Swimly vs Coacha
Coacha is a solid multi-sport platform used by clubs across everything from martial arts to yoga. But if you run a competitive swimming club in the UK, a purpose-built swimming platform means less compromise and more time on poolside. Here's how Swimly compares as a Coacha alternative for swim clubs. For a broader view, see our best swim club software UK comparison.
£0
transaction fees
100%
swimming-focused
Flat
monthly pricing
| Feature | Swimly | Coacha |
|---|---|---|
| Sports Focus | Purpose-built for UK competitive swimming | Generic multi-sport (martial arts, gymnastics, yoga, swimming, etc.) |
| Swim England Alignment | Built around Swim England categories and workflows | No swimming-specific body integration |
| Pricing | £29–79/mo flat rate, no hidden costs | £36/mo Premium or £60/mo Custom, plus transaction fees |
| Transaction Fees | No transaction fees on any payment | 2.5% + 20p (cards) or 2.2% + 24p (Direct Debit) |
| Direct Debit | GoCardless integration, fully automated | GoCardless integration with transaction fees |
| Member Portal | Mobile-optimised parent and swimmer portal | Member app and online portal |
| Attendance Tracking | Quick check-in with lane assignments | Register and attendance tracking |
| Competitive Swimming Workflows | Gala entries, squad management, competition tracking | Generic class and session management |
| eCommerce | Not yet available | Built-in online store for kit and merchandise |
| Skills Tracking | Swimming-focused progression tracking | Flexible skills and grading across any sport |
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 Coacha?
Four reasons clubs are making the switch.
Built for swimming, not adapted for it
Coacha is designed to work across dozens of sports, which means swimming clubs get a generic experience. Swimly is built specifically for UK competitive swimming clubs, with Swim England alignment, squad structures, gala management, and competition workflows baked in from the start.
No transaction fees eating into club funds
Coacha charges 2.5% + 20p on card payments and 2.2% + 24p on Direct Debits. For a club collecting £5,000 a month in subscriptions, that's over £1,300 a year in fees on top of your subscription. Swimly charges a flat monthly rate with no transaction fees, so every pound collected goes to your club.
Transparent, predictable pricing
With Swimly, you pay £29–79 per month and that's it. No percentage taken from payments, no surprise costs as your membership grows, and no need to calculate whether your payment volume makes the platform cost-effective.
Understands how swimming clubs actually work
From county championships to club nights, squad promotions to Swim England registrations, Swimly speaks the language of swimming. Your volunteers won't need to bend a generic tool to fit swimming-specific processes.
When might Coacha be better?
Coacha is a well-regarded platform with a strong reputation across many sports. It may be the better fit if:
- • Your organisation runs multiple sports (not just swimming) and needs one platform for everything
- • You need a built-in eCommerce store to sell kit, merchandise, or equipment online
- • You rely heavily on flexible skills and grading tracking that spans multiple disciplines
- • Your payment volume is low enough that Coacha's transaction fees don't significantly impact your budget
Ready for swim club software built for swimming?
Join the waiting list and be the first to try Swimly when we launch. Learn more about our swim club management software.
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