AMES vs CampBrain

AMES provides connected activity management and enrolment software for swim schools, dance studios, martial arts academies, gymnastics clubs and other class-based operators. It includes class scheduling, occupancy visibility, waitlists, mobile booking and enrolment across multiple classes or siblings. Staff can record attendance and absences, generate credits and let parents book replacement sessions subject to availability rules. AMES Pay accepts cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay through Stripe Connect, and GoCardless Direct Debit for recurring class fees. Parent updates, reminders, message history and automated absence and credit notices are part of its communications workflow. Listed integrations include Google Calendar, Xero, QuickBooks, Gmail, Outlook, Facebook, Instagram and Google Reviews; custom API integrations can be built during onboarding. AMES says it helps import existing member data, configure the system with a team and provide support after launch. Standard charges a transaction fee on successful payments collected through AMES, starting at 1.25 % per contact, with no monthly platform subscription or setup fee. Payment-provider processing fees and certain communications and AI services cost extra.

CampBrain is web-based camp management software for summer, auxiliary, day, overnight, faith-based and special-needs camps, plus YMCA, agency and conference-center programmes. Its modules cover camp, staff, medical, camp-store, attendance, conference-center, fundraising and payment management. Online registration provides a parent-facing process with customizable forms for programmes and sessions. Attendance tools work on phones, tablets and computers and track absences, authorized pickups and camper notes. Users can generate weekly financial summaries, rosters and parent statements, then customize or build reports. CampBrain’s store works with Square for payment and point-of-sale functions, including an online store. Conference-center calendars can synchronize with MS Outlook, Google or iOS calendars. A dedicated implementation team helps customers learn the system, build forms and prepare a registration site before launch. Support is available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, with emergency weekend coverage. Pricing is on request.