What Online PTs Need From a Platform
An online PT's business is fundamentally different from in-person training. You're not managing a studio — you're selling coaching programmes, workout plans, nutrition guides, and community access. You need software that handles client onboarding, programming delivery, progress tracking, and payments all in one place.
The best platform for online PTs needs to handle:
- Programme delivery — send workout plans, update them based on progress, make them easy to follow (video, text, form tracking)
- Progress tracking — clients log workouts, weight, photos, measurements — you can see trends and adjust
- Client communication — chat, messaging, coaching calls, all tracked in one place
- Payments and memberships — recurring billing (monthly coaching), one-time purchases (programmes), payment processing
- Digital products — sell workout plans, nutrition guides, challenges, courses — everything digital
- Community — if you want it, host private community (forums, group challenges, accountability)
- Automation — onboarding sequences, automated reminders, email campaigns
- Analytics — understand your revenue, client retention, conversion rates
This is different from in-person PT software (like Trainerize or TrueCoach). Those are coaching platforms. You need a platform that's also a digital product business.
The Top Picks for 2026
1. Trainerize — Best for Online Coaching
Trainerize is the most widely used platform for online PTs. It's built specifically for coaching, with strong programme delivery and client management.
What you get:
- Workout library (build and customize programmes)
- Video exercise library (form coaching, substitutions)
- Progress tracking (weights, reps, body metrics, photos)
- Nutrition tracking (food logging, macro targets)
- Coach-client messaging
- Video coaching calls (built-in, unlimited)
- Habit tracking (habit stacking, daily check-ins)
- Client management (all clients in one dashboard)
- Payments (one-time, recurring, memberships)
- Automated workflows (onboarding, check-ins, re-engagement)
- Mobile app (clients can train anywhere)
- Reporting (client progress, revenue, retention)
Pros:
- Built by coaches for coaches (understands your workflow)
- Programme delivery is excellent (intuitive for clients)
- Progress tracking is thorough (metrics, photos, trends)
- Video coaching calls are integrated (no Zoom link juggling)
- Community features are good (accountability, group challenges)
- Pricing is fair for what you get
- Mobile app is excellent
- High client adoption (people use it)
- UK-based support (many PTs use it, lots of guides)
Cons:
- Limited for selling digital products (courses, guides)
- Not ideal if you want to sell one-off workout plans to thousands
- Overkill if you're just selling programmes without coaching
- Learning curve (but worth it)
Who it's best for: Online coaches managing 20-100 clients, PTs doing 1-on-1 coaching, PTs building membership communities, UK PTs wanting strong coaching features
Pricing: Typically £40-200/month depending on client count and features. Plus payment processing fees (2-3% + £0.20)
Sign up: https://tradepick.co.uk/go/trainerize
2. Kajabi — Best for Digital Products + Coaching
Kajabi is an all-in-one platform for selling digital products, courses, coaching, and memberships. It's less coaching-specific but more powerful for scaling digital businesses.
What you get:
- Course builder (upload videos, lessons, workouts)
- Digital product delivery (PDFs, templates, guides)
- Membership site (monthly recurring access)
- Coaching (calendar, messaging, email)
- Email marketing (automated sequences, campaigns)
- Payment processing (one-time, recurring)
- Analytics (revenue, conversion, customer lifetime value)
- Landing pages (built-in, no external tool needed)
- Automation (opt-in, onboarding, re-engagement)
- Community (forums, social, Q&A)
Pros:
- Best for selling digital products at scale
- Email marketing is integrated (no MailChimp needed)
- Excellent for membership-based businesses
- Landing pages are built-in (no Leadpages needed)
- Automation is powerful (build funnels, not just workflows)
- Pricing scales as you grow (good value long-term)
- Great for passive income (sell courses while coaching)
Cons:
- Workout tracking is basic (not as detailed as Trainerize)
- Video coaching calls aren't as integrated (require Zoom)
- Less coaching-specific (you'll build more yourself)
- Steeper learning curve (more features to learn)
- Better for product-first businesses than pure coaching
Who it's best for: Online PTs selling courses and programmes, PTs building passive income (digital products), PTs with 50+ clients seeking automation, UK PTs wanting all-in-one platform
Pricing: Typically £119-300+/month (flat rate, not per-client). Higher than Trainerize but includes email, landing pages, hosting.
Sign up: https://tradepick.co.uk/go/kajabi
3. Teachable — Best for Courses Over Coaching
Teachable is a course platform that also supports coaching. It's excellent if you're building an online school.
What you get:
- Course builder (upload videos, lessons, downloads)
- Digital products (PDFs, downloads, resources)
- Community (forums, Q&A, discussions)
- Coaching (optional, integrates with Calendly/Zoom)
- Email marketing (integrates with MailChimp/ActiveCampaign)
- Payment processing (one-time, recurring)
- Affiliate program (sell courses through partners)
- Certification (if you're building credentials)
- Reporting (revenue, enrollment, completion)
Pros:
- Excellent course experience (video plays smoothly, lessons flow well)
- Great for certification programs
- Affiliate system is robust (grow through partners)
- Good pricing (better for larger course catalogs)
- Community features are solid
- Clean, simple interface
- Good for passive income (courses sell 24/7)
Cons:
- Coaching features are minimal (you'll use external tools)
- Workout tracking is non-existent (not a coaching platform)
- Video exercise library is limited
- Progress tracking isn't available
- Messaging is basic (better for courses than coaching)
Who it's best for: Online PTs selling workout courses, PTs building certification programs, PTs with multiple courses, PTs focused on passive income over 1-on-1 coaching
Pricing: Typically £29-99/month (flat rate). Payment processing is extra (3% + £0.20 per transaction).
Sign up: https://tradepick.co.uk/go/teachable
4. Thinkific — Best for Community-Driven Coaching
Thinkific is a course platform with strong community features. Good if you're building a coaching community, not just delivering programmes.
What you get:
- Course builder (videos, lessons, assessments)
- Digital products (guides, templates)
- Community (forums, comments, gamification)
- Coaching (integrates with external tools)
- Email marketing (integrates with email platforms)
- Payment processing (one-time, recurring)
- Affiliate program
- Analytics (enrollment, completion, revenue)
- Quizzes and assessments
Pros:
- Community features are best-in-class (engagement is high)
- Course experience is excellent
- Gamification features (badges, points) drive engagement
- Good for building loyal communities
- Affiliate program is strong
- Fair pricing for feature set
- Built for engagement and retention
Cons:
- Coaching features are limited (not primary focus)
- Workout tracking isn't available
- Video coaching integration requires external tool
- Not ideal for 1-on-1 coaching
- Less mature than Teachable or Kajabi
Who it's best for: Online PTs building engaged communities, PTs running group challenges, PTs with membership communities, PTs focused on accountability and culture
Pricing: Typically £49-299+/month depending on features. Payment processing is extra.
Sign up: https://tradepick.co.uk/go/thinkific
5. Podia — Best for All-in-One at Lower Price
Podia is an all-in-one platform for courses, memberships, and digital products. It's less specialized but great value.
What you get:
- Course builder
- Digital products (downloads, deliverables)
- Membership site (recurring access)
- Email marketing (basic, integrated)
- Payment processing (built-in)
- Affiliate program
- Website builder (basic)
- Analytics (revenue, students, completion)
Pros:
- Best all-in-one value (courses, products, memberships, email)
- Simple interface (less learning curve)
- Good price point (£0 to £99/month)
- No payment processing fees on lower tiers
- Email marketing is included
- Great for small course creators and coaches
Cons:
- Coaching features are non-existent (not a coaching platform)
- Community features are limited
- Video hosting is limited (poor mobile experience)
- Automation is basic (not as powerful as Kajabi)
- Less suitable for complex coaching workflows
- Smaller ecosystem (fewer integrations, less support)
Who it's best for: Online PTs just starting, PTs selling 1-2 courses, budget-conscious PTs, PTs not doing 1-on-1 coaching
Pricing: Typically £0-99/month depending on features. Good value entry-level option.
Sign up: https://tradepick.co.uk/go/podia
Comparison Table
| Feature | Trainerize | Kajabi | Teachable | Thinkific | Podia | |---------|---|---|---|---|---| | Workout programming | Excellent | Basic | No | No | No | | Progress tracking | Excellent | Basic | No | No | No | | Video coaching calls | Built-in | External (Zoom) | External | External | External | | Messaging | Good | Good | Limited | Limited | Limited | | Email marketing | Integrates | Built-in | Integrates | Integrates | Built-in | | Courses | Basic | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | | Digital products | Limited | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Excellent | | Memberships | Good | Excellent | Good | Good | Excellent | | Community | Good | Good | Good | Excellent | Limited | | Payment processing | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | | Automation | Good | Excellent | Basic | Basic | Basic | | Mobile app | Excellent | No | No | No | No | | Analytics | Good | Excellent | Good | Good | Good | | Landing pages | No | Built-in | No | No | No | | Best for | Coaching | Digital products | Courses | Community | Value | | Price | £40-200/client count | £119-300 flat | £29-99 flat | £49-299 flat | £0-99 flat |
Coaching vs. Digital Products
Are you selling coaching or digital products? This determines your platform choice.
Pure Coaching (1-on-1 or small groups):
- Clients get personalized programming
- You adjust based on progress
- Regular check-ins, video calls, messaging
- Revenue is per-client monthly
- Best platform: Trainerize
Digital Products (courses, programmes, templates):
- Clients buy once, access forever (or monthly recurring)
- Standard programming (not personalized)
- Limited coaching (email support, not 1-on-1 calls)
- Revenue scales (sell to many)
- Best platform: Kajabi, Teachable, or Podia depending on size
Hybrid (coaching + products):
- Coaching clients get 1-on-1 support
- Sell courses and guides to others
- Community access for cohesion
- Revenue from both streams
- Best platform: Kajabi (handles both well) or Trainerize + separate course platform
Most UK online PTs start with coaching (Trainerize) then add digital products as they scale. That's the smart path.
FAQ
Should I use Trainerize or Kajabi?
Trainerize if you're coaching clients (1-on-1 or small groups), managing 20-100 clients, building a coaching business.
Kajabi if you're selling digital products, building passive income, have 50+ customers, or want all-in-one (email, landing pages, courses).
Most UK PTs start with Trainerize and migrate to Kajabi as they scale.
Do I need video exercise library?
Yes, ideally. Trainerize has one built-in. Others don't. You can use YouTube or Vimeo, but built-in is better (your videos, branded, clients don't get distracted).
Can I deliver workouts on WhatsApp or email?
Technically yes, but no. Your client will lose it, forget to check, miss updates. A dedicated app or platform is better. Trainerize's mobile app has adoption rates of 80%+ because it's easy to use.
How much should I charge for online coaching?
UK market rates (2026):
- Online coaching: £50-200/month depending on personalization and support
- Group coaching: £30-100/month
- Course/digital product: £20-500 one-time or £10-50/month recurring
- Membership community: £20-100/month
Start at £99/month for 1-on-1 coaching, scale price as you get testimonials and results.
What if I want to use multiple platforms?
You can (Trainerize for coaching + Kajabi for courses). But it's extra work and clients get confused. Better to use one platform and accept some trade-offs, unless you're scaling to 200+ clients.
Do I need email marketing?
Yes. You need to:
- Welcome new clients (onboarding sequence)
- Re-engage inactive clients (win-back campaign)
- Upsell to existing clients (sell courses to coaching clients)
- Build list for future launches (emails are your asset)
Kajabi, Podia, Thinkific have email built-in. Trainerize integrates with MailChimp. All workable.
What about coaching calls?
Trainerize has built-in video calls (1 click to start). Others require Zoom (which is fine, just one extra step). If you're doing 5+ calls per week, Trainerize's integration saves time.
Can I see client progress over time?
Yes, all platforms track this. But Trainerize is strongest:
- Weight progression
- Strength progression (track lifts over time)
- Body measurements
- Photos (progress gallery)
- Habit streaks
Others have basic tracking or none.
What's the learning curve?
Trainerize: Medium (1-2 weeks to set up fully, but straightforward) Kajabi: Medium to High (more features, more to learn) Teachable/Thinkific/Podia: Low to Medium (course builders are intuitive)
Recommendation
For a coach building a 1-on-1 practice (20-100 clients): Trainerize. It's built for what you do, clients love the app, and you'll manage everything in one place.
For a PT scaling to digital products (50+ customers, multiple courses): Kajabi. It handles courses, memberships, coaching, email, and automation. Better for scaling.
For a PT just starting with courses: Teachable or Podia. Simple, affordable, good course experience.
For a PT building an engaged community: Thinkific. Community features are best-in-class.
For a PT wanting hybrid (coaching + courses): Kajabi (handles both), or Trainerize + Teachable if you want specialized tools.
The metric that matters: Can clients see their progress? Can you adjust their programme based on results? Can you sell additional products? If yes to all three, you've got the right tool.
Your online coaching platform is how you scale from 10 clients at £99/month (£990/month) to 100 clients (£9,900/month) or 1,000 course customers (£20,000+/month). Choose right and you build sustainable recurring revenue.