Club Organiser vs Swimly
Last updated: April 2026 · Independent comparison
Club Organiser has been serving UK sports clubs for years with swimming-specific features including time tracking and meet management. Swimly is the modern alternative, built exclusively for swimming clubs with automated billing, mobile-first design, and zero configuration required.
Swimly
Modern platform
ClubOrganiser
Legacy platform
100%
swimming-focused
30min
setup time
Zero
config needed
Quick verdict
Choose Swimly if you want modern automation, mobile-first design, and lower cost with zero configuration. Choose Club Organiser if you need a hosted website included or run a multi-sport organisation.
Key differences at a glance
The three things that matter most when choosing between Club Organiser and Swimly.
Transparent pricing
Swimly starts free for clubs up to 50 members, then £29/month flat with everything included. Club Organiser starts at £24.95/month (software only) or £40/month with website, plus 8p per SMS and extra for emails over 3,500.
Mobile-first, not mobile-adapted
Coaches take attendance poolside on their phone. Swimly is designed for wet hands and bright sunshine, not retrofitted from a desktop interface.
Truly automated billing
Set up Direct Debit once and fees collect themselves via GoCardless. No more chasing standing orders, no manual reconciliation, no late payment spreadsheets.
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| Feature | Swimly Modern | ClubOrganiser |
|---|---|---|
| Target Market | Swimming clubs exclusively | Multi-sport platform (swimming, football, etc.) |
| Pricing | From £29/month Transparent flat fee | From £24.95/month Software only; £40/month with website |
| Setup Time | 30 minutes Swimming defaults pre-configured | Manual configuration required for club structure |
| Payment Automation | Automated Direct Debit Fully integrated via GoCardless | GoCardless and Stripe supported Manual setup required |
| Swimming Features | Squad levels, lane assignments, modern meet entry | Time conversion, PB tracking, Hy-Tek/SportSystems import |
| Mobile Experience | Mobile-first design Works offline poolside | Responsive platform via app icon |
| Club Website | Not included (management platform only) | Hosted club website included in price |
| Meet Management | Integrated entries, payments, and eligibility tracking | Hy-Tek/SportSystems compatibility, eligibility lists |
| Swim England Integration | Planned for 2026 roadmap | OMS integration for member setup and updates |
| Additional Costs | None All features included | SMS 8p per message Emails over 3,500/month |
See what a modern platform looks like
Built for the way committees actually work: quick glances on phones between sessions, and proper admin on laptops when you have time.
Club dashboard
Everything your committee needs at a glance: member counts, upcoming sessions, billing status, and compliance alerts. No clicking through five menus to find what matters.
- Real-time member and payment stats
- Upcoming sessions and attendance
- Compliance and DBS expiry warnings
Automated billing
Direct Debit via GoCardless means fees collect themselves. The Treasurer sees who has paid, who hasn't, and what failed, all without opening a spreadsheet.
- One-click Direct Debit setup
- Automatic retry on failed payments
- Clear payment status dashboard
Works poolside on your phone
Coaches take attendance on their phone at 6am. Parents check balances in the car park. Committee members approve things on the train. Swimly is designed for real life, not just office desks.
No app download needed
Works in any mobile browser. Add to home screen for an app-like experience.
Offline-friendly attendance
Mark attendance even with patchy poolside WiFi. Syncs when reconnected.
Why choose Swimly over Club Organiser?
Four reasons clubs are choosing modern automation over legacy platforms.
Built exclusively for swimming clubs
Whilst Club Organiser serves multiple sports, Swimly is laser-focused on swimming. Every feature, workflow, and interface element is designed specifically for aquatics organisations, from squad management to pool session scheduling.
Zero configuration required
No setup time configuring teams, events, or payment structures. Swimly ships with swimming club defaults pre-configured, so you can add your first members and sessions within 30 minutes.
Fully automated Direct Debit billing
Swimly's integrated GoCardless Direct Debit automation collects fees automatically every month. No manual reconciliation, no chasing parents, no spreadsheet imports required.
Modern mobile-first design
Built for coaches taking attendance poolside at 6am and committee members approving payments on the train. Works offline where WiFi is patchy. Check our transparent pricing from £29/month.
Frequently asked questions about Club Organiser
Common questions from swim club committee members comparing platforms.
How much does Club Organiser cost?
Club Organiser offers two pricing tiers: £24.95 per month (£299.40 per year) for software only, or £40 per month (£480 per year) with a hosted club website included. Both tiers cover unlimited members and core features. Additional costs apply for SMS messaging (8p per message) and emails above 3,500 per month.
Swimly starts free for clubs up to 50 members, with the Club tier at £29 per month including all features and no usage-based charges. No setup fees, no hidden costs.
Does Club Organiser work for swimming clubs?
Yes, Club Organiser has swimming-specific features including time conversion, Hy-Tek and SportSystems compatibility, personal best tracking, club records storage for both short and long course, and Swim England OMS integration. It has been used by swimming clubs for many years.
However, Club Organiser is a multi-sport platform that also serves football clubs, cricket teams, and other organisations. Swimly is built exclusively for swimming clubs with modern automation that requires zero configuration.
What are the main differences between Club Organiser and Swimly?
The key differences are focus, automation, and modern design:
- Focus: Club Organiser serves multiple sports; Swimly is swimming-only
- Automation: Swimly offers fully automated Direct Debit collection; Club Organiser requires manual setup and reconciliation
- Setup: Swimly ships with swimming defaults (30 minutes); Club Organiser requires configuration
- Mobile: Swimly is mobile-first with offline capability; Club Organiser is responsive but not optimised for poolside use
- Pricing: Swimly free (up to 50 members) or £29/month; Club Organiser from £24.95/month or £40/month with website
- Website: Club Organiser includes hosted website; Swimly is management software only
Can I switch from Club Organiser to Swimly?
Yes, you can migrate from Club Organiser to Swimly. Swimly's setup process includes importing member data, squad assignments, and membership information. Because both platforms understand swimming club structures, the transition is straightforward.
Our support team can assist with the migration process to ensure your club's data transfers smoothly. Most clubs complete the switch within a week whilst running both systems in parallel during the transition. Join our pilot programme to get hands-on migration support.
What features does Club Organiser have that Swimly doesn't?
Club Organiser includes several features that Swimly does not currently offer:
- Hosted club website included in the package (Swimly is management software only)
- Multi-sport support if you run swimming alongside other sports in one organisation
- Swim England OMS integration for direct member setup and category updates (on Swimly's 2026 roadmap)
- Legacy integrations built over many years for specific regional requirements
Swimly focuses on superior club management automation, mobile experience, and zero-configuration setup rather than bundling website hosting or supporting multiple sports.
How each platform handles real club tasks
The features committees actually use, week in, week out.
Collecting monthly swimming fees
The task every Treasurer dreads: chasing 80+ families for quarterly subs.
Swimly
Set up Direct Debit once per family. Fees collect automatically on the first of each month. Failed payments retry automatically. The Treasurer logs in to see a dashboard of collected, pending, and failed payments. No spreadsheets, no WhatsApp messages, no awkward conversations at poolside.
Club Organiser
Supports GoCardless and Stripe integrations, but requires manual setup and configuration for each payment method. The platform can track who owes what, but the automation is less streamlined than a purpose-built swimming billing workflow.
Taking attendance at 6am on a Tuesday
The coach is poolside, phone in one hand, whistle in the other. WiFi is patchy.
Swimly
Mobile-first attendance register designed for wet hands and bright sunshine. Works offline when pool WiFi drops. Tap names, mark present or absent, add notes. Syncs automatically when the phone reconnects. Large touch targets, high contrast, no squinting at tiny text.
Club Organiser
Responsive design accessible via mobile browser or home screen icon. Functional on phones but designed as a desktop platform adapted for mobile rather than built mobile-first. Requires an internet connection to operate.
Setting up for a new swimming season
September arrives: new squads, new fees, new committee members who need access.
Swimly
Swimming club defaults are pre-configured from day one. Move swimmers between squads with drag-and-drop. Update fee structures and billing starts automatically. Invite new committee members with role-based access in minutes.
Club Organiser
Flexible setup supports custom team structures, membership categories, and fee schedules. The multi-sport architecture means swimming-specific terminology and workflows require manual configuration, but the platform is highly customisable once set up.
Full cost comparison for a typical club
What a 120-member swimming club actually pays per year.
Swimly
Club Organiser
£180+ saved per year
Switch to Swimly and keep more money in your club's budget
Club Organiser pricing includes hosted website. Swimly focuses on club management. SMS estimates based on typical club communication patterns. Prices verified April 2026.
How to switch from Club Organiser to Swimly
Most clubs complete the migration within a week whilst running both systems in parallel.
Step 1
Export your data
Download your member list, squad assignments, and payment records from Club Organiser as CSV.
~10 minutes
Step 2
Import into Swimly
Upload your CSV. Swimly maps swimming-specific fields automatically: squads, categories, contacts.
~5 minutes
Step 3
Set up billing
Connect GoCardless for automated Direct Debit. Parents get a one-time mandate link. No more chasing.
~10 minutes
Step 4
Go live
Invite your committee and coaches. Swimming defaults mean they can start immediately, no training needed.
Same day
When might Club Organiser be better?
Fair comparison
Club Organiser is an established platform with years of development. Consider Club Organiser if:
- You need a hosted club website included in your platform (Swimly does not offer website hosting)
- You run a multi-sport organisation and need one system for swimming, football, and other sports
- You require immediate Swim England OMS integration (Swimly is adding this in 2026)
- You already use Club Organiser across your organisation and want consistency
Related reading
In-depth review
Club Organiser Review 2026: Is It Right for Your Swimming Club?
An honest look at Club Organiser's pricing, features, strengths, and limitations from a swim parent and committee volunteer perspective.
Pricing guide
Swim Club Software Pricing Comparison UK
Side-by-side pricing breakdown of every major UK swim club management platform, including hidden costs and true annual spend.
Comparing other platforms?
See how Swimly compares to all the top UK swim club software options in one place.
View full comparison guide →Ready for modern swim club management?
Join our pilot programme and be amongst the first clubs to experience Swimly's automated billing and mobile-first design.