How much does a custom court booking system cost?
It depends on scope. You can choose a fixed-price project or a monthly plan, both based on project size. Venues, courts, rules, an app and integrations such as door access move the price; a short scoping call gets you a fixed quote. See pricing.
How long does it take to build a court booking system?
Timelines depend on project size. Your exact timeline comes with the fixed quote. For comparison, published guides put custom booking MVPs at 6–12 weeks.
Do we own the source code and the booking data?
Yes. Player and booking data is always yours, held in your own database and exportable whenever you want it. On a fixed-price project, the source code becomes yours once it is paid in full, and the app is published under your developer accounts.
Do you charge commission or per-booking fees?
No. You pay for building the system, as a fixed price or a monthly plan, and that is all. Payments go through your own payment provider account, such as Stripe, so the only transaction fees are the provider's, and the money reaches your bank on the provider's schedule, not a platform's.
Is ClubSpark free, and can we move off it?
The LTA version of ClubSpark is free for affiliated venues, with payment fees of 0.8% through GoCardless or 1.4% + 5p plus Stripe's fees; the commercial version costs £15–90 a month (third-party comparison, 2026). Yes, you can move: we import your members and bookings and run both systems in parallel.
Can players split the court fee?
Yes. A padel four or a doubles group can each pay their share at booking. You choose whether the court is held once the organiser pays or only when every player has paid, and unpaid shares get automatic reminders before the match.
Can bookings unlock doors and turn on lights for an unmanned facility?
Yes. Each booking can create a door code or QR pass valid only for its slot, and switch the court lights on and off with the calendar. Payment is taken upfront and staff get alerts for forced doors or overstays, so the venue can open without a receptionist. See our guide to running an unmanned padel club.
Can we keep our Playtomic or MATCHi listing and still own our system?
Yes. Many clubs stay listed for discovery while members and regulars book directly with them. We share availability with the marketplace where it allows, so a court can't be sold twice, and your own system takes no commission. See our guide to Playtomic fees for clubs.
Do we need an app, or is web booking enough?
For many clubs a fast mobile website is enough. An app pays off when players book several times a week, join open matches or need waitlist alerts by push. We build both from one code base, so you can start on the web and add the app later.
Which payment methods can players use?
Cards and wallets through Stripe in most countries, SEPA direct debit in Europe, Bizum in Spain, iDEAL in the Netherlands and regional gateways in the UAE. Cash at the desk and invoices for schools and clubs are recorded in the same system.
How do you prevent double bookings?
Every slot is locked the moment a player starts checking out, so a second player can't take it in the same second. Staff, online and marketplace bookings all write to one calendar, and overlapping spaces, such as a pitch split into thirds, block each other automatically.
What is the best booking system for sports clubs?
There is no single best one. ClubSpark, CourtReserve and Playtomic suit many clubs that want to start quickly. A custom system makes sense when commission or monthly fees keep growing, when your rules don't fit a package, or when you want your own app and data.
Is there free court booking software?
Yes, some products offer free plans or are free for certain clubs, usually with limits. Check payment fees, branding, data export and who holds the player relationship. A free tool can be a good start, while a custom system makes sense when your rules or fees outgrow it.
