Revel review
A flexible self-hosted membership platform with Stripe payments and class tools.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Revel is open-source membership and event-management software for gyms, studios, clubs, choirs, and community organizations. It supports recurring monthly and annual memberships, membership tiers, subscription plans, series passes, class packs, member-only classes, RSVPs, and capacity limits. Technical teams can use the hosted service or deploy Revel on their own infrastructure, making it a fit for organizations that want control over deployment and membership workflows.
Pricing is built around a freemium model. Free events and memberships carry no platform charge. Hosted membership payments cost 1.5% per payment, plus VAT where applicable and Stripe fees. Stripe handles membership payment processing, while organizations set their own membership prices and refund policies. The platform also includes failed-payment recovery and refunds in its billing feature set. Integration coverage includes Stripe, Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Telegram, with digital membership cards and QR check-in supporting day-to-day access workflows.
Revel’s strongest distinction is its breadth across memberships, events, classes, approvals, and access. Approval questionnaires can screen membership applicants, while class capacity controls and RSVPs support scheduled activities. That wider community-management focus may suit organizations combining subscriptions with events and classes, but it is less specialized than a dedicated gym billing system for advanced billing operations and reporting. Choose Revel when free open-source software, self-hosting, and configurable membership structures matter most. Choose an alternative when specialized gym billing administration and deeper operational reporting are the priority.
Revel pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free, open-source deployment with hosted or self-hosted options
- Recurring memberships, tiers, passes, RSVPs, and capacity limits
- Stripe payments plus Wallet cards and QR check-in
- Where it doesn't
- Broader community and event scope than dedicated gym billing software
- Hosted membership payments add a 1.5% transaction fee, VAT, and Stripe fees
- Billing operations and reporting are less specialized than dedicated alternatives
Revel fact sheet, pricing and score →
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