Our reviewers 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.
Sunday, May 18th
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.
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!
Select any 2 Personal Trainers to compare them head to head