October 16, 2026 • Bob van Soest • 7 min read

Amilia alternative: honest comparison with Swimmigo [2026]

Amilia alternative: honest comparison with Swimmigo [2026] on price, app, progress, and teaching method. Discover which swim software fits your swim school.
Amilia alternative: honest comparison with Swimmigo [2026]

Summary

  • Amilia SmartRec is Canadian recreation software with a price starting at 99 dollars per month plus 1 percent service fee.
  • Implementation costs 899 to 2,999 dollars one-time, plus payment costs per transaction.
  • Amilia has no swim-specific levels or own teaching method builder and no self-practice.
  • Compare the 27 features in the table to choose.

The main difference

The main difference is the focus. Amilia SmartRec is recreation and membership software for pools, YMCAs, community centers, and municipalities. Swimmigo is a swim-specific app with a fixed monthly fee, its own teaching method via Studio, and self-practice for parent and child.

Swimmigo is not the best swim software, but a different one. Amilia is broadly applicable for all kinds of activities and facilities, especially in North America. Swimmigo focuses purely on swim lessons and is fully contained in one app.

What is Amilia?

Amilia is software from Amilia Enterprises based in Montreal, Canada. The product is called SmartRec and is intended for recreation and membership management: YMCAs, municipal sports departments, community centers, camps, and also swim schools. Registration, payments, members, and rental of facilities are all in one web platform.

Price with service fee

Amilia charges 99 dollars per month for Standard and 499 dollars per month for Advanced. On top of that comes a 1 percent service fee per invoice, plus payment costs of 2.85 percent and 0.30 dollars per transaction. The one-time implementation costs are 899 dollars (Standard) or 2,999 dollars (Advanced).

Web platform, no swim-specific app

Management is done in a web portal for registration and member management. There is no own teaching method builder and no swim-specific levels or skills: you register activities and members. Self-practice for parent and child is not included. The customer app is for enrolling and paying, not for lesson progress.

Indoor pool with lane lines

What is Swimmigo?

Swimmigo is an app for the entire swim lesson, from registration to diploma. School, instructor, parent, and swimmer are all in one native app for iOS and Android. Additionally, there is Studio, a web app where you build your own teaching method.

Fixed monthly fee

Swimmigo charges a fixed monthly amount. Solo costs 9.99 euros per month, School costs 59.99 euros per month. Both with unlimited children and free setup; your 30-day trial only starts once you invite your first real student. Parents use the app for free.

Every lesson format, own teaching method, and self-practice

Swimmigo sets up any lesson format in a few minutes: a fixed weekly lesson, a two-week speed course, or a ten-week turbo lesson. Via Studio you build your own levels, exercises, order, videos, and certificates. And uniquely, Swimmigo lets parent and child practice themselves with levels and gamification, even without a fixed swim school.

Comparison table

FeatureSwimmigoAmilia
Pricing modelFixed monthly fee, unlimited children, locations, and instructorsFrom 99 dollars per month plus 1% service fee per invoice
PlatformNative app iOS and Android + Studio web appWeb platform (registration portal) + customer app
Works independently in the appYes, the entire system is in one appNo, management is in the web portal, app is for customers
Languages5 languagesBilingual (English and French)
Progress tracking7 levels, 86 skills, 6/6 systemNo swim-specific levels and skills
Own teaching method (Studio)Yes, own levels, exercises, order, videos, and certificatesNo, no own teaching method builder
Own brandingYes, own colors and logoYes, own branding via online store
Motivation and gamificationYes, stars, XP, and mascotNot found on the site
Self-practice (parent and child)Yes, parent and child practice themselves with levels and gamificationNo, portal only tracks registration and progress
Family viewingYes, share link with high fiveYes, family accounts and customer portal
Lifetime progress recordYes, stays with parent and childNot found on the site
Access controlAttendance check at lesson start, lesson deducted from lesson cardNot found on the site, no check-in at lesson start
Absence and make-up lessonsYes, swipe and automatic spot freedNot specifically found on the site
Schedule and occupancyYes, see where spots are per groupYes, facility and lane booking
Level transitionYes, planned transfer, parent confirmsNot swim-specific
Waiting list and open spotsYes, self-enrollYes, online registration
Statistics and School PulseYes, key figures, occupancy, and stagnation alertsYes, financial reporting and 50+ reports (Advanced)
Team and collaborationYes, multiple instructors, substitutes, and permissionsYes, staff management
Safety administrationNot presentYes, waivers via configurable forms
Lesson cards and subscriptionsYes, own payment models (lesson card, subscription, course)Yes, memberships and automatic invoicing
Lesson paymentsOptional via Stripe, iDEAL, card, and PayPal, 7.5%Yes, integrated payments, 2.85% plus 0.30 dollars plus 1% service fee
Revenue and costsYes, revenue per month and return per lesson and groupYes, financial reporting
Discounts and price changesYes, coupons and scheduled price changesYes, discounts and promotions
Marketing toolkitYes, flyers, social, QR, and diploma makerMarketing tools in Advanced
In-app communicationYes, messages with read confirmationYes, email and SmartText (premium add-on)
ReviewsYes, parents rate the schoolNot present
Service deskIn-app supportEmail and chat (Standard), phone and chat (Advanced)

Where Swimmigo wins

  • Fixed monthly fee of 9.99 or 59.99 euros, unlimited children. Amilia starts at 99 dollars plus 1 percent service fee and payment costs.
  • Swim-specific progress: 7 levels and 86 skills. Amilia has no swim-specific levels.
  • Own teaching method via Studio. Amilia has no own teaching method builder.
  • Self-practice for parent and child. Amilia does not have this.
  • Everything in one native app. Amilia works with a web portal and a customer app.
  • 5 languages. Amilia is bilingual (English and French).

Where Amilia wins

  • Facility and lane booking for pools and facilities.
  • Memberships and fundraising for non-profits and YMCAs.
  • Broad: recreation, camps, sports, and arts in one system.
  • Online store for merchandise.
  • Advanced financial reporting for municipalities.

For whom Amilia is the better choice

Amilia suits municipalities, YMCAs, and recreation departments in North America that manage members, facilities, and many different activities and already work with the service fee and implementation costs.

For whom Swimmigo is the better choice

Swimmigo suits swim schools and instructors who want everything in one app, with their own teaching method, a fixed low monthly fee, and self-practice for parent and child.

More comparisons

Sources

Bob van Soest

Bob van Soest

As an expert in operating sports facilities (such as swimming pools) and developer of, among others, Swimmigo.com, I am passionately committed to making swimming lessons simpler, more fun and more insightful for parents, swimming instructors and everyone who wants to learn to swim.

Frequently Asked Questions

GeneralParentsSwim Schools

General

Amilia is recreation software for members and facilities with a service fee. Swimmigo is a swim-specific app with a fixed monthly fee, own teaching method via Studio, and self-practice for parent and child.
Amilia starts at 99 dollars per month plus 1 percent service fee and payment costs. Swimmigo charges 9.99 euros (Solo) or 59.99 euros (School) per month, unlimited children.
Yes. You set up Swimmigo for free and transfer your lesson format and levels via Studio. Your 30-day trial only starts once you invite your first real student.

Parents

Amilia records registrations and payments, no swim-specific lesson progress. With Swimmigo you see progress live in the app, with levels and skills.
Yes. With Swimmigo your child practices independently with levels and gamification, even without a fixed swim school. Amilia does not have this.

Swim Schools

With Swimmigo you build your own levels, exercises, order, and certificates via Studio. Amilia works with activity registration without swim-specific teaching method.
Amilia charges 99 dollars per month (Standard) or 499 dollars (Advanced), plus 1 percent service fee per invoice and payment costs. Swimmigo charges a fixed monthly fee with unlimited children.

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