The Best Personal Trainers

Wednesday, June 18th

2025 Personal Trainer Reviews

Fitness Trainer

• Monthly cost: $348 to $2,000+
• All trainers are certified or have relevant degrees
• In-person and online training
• Choose your schedule
• Specialized workout plans for different sports
• Includes diet, exercise, and more
• Database of personal trainers
• 5-star rating on individual trainers

FitnessTrainer is different from some other sites in our review. Rather than offering its own personal trainer services, FitnessTrainer serves as a database. You just need to answer a few fitness questions, and then you'll see a list of private personal trainers who are local to you. The sessions are traditional 1-on-1 meet-ups; FitnessTrainer just makes it easier to find your best match. The questionnaire is quick and asks for your location, who the sessions are for, the client's age, the ideal start date, the best time for training (morning, afternoon, and evening), and what days of the week you want your sessions. Finally, FitnessTrainer will ask you about your primary goal, and you can see your results.

Find a private trainer for you

There are a variety of different fitness focuses offered through the private trainers on FitnessTrainer. The main six you can narrow down to include weight loss, weight gain, firming and toning, flexibility, increasing your muscle strength, and aerobic fitness. Some of the personal trainers offer online training only, and each professional listed will include client reviews as well as details about their training. Some have up to Master's Degrees in exercise and fitness. You can see what courses are offered by each individual. For example, the top options listed for "toning up” included a specialist in kickboxing and circuit training, as well as a specialist in nutrition and exercise.

Tons of options with different specializations

Every personal trainer on FitnessTrainer is a little different, so you can look for any kind of fitness at any level or any frequency. Each FitnessTrainer professional will have his or her listed availability, certifications, and prices on the page. In just our local area there were more than 50 personal trainers available to sift through. Some of the specializations we saw included:

• Basketball
• Bodyweight training
• Calisthenics
• Powerlifting
• Senior fitness
• Stretching

Cost around $348 to $2,000+ per month

Depending on who you choose as your personal trainer, the cost will change. The prices are listed hourly, and for options in our area, we saw costs from $29 per hour up to $198 per hour. If you break that down into three sessions per week for an hour at a time, the cost could range from $348 to $2,000+ per month. Keep in mind that you have the flexibility to choose how many days and how many hours, so you can find some wiggle room in cost depending on your needs. Some personal trainers on FitnessTrainer do have some packages where you can prepay for time at a discount too.

You pick your experience

Depending on who you choose, your personal trainer experience through FitnessTrainer can be more DIY or hands-on guidance. Some trainers offer fully online programs, so you can do video chat and keep up with your trainer at a distance while you manage your workout yourself. Others offer weekly meetups (sometimes multiple times per week) to get that in-person feeling where you can learn and make adjustments to your form. It's totally up to you what experience you want.

Impressive individual reviews

One of the best features of FitnessTrainer is that there are individualized reviews for each trainer available on the platform. All of the top recommended trainers in our selection had a full 5 stars from previous clients. One trainer had feedback from verified reviewers showing that his training sessions were relaxed and educational. Another review for the same individual stated that he was an excellent trainer with hard but fun sessions. We love this feature as you can choose individual trainers based on their feedback, and you don't need to worry about getting a trainer who isn't a good fit because the full transparency of the reviews makes it simple to see what you're getting into at a glance.

Top pick: one-stop shop

If you're looking for the best place to find a variety of personal trainers and see them at a glance, FitnessTrainer is for you. It's a one-stop shop of in-person and online private personal trainers. Whether you want hands-on experience with a particular approach like calisthenics or strength training, or you want something laid-back and focused on weight loss, you can find the perfect personal trainer for you here. With 5-star ratings and certified and fully-educated personal trainers on this platform, you have the pick of the lot and a comfortable price range to work in. For these reasons, FitnessTrainer comes out as our top pick with a perfect 5 stars.

Future Fitness

• Monthly cost: $199
• All trainers are certified or have relevant degrees
• Many trainers have PhDs
• Online training
• Daily check-ins
• Fitness and nutrition
• Specialized training programs offered
• Sports training offered
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• 4.9-star average rating

Future Fitness keeps its motto simple: never skip a workout again. Promising you a fitness coach, accountability partner, and motivation buddy all rolled into one, this online personal trainer platform is designed to offer you a week-by-week plan made just for you by your personal trainer. Future Fitness has different on-staff personal trainers (who they call coaches), and if one of them stands out to you as a good fit, you can request to work with that individual. The coaches all provide a full pedigree and area(s) of expertise, and many of the staff hold PhDs in exercise science.

Focus on whatever fitness style works for you

Depending on which personal trainer you choose, you can get a different workout style. Future Fitness offers fitness filters for coaching style with options like detail-oriented, high energy, laid-back, or results-oriented, expertise options with specializations like bodybuilding, combat sports, dance, crossfit, and more. You can also find Future Fitness coaches who specialize in particular sports if you want to improve. These include baseball, football, golf, hockey, and others.

Pick your coach with the help of a quiz

Getting started on Future Fitness begins with a 3-minute quiz. The quiz takes into account your fitness goals, your current fitness level, reasons for starting up with a personal trainer, and what your reasons are if you've struggled with being motivated in fitness before. You can also enter if you have a preferred gender for your personal trainer. At the end, you'll be shown your best matches based on your quiz answers. You can either check out one of these trainers or pick your coach later.

$99 for the first month, $199 thereafter

Future Fitness has a reasonable cost per month which makes it simple to get started. The first month (for all the coaching features) is $99. This way you get started without too many costs. After your first month, the price goes up to $199 per month, and you can cancel at any time. Future Fitness also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so the first month acts like a free trial. This price covers all the nutrition and fitness plans, plus daily check-ins with your trainer.

A blended approach

Future Fitness is a good blend of DIY and guided coaching. Your coach will chat with you daily to check in and keep you motivated, but you have the freedom to work out any time during the day that works for you. You can work out in a gym or at home, and create your own schedule. But, there's still accountability and professionally-backed suggestions from your personal trainer.

Comes highly recommended by clients

The reviews for Future Fitness are highly positive. On the mobile apps, Future Fitness has an impressive 4.9-star average out of 5. With almost 10,000 individual reviews, customers praise the approach of the app for increasing their motivation to work out, keeping them engaged in week-to-week plans, and for the impressive customer service and friendliness of the staff. It's hard to find any recent negative reviews for Future Fitness. While we couldn't find a BBB rating for this business, it is a fan favorite with clients who leave comments in most reviews recommending the program to others.

Perfect for niche and general fitness

If you're looking for a reasonably-priced option where you get plenty of time to talk to your trainer, Future Fitness is a great site to check out. The blended approach allows you the flexibility to work out on your own time and choose a personal trainer who meshes with your personality. With a 30-day money-back guarantee, your first month is a trial period, giving you a no-stress option to try out personal training without worrying about the costs. While it goes up to just under $200 per month after the first 30 days, this is still highly competitive for the perks (especially if you're looking for specialized workout advice for a sport or particular activity). For these reasons, Future Fitness earns a very high score in our review.

Forge

• Monthly cost: $125 to $225
• All trainers are certified or have relevant degrees
• Online training
• Fitness and nutrition
• Focuses on cardio and strength
• 4.9-star average rating

Forge is an online personal trainer and coaching site that offers fitness training, nutrition planning, and "habit transformation.” Forge's approach is a science-based program that offers support to clients around the world. Designed through virtual video sessions, you'll meet with an expert personal trainer, create a custom meal plan, and work on building lifestyle habits that target your fitness goals. Managed through the Forge app, your daily schedule, meals, and exercises will be ready for you along with a chat feature that allows you to ask questions any time. The coaches and personal trainers at Forge all have credentials and certifications from accredited organizations and many also hold relevant college degrees.

General fitness and habit development

Forge's focus as a personal trainer site and app is to bundle workout and nutrition into one manageable program. The approach is generalized fitness rather than specific types of fitness like calisthenics, or flexibility, but you can expect a blend of different exercises based on your fitness plan and desires. Most of the plans at Forge include strength training, cardio, coaching, and a nutrition plan, along with a range of Zoom meetings each month.

Four fitness packages

There are four personal training packages to choose from at Forge. The first is the Standard. This includes unlimited messaging in the app, strength training, cardio, habit coaching, a database of instructional videos, nutrition coaching, meal plans, and one 30-minute Zoom session with a trainer each month. The next tier up is the Complete, which offers the same features except there are two 30-minute Zoom sessions per month. The highest tier package is the Premium option with the same benefits except you now get four 30-minute Zoom sessions per month. Finally, you can pay for a 90-Day Habit Transformation which includes all the features of the previous plans plus a mobility and flexibility addition and one 50-minute video chat session per week.

Cost from $125 to $225 per month

The prices at Forge are offered in monthly plans for each of the three main packages, and a one-time price for the 90-Day Habit Transformation. Here's what we found:

• Standard: $125 per month
• Complete: $175 per month
• Premium: $225 per month
• 90-Day Habit Transformation: $2,300 one-time

You can also arrange for additional video coaching sessions at a rate of $50 for 30 minutes. These are useful to get real-time feedback on your particular exercise technique, or to have a supplemental call with Forge's registered dietitian. Notably, these costs are lower than many competitors. And you still get individualized on-on-one time with a real human trainer.

Customized meal plans

ForgePT creates personalized meal plans that are tailored to your specific needs and tastes. It takes into account factors like your age, activity level, health goals, and food preferences to make sure you get the right balance of nutrients. Whether you want to lose weight, build muscle, or eat healthier, ForgePT offers options for different diets, including gluten-free, vegan, and low-carb. You have access to a database with thousands of recipes, which cn be further customized according to your preferences. You can choose meals from various cuisines, and the plans help you stay on track with your health goals without sacrificing flavor or convenience.

Personal accountability

This program is mostly DIY: you will have a plan and a few short check-ins, but beyond that, you'll need to manage your exercise and nutrition on your own. While the app offers some accountability, you won't be meeting with a mentor or personal trainer for more than 30 minutes at a time, and in the lower tiers, you'll only talk to someone once per month. Unless you want to shell out for the Habit Transformation, where you'll get a weekly 50 minute personalized video session, you'll need to track your progress yourself.

Praised by reviewers new to fitness

We found a wide range of happy third-party reviews on Facebook where Forge holds a 4.9-star average out of 5. The program has also earned praise from blog reviews and fitness gurus with an average rating of 3.9 out of 5. Reviewers are pleased with the competitive monthly prices as well as the comprehensive nature of the fitness plans. Many clients noted that Forge was ideal (especially at the Standard tier) for those who are just beginning their fitness journeys.

Best for fitness beginners

If you're a comfortable DIYer or you're not super confident in the gym yet, Forge is a great place to get started. The beginning fees aren't too high and it helps you get started with cardio and strength training through an ongoing plan. Plus, with the personal trainer check-ins, you still get some individualized help. However, it doesn't provide a lot of specialized workout training, so for specific training regimens (like getting ready for an IronMan race) you might need to look elsewhere. But, for those who are just starting their fitness journey, Forge is a well-rated and affordable option.

Trainwell

• Monthly cost: $129
• Online training
• Choose your schedule
• Specialized workout plans for different goals
• Includes diet, exercise, and more
• Get assigned to a one-on-one trainer
• Unlimited messages and video calls to your trainer
• 14-day free trial
• 4.9-star average on app stores
• "A+” rating and accreditation from the BBB

Trainwell is an online personal training platform where you can get step-by-step guidance and live feedback throughout the process. This offers a little more detail than some other online personal training sites since feedback on the form and pace of your sets can have a massive impact on your health and fitness. According to the data from Trainwell, 92% of the clients who signed up with a personal trainer here reported more consistency in their exercise routines, and 73% of members felt they had more confidence. All of the trainers at Trainwell are certified or hold degrees in their area of focus.

Pick your preferred workout style

Trainwell starts with a quiz on what kind of personal trainer you're looking for. You can find trainer specializations for weight management, mobility and flexibility, reducing fatigue, quality of life, strength training, sports performance, and general health. You can also select "no preference”. Once you've found a trainer you like on the app, you'll have a video chat to get to know one another, and you can discuss your goals and limitations. The goal is to make a plan for your fitness that can be adjusted as you progress and improve.

Costs $129 per month

There aren't separate packages at Trainwell. Instead, you pay one monthly fee for access to one-on-one meetings with your personal trainer and all of the benefits of the program. The cost is $129 per month, which is reasonable for access to a personal trainer. Plus, you get unlimited messaging and video calls with your trainer. If you're not sure if Trainwell is the right fit, you can also take advantage of its 14-day free trial to give you a basic idea of the process and see your personalized plan before you commit to a subscription.

A blended approach for remote personal training

Trainwell offers a balance of DIY workouts and guided assistance from your personal trainer. Your trainer will talk to you in unlimited video calls and messaging if you need help, and the workouts are guided with videos to keep you on track. There's plenty of accountability, and your Trainwell personal trainer will take your situation (like what kind of workout equipment you have access to) into account when designing your workout regimen.

A perfect app experience

Trainwell has a superb reputation no matter where you look. This personal training app holds an "A+” rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. On top of that it currently holds a 4.3-star average on Trustpilot and a 4.9-star average rating on mobile app stores. Reviewers called Trainwell an app that can "change your life.” In general, the reviews praise specific trainers, and the app experience is rated as one of the best for fitness improvement that helps keep users engaged.

Best option for online-only personal trainers

With a high-scoring app, certified personal trainers, and access to your own personal trainer at any time, you'll be able to get the best of both worlds at Trainwell: training on your schedule and the professional guidance to succeed. Almost all of the recent reviews are extremely positive, and with a reasonable monthly cost, Trainwell stands out from the pack. If you're looking for an online personal trainer who can give you a tailored workout experience without the stress, Trainwell is one of our top picks in that category.

Trainerize

• Monthly cost starts at $19.99
• In-person and online training
• Choose your schedule
• Specialized workout plans for different sports or goals
• Includes diet, exercise, and more
• Database of personal trainers
• 4.9-star average on app stores

Trainerize is an app-based coaching and personal training program that is designed to make it easier to connect with new personal trainers or even get more connected with major gyms in your area. Right now, Trainerize has partnerships with Gold's Gym, Life Time Training, The Y, Burn Boot Camp, and Alloy. You can find a range of different services here, including personal training, nutrition, general fitness, and classes offered by your local gyms. All of the trainers offered on Trainerize have a dedicated space to show their certifications and education as well.

Pick your training style

Trainerize feels kind of like a dating app complete with trainer photos, funny blurbs, and "about me” sections. You can select a type of personal trainer ranging from popular, private, online, group, and partner. You can also find a range of program-specific training or classes for yoga, pilates, crossfit, and bodybuilding. Or, if you want to search by goal, you might find specialists for cardiac rehab, endurance, core training, flexibility, and general fitness. Some personal trainers offer physiotherapy, pre- and post-natal workouts, and rehabilitation for surgery. There are as many styles of training on Trainerize as there are trainers themselves.

Some trainers offer multiple packages

Finding a personal trainer on Trainerize is simple, and there are tons of options to sift through. While some offer hourly or monthly payment schedules, you can also find a range of bundles within each trainer's offerings. For example, one personal trainer we found offered an Online Membership package for those who want to take classes online. She also offered a Full Bundle which includes all the programs offered at her private gym, and you can attend any. Finally, her third option was a 12-week Starter Plan which was her recommendation for beginners. So, depending on what kind of program you're looking for, even specific personal trainers may have different options for you.

Costs start as low as $19.99 per month

The fees and costs at Trainerize are all over the place, with as many different payment plans and prices as you can imagine. For example, some trainers offer monthly plans, like our example trainer above. Her packages started as low as $19.99 per month and went up to $24.99 per month. However, another trainer had almost all one-time fees like $325 for 5 personal classes with him. Yet another personal trainer offered regular health consultations for $49.97 per visit. So, depending on what you want, and what your budget is, you could be looking at some pretty affordable monthly costs, or sign up for something one-time to get your feet wet.

Most trainers are hands-on or in-person

Since you're signing up with a human personal trainer at Trainerize, you'll be confident you're getting a fully guided experience. While you can find some DIY-style personal trainers who just offer online classes, the majority of the services offered on Trainerize include personalized and in-person exercise time with your personal trainer or coach. This way, you can be sure you're getting a service that's built for your fitness goals.

Praised for its security and legitimacy

One area in which Trainerize falls behind compared to other database-style personal training sites is that it doesn't offer visible reviews for individual trainers. Further, finding reviews for Trainerize as an app was more difficult than with some of the other sites in our review. We had to rely on the feedback from mobile app stores to get an idea. On the bright side, the overall experience was first-rate according to clients. Trainerize held a 4.8-star average on Google Play and a 4.9-star average on the Apple App Store. With tens of thousands of ratings from users and clients, Trainerize earns praise for offering a safe way to connect with fitness professionals. Customers generally felt that using Trainerize was much more secure than looking for trainers online or on local job boards.

Gym-focused and skilled professionals

If you're looking for a platform to connect you to a personal trainer in your local area, you'll want to check out Trainerize. Considering its partnerships with different gyms, you can be sure that the trainers on this platform are legit. All of the trainers have certifications and reasonable prices per session (or per month, depending on which personal trainer you choose). While we'd like to see more transparency for reviews on the individual trainers, customers generally feel that the services they receive through Trainerize are top-notch.

Born Fitness

• Monthly cost: $249
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• All trainers are certified or have relevant degrees
• Praised by fitness celebrities
• 2 trainer meetings per week
• Includes diet, exercise, and recovery
• Generalized fitness approach
• App-based lessons and videos
• 5-star rating on mobile apps

Born Fitness is a site designed to help you reduce the stress of health, fitness, and nutrition. Whether your goal is to lose weight or gain muscle, there are personal trainers at Born Fitness who can help. The motto at Born Fitness is "your health, your way” so the trainers through this service help you set goals, create good behaviors, and remain in control of your body. Born Fitness is a 100% online personal training platform (which they call coaching) where you get access to 2 coaches with weekly check-ins. All of the coaches and personal trainers at Born Fitness are certified or have degrees in sports medicine.

General fitness focus

The focus at Born Fitness is general fitness and nutrition. The plans are customizable, and you get two meetings per week with two different coaches to make sure you're getting variety and assistance with every part of your fitness plan. Born Fitness has a team of coaches on staff and you'll have access to the Born Fitness app where you can track your meal plan, see videos for your daily exercises (with examples), and see the full length of your training plan. From an eating guide to follow-along videos selected by your personal trainer, you'll get a full plan that you can complete in the gym or from the comfort of your home.

Costs $249 per month or $1,999 per year

The cost for Born Fitness is pretty steep. The program starts at $249 per month, or you can pay annually at $1,999. There isn't more than one package offered by Born Fitness, so you can be sure that the cost of the program covers all of the available features. Plus, you can access some guides and health articles for free, if you want to see a little more of what Born Fitness is about before you commit.

Some guidance but mostly DIY

Born Fitness is a mix of a DIY and guided fitness style. Since this is an app-based fitness program that's fully online, you will need to do most of the workout sets and time management on your own. This is great for self-starters who don't have trouble getting in the groove every day. Plus, there is the added accountability of meeting with your trainers online twice per week. However, if you're someone who needs a more in-person or hands-on approach, you might be disappointed with Born Fitness.

30-day money-back guarantee

Born Fitness promises results. To this end, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don't feel good about your personal training or don't see the progress you expected, they'll provide you a full refund for your first monthly payment. This way you can have a 1-month free trial before you commit fully.

Not a lot of third-party reviews

While there are a lot of celebrity quotes praising the owner of Born Fitness (including some from people like Arnold Schwarzenegger), it is harder to find reviews from customers who paid for the personal training service. There are testimonials of case studies and listed current clients, but these are curated for positive feedback. On the bright side, the Born Fitness app has a 5-star average for its mobile app (though this is only over 9 total reviews).

Good for DIY exercise enthusiasts

Born Fitness is a solid option if you're looking for the flexibility to work out at home with little to no stress, but still have some of the accountability of a traditional personal trainer. However, we would love to see more third-party reviews for this service rather than curated testimonials. For now, the 30-day money-back guarantee helps Born Fitness rank higher in our review, due to the ability to try out the program before you pay. For this reason, it earns a balanced score in our review with the opportunity to earn a higher rating if we see more third-party reviews for this provider.

HitchFit

• One-time cost: $377.99 to $7,000
• Owned by two physique competitors
• Many trainers have PhDs
• Online training
• Weekly check-ins
• Fitness and nutrition
• Specialized training programs offered
• Physique and body-building experts
• 4.5-star average rating

HitchFit is an online platform for personal trainers that works with clients around the world. It promises to offer both beginner-level training as well as options for those who want to really tone up or even compete in physique (bodybuilding) competitions. Owned by two physique competitors, Micah and Diana, there are programs for both individuals who want to train at a gym and those who prefer the comfort of their homes. Now, if you're worried about HitchFit looking a bit like a protein supplement ad, you'd be right, but the large number of programs make up for the less-than-swanky website design (and it may even appeal to the gym goers who are used to that vibe in other areas of their fitness journey).

Slim down or muscle up

Whether you're looking to lose weight, increase strength, work toward a bikini body, tone like a fitness model, or join a workout boot camp with your partner, HitchFit has a personal training program for you. As part of every program, you'll get access to a full course that covers your daily workouts and in many cases your diet as well. You'll also get weekly check-ins with Micah or Diana, the owners of HitchFit, to see how you're doing on your fitness goals.

16 packages to pick from

There are a ton of packages offered at HitchFit and most of them focus on either losing weight or gaining muscle (or sometimes a bit of both). You can choose from the following list:

• Strong & Fit Over 40
• Lose Weight Feel Great
• Look Like A Bikini Model
• Look Like A Fitness Model
• Weight Loss Plus
• Get Big Get Ripped
• Couples Weight Loss
• Build Muscle
• The Inner Circle
• Competition Prep
• Faithfully Fit
• Post Pregnancy Weight Loss
• Vegetarian Weight Loss
• Bridal Bootcamp
• Stay On Track
• Keep Fit Stay Fit

HitchFit also offers a range of workout books and video series if you want to buy items that will help you out at home.

Cost between $377.99 to $7,000 one-time

Most of the personal training packages come in 12- or 16-week periods (though there are a few that are 24 weeks and 36 weeks instead, and another set that is 20 or 28 weeks), and you pay one price for the entire program. The lowest cost is $377.99 for the 12-week version and $467.99 for the 16-week version. The most expensive is a $7,000 plan (The Inner Circle) which is a 1-year plan for those who want to transform themselves completely. But the one-time cost is competitive, so you don't need to sign up for recurring payments to get your gains.

Primarily DIY programs

This is a mostly DIY set of personal training programs. You'll check in with the owners once per week, but beyond that, you'll need to be a self-starter if you plan to go with HitchFit. The plans all include an eBook, and then the materials for your specific program will be sent to your email. You'll also be able to go to the HitchFit YouTube channel for exercise demonstrations. However, if you're expecting hands-on personal training, you may be disappointed.

High praise for effective muscle building

According to third-party reviews, Micha and Diana know their stuff. On average, HitchFit earns a 4.5-star rating out of 5. However, there are very few reviews to go off of. There are more testimonials on the HitchFit website, which offer stories with before and after photos. However, you can be sure these are curated since there are no negative reviews on the HitchFit website. In general, customers praised Micah and Diana for their help with finding supplements, and workouts that had a noticeable effect on the clients' health and muscle definition.

Best if you want to get into physique competitions

If you're looking for a place where you can seriously pack on muscle (like for a physique competition), HitchFit is going to be the place for you. With tons of slimming programs as well as those to get those gains, HitchFit is ideal for swimsuit models and fitness fans who want to get a six-pack ASAP. While the costs are quite high, you are paying once for each personal training package rather than paying out over several months of membership. For these reasons, HitchFit is a competitive option for competitive physiques.

Shred

• Monthly cost: $19.99
• AI-based trainer
• Online training
• App-based
• Fitness and nutrition
• All-around fitness focus
• Connect with friends and family
• 4.8-star average rating

Billing itself as "elite digital training,” Shred is a personal trainer app that's earned renown from magazines and online publications like Men'sHealth, GQ, and Rolling Stone. Shred offers programs for both the gym and your home with an AI-powered digital fitness trainer. You'll have everything you need in the palm of your hand, and Shred allows you to customize the workouts based on the equipment you already have (and hey, if that's zero equipment yet, don't worry - there's workouts for that).

Standard workout focus

The main focus at Shred is general fitness tracking. You can choose from options like Classic, Athlete, CrossShred, Bulk, Tone, and Lean-up, so that you can decide what kind of exercises suit your fitness goals. You can also change the duration, and see a workout preview before you pick your sets for the day. The AI personal trainer will suggest options based on your preferences, and you can find different series with workout collections. There's also a social aspect to the app where you can sync workouts with friends and challenge your loved ones to workout competitions.

Costs $19.99 per month

There are two different ways to join Shred's personal training program: on a monthly payment plan or a yearly payment plan. Notably, the cost is lower at Shred than with competitors, but since you don't have access to a human personal trainer, and instead are taught primarily through the app, this price difference makes more sense. The monthly unlimited access plan is $19.99. The annual cost is $119.99. If you sign up with the annual plan, you can also access a 7-day free trial. Shred does offer a free membership, but there is very limited access to the app this way.

100% DIY

Regrettably, if you're not into DIY workouts, this will not be your jam. The personal trainer at Shred is just an AI assistant. There isn't a human that you connect with during the process. While this can be great for someone just getting started who doesn't have a lot of gym equipment or those who want to gamify their workouts with friends, if you're expecting a flesh and blood personal trainer to give you tips, you're out of luck here.

Highly rated for effective workouts

On the bright side, Shred has an impressive reputation in mobile app stores. It currently holds a 4.6-star average on the Google Play store and a 4.8-star average on the Apple App Store. Customers love the ease of use of the app and the massive variety of effective workouts that are simple to follow. The only complaint is that the program doesn't always tailor everything exactly right. For example, one client said that her choices for what equipment she had at her house weren't taken into account for the suggested workouts, so she wasn't able to do all the planned exercises in her daily sets. However, it was easy to change to another compatible exercise.

Not exactly a trainer, but worth a shot

While Shred isn't a traditional personal trainer, it does have some fun quirks that make it worth checking out. AI-driven workouts might be the new future, who knows? All we can say is that fitness fans who are using Shred already love the program and are making progress on their fitness goals. With overwhelmingly positive reviews, Shred is making a mark in modern fitness. However, if you're hoping for a human personal trainer, you'll need to look elsewhere. For missing the mark on human personal training (besides being a fantastic workout app), Shred gets a middle-of-the-road rating in our review, but it's definitely worth a look if you're hoping for a low-cost way to enjoy guided fitness.

Thumbtack

• Monthly cost: $280 to $680
• In-person and online training
• Choose your schedule
• Specialized workout plans for different sports or goals
• Includes diet, exercise, and more
• Database of personal trainers
• 5-star rating on many individual trainers
• "A-” rating from the BBB

Thumbtack is another site that offers database-style access to local personal trainers. So, rather than relying on an app or videos to train you, you use the Thumbtack search to find a personal trainer in your area who can give you a full hands-on workout experience. Thumbtack doesn't just do personal training either. You can find all sorts of businesses or projects, including house cleaning, handyman help, lawn care, pet care, and more.

Pick the individual that works for you

For the personal trainers on Thumbtack, there are many different areas of focus to choose from. In our area, we saw weight loss, basketball, event prep, assistance with pain and injuries, and beyond. All of the trainers have their own reviews as well as a list of how many individuals have hired them through Thumbtack. You can also see the details of the personal trainers' work history and credentials on their pages. However, we saw fewer individuals who listed certifications on Thumbtack than with other sites in our review.

Not as many trainers as some sites

When you sign up, you can select filters to narrow your search and limit the results. Thumbtack will suggest the top three based on your preferences, but if you don't like them, you can keep scrolling to find the rest. As a bonus, we noted that many personal trainers on Thumbtack offer couples and group lessons, so you can work out with a partner or friends. However, Thumbtack had fewer personal trainers in our area than some other database-style websites did. For our location, there were 8 total trainers available.

Cost from $280 to $680 per month

The cost of personal training through Thumbtack depends on the trainer you choose. In our area, prices range from $35 per session to $85 per session. However, these are only estimated prices. To get a full price schedule from Thumbtack's professionals, you have to fill out a form and message the individual trainer. Keep in mind that they only want serious inquiries only, as the pros do need to pay a fee to communicate with potential clients on Thumbtack. If we put those session costs into a monthly plan at 2 sessions per week for four weeks, you're looking at an average monthly cost of $280 to $680.

Get that personal touch

If you're a fan of in-person or guided personal training, this platform could be for you. Rather than worrying about self-starting and keeping track of your workouts on your own, you'll have a person to help you be accountable (and cheer you on) while you're working toward your fitness goals. Plus, you'll get the bonus of knowing that the workouts are tailored to your specific body, with the opportunity to make adjustments to a routine in real time as your trainer sees how you're working with the sets.

Superb trainers, but questionable marketing

Currently, Thumbtack as a business holds an "A-” rating from the Better Business Bureau. However, Thumbtack earns a more middle-tier rating from third-party review sites like Trustpilot, where the site has a 3.7-star average out of 5. Most of the complaints for this business are from the professionals (the people offering personal training and other services on this platform). According to negative reviews, Thumbtack is "stealing” money and charging exorbitant prices for leads. For example, one professional noted that they ended up paying $60 when they received inquiries that never led to bookings. Some other professionals said they never even communicated with the leads or inquiries and still got charged for them regardless. While the reviews for the individual personal trainers on Thumbtack are fantastic (most of them have a full 5 stars for their quality of service), the platform has some concerning practices.

Doesn't stack up against other databases

While you can find some impressive personal trainers at Thumbtack, there are a few drawbacks to using this platform over others in our review. For one, there are fewer total personal trainers at Thumbtack when compared to other database-style websites (and given the expenses that professionals face on this platform, we're not exactly surprised). Second, the final prices aren't available until you submit an inquiry, but you may only want to do this if you're very serious about the individual, since they'll be paying for your inquiry whether or not you decide to secure their personal training services. With other more helpful (and professional-friendly) databases out there, Thumbtack comes in just below average in our review.

Zing Coach

• Costs $0.18 to $1.14 per day
• Online training
• AI-based software
• Specialized in toning and muscle development
• Includes diet and exercise
• 7-day free trial
• Money-back guarantee (with restrictions)

Zing Coach is an online personal training AI that offers you a quiz-based personalized experience to find the best personal training for you. When you get started, you'll be asked about your fitness goals with different styles of questions than we normally see. For example, you can talk about your fitness goals in terms of wanting to be the most confident person in the room, never wanting to worry about what you wear, or doing any activity without physical limitations. Zing Coach also asks about your current limitations or things holding you back from success, and you can choose as many options as apply to you. Finally, Zing Coach offers you a "how true is this for you” section of the quiz where you read statements and tell the Zing Coach program how well it describes you in fitness and lifestyle.

Tailored to your body goals

The general focus of Zing Coach is to give you a way to get in shape; whether that's toning up or having a muscular physique is up to you. At the end of your quiz, you'll see your current fitness level including your BMI and how difficult your activity level will be for your specific body goals. When we went through the startup quiz, we were offered a 4-week Get In Shape plan to increase muscle mass and improve overall fitness through AI-based personal training.

Auto-renewing subscription plans

There are three different subscription periods to choose from: the 1-week plan, the 12-week plan, and the 52-week plan. The actual contents of the personal training plans are the same; you just choose how long you want to subscribe for. However, keep in mind that all of these subscriptions auto-renew, so you will be charged weekly, quarterly, or annually depending on the period that you choose.

Costs $0.18 to $1.14 per day

Depending on which plan you choose, the daily cost will go down a bit. So, the longer you subscribe, the better deal you'll get. For example, the 1-week plan costs $7.99. This comes out to $1.14 per day. If you choose the 12-week plan, it's $25.99 or $0.29 per day. Finally, the 52-week plan costs $65.99 which comes out to just $0.18 per day. Zing Coach also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee that states if you don't see improved fitness in 4 weeks (and can prove you followed the Zing Coach personal training plan), you can get your money back.

Totally DIY AI approach

The app stands alone as the personal trainer at Zing Coach rather than connecting you with a real human trainer through the platform. The app itself is powered by AI and provides you with useful goals and suggested exercises, but you won't be getting any hands-on help from a personal trainer like you find at many competing websites. This is a good app for self-starters, but it may not be ideal if you want corrections or assistance with your sets.

Too repetitive for some users

On third-party review sites, Zing Coach is a mid-tier choice, earning around 3.8 stars out of 5. Some customers love that the app gives them goals and helps them fine-tune workouts. However, others feel that Zing Coach is "not a proper training system”. Many reviews note that the AI concept is interesting and has promise, but the app's execution "falls short” by messing up on timer features, and it has difficulty tailoring experiences to specific exercise equipment despite the app asking for those details at the get-go. Others complained that the activities suggested by Zing Coach were too repetitive and not as helpful as you'd get with a traditional personal trainer.

Okay if you like DIY workout plans

Considering the breadth of options for personal trainers, Zing Coach doesn't quite hit the mark. While it has an interesting AI approach that could be fun for some, the total lack of a real person as your trainer could be a major downside for those who are hoping for corrections and a more personal touch in their workouts. While the 30-day money-back guarantee might make this worth a try anyway, remember you'll have to prove that you followed the Zing Coach plan for four weeks to get your refund. While Zing Coach might be a neat concept, the prices are a little high and the app needs some more development.

Transform

• Monthly cost: $14.99
• Online training
• Choose your schedule
• Specialized for weight loss
• Includes diet, exercise, and life coaching
• 7-day free trial
• 4.4-star average on app stores

Transform is an app-based personal training program focused primarily on weight loss. The program offers over 1,000 guided workouts as well as nutrition and wellness plans to help you meet your goals. The app is run by Chris, the owner, and you'll be working with his expertise as you track your food, complete personalized workouts, choose from over 800,000 healthy food recipes, and get weekly "life lessons”.

Main focus is weight loss

The primary focus for Transform is weight loss, with calorie tracking, meal planning, and nutrients being a large portion of the app's features. However, according to our research, there isn't much in the way of actual personal training. While you get meetings with Chris, these are listed as "life lessons” rather than workout guidance. The app offers workouts and workout videos, but your meetings with the owner of Transform aren't geared toward fitness the way that you'd find with a traditional personal trainer.

Costs $14.99 per month

There aren't different package options at Transform. This personal trainer app is just $14.99 per month for full app access. However, since you're not getting actual in-depth personal training, this price is just for a weight management and nutrition app. While that's not a bad deal, if you're looking for more than weight loss, you may be disappointed by Transform. On the bright side, there is a 7-day free trial, so you can see if the app is the right fit for your goals.

Almost completely DIY

Transform is almost all DIY when it comes to the fitness side of things. Some of the workouts you can find include bodyweight training, dance party, cross training, and yoga. However, the overall vibe is that you will pick your own workouts, manage your own time, and just use the Transform app as your guidepost for keeping your weight loss journey on track rather than the app acting as a true personal trainer.

Concerns about app functionality

One thing to keep in mind about Transform is if you do want to download the app, you'll need to search for "Transformation with Chris” to get what you're looking for. Looking up Transform will send you to the wrong mobile app. There are a decent number of reviews for this personal training app on various app stores, but the ratings are middle-tier. At the Apple App Store, the rating is slightly higher with a 4.4-star average out of 5. However, on Google Play, Transform only has a 3-star average rating. Some of this is due to issues with functionality on the Google version of the app, but some people feel like the app's features are lacking for the price, especially in the grocery list area. A few reviews noted that they felt there was "too much going on” on the app with "little instruction.”

Only worth checking out for its weight-tracking features

Since downloading the app is the only way to use the Transform personal training services, the fact that there are complaints about the app functionality raises some red flags. Further, if you're looking for serious personal training, this isn't the app for you. The focus is primarily on weight loss, and while exercise plays a role in that, there isn't a lot of one-on-one personal training workout assistance with this platform. For this reason, Transform earns a lower score in our review, though it's worth checking out if you want a weight loss tracker instead.

Trainiac

• Cost depends on your work package
• Online training
• General fitness goals
• Includes diet, exercise, and more
• App-based platform
• 4.6-star average on app stores

Trainiac is a personal training platform owned by Wellhub that specializes in providing individualized workouts for you every week. All of the personal trainers on staff at Trainiac are certified in their specific areas of focus. Trainiac even requires its own certification training on top of asking that all trainers are nationally certified first. All of the workouts offered through Trainiac are personalized to your goals, but this is a fully online program, so while you get unlimited one-on-one fitness coaching, you won't be meeting with your coach in person.

Target general fitness goals

The primary focus of training at Trainiac is general fitness, along with some flexibility to build a plan that covers nutrition, exercise, weight loss, or increasing/toning muscle. Every week you will have a one-on-one session with your personal trainer to help you build long-term habits and check in on your routine. The entire process is tracked through the Trainiac app, where you can keep an eye on your nutrition, daily workouts, and more. You can also expect to get your questions answered throughout the week through texts and in-app messaging.

App access only for Wellhub members

Trainiac isn't offered for everyone, unfortunately. You'll need to have a Wellhub membership to subscribe to Trainiac. Luckily, if you're a member, you may not need to pay at all for Trainiac. If your company adds Wellhub as a perk of your employment, you can grab Trainiac and sign up. Otherwise, this app isn't open to the public, which may be frustrating for many. The app even notes that "to learn more about Wellhub and recommend it to your company”, you should visit the Wellhub website.

Mostly DIY training

The programs at Trainiac are much more DIY. While you'll receive some guidance from Trainiac experts once per week, you'll mostly be on your own to complete the exercises daily and keep yourself on track. However, since you can text your trainer during the week, there is a little more guidance here than you might have with a just-video or totally DIY personal training experience.

Concerning app reviews on Google

According to our research, Trainiac's personal training app holds a 3.8-star average out of 5 on third-party review sites; however, there aren't many reviews to go off of. Concerningly, there are extremely mixed reviews for Trainiac on mobile app stores. Since this is an app-based program, the 1.9-star average out of 5 on Google Play is more than a little concerning. Most users have issues with the app being glitchy, with workout sets being out of order, or taking too much time to fill in details. The app has a rating of 4.6-star average out of 5 stars at the Apple Store, so it appears the app functions much better on iOS than on Android.

Only usable if your job gives you an account

At the end of the day, the usability of Trainiac is severely limited. You can only download and get a membership with Trainiac if you already have a Wellhub membership through your job. Given that most of the personal trainer platforms in our review are available to the public, Trainiac falls behind the pack considerably. Further, with an app-based platform that's getting such low customer ratings, we're concerned about the overall usability and experience.