Edition · 05 · vs Kilo
Comparison

OLM vs Kilo

Kilo rebranded from a long-running gym software stack and leans into marketing + websites alongside management. OLM is the pay-as-you-grow alternative focused on martial arts. Here's the honest comparison.

Who's writing this

A jiu jitsu student building software for the academy he trains at.

I train at a gym that uses this app, and I build the product. If the table below says Kilo beats us on something, it's because they do.

The honest read

Kilo bundles gym management with marketing services, websites, and lead funnels — it's a broader business offering than just software. That bundle has real value if you want one vendor to handle your ads and your member portal. OLM is pure software: no marketing services, no agency add-ons, just a tight product with zero subscription, 2% on memberships ($2 minimum), 3% on add-ons, and free POS. If you're optimizing for software economics and keeping your own marketing in-house, OLM. If you want a one-stop shop for marketing + ops, Kilo.

9

OLM wins

1

Kilo wins

3

Ties

What matters most

Built for

OLM

Martial arts academies (BJJ, Judo, Muay Thai, Karate, MMA)

Kilo

Strength, functional fitness, martial arts gyms

Starting price

OLM

$0/mo · 2% on memberships ($2 min) · 3% on seminars/merch/drop-ins · free POS · zero processing markup

Kilo

Monthly software fee + optional marketing services

Per-member fees

OLM

None

Kilo

Tiered by active members

Full feature breakdown
CategoryOLMKilo

Built for

Martial arts academies (BJJ, Judo, Muay Thai, Karate, MMA)
Strength, functional fitness, martial arts gyms

Starting price

$0/mo · 2% on memberships ($2 min) · 3% on seminars/merch/drop-ins · free POS · zero processing markup
Monthly software fee + optional marketing services

Per-member fees

None
Tiered by active members

Billing rails

Stripe Connect — your Stripe account, your payouts
Integrated processor; funds route through their platform

Belt & rank tracking

Per-discipline, portable, full promotion lineage
Basic rank tracking

Training journal / AI coach

Included — 8-axis chart, voice-note transcription, technique heatmap
Not included

Churn prediction

Built-in AI Monitor with 14-day lead time
Not a primary focus

White-labeled member app

True white-label — your colors and logo on the app members install (no OLM branding visible to members)
Branded app; gym websites as a separate service

Demand pipeline / member discovery

Consumer-facing OLM app surfaces your gym to martial-arts students searching for an academy — we grow when you grow
Demand brought via paid ads/funnels run as a bundled service tier

Marketing services / websites

Not included — keep your own stack
Core part of their bundle — ads, funnels, websites

Onboarding

Self-serve, under 10 minutes
Guided onboarding with services team

Contract

No subscription — pay only per transaction
Monthly with service-tier lock-ins possible

Digital waivers

SHA-256 audit trail, IP stamp, minor-form parent signer
Included

Pricing and feature sets change — this page reflects a best-effort snapshot from publicly available info. Check their site directly before deciding.

Best fit

OLM is right if you're…

  • Owners who already have their marketing dialed in and want software only
  • Martial arts academies that want multi-discipline belt tracking + journaling
  • Gyms that want to keep their own Stripe account and customer rails

Best fit

Kilo is better if you're…

  • Gyms that want marketing + software + website under one roof
  • Owners willing to pay for a bundled ad + funnel service
OLM vs Kilo — FAQ

Honest answers, side by side.

Does OLM bundle marketing services like Kilo?

No. Kilo bundles software with done-for-you marketing (ads, funnels, websites). OLM is software only, with the philosophy that gym owners should own their marketing channel and budget. If you want a one-stop marketing+software bundle, Kilo is set up for that. If you want unbundled software at lower cost and you handle marketing separately, OLM fits better.

What about lead capture and follow-up?

OLM has basic lead capture via the public signup flow and member messaging tools. It doesn't include automated outbound funnels, ad campaign management, or website hosting. Most martial arts academies handle these via Squarespace + Mailchimp + manual follow-up; if your operation is sales-funnel-heavy, Kilo's bundled approach may be more practical.

How do the costs compare?

Kilo's bundled service is typically several hundred to over a thousand per month depending on the marketing tier. OLM is $0/mo platform fee with 2% on each membership invoice ($2 minimum). For a 200-member gym at $150/mo, OLM is ~$600/mo on memberships — substantially less than Kilo's bundled tier, but you're handling marketing separately.

Can I run OLM alongside a separate marketing agency?

Yes — most OLM customers do exactly this. Use OLM for member management + billing + check-in + waivers; pair it with a separate marketing setup (Mailchimp, Klaviyo, your local agency, or a freelance setup). They don't conflict.

Still deciding?

Try OLM free. lose nothing.

No credit card to sign up. No contract once you go live. If it's not the right fit, you keep your Stripe account, your member list, and your data.