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.

Trainiac Review for August 2026 | Best Personal Trainers

Item: Trainiac Review
Rating: 1.5
Author: Top Consumer Reviews

Sunday, August 9th 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.

1.4

WEAK

Weak

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

WEAK

1.4

On the Trainiac website

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.

On the Trainiac 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!

Trainiac Review: Personal Trainers

2026 Personal Trainer Reviews

Trainiac

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

Personal Trainer FAQ