Working with a one-on-one fitness coach used to mean schlepping to the gym, shelling out big money, and trying to make the most out of a few 30-45-minute sessions per week. But now, thanks to online personal trainer technology, it’s become increasingly common, accessible, and affordable. Instead of having to hit your local brick and mortar, you can now get a personal trainer in the palm of your hand.

“Working with a trainer online provides flexibility in schedule and location, while still giving you the expertise and accountability of a trainer. It also integrates all things fitness into one place: your workouts, running, biking and anything else you like to do to stay active,” says Aftan Noon, ACE-certified personal trainer. “Beyond that, your trainer can also review and adjust your workout based on metrics like your heart rate, heart rate variability, and steps.”

Want to know more and see how an online trainer could work in your life? Read on for everything you need to know about hiring an online personal trainer… and why it just might convince you to quit your gym membership once and for all.

What are the benefits of an online personal trainer?

In general, working with a personal trainer allows you to have a totally customized fitness program, and the same is true when working with a digital personal trainer, as well. In fact, there are many ways that working with someone digitally actually is even better than in face-to-face meetings.

1. Accessibility

In addition to being more affordable than a gym session, an online personal trainer gives you the freedom to access your personalized plan wherever you go. “Your trainer can create workouts for you to do anywhere with minimal equipment or customize workouts that you can take into your local gym, and even program activities like running or cycling workouts to do,” says Geoff Tripp, CSCS, head of fitness science at Trainiac. “All of this adds up to a health and fitness plan that is catered to you, led by your online personal trainer.”

2. Flexible communication

Unlike normal gym sessions, in which you really only have access to your trainer during your one-hour appointment, many digital fitness apps allow you to regularly be in touch with your trainer. “Unlike a normal gym session with your trainer, you have the ability to receive programming and communicate with your them on an open platform and not be restricted by a set schedule and appointment time,” says Tripp. “Having a flexible schedule and communication option is key for building long-term success with your health and fitness goals.”

3. Progress tracking

Since many online personal training platforms are connected to apps, you can easily track your fitness plan—and your progress—in one easy place.

4. Planning

With this type of all-in-one-place organization, you’ll be able to better plot and plan your workouts since you’ll know what’s coming weeks in advance. “When working online with a personal trainer there is usually a program set out for one to two weeks in advance,” says Noon. This allows a client to look ahead and ask any questions about workouts they may have in their programming.” Your trainer will also be able to give you workouts to do on days when you’re not working with them (many of which can be found in the apps), which will help you stay motivated.

5. Accountability

Having someone to answer to, whether online or in-person, will always make you more likely to show up.

How much does an online personal trainer cost?

While the rate of an online personal trainer varies from company to company, it’s safe to assume that working with a coach digitally will put less of a dent into your monthly budget than hiring someone IRL. There are a number of factors that go into what a trainer charges for an in-person session, but rates across the country can vary from around $50 to $164, according to FindYourTrainer. In comparison, you can get a month’s worth of sessions for as low as $80.

How do I find the right online personal trainer?

Since you’re not actually meeting your trainer face-to-face, finding the right person might feel like a daunting task. A few tips to help you track down the right fit:

1. Be specific in what you’re looking for

There are many different types of trainers out there who may have different specialties and different approaches to fitness. Figure out what your goals are, and then work to find someone who best meets your needs and whose training style you best respond to. For example, if you’re training for a marathon, you probably don’t want to work with a bodybuilding coach; if boot camps aren’t your thing, you probably don’t want to work with a push-up lover.

2. Check out their background

It’s easy for a trainer to look legit online (thanks, Instagram), but you’re going to want to look past their pretty pictures. Check out their degrees, which indicate how much training they’ve had. “If a trainer has taken the time to invest in learning their craft, you can expect a higher depth of knowledge, which leads to better coaching,” says Tripp.

3. Do your due diligence

It’s best to get as much information as possible before you actually hire your online personal trainer, and there are a few ways you can do that. Read reviews online, ask for referrals from former clients, and (most importantly!) schedule a consultation call to make sure this person is the right fit.

Try our favorite online personal training apps

Finding an online personal trainer (using the tips above!) is easier than ever thanks to these digital fitness platforms.

1. Future Fitness

While many fitness apps promise some form of personalized guidance, Future Fitness takes that to a whole new level. The app matches you with a trainer based on your target goals, lifestyle and schedule. All sessions are flexible and can be rescheduled without any cost so you can work out at your convenience. Plus, you can interact with your trainer in real time via texting of FaceTime for extra accountability, guidance or encouragement.

Read our review of Future Fitness here. 

2. Trainiac

Trainiac sets you up with a personal trainer who will put together an individualized fitness program just for you. It comes with daily workouts, complete with video training, based on your goals as well as the activities you enjoy. You’ll also have access someone who will hold you accountable, and who you can regularly get in touch with via video chats and text messaging.

3. Aaptiv

The audio-based workout app has come a long way since it first hit the market. And now, the brand offers personalized training programs for those who are working towards a specific goal like running a mile or training for a 5K.

4. Mirror

In late 2019, Mirror introduced personal training alongside its roster of live and on-demand classes, making it easier than ever to get gym-quality personal training experience in your living room. The device uses a two-way camera that allows you and your trainer to see each other in real time, making it just about as close as you can get to training with someone IRL. It costs $40 a session, and you can have as many people as you want training at once. The catch? You need the $1,495 Mirror hardware in order to use it.

5. FitBit Coach

Turn your FitBit into an online personal trainer by way of FitBit Coach, an element of FitBit’s Premium Package. While this trainer isn’t quite as personalized as some of the other offerings (as in, there’s not a real person to communicate with), it helps you put together a fitness plan to reach your long-term goals while also allowing you to track progress in real time. It gives you personalized recommendations based on your activity levels, plus audio coaching through the app. FitBit Premium costs $80 a year (or $10 a month), and comes with additional features like advanced sleep tracking and more personalized insights.

6. Alo Moves

While more automated than the other services, Alo Moves offers yoga, meditation, and other on-demand workouts that you can snap together to form the perfect routine to meet your needs.

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