ClubPal
UK club platform for volunteer-run sports clubs with memberships, bookings, payments, safeguarding checks and a free club website
Quick Overview
| Company | ClubPal Ltd |
|---|---|
| Category | Sports Club and Team Management Software |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2018 |
| EU Presence | United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA) |
| Data Location | Microsoft Azure, North Europe (Dublin), per the privacy policy |
| Open Source | No |
| Pricing | No subscription. ClubPal says it charges only a flat fee of 20p + 3.5% when a club takes payments through the platform; clubs that take no payments pay nothing. |
| Free Option | Free to start |
| Replaces | Spond, TeamSnap |
Detailed Review
ClubPal is a club platform from ClubPal Ltd, registered in England and Wales under number 12842858, with its address at 20-22 Wenlock Road, London. The site says founder Richard Mercer conceived it in 2018 while sitting on the committee of a triathlon club, and that it is used by clubs in the UK and 25 other countries. The terms are governed by the laws of the United Kingdom, so the contract sits outside the EU, though inside Europe.
The product covers memberships and passes, recurring sessions with capacity limits and waiting lists, events with ticketing, a club shop, chat, a free club website builder and iPhone and Android apps.
Its distinguishing feature is safeguarding: DBS, PVG and coaching credentials are stored with expiry dates, and eligibility rules stop a lapsed check from being added to a junior session.
There is no subscription; the only charge named on the site is a flat 20p + 3.5% on payments taken through ClubPal Payments, with Apple Pay and Google Pay supported. The privacy policy says the service is hosted on Microsoft Azure in North Europe (Dublin) and lists Azure and HubSpot as sub-processors. No prices outside the UK fee were read for this review, and the pages carry no independent certification.
What ClubPal does well
- No subscription, fee only on payments
- Safeguarding credentials with expiry enforcement
- Hosted in Dublin per the privacy policy
- Free club website and mobile apps
- Company registration number published
Where ClubPal falls short
- Contract is with a UK company, not an EU one
- Payment fee shown in pence for the UK only
- Younger and smaller than most tools listed
- No certification listed on the pages read
Standout feature. ClubPal is the only tool on the list that enforces safeguarding check expiry when it assigns coaches to junior sessions.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- No subscription, fee only on payments
- Safeguarding credentials with expiry enforcement
- Hosted in Dublin per the privacy policy
- Free club website and mobile apps
- Company registration number published
Cons
- Contract is with a UK company, not an EU one
- Payment fee shown in pence for the UK only
- Younger and smaller than most tools listed
- No certification listed on the pages read
Alternatives to ClubPal
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ClubPal?
ClubPal is a club platform from ClubPal Ltd, registered in England and Wales under number 12842858, with its address at 20-22 Wenlock Road, London. The site says founder Richard Mercer conceived it in 2018 while sitting on the committee of a triathlon club, and that it is used by clubs in the UK and 25 other countries. The terms are governed by the laws of the United Kingdom, so the contract sits outside the EU, though inside Europe.
Where is ClubPal based?
ClubPal operates from London, United Kingdom, which places it under United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA).
What does ClubPal cost?
No subscription. ClubPal says it charges only a flat fee of 20p + 3.5% when a club takes payments through the platform; clubs that take no payments pay nothing.. Free to start.
Who is ClubPal best for?
Volunteer-run UK clubs that want safeguarding checks and payments without a subscription. ClubPal is the only tool on the list that enforces safeguarding check expiry when it assigns coaches to junior sessions.
What are the drawbacks of ClubPal?
Contract is with a UK company, not an EU one. Payment fee shown in pence for the UK only. Younger and smaller than most tools listed. No certification listed on the pages read.
Is ClubPal a good alternative to Spond?
ClubPal is built as a European alternative to Spond: UK club platform for volunteer-run sports clubs with memberships, bookings, payments, safeguarding checks and a free club website. It will not be a like-for-like feature match in every respect, so check the review above for where the two genuinely differ before switching.
How does ClubPal compare to other Sports Club and Team Management Software?
ClubPal is one of several European Sports Club and Team Management Software we cover. It is most often compared with Spond, TeamSnap.