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TeamUp vs MAAT: which one to choose for a BJJ gym?

Looking for gym management software for your BJJ gym? This article compares TeamUp and MAAT, highlighting key features, pricing, and suitability to help you choose the right solution.

Comparison

TeamUp vs MAAT: Which Gym Management Software is Better for BJJ and MMA Gyms

Key Takeaways

  • MAAT and TeamUp are both gym management software platforms, but they serve different user bases.
  • TeamUp caters to general fitness clubs with features like CRM and access control.
  • MAAT is designed for martial arts academies, offering belt tracking, class-level progression, and WhatsApp support.

Introduction

Managing a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy is a unique operational challenge. Unlike general fitness clubs, BJJ gyms require tools that support belt tracking, class attendance linked to progression, and close-knit community engagement.

This comparison explores how TeamUp and MAAT stack up for BJJ-specific needs.

What is TeamUp?

TeamUp is a UK-based fitness management platform used across various gym types, from yoga studios to bootcamps. It includes essential features like class scheduling, recurring billing, waiver forms, and an app for members. TeamUp's strength lies in simplicity and a clean interface, making it ideal for general fitness environments.

However, it was not designed for martial arts academies. TeamUp lacks native belt or progression tracking, and while it supports attendance data, instructors must use workarounds or external tools for rank eligibility.

What is MAAT?

MAAT is a gym management software purpose-built for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and combat sports academies. Created by martial artists, MAAT addresses the precise needs of these gyms: belt and stripe tracking, gamified student engagement, comprehensive payment systems, and tailored support via WhatsApp.

With MAAT, academies can streamline operations while fostering progression visibility and community involvement. The platform offers intuitive dashboards for coaches, progression tracking integrated with class attendance, and flexible pricing adapted for small to mid-sized gyms.

Many BJJ and MMA gym owners are switching to MAAT from TeamUp thanks to its features tailored for combat sports.

"We had a huge volume of students, and TeamUp just didn’t have the features we needed to manage that. It became too limited for us,"

says Aitana from Atenea BJJ.

👉 Read the full case study: From TeamUp to MAAT: Atenea BJJ’ Story

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

1. Belt and Progression Tracking

  • TeamUp: No native support. Progression must be tracked manually.
  • MAAT: Designed specifically for belt and stripe tracking with automated eligibility based on attendance data.

When to choose: Choose MAAT if tracking belt and stripe progress is a core part of your academy’s structure. Choose TeamUp only if you do not need any martial arts-specific tracking.

2. Payment Processing

  • TeamUp: Uses Stripe and GoCardless. No additional fees from TeamUp.
  • MAAT: Also uses Stripe, with SEPA-friendly options for EU gyms. Clear, transparent pricing.

When to choose: Choose TeamUp if you're gym with basic billing needs, choose MAAT if you want more flexibility in payment methods.

3. Student App and Experience

  • TeamUp: Offers a generic branded app. Custom apps cost extra.
  • MAAT: Provides a mobile-first UX tailored to combat sports students, including belt visibility and reminders.

When to choose: Choose MAAT if your students value seeing rank progression and booking easily. Choose TeamUp if a generic member app is sufficient.

My students love using MAAT

Samuel Hernandez - Mataró BJJ

4. Coach/Admin Usability

  • TeamUp: Clean interface but lacks martial arts context.
  • MAAT: Simplified dashboard with quick access to member progression, attendance issues, and key alerts.

When to choose: Choose MAAT if you want a system built for coaches running BJJ classes. Choose TeamUp if your admin needs are general and not tied to martial arts progression.

With MAAT I solved all my academy management problems. Highly recommended

Jacopo Madaro - Tribe Jiu Jitsu

5. Class Scheduling and Check-Ins

  • TeamUp: Covers basic scheduling and attendance.
  • MAAT: Adds skill-level filters, automatic check-ins, and attendance thresholds for progression.

When to choose: Choose MAAT if your classes are based on belts or skills. Choose TeamUp if you run open classes with no skill-based differentiation.

6. Gamification and Engagement

  • TeamUp: No built-in engagement features.
  • MAAT: Offers leaderboards, progress milestones, and competition tracking.

When to choose: Choose MAAT if motivating students through visible progress is part of your culture. Choose TeamUp if engagement tools are not a priority.

👉Learn more about this topic at the article "How MAAT’s Leaderboard Keeps BJJ Students Coming Back"

7. Migration and Trial Experience

  • TeamUp: Offers a 14-day trial.
  • MAAT: Offers a flexible free trial and provides free migration and onboarding with dedicated WhatsApp support.

When to choose: Choose MAAT for a frictionless switch and high-touch support. Choose TeamUp if you're evaluating several general platforms with minimal migration needs.

“Don’t hesitate. Really, don’t worry about it. They helped me not only with the migration but with everything afterward too.”

says Aitana from Atenea BJJ

👉 Read the full case study: From TeamUp to MAAT: Atenea BJJ’ Story

8. Language and Localization

  • TeamUp: Supports multiple payment gateways but not fully localized.
  • MAAT: Supporting local currencies and compliance.

When to choose: Both works well. Choose MAAT if need local compliance, choose TeamUp for general fitness contexts.

9. Support Experience

  • TeamUp: Email and knowledge base support.
  • MAAT: Direct WhatsApp support from martial artists who understand your gym.

When to choose: Choose MAAT if you want support that speaks your language—both technically and culturally. Choose TeamUp for standard software support channels.

The support team at MAAT is amazing.

says Aitana from Atenea BJJ

👉 Read the full case study: From TeamUp to MAAT: Atenea BJJ’ Story

10. Pricing and Value

When to choose: Choose MAAT if you want straightforward, BJJ-specific value. Choose TeamUp if you're okay with scaling fees and don’t need combat sports features.

Final Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?

If you're running a general fitness club or bootcamp with no need for belt tracking or martial arts-specific features, TeamUp may suffice.

But for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA academies, MAAT offers unmatched value. From belt progression to WhatsApp-based support, MAAT aligns with the daily reality of combat sports gym owners. It is the clearly superior choice for academies where rank, community, and structure are fundamental.

Call to Action

Ready to simplify your academy's operations with a tool built just for BJJ gyms?

Book a Demo today and see why more European academies are choosing MAAT.

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