What is a personal trainer?

A personal trainer works with clients to design plans for exercise, nutrition and/or flexibility goals. While anyone can say that they're a personal trainer, certain certifications can demonstrate that they've put in the work to learn best practices for working with clients effectively and safely. Look for a personal trainer with certification(s) from NASM, ACE, ISSA, NFPT, or ACSM, which are widely recognized as experts in the industry.

How often should I work with a personal trainer?

That will depend on you. What are your goals? What is your current level of fitness/experience? Most experts recommend meeting with a trainer for 1-2 sessions a week for up to 6 weeks, especially if you're a beginner. But, if you are fairly comfortable with working out - you know how to do various exercises with good form and just need someone to give you a structured plan - you might be able to cut that timeframe down.

Can a personal trainer help me with nutrition?

Yes and no. If your trainer is also certified within the nutrition field, he or she can prescribe meal plans. However, most personal trainers don't have dual certifications and can only make nutrition suggestions based on gym performance or weight loss/muscle gain efforts - like recommending that you count macros, get enough rest and water, and when to time your meals based on your exercise schedule. If you want a day-to-day schedule of what to eat, you'll need to work with a nutritionist in addition to your personal trainer in most cases.

Where can I find a personal trainer?

If you have a gym membership, there are probably options for working one-on-one with a trainer on staff there - but that might not be the best way to get a personal trainer that's well-suited to your personality, needs and goals. We recommend using an online personal trainer site, either to find highly-recommended professionals in your area or to choose a virtual program you can use at your convenience.

Are there personal trainers I can work with virtually?

Absolutely! While you'll lose the advantage of having someone right next to you in the gym, you gain plenty of perks. Virtual personal training is often much less expensive than an in-person format, and you get much more customized workout plans. This is a great option if you're working out at home or need options you can take on the road with you.

Can I work with a personal trainer if I don't have a gym membership?

Yes. There's a growing network of personal trainers who specialize in providing in-home workouts. Even if you choose an online personal trainer, you can tell them what equipment you have at home if any, and they'll design a plan that incorporates whatever you have available. There are plenty of exercises that can be done simply with your own bodyweight!

How much does it cost to work with a personal trainer?

That depends on many different factors. If you choose an in-person trainer, you can expect hourly rates anywhere from $20 to $100+, while online/virtual personal training is typically $200/month or less. For face-to-face personal training, rates are impacted by the experience level of the trainer you choose and your geographic area as well.

Do personal trainers offer any kind of satisfaction guarantee?

Sometimes. It's more common to find free trials, satisfaction guarantees and refund policies when you choose an online personal training platform. In-person trainers usually charge as you go; you wouldn't get money back for training sessions that already happened, but you wouldn't have to pay for future sessions if you were unhappy with the service. And, of course, no personal trainer is going to guarantee specific results - since what you do the other 23 hours of the day is going to have a big impact on your success, beyond what you accomplish in your personal training sessions.

Born Fitness Review for September 2026

Item: Born Fitness Review
Rating: 3.5
Author: Top Consumer Reviews

Friday, September 11th We evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.

2026 Personal Trainer Reviews

Where is the Best Place to Find a Personal Trainer Online? Getting fit is one of the most significant steps toward caring for yourself. Many people find that going to the gym by themselves, though, can be overwhelming - especially if they're not sure what to do with all the machines and weights. Often even long-time gym members need help leveling up their workout and creating a targeted fitness plan for building muscle, or need support for an injury they want to strengthen.

3.5

GOOD

Good

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

GOOD

3.5

On the Born Fitness website

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.

On the Born Fitness website

Continued from above...

Where is the Best Place to Find a Personal Trainer Online?

Getting fit is one of the most significant steps toward caring for yourself. Many people find that going to the gym by themselves, though, can be overwhelming - especially if they're not sure what to do with all the machines and weights. Often even long-time gym members need help leveling up their workout and creating a targeted fitness plan for building muscle, or need support for an injury they want to strengthen.

Either way, a personal trainer is a great option to up your gym game. A talented personal trainer will whip you into shape, but on your terms and with a plan that fits your body, workout style, and goals.

A lot of folks think that personal trainers are for top athletes. And, while a personal trainer can be essential for those who need to complete specific goals for a sport or competition, a workout beginner can get just as much out of a personal trainer as a gym pro. Grabbing a personal trainer as a newbie can help you through the weeds of discovering what movements are safe for your body, how to use equipment properly, and how to see the results you want as quickly as possible.

There are innumerable benefits to getting a personal trainer (at any level). For one, you can be sure you'll have more effective workouts (workouts that serve a purpose for your body and your goals, and increased difficulty where needed to keep your body challenged). The process also includes a personalized experience where your trainer analyzes your current fitness level, health concerns, and previous injuries, and creates a tailored workout plan for your needs. Plus, your customized plan can offer you support in and out of the gym - including nutrition and recovery practices that will help you when you're not working out.

Finding a good personal trainer can be tricky, though. You'll want to make sure and check on potential candidates' education, areas of expertise, experience, and any certifications. The best certification agencies include the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NSAM), the National Exercise Trainers Association (NETA), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), the American Council of Exercise (ACE), and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Checking to see if your preferred personal trainer has a background in sports medicine (or a degree) is a good rule of thumb to know you're getting the proper advice from a medically-sound background.

While, at the end of the day, selecting a personal trainer is a super individualized process (you will need to like the trainer and spend a decent amount of time with him or her), we can help you get started on your search. To make sure you find the best personal trainer for your fitness goals, we've put together some factors to help you narrow the options:

Price. Personal trainers come in a range of budgets, and costs can vary by what gym or app you're looking at or the private fees of the individual trainer. Things like the number of hours you want per week as well as the level of training you're looking for can also affect the final cost. Looking at your budget can help you gauge whether a particular personal trainer is cost-effective for you.
Credentials. Make sure that your chosen personal trainer has the credentials you're looking for. Whether that's certification in a specific kind of sport or multiple certifications for training and sports medicine, you want to be sure your personal trainer is offering the best quality (you deserve it).
Specialization. Checking out the specializations can help you decide if a personal trainer is right for you. Some may be great for training ballet dancers, but not ideal for weightlifting. Make sure the personal trainer or app covers what you're interested in most.
Reputation. Does your personal trainer work at a gym with reviews? Are there testimonials for the personal training services (or better yet, reviews for the particular trainer)? Whenever you can, take into account other people's experiences with any personal trainer you're considering.

To help you find the right place to kickstart your fitness journey, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked today's most popular platforms for hiring personal trainers online. This way you can focus on getting your gains and trusting that your trainer is there to help keep you on track!

Born Fitness Review: Personal Trainers

2026 Personal Trainer Reviews

Born Fitness

Where is the Best Place to Find a Personal Trainer Online?

Personal Trainer FAQ