Fitness / May 22, 2024

The 7 Best Online Personal Training in 2024

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The best workouts are the ones you show up for consistently. Between work, family, and having a social life, it can be hard to find time to hit the gym. Personal training is a great way to get the guidance, accountability, and motivation you need, especially if you’re a beginner or have specific fitness goals in mind. While in-person personal training can be quite expensive, online personal training is often easier on your wallet. Plus, it’s more flexible—you can fit your workouts in whenever and wherever makes sense for you. Our experts spent countless hours testing more than 60 online personal training apps to bring you our top picks so you can find the right fit for your budget, fitness level, personal goals, and desired level of support.

Best Online Personal Trainer for Muscle Building: Future
Best Online Personal Trainer For Beginners: Caliber
Best Online Personal Trainer for Weight Loss: Centr
Best Online Personal Trainer for Running: Joggo
Best Live Online Personal Trainer: FlexIt
Best Online Personal Trainer for Yoga: Down Dog
Best Online Personal Trainer for Cardio: Peloton

To learn what most users need from online personal trainers, we consulted Maurice Williams, assistant professor of kinesiology at Freed Hardeman University and N.A.S.M. C.P.T. and Emily Booth, N.A.S.M C.P.T. and member of the N.A.S.M. Scientific Advisory Board.

Best Online Personal Trainer for Muscle Building: Future With Future, your coach designs a workout plan specifically for you and your goals.At a Glance:

Price: $199/month for monthly plan; $149/month for annual plan
Functions: Personalized workouts, daily check-ins, rep counting
Available For: iOS and Android
Equipment Needed: Your coach will design workouts around equipment you already have. Apple Watch or any watch that supports Android WearOS 3.0 or above.
Workouts Offered: Strength and cardio

Future matches you with your own fitness coach for completely personalized training. Future is a great choice if you want to gain muscle and build strength because your coach designs a workout plan tailored to your specific goals and the equipment you have. To get started, users complete an intake questionnaire. Future recommends a trainer based on your answers, or you can select your own coach. (If you decide your trainer isn’t the right fit, you can swap coaches at any time.) “Future helps people achieve their fitness goals because it is built in the digital space where a lot of us spend our day. The app is clean and inviting and the setup process only takes a few minutes,” says Williams.

After you match with a coach, you’ll schedule a video call to discuss your fitness goals, ideal workout routine, and personal preferences. From there, your coach will design your workout plan. “I told my coach I like to hit the gym four times a week, so he built me a four-day program alternating between upper and lower body workouts, each twice a week. He also included warmups, which I mentioned was important to me,” says tester Scott Richardson, who used Future for one month. “I’ve tested lots of fitness apps and Future has the most comprehensive workouts.”

Press play on your workout for the day, and the app walks you through each exercise rep by rep, including videos on how to complete the movements and tips for getting the most out of each set. You can film yourself completing a move and send it to your coach for form analysis or input on weight adjustment. While your coach won’t provide feedback in real-time, they typically respond to questions within 24 hours. Coaches are also there for motivation. “I sent my coach a video of one of my single-arm cable row sets so he could check my form. I appreciated his feedback,” says Richardson. “The coaches really hold you accountable to the training program. They can message you at any time to help check in and help you stay on track.”

While Richardson says his overall experience using Future is positive, he didn’t love that he had to wait almost a week between signing up for the program and his initial call with his coach. “I burned the first nine days of my trial just waiting to get started,” says Richardson.

Pros:

Quality coaching, individualized training program, and helpful feedback including video check-ins and form guidance
No equipment requirements
Tons of online fitness coaches to choose from, each with different training specialties

Cons:

Smartwatch required
Android users report the app freezes and can be buggy
No real-time form correction, you’ll have to send a video to a trainer and get feedback at a later time

Best Online Personal Trainer For Beginners: Caliber Caliber coaches design custom fitness and nutrition plans to help users form new, healthy habits.At a Glance:

Price: Pro $19/month (group coaching), Premium $200+/month (personal training), and a free version
Functions: Video coaching, weekly lessons, macronutrient tracking, nutrition coaching
Available For: iOS and Android
Equipment Needed: Your coach will plan workouts around equipment you have access to
Workouts Offered: Strength training and cardio

If you need help starting your fitness journey, check out Caliber. Caliber provides a comprehensive, science-based training program incorporating exercise and nutrition to help you form sustainable, healthy habits for long-term success. “It’s evident that Caliber seeks to identify a variety of critical elements in order to customize a plan for each user’s goals, lifestyle, and equipment availability. I also appreciate that users have access to a real trainer with whom they can ask real questions,” says Booth.

I tested the free version of Caliber and designed a week’s worth of training for myself. After answering a few basic questions about the equipment I had, the number of days I wanted to train, and the amount of time I had to exercise each day, the app generated my four-day workout split: Legs, chest and triceps, back and biceps, and shoulders and abs. My leg workout consisted of four movements: the barbell squat, barbell Romanian deadlifts, dumbbell lunges, and seated leg press. As a certified personal trainer, I appreciated this simple, yet effective workout. Each exercise includes a detailed description and video demonstration of proper form, which is beneficial if you’re new to resistance training.

Caliber also has two paid plans: Caliber Premium, which offers one-on-one sessions with a certified personal trainer, and Caliber Pro, which allows users to join an expert-led group focused on specific goals. Tester Cory Kessler, C.P.T., C.N.C., tried the Pro version and was impressed by the workout guides and how much feedback he got from his coach. “I’ve tried a lot of apps, and the tutorials on Caliber are the most in-depth I’ve seen,” says Kessler. “The coaches strike a great balance of accountability and encouragement. Like with Future, coaches are available for questions and can watch videos of your form to give you pointers.”

Individualized coaching is only available with Pro ($19/month) and Premium ($200/month) plans. The free version offers non-customized workout programs and nutrition plans better suited to users with more fitness experience who need less guidance. One downside noted by testers is the app’s interface, which is slightly clunky but still fairly intuitive.

Pros:

Connect with a responsive coach
Thorough movement videos for each exercise
A free (but less comprehensive) version of this app is available
Options for one-on-one and group training available

Cons:

The app asks for daily weigh-ins and weekly progress pictures, which may be triggering for some
Personalized nutrition coaching only available with premium plan ($200/month)

Best Online Personal Trainer for Weight Loss: Centr Centr provides personalized plans to help users improve their diet, exercise, and mindfulness.At a Glance:

Price: $30/month, $60/three months, or $110/year
Functions: Workout plans, meal planning, mindfulness training, and progress tracking
Available For: iOS and Android
Equipment Needed: Many workouts don’t require any equipment, but others utilize a variety of gym equipment (you can filter the workout videos in the app by equipment need)
Workouts Offered: HIIT, strength, cardio, yoga and Pilates, and more

Experts say weight loss is as much about diet and mindset as it is about working out. Centr is our pick for the best online personal trainer app for weight loss because it combines nutrition coaching, mindfulness practices, and exercise into one wellness tool. “What makes Centr stand out from other apps I’ve tried is its balanced and holistic approach to fitness, whereas other programs focus on a specific goal,” says Kessler, who used Centr for two years.

Unlike Future and Caliber, Centr’s workouts aren’t designed specifically for users. Instead, they’re pre-programmed plans aimed at different goals, such as weight loss or building muscle. Each program includes workouts, a meal plan, and mindfulness exercises. “There are at least 20 programs to choose from. The workouts in each program are assigned to a specific day of the week, making it really easy to follow,” Kessler says.

If you’re looking for an online personal trainer to provide accountability on your weight loss journey, Centr probably isn’t the app for you. However, if you’re looking for detailed guidelines and in-depth assistance with meal planning, Centr is a wealth of practical support and resources. “The nutrition component is my favorite part of Centr. I really like how the app focuses on healthy recipes and habits rather than restrictions,” says Kessler. “The app provides a full grocery list making it very convenient to shop, plus all of the suggested meals were delicious.”

Pros:

At least 20 goal-oriented workout programs to choose from
More than 4,000 on-demand workouts including HIIT, Pilates, strength training, and more
Mental health programming includes breathwork, meditation, and soundscapes
Over 1,000 recipes in categories including vegetarian, under 30 minutes, high-protein, pre-workout, easy, freezable, and meal prep

Cons:

No personalized workouts, just pre-recorded videos organized into different categories and programs
No direct interactions with any trainers or dietitians, etc

Best Online Personal Trainer for Running: Joggo Whether you’re a new runner or training for your next race, Joggo can design a custom plan for you.At a Glance:

Price: $33/one month, $46/three months, $66/six months, and optional strength training for $2/week
Functions: GPS tracking and audio guidance for your runs, optional nutrition plans
Available For: iOS, Andriod
Equipment Needed: Running shoes
Workouts Offered: Running and strength training

Running with the Joggo app playing in your headphones is like having a personal trainer alongside you. While you run, a pre-recorded coach guides you from warm-up to cool-down providing encouragement and cues along the way. “I often run too fast to sustain my speed for the entire workout, so I like the reminders to slow down (or in some cases speed up),” says tester Grant Smith. “I also found the breathing techniques helpful.”

After an initial survey to ascertain your starting point, Joggo creates your custom workout plan with runs two to four times a week and plenty of rest days. “As a newer runner, those first few workouts were pretty challenging, but eventually the program felt more tailored to my running level,” Smith says. The app displays a chart of your pace and distance metrics so you can see your improvements over time.

Another feature that sets Joggo apart from other running apps is its nutrition coaching. Joggo offers grocery lists, healthy recipes, and snack ideas. “This is probably my favorite feature of the app,” says tester Rachel Pasche, an avid runner. “Not only does Joggo offer ideas for pre- and post-workout meals, but it also gives you a grocery list for those recipes, making food shopping a breeze.”

Joggo’s subscription price varies based on the number of months you purchase, which is convenient. For example, if you are using the app to train for a 5k, you can choose a subscription to match the length of your training period. While Joggo pairs with an Apple Watch, it does not sync with any other smartwatches or apps.

Pros:

Step-by-step coaching in your headphones and GPS tracking as you run
Run-specific nutrition coaching geared toward weight loss
Tailors your running plan as your fitness level progresses

Cons:

All pre-recorded coaching, not personalized
Not compatible with any smartwatches or wearables other than the Apple Watch

Best Live Online Personal Trainer: FlexIt FlexIt offers live, virtual personal training sessions so you can get real-time feedback and advice.At a Glance:

Price: Ranges from $44-$84/session based on length of training session and number of sessions purchased
Functions: Live, one-on-one training sessions with a personal trainer and/or nutritionist
Available For: iOS, Android, and web access
Equipment Needed: Trainers will incorporate what you have available
Workouts Offered: Cardio, meditation, nutrition, yoga, and more

FlexIt brings one-on-one personal training right to your home via your phone, tablet, or computer. With FlexIt, users are paired with a personal trainer for live, guided workouts over video chat. The biggest difference between FlexIt and apps like Future or Caliber is that your trainer gives you feedback in real-time. “As I was doing the ab portion of a circuit workout, I mentioned some lower back tension,” says tester Colleen Quigley. “My trainer, Chris, told me to stop immediately and guided me through a modification so I could safely and effectively complete the exercise.”

Like many of the apps on our list, FlexIt begins with a questionnaire about your current fitness level and goals. From there you can book your first session with the trainer best suited to your preferred workout style. FlexIt has a long, diverse list of specialists to coach you through cardio workouts, strength sessions, yoga classes, guided meditations, and more. Once you pick the trainer you’d like to work with, you’ll book a time slot in their calendar. “I wanted to try a new experience so I booked a 30-minute guided meditation with Sarah, a yoga instructor,” says tester Joana Neziri. “I’ve taken many yoga classes, but never online or in my own bedroom. I liked how private and personal this was, and I felt calmer during our session than I typically do during in-person yoga class.” In addition to personal training, FlexIt offers various four-week-long programs, including HIIT, bodyweight strength training, and dumbbell strength training. You can complete these workouts on your own, or meet with your “Connected Training” coach, who will customize the program for you.

After your session, your trainer can message you through the app to check in and remind you to book your next appointment. You can choose to book recurring sessions or pick individual sessions with different trainers. FlexIt also offers coaching from registered nutritionists to help you reach your health goals. It has a monthly plan and a pay-as-you-go option. With both plans, the more sessions you book, the greater your discount per session.

Pros:

Interact with a real personal trainer for the entirety of your online workout
Book the same instructor if you like them, or try a bunch of different trainers
Offers a variety of workouts from resistance training to yoga, as well as nutrition coaching

Cons:

You might not be able to book the same instructor on a consistent schedule

Best Online Personal Trainer for Yoga: Down Dog Down Dog users get access to multiple types of yoga, including Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, gentle flows, strength flows, and more.At a Glance: