Guide
How to Choose Personal Trainer Software: A 2026 Buyer’s Guide
A practical, vendor-neutral framework for picking coaching software, with the real prices behind each question to ask before you sign up.
Most coaches choose software on a free-trial vibe and regret it three months later when the price jumps or a key feature turns out to be an add-on. Here is a framework that starts with your business, not the marketing, with published October 2026 prices for each step.
1. Start with your client count and growth
Coaching software is priced in three shapes. Per extra client: a base plan plus a fixed price for every client above it (Coachway $79 for 5 clients plus $10 each; FitBudd $79 for 20 plus $2). Client bands: a price for each roster size (Trainerize Pro runs from $25 for 5 clients to $250 for 200; TrueCoach, Everfit and TrainerFu work the same way). Flat and unlimited: one price whatever your roster (My PT Hub Premium, $59/mo).
| Platform | Price is driven by | 10 clients | 25 clients | 50 clients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My PT Hub8.03-client Starter, then flat unlimited-client plans | 3-client Starter, then flat unlimited-client plans | $59 | $59 | $59 |
| PT Distinction8.5Flat plans by included clients | Flat plans by included clients | $60 | $60 | $90 |
| Everfit7.9Free up to 5 clients, then client-count tiers + separate add-ons | Free up to 5 clients, then client-count tiers + separate add-ons | $29 | $75 | $95 |
| TrainerFu8.2Published tiers by client count | Published tiers by client count | $29 | $79 | $99 |
| Trainerize8.0Tiered by coaching-client seats | Tiered by coaching-client seats | $50 | $79 | $135 |
| FitBudd8.4Per-client tiers + overage | Per-client tiers + overage | $47 | $89 | $139 |
| TrueCoach7.6Per active-client tiers | Per active-client tiers | $70 | $165 | $165 |
| Coachway7.6One all-inclusive plan: base fee for up to 5 clients plus a fixed price per extra client, billed monthly | One all-inclusive plan: base fee for up to 5 clients plus a fixed price per extra client, billed monthly | $129 | $279 | $529 |
Columns are monthly cost at that many clients.
Subscription only, monthly billing, before add-ons and card fees. Exercise.com is quote-only; TeamBuildr, TrainHeroic and TrainingPeaks price by athlete roster or athlete plan, so they are not shown.
If you expect to pass 50 clients, compare prices at that size, not the entry price. At 50 clients Coachway is $529/mo, while PT Distinction Master is $89.90 and My PT Hub $59.
2. Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves
- Branded app: PT Distinction includes custom-branded apps from its $59.90 Pro plan. FitBudd puts your own app in the App Store and Google Play for $149/mo plus $75 setup, My PT Hub sells a store listing for $145/mo, and TrainerFu adds a branded app for $75/mo. Trainerize charges $169 one-time for your logo and colours, with a fully white-labelled store app from its $275 Studio plan. TrueCoach and Coachway publish no price for one.
- AI programming: included on PT Distinction (program builder and meal planner), Trainerize (from the $10 Grow plan), My PT Hub Premium and Everfit. TrueCoach, TrainerFu and Coachway have no AI tools.
- Payments: most platforms add nothing on top of Stripe’s own fees. TrueCoach takes a flat 5% of every card payment, and Coachway’s built-in payments add 2.4% (nothing if you use your own Stripe checkout). Trainerize charges $10/mo and Everfit from $9/mo for their payments add-ons.
- Meal planning: included on PT Distinction, FitBudd and Coachway; a paid add-on on Trainerize ($20–$45/mo) and Everfit (from $39/mo).
3. Calculate the true monthly cost
Headline ≠ true cost
Add base plan + add-ons + payment fees on your real monthly volume. In our pricing guide, the same 30-client coach pays from about $199 to $469 a month depending on the platform. Every review has a calculator that does this for your numbers.
4. Check the free trial and the way out
- Free plans: Everfit is free up to 5 clients and Trainerize is free for 1 client, so you can learn the tool before paying.
- Trials: PT Distinction gives a 1-month free trial; TrainerFu and Coachway give 14 days (Coachway asks for a card up front).
- Contracts: PT Distinction, TrainerFu and Coachway have no contract; TrueCoach and Trainerize are month-to-month unless you choose annual billing.
- Branded apps when you leave: if you cancel Trainerize, a custom branded app is deactivated and clients return to the main Trainerize app. Ask any vendor what happens to your app and data when you cancel.
5. Test the client side, not just yours
Your clients live in the mobile app far more than you do. Send yourself a workout, log it, message yourself and pay an invoice as a client before deciding. Check the app’s store ratings too: a polished coach dashboard does not help if clients find the app clumsy.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I pick the cheapest option?
Cheapest-by-headline often is not cheapest in reality. Compare the true monthly cost at your client count and card volume: Coachway is $79/mo at 5 clients, but at 50 it is $529, against $95 for Everfit before its add-ons.
Which coaching software has unlimited clients?
My PT Hub Premium: $59/mo ($52 billed annually) for unlimited clients, with an AI workout builder. Most others price by client count; PT Distinction Master comes closest, at $89.90 for 50 clients plus $1.60 per extra client.
How important is a branded app?
It matters if your brand experience is a selling point. If clients care more about results than app branding, save the money. The cheapest published routes are PT Distinction Pro ($59.90, branded app included) and FitBudd Super Pro ($149/mo + $75 setup for your own store listing).
Is a free plan enough to start?
For learning the tool, yes: Everfit is free up to 5 clients and Trainerize free for 1. Before you commit, check what the paid plan costs at the roster you expect in six months.
Does coaching software take a cut of my payments?
Usually not beyond Stripe’s own fees. The exceptions are TrueCoach, which takes a flat 5% of every card payment, and Coachway’s built-in payments, which add 2.4% (nothing through your own Stripe checkout).
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