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AMES vs Sawyer

A US-based booking platform for children's activity providers, popular with enrichment programmes and camps in North America.

UK-based providers choose AMES over Sawyer for native UK payment support (GBP, GoCardless, direct debit), compliance with UK regulations, and features tailored to British activity frameworks.

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AMES advantages
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Features compared
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Categories

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

A detailed look at how AMES and Sawyercompare across the features that matter most to children's activity providers.

Booking & Scheduling

FeatureAMESSawyer
Online class booking
Waitlist management
Multi-venue scheduling
Term-based enrolment (UK style)
Make-up lesson managementLimited
Camp/holiday programme booking

Payment Processing

FeatureAMESSawyer
Online card payments (GBP)
Direct debit (GoCardless)
Automated recurring billing
Childcare vouchers (UK)
Pro-rata calculations
Sibling discounts

Communication

FeatureAMESSawyer
Email notifications
SMS messaging
Dedicated parent portal
In-app two-way messaging
Automated progress updates
Class-specific announcements

Reporting & Analytics

FeatureAMESSawyer
Revenue reporting
Attendance analytics
UK tax reporting (VAT)
Retention & churn insightsBasic
Custom dashboards
Occupancy analyticsBasic

Teaching & Progression

FeatureAMESSawyer
UK framework support (Swim England, RAD, etc.)
Skill progression tracking
Parent-visible progress reports
Digital registers
Custom assessment criteria
Instructor teaching notes

Compliance & Safety

FeatureAMESSawyer
DBS check tracking (UK)
UK qualification management
Medical/allergy records
Emergency contacts
Ofsted compliance tools
GDPR compliance

Why Operators Switch to AMES

Activity providers across the UK are moving from Sawyer to AMES. Here is what makes the difference.

1

Built for the UK market

Sawyer is designed for the US market with USD pricing, US payment gateways, and American terminology. AMES speaks your language with GBP, GoCardless direct debit, childcare vouchers, and UK-specific compliance tools.

2

UK framework support

Track progression through Swim England stages, RAD dance grades, British Gymnastics awards, and other UK governing body frameworks. Sawyer has no awareness of these British standards.

3

GDPR and UK compliance

AMES is built for UK data protection regulations, DBS tracking, and Ofsted requirements. Sawyer is designed around US privacy laws and background check systems that do not apply in the UK.

4

Local payment methods

Support GoCardless direct debit, childcare vouchers, and GBP pricing. Sawyer processes payments through US-focused gateways and does not support UK-specific payment methods.

Pricing at a Glance

Transparent pricing so you can make an informed decision.

Recommended

AMES

No monthly fee — revenue-share only

Revenue-share model. No monthly fee. GBP pricing, UK payment methods. AMES earns a small % of payments processed.

Sawyer

From $79/month (USD)

USD pricing. US-focused payment processing. Higher tiers for advanced features.

Switching Is Easier Than You Think

Moving from Sawyer to AMES does not mean starting from scratch. We handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on running your business.

1

Book a demo

See AMES in action with a personalised walkthrough tailored to your activity type and business size.

2

Free data migration

Our team migrates your existing customer data, class schedules, and booking history from Sawyer at no extra cost.

3

Go live with confidence

We provide onboarding support, staff training, and a dedicated contact to ensure a smooth transition.

Free data migration included with every plan

See AMES in Action

Ready to see how AMES can replace Sawyer and transform the way you run your activity business? Book a free demo today.