When looking for online personal trainers, you’re likely to find options to fit all budgets. While it can be true that online fitness coaching can be more budget-friendly than in-person sessions, the exact price is likely to vary due to a whole range of factors and service offerings.
A range of service options
Service providers can vary enormously. At the lower end of the scale is a range of fitness apps that offer follow-along workouts. There are hundreds of these available on the various app stores. Fitness app subscriptions typically start from around $10-$15 per month. At the other end of the scale are one-on-one Personal training sessions sessions, which typically cost between $40 to $100 per hour but can be higher.
It’s worth considering that online personal trainers typically charge a flat rate for a program or a monthly rate. Which accommodates both those who want to view a new fitness initiative as a short-term project. Or indeed those looking view the kind of accountability they can expect from a coach as a long-term support structure.
When you compare this to the hourly rate charged by in-person PTs, you’re likely to see a considerable saving. But how do you ensure that you’re getting good value from an online fitness coach?
Online personal training price range
Generally speaking, the cost of online personal training is going to range from anywhere between $60-$300 per month.Â
Before you sign up with a coach it’s a great idea to determine what your requirements are. This will help you choose the right coach for you, as specialities and philosophies around exercise vary greatly.
If you already have experience following a structured exercise program, and exercise itself is already a consistent habit for you, you may only need a trainer to remove the guesswork from the process by offering you an effective workout program. Complete with preset workouts that you’ll be able to carry out in your own time.
However, if you have more complex goals or have a schedule that is likely to change forcing multiple location or equipment changes then I would recommend a completely personalised fitness program built specifically for you. This way you can account for and respond to any eventuality.
At the other end of the scale, you might want live, remote, one-to-one sessions (usually referred to as virtual personal training) with a trainer of your choice. This is a feature which no doubt will come with a higher price tag, and your schedule will need to line up with your chosen trainer, it’s basically akin to traditional personal training but you could be thousands of miles away from one another.
How much support will you receive?
You should also consider the amount of support you might require to achieve your goals. As I mentioned above, if you see a fitness program as a blueprint to follow, you may not need much support because your primary challenge has been just knowing what to do. A program you have faith in from a great coach solves that instantly.
But if your challenges around health & fitness have historically had more to do with staying motivated to exercise or feeling like you’ve lacked accountability you might feel that you want someone on hand when you are most likely to struggle. In this scenario, I would suggest that you seek an online fitness trainer that offers both a personalised training program for you to follow and ongoing accountability through instant messaging, email or call support.
Will you need a meal plan?
Another consideration is how you would like to approach nutrition and the extent to which you would like a personal trainer to help you with your dietary intake which is a huge part of the puzzle. Some trainers offer macronutrient profiles or calorie goals, while others offer comprehensive meal plans, built to facilitate your fitness goals. This is one of many add-on features that online coaches may offer, so again, take some time to understand your own requirements and make sure you invest in the package that will support your requirements.
The best online personal trainers will offer more than just a workout program and meal plan. Potentially offering habit tracking, ongoing support, customised training programs and progression tracking. So look into this in advance, as not all online personal training packages will be created equal.
If you’re unsure of your requirements, or you would like to know the most linear route to your goals, try and arrange a consultation call with 2-3 prospective personal trainers to ensure that they are a good fit.
Some people may just be looking to purchase a training program. Others researching the same top online personal trainers will be looking for a place they feel good about investing in an ongoing coaching relationship. So it’s important to ensure that you respond well to the coach’s style, and vice versa. For that reason, it’s also worth considering whether you want to work with the head coach of a business or would consider working with a team member. Some training apps may provide rapid responses via a team of support staff which is fantastic, but establishing a lasting coaching relationship might be challenging if they are prone to high staff turnover making it feel like your coaching team is like a revolving door.
There are many fantastic online fitness programs and services out there. Be sure that you’re choice of online fitness trainer is a great fit for you personally.
Further Reading: How to find the right online personal trainer for you.