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AMES vs Swim Central

A swim school management platform used by UK and Australian swim schools for bookings, level progression, and parent communication.

Swim schools switch to AMES for multi-activity support, transparent revenue-share pricing, and a modern platform that covers teaching, parent engagement, compliance, and business growth in one place.

11
AMES advantages
30
Features compared
6
Categories

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

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

Booking & Scheduling

FeatureAMESSwim Central
Online class booking
Waitlist management
Multi-venue scheduling
Multi-activity support (dance, gymnastics, football)
Make-up lesson management
Drag-and-drop timetable builder

Payment Processing

FeatureAMESSwim Central
Online card payments
Direct debit (GoCardless)Limited
No per-transaction platform fee
Sibling discounts
Pro-rata calculations
Automated failed payment retriesLimited

Communication

FeatureAMESSwim Central
Email notifications
SMS messaging
Dedicated parent portal
In-app two-way messaging
Automated progress updatesLimited
Class-specific announcements

Teaching & Progression

FeatureAMESSwim Central
Swim England framework support
Skill progression tracking
Parent-visible progress reports
Digital poolside registers
Multi-activity framework support (RAD, BG, etc.)
Certificate generation

Compliance & Safety

FeatureAMESSwim Central
DBS check tracking
Instructor qualification managementLimited
Medical/allergy records
Emergency contacts
GDPR compliance
Ofsted compliance tools

Why Operators Switch to AMES

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

1

Multi-activity from day one

Swim Central is built exclusively for swim schools. AMES supports swimming alongside dance, gymnastics, football, martial arts, and 8 more activity types — so if you ever expand beyond the pool, you will not need a second platform.

2

No monthly fee

AMES uses a revenue-share model — you pay nothing until you earn. Swim Central charges a monthly subscription regardless of your programme size or revenue, which hits hardest during quieter holiday periods.

3

Full compliance tooling

AMES tracks DBS checks, instructor qualifications, and Ofsted compliance alongside day-to-day operations. Swim Central's compliance tools are limited, creating gaps for operators who need audit-ready documentation.

4

Business tools beyond bookings

AMES includes marketing automations, retention insights, and a Connect parent-facing app — not just class management. Swim Central focuses on the operational layer and leaves growth tools out.

Pricing at a Glance

Transparent pricing so you can make an informed decision.

Recommended

AMES

Free to use — % fee on payments via AMES Pay

No monthly fee. AMES earns a small % of payments processed. Fully transparent.

Swim Central

Monthly subscription — contact for pricing

Subscription pricing is not publicly listed. Typically tiered by number of swimmers.

Switching Is Easier Than You Think

Moving from Swim Central 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 Swim Central 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 Swim Central and transform the way you run your activity business? Book a free demo today.