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.
Fair
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.
Continued from above...
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:
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!
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