choosing the right tool
Swift vs. eSoft Planner
We're biased, not ignorant.
We've helped tons of facilities, some that have been with eSoft for 10+ years, migrate over to Swift and they've never looked back.
Despite that, we know that Swift isn't a perfect match for everyone. For some of you, eSoft might still be a better option.
Hopefully this page sheds light on when & why Swift is a better fit than eSoft.
Despite that, we know that Swift isn't a perfect match for everyone. For some of you, eSoft might still be a better option.
Hopefully this page sheds light on when & why Swift is a better fit than eSoft.
Everything boils down
to value and price.
At the end of the day, Swift exists because we believe
that for far too long, facility owners have felt "stuck" with
older options like eSoft Planner.
Our goal is to free you, and deliver the most "bang for buck"
you've ever seen.
that for far too long, facility owners have felt "stuck" with
older options like eSoft Planner.
Our goal is to free you, and deliver the most "bang for buck"
you've ever seen.
Summary
Don't have a lot of time? Here's a quick summary.
When comparing Swift with eSoft Planner - the main differences are in usability (both for you and your customers) and active development.
eSoft Planner is notoriously difficult to add & edit bookings. For you and your staff, adding recurring bookings on the calendar is a very tedious process. The online booking portal is also hard to navigate - which means you likely won't see a drop in call volume from athletes and parents. In comparison, Swift has an industry-leading mobile-first booking flow - guaranteed to be better for your athletes and your front desk.
eSoft Planner (as far as we know) is also not being actively developed. There's been no major changes in the tool for the last 8 years. This means that if you have certain requests or features you'd like, they will most likely not be built. Meanwhile, Swift is improving almost every day - the team is constantly looking for feedback and shipping new improvements to make your lives easier.
eSoft Planner is notoriously difficult to add & edit bookings. For you and your staff, adding recurring bookings on the calendar is a very tedious process. The online booking portal is also hard to navigate - which means you likely won't see a drop in call volume from athletes and parents. In comparison, Swift has an industry-leading mobile-first booking flow - guaranteed to be better for your athletes and your front desk.
eSoft Planner (as far as we know) is also not being actively developed. There's been no major changes in the tool for the last 8 years. This means that if you have certain requests or features you'd like, they will most likely not be built. Meanwhile, Swift is improving almost every day - the team is constantly looking for feedback and shipping new improvements to make your lives easier.
Active development
Very active; fast turnaround on feature requests and asks
Not active; tool hasn't changed for 8 years
Pricing & Budget
Best value
Affordable
Setup fees & contracts
None, cancel anytime
Setup fees, unclear contracts
Recurring bookings in calendar view
Add, edit, and delete bulk bookings in one action
Have to add each booking manually
Online booking
Lightning fast & simple
Slow, gated behind login
Mobile friendliness
Optimized for mobile
Only for desktop
Onboarding & training
$0 fee, get setup in less than 1 hour without any "training"
Unclear fees, takes multiple days to learn and get trained
Migration
Free
Unclear fees
Customer support
Dedicated team
General
Interface
State of the art
Old
customer Checklist
Here's what our ideal customer looks like
You want to automate or streamline your business and look for efficiencies
You want to spend less time answering phone calls for bookings
You get (or plan to get) a large number of bookings per month, and want to bring them all online
You prefer having a modern, all-in-one system instead of doing things "the old way"
You are business savvy, and want to grow your business
You want a powerful scheduling tool that's easy to learn, and requires no additional training for your staff
why swift shines
The rest of this page will help you understand why we think Swift is a better alternative to eSoft Planner both in terms of value and pricing
What can you not do in eSoft?
eSoft Planner is a decent option, but it's been years since they've innovated; and as a result, modern sports facilities deserve better.
Here are some key features that eSoft is missing, which in today's day and age - you and your customers should expect in a scheduling tool
Mobile friendly
Easy online booking
Drag-and-drop calendar
Easy-edit recurring bookings
Drop-in classes
Hierarchy between spaces
in summary
When you should chose Swift, and when eSoft Planner
You don't want to try and reduce phone calls for bookings
You don't mind having to deal with a really old platform for the features that you'll get in return
You want a modern tool that is really easy to use and navigate
Recurring bookings from teams or organizations is important to your business
You want to automate or streamline your business and look for efficiencies
You want to spend less time answering phone calls for bookings
You get (or plan to get) a large number of bookings per month, and want to bring them all online
You want a powerful scheduling tool that's easy to learn, and requires no additional training for your staff
testimonials
PS: Our customers love us.
We have happy facilities all over the US & Canada - here is what some of them have to say about us:
Swift has definitely made life easier
“The number of headaches that we used to have with bookings compared to now has lowered for sure. Swift has definitely made it easier.
Jeremias Sucre
Facility Manager @ Baseline Sports
Swift blows MindBody out of the water
"How Swift does memberships alone blows MindBody out of the water"
Dustin Geiger
Owner @ Nuclear Baseball
Outstanding customer service
"Swift was much easier to set up than other booking sites and the tech support I got from them was outstanding."
Marty Vermillion
Owner @ Farm Club
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Free migration.
Free support.
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