Get into great shape wherever you are with these apps and websites.
Best for weight loss
WW
Primarily for weight loss and diet, you’ll get a ton of support from your coach and the WW community.
Trying to find a personal trainer IRL can pose a lot of potential problems.
They include, but aren’t limited to: Mismatched schedules, personalities that don’t sync up, high costs, and the somewhat awkward experience of working out in public with someone focusing all of their attention on you. It’s almost enough to make you want to give up on working out altogether.
And that is precisely why people turn to things like online fitness coaching or online yoga classes.
As the name suggests, online fitness coaching programs are done almost entirely online or through an app on your phone — and oftentimes both options are available.
Online training is great because you can work out and train whenever you want and you’ll never have to worry about meeting a trainer at a time that’s inconvenient for you.
Plus, you’re often able to gauge your progress with the help of fitness trackers typically built into online training programs. By tracking your gradual progress, you can see what is and isn’t working for you, and seeing the hurdles you’ve overcome can serve as a valuable motivator as you continue to get fitter.
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There are also so many amazing personal trainers across the country that you might not have met if it weren’t for online coaching services. These personal trainers can help you establish long-term fitness goals and create a personalized fitness regimen based on those goals.
Unlike any typical weight loss program you might sign up for, online fitness coaches aren’t just concerned with weight loss — although they can definitely help you focus on that if it’s your goal. Online fitness coaches show you how to improve the overall health of your body, give you guidance and support you may not have realized you needed previously, and keep you accountable when it comes to reaching your goals.
Sadly, you won’t be able to lean on any pre-made meals to help you attain your health and fitness goals, but with the right personal trainer you may not feel you need to.
We scouted out the best online fitness programs around, taking their offerings, digital tools, and customer reviews into consideration, to find the best virtual training programs.
Here are 9 of the best online fitness coaches we found to help you get motivated:
1. Noom
Meet your goals on your own time with diet and exercise guidance — but it’s up to you stick to the program.-
Price:
$59 per month and up
Upon signing up for Noom you’ll be partnered with your very own personal trainer who you can chat with through the Noom app. You’ll be given easy-to-complete exercises, which the program boasts only require a 10-minute time commitment per day. That’s like…less than a third of an episode of “Friends.” Totally manageable.
Through Noom’s app you’ll be able to track your eating and exercise habits, which will automatically shift and calibrate your program over time to make sure you’re meeting your goals.
The information will also be sent directly to your online coach, which will enable them to make thoughtful recommendations for you that align with your objectives.
2. WW
Primarily for weight loss and diet, you’ll get a ton of support from your coach and the WW community.-
Price:
$3.22 per week and up
WW Freestyle works by helping people track what they’re eating through its SmartPoints system. Every food and drink is assigned a number and each member is given a personalized SmartPoints “budget” to use as they please. This may sound a little restrictive but as you adjust to the program you’ll see it’s more flexible that it may initially appear.
If you need a bit more guidance, you might want to sign up for the Virtual Workshops plan, which includes the benefits of the Digital plan plus the ability to Zoom with a WW-certified coach and other WW members for 30 minutes per week. And if you eventually decide you want to meet with an actual person to help you, you can always upgrade to WW’s Coaching plan, where you’ll work one-on-one with a trained WW coach.
3. Trainiac
You’ll probably get more done with a trainer to keep you on task, even if it may bug you at times.-
Price:
$79.99 per month
All of Trainiac’s trainers are taught by Trainiac to ensure that everyone who signs up for the program is receiving the same quality level of support and attention from their online fitness coaches.
Your fitness trainer will also be super vigilant about making sure you stay accountable for your workouts to guarantee you’re getting the most out of the program they create for you.
Here’s what Erin Carbery had to say about Traniac fitness coaching:
“I love the flexibility it gives me. I have a hectic work schedule, so it allows me to work out at any point of the day or night while not being confined to a studio class schedule. I enjoy the relationship I have formed with my trainer and feel that she really knows me and what my goals are.”
4. Daily Burn
Access a wide range of video classes no matter where you are.-
Price:
$14.95 per month and up
After plugging in your personal information and what you’re looking to gain from Daily Burn, you’ll be directed to the workout videos that will best suit your needs.
You’ll work on new goals every week and have access to a weight and calorie tracker that will allow you to follow your progress and look back on your overall workout history over time.
Daily Burn’s wide variety of workout videos include everything from yoga and maternity-oriented classes, to cardio-kickboxing and pilates courses.
And you’re not just limited to watching Daily Burn videos on your computer! They’re also available on the Daily Burn app available on iOS and Android phones — plus you can watch them via Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Chromecast.
5. Aaptiv
You’ll listen to today’s hits and have audio-instructed lessons, making it easier for you to work out anywhere you want.-
Price:
$8.33 per month
When you sign up for Aaptiv you’ll plug in your personal information and be given a ton of recommendations for workouts set to today’s music to help you achieve your fitness goals.
The nice thing about these audio-based instructional workouts is that you can do them pretty much anywhere without worrying about having to watch a video or stare into a mirror. You can do them at home, at the gym, or outside.
The workouts are goal-oriented and you can find numerous programs to suit many of your needs, whether those are strength training, increased flexibility, or learning to run a full mile.
You’ll have access to 2,500 workouts, with 40 new workout videos uploaded each week, so you’ll have a hard time ever feeling bored. Plus you’ll have access to an ultra-supportive online community.
6. Caliber
Your trainer will give you a customized workout and diet plan that will help you bulk up.-
Price:
$99 per month
After signing up for Caliber you’ll be asked to provide your workout experience, preference for time spent on workouts, and your dietary preferences and needs. Based on your answers, your trainer will give you a customized workout and diet plan that revolves around your life and needs.
Your trainer will check in with you sporadically, answer your questions, and adjust your workout and diet plan accordingly as time goes on — plus you’ll be able to reach out to them 24/7 online or through Caliber’s app, if you have any pressing questions.
7. Born Fitness
This program is meant for those who are ready to commit to a full lifestyle makeover — hence the high price tag.-
Price:
$199 per month
Your coach will send you recommended workout plans through the app, along with a customized eating guide – nothing restrictive, just goals for you to keep in mind to help you get the most out of the program.
Born Fitness also asks each of its users to sign up for a minimum six-month time commitment — although some choose to stay on longer — because that’s how long it’s found it takes people to see lasting results.
Unfortunately, because Born Fitness gets so many requests for coaches, it can only select a few people at a time to participate in its program to ensure that everyone receives ample attention.
Born Fitness’s application consists of a few short essay questions to make sure you’re the right fit. If selected, you’ll hear back 48 hours after submitting your application. And even if you’re not selected you’ll be given a reason as to why.
8. Fitocracy
You’ll have a lot of guidance, instruction, and personalized workouts and eating plans to help you realize your fitness goals.-
Price:
$1 per day
Just explain what you’re aiming to do with your personal fitness trainer after you sign up and let them assess the workout regimen and nutritional guidance you’ll need to accomplish your objectives.
Your coach will keep you accountable and on-task with your workout plan, each of which are custom built for you by your coach to pinpoint the exact things you’re looking to work on, whether that’s losing a couple of pounds or building strength and muscle.
Plus, you’ll learn healthy eating habits with your trainer’s custom-built food plan that keeps your tastes and preferences in mind.
Fitocracy also offers its users access to its app available for iOS and Android, so you can work out with your phone, wherever you are.
9. Freeletics
AI technology will continually adjust your fitness program based on your progress to help you accomplish your goals.-
Price:
$1.44 per week and up
Freeletics makes use of artificial intelligence to create custom workout programs for each and every one of its users. If you sign up for the Training and Nutrition Bundle, you’ll also be given nutrition guidance and access to delicious recipes tailored to your taste preferences and dietary needs.
Simply let your digital coach know what your target weight and fitness goals are and they’ll provide you with easy to complete workouts. Each workout only requires a time commitment of 10 to 30 minutes maximum, enabling you to make the most of your time.
One of the coolest things about working with a digital coach using AI technology is that it will be learning from you as you learn from it. All of your feedback about workouts (and your actual coach) will help to alter your digital coach and reprogram your recommendations from week to week.
You can also connect with the Free Athletes community through Freeletics’ app for advice, support, or even to share a recent accomplishment you’re proud of.
10. Openfit
Openfit gives you access to on-demand workouts — but also live trainer-led classes, if you want to be cheered on.-
Price:
$8 per month and up (price depends on length of subscription)
If you don’t want to pay top dollar for lots of personal attention, but you also don’t want to feel like your training is being conducted by a robot, Openfit offers a sweet spot. For $8 a month (when you sign up for a year), you get a customized nutrition plan and access to more than 300 online workouts.
Some of these workouts are live, with real human trainers conducting the class in real time. That means they can give you personalized and immediate feedback on your form and encourage you by name. It’s like you’re getting the gym experience, without having to sweat alongside strangers. If you’d rather work out at strange hours or don’t want live shout-outs, Openfit also has plenty of on-demand fitness videos from a veritable who’s-who of the fitness world: Xtend Barre creator Andrea Rogers, obstacle course star Hunter McIntyre, and more. What makes Openfit shine is the sheer variety of its workouts. If you want to do yoga one day and get whipped into shape by Hollywood stuntwomen the next, Openfit has you covered (in sweat.)