staff Management | ⚠️ Limited staff features; mainly instructor assignment, staff check-in | ✅ Staff profiles, permissions, certifications, schedules, substitutions, instructor reminders, internal messaging & task automations |
| Website Builder | 🌐 Customizable registration pages/website builder (on higher tiers) | 🚫 Not offered (pair with your existing website or CMS) |
| Integrations | 🔗 Mailchimp, Shopify, Canvas LMS | 🔗 Stripe, Zoom, Canva, Zapier |
| Data Hosting | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇨🇦 Canada + full PIPEDA compliance |
| Capterra Score | ⭐ 4.4/5 | ⭐ 4.7/5 |
| Best Fit | Skating clubs, single-sport seasonal orgs | Multi-format, multi-program, year-round organizations |
📌 Read More: You can read our other article, 6 Best Uplifter Inc Alternatives, for an in-depth analysis of other related tools and registration software.
Activity Messenger is purpose-built for organizations that need flexibility, automation, and modern participant experiences, not just seasonal registration. While Uplifter works well for linear, session-based programs, Activity Messenger supports year-round operations, multi-format programming, modern communication, and automated workflows that reduce admin work.
Below is an in-depth look at how Activity Messenger compares across core areas:
Activity Messenger gives organizations full control over how they collect participant information, payments, and waivers — no extra tools or PDF uploads required.
What you can do:
Why it’s better:
Uplifter forms often feel long and rigid. Activity Messenger lets you create shorter, smarter flows that adapt to each family to boost conversions.
Uplifter memberships are tied to seasons. Activity Messenger’s memberships are built for real-world usage, whether you run a dojo, gymnastics club, skating school, swim program, or multi-sport recreation center.
Membership tools include:
Why it’s better:
Memberships connect directly to access and attendance, eliminating manual tracking or spreadsheets.
Attendance should be simple for both staff and families, not a manual process or paper sheet.
Attendance options include:
Additional enhancements:
Why it’s better:
Uplifter provides basic lists; Activity Messenger provides smart, automated attendance that updates every part of your workflow.
Uplifter relies heavily on manual emailing. Activity Messenger turns communication into a set-and-forget system that saves teams hours every week.
Automate communications such as:
Plus:
Why it’s better:
Your system communicates on its own, reducing stress for admins and improving satisfaction for families.
Collecting and tracking waivers shouldn’t require PDFs, paper folders, or manual uploads.
Activity Messenger includes:
Why it’s better:
Everything is digital, automated, and securely stored, which is perfect for organizations dealing with compliance-sensitive environments like skating, gymnastics, swimming, martial arts, and youth recreation.
Activity Messenger helps clubs manage instructors, coaches, administrators, and seasonal staff with tools that simplify scheduling, communication, and operational oversight all in one place.
What you can do:
Why it’s better:
Uplifter focuses primarily on registration and scheduling, with limited tools for staff workflows. Activity Messenger provides a more complete approach by covering scheduling, communication, onboarding, document tracking, and task automation. Staff get clearer assignments, admins save hours each week, and nothing slips through the cracks.
📌 Read More: Activity Messenger also acts as a Canadian-based alternative to Constant Contact, Eventbrite, Jotform, Smartwaiver, and Mailchimp.
Activity Messenger is ideal for:
✅ Organizations offering multi-sport programs, year-round classes, or camps needing flexible enrollment
✅ Clubs with growing family participation and multiple-child registration requirements
✅ Programs needing automated attendance, check-in, communication, and waiver workflows
✅ Clubs seeking bilingual forms and PIPEDA-compliant Canadian hosting
✅ Admins tired of juggling multiple apps, PDFs, and spreadsheets
✅ Organizations looking for deeper progress tracking for skills, belts, swim levels, or other certifications
✅ Recreation centers, community organizations, and competitive programs that want one integrated platform for scheduling, communication, and reporting
If you’ve outgrown Uplifter or are relying on workarounds like PDFs, spreadsheets, and emails, this switch will save your team hours each week.
Book a demo with Activity Messenger to see how we can help your organization today.
Book a demoIdentify participant lists, family accounts, program histories, waivers, and payment records.
Export CSVs, remove duplicates, and standardize fields for easier import.
Decide how classes, memberships, drop-ins, camps, and workshops will map into Activity Messenger.
Upload participants, assign family accounts, and verify payment histories.
Recreate registration forms, digital waivers, and automated communications.
Simulate registrations, payments, and check-ins to confirm automation triggers are correct.
Send a clear announcement explaining the transition benefits, including easier registrations, better reminders, and streamlined check-ins.
Go live, monitor registration and attendance, and adjust workflows as needed.
Uplifter works well for seasonal, single-sport programs but struggles with rolling enrollment, camps, workshops, and multi-format scheduling.
Yes. You can export participants, family accounts, program data, and payments, then import them into Activity Messenger with our support.
Unlike Uplifter, Activity Messenger offers automated email and SMS triggers for registrations, attendance, renewals, and last-minute updates.
Yes. Hosting is fully PIPEDA-compliant, and forms can be bilingual (English/French), making it ideal for Canadian sports, recreation, and educational organizations.
Yes. Modern family accounts allow multiple children, shared payment methods, and consolidated reporting.
Yes. Track skills, belts, swim levels, badges, and assessments with automated updates for instructors and families.
Users report that Uplifter lacks customization options, mobile optimization, point-of-sale accessibility, email/SMS scheduling, and additional features. You can read in-depth user reviews on Capterra to make an informed decision for your organization.
Uplifter remains a solid solution for seasonal, single-program organizations, but growing clubs face limitations. Staff spend hours managing PDFs, spreadsheets, and external communication tools just to make the system work.
Activity Messenger is built for modern programs, from rolling enrollment and drop-ins to camps, teams, memberships, and automated communications. With fully bilingual forms, PIPEDA-compliant Canadian hosting, and advanced reporting, your organization can save time, reduce errors, and focus on delivering better experiences for participants and families.
💡 Want to simplify registrations, automate workflows, and grow your programs with confidence? Book a demo with Activity Messenger to see how your workflows can be streamlined.
