A Spark Membership alternative on your own Stripe
Spark is $199 a month after its trial, and payments run through Spark's own processor. CornerDesk is one flat, lower price, and your members pay into your own Stripe account at Stripe's standard rates.
The Spark Membership trade-offs
- 1
Payments tied to the platform
Spark processes payments itself, and its payments page says you can't bring your own processor. Its processing rates aren't published.
- 2
A lot of system to learn
Spark packs in marketing, automations, curriculum, and more. Reviewers mention a steep start — great if you'll use it all, a lot of surface if you just need tonight's classes to run.
- 3
Another app for your members
Spark's member experience runs through its app. Every app is a download, a login, and a "can't get in" at the door.
Spark Membership vs CornerDesk
- Pricing
- Spark Membership$199/mo after an 8-week free trial (sparkmembership.com/pricing; currency not stated)
- CornerDesk$99 CAD/mo flat — every feature included
- Payments
- Spark MembershipSpark Payments only; rates not published
- CornerDeskYour own Stripe account at Stripe's standard rates — CornerDesk takes no cut
- Member experience
- Spark MembershipSpark member app
- CornerDeskA text-message link — no app, no password
- Commitment
- Spark MembershipContract terms not listed on its pricing page
- CornerDeskMonth-to-month — export everything and leave anytime
- Focus
- Spark MembershipMartial arts schools, with a full marketing suite
- CornerDeskIndependent fight gyms — a calm front desk, not a marketing suite
CornerDesk is $99 CAD/month. Billed in Canadian dollars, including to gyms in the US. CornerDesk takes no cut of member payments; Stripe’s processing fees apply to card payments on your own Stripe account (see Stripe’s pricing). Cash or e-transfer you record in CornerDesk has no processing fee.
Your students come with you
Export your student list to CSV and drop it into CornerDesk — the importer detects columns, flags duplicates, maps memberships to plans, and shows a full preview before it writes. Members add their card from a text link, and their first charge lands on their usual bill date.
- 1Send us your Spark Membership exports — we'll show you which reports
- 2We import members, plans and class balances, and your weekly schedule too (paste it in or we enter it); you check the preview
- 3Connect your Stripe — payments settle in your own account
- 4Members add their card from a text — charged on their usual date
Free migration · 30 days free · then $99 CAD/mo flat
Asked and answered
01How does Spark Membership pricing compare?
Spark's pricing page lists one price: $199 a month after an 8-week free trial, with every feature (as of October 2026; the page doesn't name the currency). CornerDesk is $99 CAD/mo flat for unlimited members, staff, and classes, with the first 30 days free.
02Can I use my own payment processor?
With CornerDesk, yes — you connect your own Stripe account, member payments settle directly to you, and CornerDesk takes no cut. Cash and e-transfer payments you record at the desk have no processing fee at all.
03Does CornerDesk track belts and run gradings?
Yes. Set your rank ladder, run grading events with candidates and results, promote on a pass, and limit classes to a minimum rank.
04Is there a check-in kiosk?
Yes — any tablet becomes a kiosk. Members tap their name or scan their QR code, and parents can check the whole family in at once.
Your corner is ready.
We move your gym for free. Your first 30 days are on us. Then it’s $99 CAD/month, flat.