"Many activity centers discover that HiSawyer's model isn't the right fit — and they switch to Bookingo for greater flexibility, affordability, and control."— Software Migration Study
HiSawyer is one of the most recognized names in kids' activity booking software. Their marketplace and polished parent-facing interface make them appealing to many providers.
But over time, many activity centers discover that HiSawyer's model isn't the right fit — and they switch to Bookingo for greater flexibility, affordability, and control. Here's why centers make the move.
Commission Fees Add Up Quickly
HiSawyer charges not only a monthly subscription fee ($49–$199) but also a percentage commission on every booking. For growing centers, this quickly turns into thousands of dollars per year in extra costs.
Bookingo Solution
With Bookingo, you get flat, predictable pricing — no penalties for growth. Scale your business without worrying about escalating commission fees.
Limited Flexibility for Complex Scheduling
Parents love trial classes, rolling memberships, and sibling bundles. But HiSawyer's scheduling tools are more rigid, making these features hard to implement effectively.
Limited trial class management
Complex rolling memberships
No progress-based promotions
Bookingo Solution
Bookingo offers flexible scheduling and memberships designed specifically for kids' programs, not just one-off classes. Handle trials, rolling memberships, and custom promotions with ease.
No Built-in CRM or Parent Engagement Tools
HiSawyer handles bookings but leaves a gap when it comes to tracking leads, managing the parent lifecycle, and sending personalized updates or reminders.
Bookingo Solution
Bookingo provides family CRM features so you can engage parents beyond just the booking. Track leads, follow up effectively, and build lasting relationships.
Missing Family-Centric Workflows
HiSawyer does support parent-child accounts, but it lacks deeper family features that parents expect and appreciate.
No automatic sibling discounts
No consolidated family invoices
Limited family-level reporting
Bookingo Solution
Bookingo makes these core features — automatic sibling discounts, consolidated family invoices, and family-level reporting — so parents feel cared for and staff spend less time on manual adjustments.
Limited Reporting & Documentation
Centers often need PDF invoices and summaries for families, attendance logs for classes, and reports for financial or therapy documentation. HiSawyer doesn't natively offer these.
Bookingo Solution
Bookingo provides auto-generated PDFs, attendance tracking, and detailed reports, saving hours of admin work and giving you the documentation you need.
Marketplace Dependency vs. Independence
HiSawyer's marketplace can bring visibility — but it also means parents see you alongside competitors, you don't fully own the parent relationship, and marketplace exposure comes at the cost of commission fees.
Bookingo Solution
With Bookingo, you own your bookings and parent relationships. No commission. No competition on your booking page. Complete control over your customer experience.
Comparison at a Glance
| Feature | HiSawyer | Bookingo |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Monthly fee + % commission | Flat monthly fee |
| Family Accounts | ✅ Parent-child | ✅ + sibling discounts + family invoicing |
| CRM | ❌ None | ✅ Lead & parent tracking |
| Reports (PDFs, invoices) | ❌ Not built-in | ✅ Auto-generated |
| Multi-location Support | ❌ Limited | ✅ Robust, centralized |
| Marketplace | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (you own bookings) |
Conclusion
HiSawyer works well for some providers, but if you're scaling your kids' activity center, want predictable costs, and need family-first features, Bookingo is the smarter choice.
With flat-fee pricing, powerful reporting, and family-friendly workflows, you'll save money, reduce admin headaches, and give parents an experience they'll love.
Ready to see why so many centers are making the switch?
Experience the Bookingo difference with flat-fee pricing, family-first features, and complete ownership of your bookings.