AMES vs Simply Camps

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.

Simply Camps is a management system for day camps, overnight camps, and seasonal programs. It brings registration, camper and family records, forms, rosters, staff, attendance, and parent communication into one system. Families can register by session, week, or program, with capacity limits, waitlists, and sibling registrations handled by the system. Camper records can connect guardians and emergency contacts with health forms, waivers, and permissions. Shared live data supports session rosters, cabin or group assignments, and daily attendance. Camps can use a Simply Camps hosted website or embed registration, calendars, and forms in an existing site. Plans are sized by unique campers enrolled for the current or upcoming season; parents, guardians, emergency contacts, and staff do not count, and archived records stop counting. The Free plan is free and has a 2% platform fee on payments. Paid plans start at $99 a month for up to 250 campers, with listed tiers for up to 750 and 1,500 campers. A free 30-day full-product trial is available without a credit card or feature gates.