Zenamu can accept bookings from both logged-in clients and people who don't have an account. Each option comes with different payment methods, booking management, and feature access. This article covers the key differences.
Setting: allow bookings without login
In Settings -> Bookings you'll find the toggle "Allow unregistered clients to create bookings". When it's on (which is the default), people without a Zenamu account can book your classes, events, courses, and appointments -- they just need to provide their name and email.
When the toggle is off, visitors who aren't logged in will see a prompt to log in or create an account, and they won't be able to book without registering.
Differences at a glance
Logged-in client | Guest client | |
Contact details | Pre-filled from their account | Must enter name, last name, and email |
Phone | From their account | Optional field |
Pay with credits or a pass | Yes, if they have a balance | No -- not available |
Pay with a membership | Yes, if they have an active membership | No |
Pay by card, bank transfer, on-site | Yes | Yes |
Promo code | Yes | Yes |
Waitlist | Yes -- can join as a waitlist entry | No -- can only enable an email notification |
Child booking | Yes, if the feature is enabled | No |
Make-up sessions | Yes | No |
Terms and conditions consent | Hidden if they're already a client of the studio | Always required |
Booking management | In their account dashboard | Via a one-time link sent by email |
Cancel a booking | From their account or via the link | Only via the link from the email |
How booking works for a guest client
Step 1: Contact details
A guest client fills in:
First and last name (required)
Email (required -- Zenamu checks whether the email belongs to an existing account)
Phone (optional)
Terms and conditions / GDPR consent (required)
Participant waiver (if enabled for the studio)
If the email belongs to a registered user, Zenamu prompts them to log in -- booking under someone else's account through the guest form is not allowed.
Step 2: Payment method and checkout
A guest client only sees payment methods based on direct payment -- card, bank transfer, or on-site. Credits, passes, and memberships are not available because the client doesn't have an account with an active balance.
After submitting the booking, Zenamu:
Creates a client record with "anonymous" status (no password, no full account).
Generates a unique link for managing the booking.
Sends a confirmation email with this link to the provided address.
Managing a booking via the link
A guest client receives a one-time link by email that lets them:
View their booking details.
Complete payment (if they chose online card payment or PayPal).
Cancel the booking.
The link is protected by a unique token -- there's no way to access the booking without it.
Important: If the client loses the link or deletes the email, they have no way to access their booking. In that case, you'll need to manage the booking from the admin panel.
How booking works for a logged-in client
A logged-in client doesn't need to fill in any contact details -- Zenamu already has them from their account. The form goes straight to payment selection, where they also have access to:
Credits -- if they have a positive balance at your studio.
Passes -- if they have a pass with remaining entries.
Memberships -- if they have an active membership that covers the given class type.
After completing the booking, the client sees the confirmation directly in their account and can manage the booking from their dashboard without needing to find an email link.
Waitlist
When a class is full, behavior differs:
A logged-in client can join the waitlist. If a spot opens up, Zenamu notifies them automatically.
A guest client cannot join the waitlist -- they can only enable an email notification about available spots. To join the waitlist, they need to register and log in.
What happens behind the scenes with a guest client
When a guest client makes a booking for the first time, Zenamu creates a record in your studio's client list -- just like for a registered client. The difference is that this record has no password and no account access. If the same email is used for another booking, Zenamu assigns it to the same record.
This means you'll see the guest client's booking history in one place in the client profile, even though they don't have an account.
FAQ
Can a guest client pay with a pass or credits?
No. Credits, passes, and memberships are tied to a user account. A guest client can only pay by card, bank transfer, or on-site.
What happens when a guest enters an email that already exists in the system?
If the email belongs to a registered user, Zenamu prompts them to log in. Booking under an existing account through the guest form is not possible -- this protects against misuse of someone else's account.
How does a guest client cancel their booking?
Through the link they received by email after creating the booking. The link contains a unique code, so no login is needed.
Can I see the guest client in my client list?
Yes. Zenamu automatically creates a record for them on their first booking. You'll see their name, email, and booking history in the client profile.
Should I allow bookings without login?
It depends on how you run things. Allowing guest bookings lowers the barrier for new clients -- they don't need to create an account. The downside is that they can't pay with credits or passes and can't join the waitlist.
Is the guest booking form protected against abuse?
Yes. Zenamu requires reCAPTCHA verification to prevent automated fake bookings.
Related articles