This guide is designed for fitness professionals actively evaluating the best TrueCoach alternative for their business. That includes solo personal trainers who want more than basic workout delivery, online coaches seeking branded client experiences, trainers frustrated with TrueCoach's limited branding options, and coaches who need video calling and check-ins built into their platform.
If you're currently using TrueCoach and wondering whether switching makes sense, this comparison will help you understand what you'd gain and what you'd lose.
TrueCoach is a respected platform trusted by over 20,000 personal trainers. It's particularly strong for coaches who want simple, efficient workout delivery. However, several factors prompt trainers to explore the best TrueCoach alternative available.
No branded app option. TrueCoach offers custom theming (your logo and colors within their app), but not a standalone white-label app in the app stores. For coaches building their own brand identity, this is a meaningful limitation,and a primary reason trainers also look for trainerize alternatives that offer accessible branded apps.
No built-in video calling. TrueCoach doesn't offer native video calling at any tier. Coaches who want face-to-face sessions need to use external tools like Zoom, adding friction and cost.
Limited payment availability. TrueCoach Payments (via Stripe) is only available in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Coaches in other countries can't use integrated payments.
Reliance on MyFitnessPal for nutrition. Instead of built-in meal planning, TrueCoach integrates with MyFitnessPal for nutrition tracking. This works well for macro tracking but lacks native meal plan creation.
Per-client pricing at scale. While TrueCoach's entry pricing is competitive, costs scale quickly. The Pro plan for 50 clients costs $136.99/month (annual).
That said, TrueCoach has genuine strengths: one of the fastest workout builders in the category, excellent wearable integrations (Apple, Garmin, WHOOP, Oura), strong industry reputation, and a clean interface. The question isn't whether it's capable,it's whether its limitations match your needs.
Understanding the real cost of each platform requires looking beyond advertised prices. This is crucial when evaluating the best TrueCoach alternative for your business.
TrueCoach offers three main plans with monthly and annual billing providing significant savings:
What's included in all plans:
- Program and workout builder
- 3,500+ exercise video library
- Client management and tracking
- In-app messaging (text, photos, videos, GIFs)
- MyFitnessPal nutrition integration
- Habit tracking
- Automated payments via Stripe (US, UK, Canada, Australia only)
Standard and Pro exclusive features:
- Wearable integrations (Apple Health, Garmin, WHOOP, Oura)
- Public Coach Profiles (lead generation)
- Custom-branded theming (logo and colors)
- Zapier automations (Pro only)
Notable limitations:
- No video calling at any tier
- No white-label app option
- Payments limited to 4 countries
- More than 50 clients requires custom pricing
FitBudd uses higher base prices with more features bundled,a key reason it's considered among the best TrueCoach alternatives for coaches who want predictable costs:
What's included in Pro:
- Custom app theming and branded website
- 4,000+ exercise library
- Built-in nutrition tracking and meal plans
- 1:1 video calling
- Group chat and broadcast messaging
- Wearable integration (Apple Health, Google Fit)
- Direct payments via Stripe and PayPal (200+ countries)
- Basic automation (Smart Flow)
Super Pro adds:
- Fully white-labeled app on iOS and Android app stores
- Apple Pay and Google Pay integration
- Mailchimp integration
- Direct app sign-ups
Optional add-ons (Pro/Super Pro):
- Appointments: $50/month
- Team logins: $50/month
- On-Demand video: $50/month
- Advanced Smart Flow: $20/month (+$1/client over 20)
The takeaway: TrueCoach is more affordable at smaller client counts, especially if you don't need video calling, branded apps, or global payment processing. FitBudd becomes competitive at 20+ clients and offers features TrueCoach simply doesn't have.
TrueCoach has been serving fitness professionals since 2015 and positions itself as the "#1 Personal Trainer Software." It's now part of Xplor Technologies, a global platform for managing fitness and wellness businesses.
The workout builder is genuinely fast. TrueCoach's drag-and-drop interface allows trainers to create entire programs quickly. Templates, a 3,500+ video library, and the ability to copy workouts across clients make programming efficient.
Wearable integrations are comprehensive. The Standard and Pro plans connect with Apple Health, Apple Watch, Garmin, WHOOP, and Oura. For coaches who want real-time client data from fitness trackers, TrueCoach offers more options than most competitors.
The interface is clean and focused. TrueCoach doesn't try to do everything. It focuses on workout delivery, progress tracking, and client communication. For trainers who want simplicity, this focus is an advantage.
MyFitnessPal integration works well for macro tracking. Clients who already use MyFitnessPal can sync their data directly, allowing coaches to monitor nutrition without asking clients to adopt a new tracking tool.
Public Coach Profiles help with lead generation. Standard and Pro plans include a public profile page where potential clients can find and apply to work with you. It's not a full website, but it provides online discoverability.
No branded app is a real limitation. While TrueCoach offers custom theming (your logo and colors), you cannot have your own app in the app stores. Clients download the TrueCoach app, not your branded app. For coaches building personal brands, this matters,and it's why many search for the best TrueCoach alternative with accessible branded apps.
No video calling forces external tools. Coaches who want face-to-face sessions must use Zoom, Google Meet, or similar tools separately. This adds friction, cost, and means client interactions happen across multiple platforms.
Payments are geographically limited. TrueCoach Payments only works in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Coaches in other countries cannot use integrated payment processing.
Nutrition is outsourced to MyFitnessPal. While the integration works, you can't create meal plans within TrueCoach. Coaches upload PDF meal plans or rely entirely on MyFitnessPal for food tracking.
Check-ins are limited to habit tracking. TrueCoach offers habit tracking but lacks a dedicated check-in system with forms, progress photo organization, and structured weekly feedback.
FitBudd launched in 2019 with a focus on helping fitness professionals launch their own branded apps. It serves over 10,000 coaches, influencers, gyms, and studios worldwide. For trainers seeking the best TrueCoach alternative, FitBudd addresses the platform's key limitations: no branded apps, no video calling, and limited global payments.
White-label apps are accessible, not enterprise-only. For $149/month plus a $75 setup fee, any coach can have their own app in the iOS and Android stores. This is significantly more accessible than platforms that reserve branded apps for enterprise customers,a key reason FitBudd ranks among the best TrueCoach alternatives for coaches building personal brands.
Video calling is included, not extra. One-on-one video sessions happen within the platform. No need to manage Zoom links, pay for separate video tools, or fragment client communication.
Built-in nutrition goes beyond tracking. FitBudd includes nutrition tracking, meal plans, and a recipe library. Coaches can create and assign meal plans without relying on external tools or uploading PDFs.
The website builder eliminates another subscription. Coaches can create landing pages and sell plans directly from their FitBudd website. It's not a replacement for a professional site, but it removes a barrier for coaches starting out.
Payment processing works globally. Both Stripe and PayPal are included with no platform commission, supporting 200+ countries. Coaches outside the US, UK, Canada, and Australia can still accept payments.
Check-ins are purpose-built for coaching. Progress photos, body measurements, and feedback forms are native features with dedicated workflows, not generic habit tracking adapted for the purpose.
Higher starting price requires more commitment. At $79/month, FitBudd costs more than TrueCoach's entry tiers. Trainers with only a few clients are paying for capacity they may not need.
Wearable integrations are limited. FitBudd supports Apple Health and Google Fit, but lacks direct connections to Garmin, WHOOP, and Oura that TrueCoach offers.
Per-client scaling adds up at volume. The $2/client overage means a trainer with 100 clients pays $79 + $160 = $239/month. At that scale, flat-rate alternatives become more attractive.
Zapier and Mindbody require Elite plans. Standard integrations are reserved for custom-priced Elite plans, limiting automation options for Pro and Super Pro users.
Newer platform with less market history. Founded in 2019, FitBudd has less industry tenure than TrueCoach. Some trainers prefer the stability of longer-running platforms.
This is the most significant difference. TrueCoach offers custom theming, your logo and colors within their app. FitBudd offers a white-label app, your own app in the app stores.
For coaches who see software as a background tool, TrueCoach's approach is fine. For coaches building personal brands who want clients to download "their" app, FitBudd provides that capability at $149/month,more accessible than most competitors.
FitBudd includes video calling; TrueCoach doesn't offer it at any price. If face-to-face sessions are part of your coaching model, this determines which platform can support your workflow without external tools.
TrueCoach wins on wearable integrations. Apple Health, Garmin, WHOOP, and Oura provide more data sources than FitBudd's Apple Health and Google Fit support. For coaches who coach based on recovery metrics, sleep data, and HRV, TrueCoach offers more.
TrueCoach payments work in 4 countries. FitBudd payments work in 200+. For coaches outside the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, this isn't a minor difference; it's whether you can accept payments at all.
TrueCoach uses MyFitnessPal integration. FitBudd has built-in nutrition tools. The right choice depends on whether your clients already use MyFitnessPal (TrueCoach wins) or whether you want to create meal plans within your coaching platform (FitBudd wins).
TrueCoach starts lower and scales per client. FitBudd starts higher but bundles more features. At small scale, TrueCoach costs less. At 20+ clients needing video, nutrition, and branded apps, FitBudd often delivers better value.
When evaluating the best TrueCoach alternative, these platforms often enter the conversation.
Trainerize (now ABC Trainerize) offers extensive features and integrations (Mindbody, Zapier, ABC Fitness ecosystem) but uses add-on pricing that can become expensive. It lacks a dedicated check-in system. If you're searching for the best trainerize alternative, both TrueCoach and FitBudd address different gaps,FitBudd with bundled features and accessible branded apps, TrueCoach with simpler workflow and better wearables.
Pros: Low entry point (free plan), strong integrations, established brand
Cons: Add-ons accumulate quickly, no check-ins, complex interface
Everfit includes team management in its Pro plan and offers a functional free tier with 5 clients. It lacks video calling and reserves white-label apps for Enterprise. For trainers seeking the best Everfit alternative, FitBudd offers accessible white-label apps and built-in video calling, while TrueCoach provides superior wearable integrations.
Pros: Free plan, team features included, comprehensive wearables
Cons: No video calling, white-label requires Enterprise pricing
My PT Hub's $89/month unlimited client model makes it attractive for high-volume trainers. The interface is less polished than newer competitors. For trainers seeking the best My PT Hub alternative, FitBudd offers a more modern interface and white-label apps, though per-client pricing means higher costs at scale.
Pros: Flat-rate unlimited clients, comprehensive features
Cons: Less modern interface, branded app costs extra
You have 100+ clients and want flat pricing. My PT Hub's $89/month unlimited model beats per-client fees at scale.
You need Mindbody integration now. TrueCoach doesn't offer it; FitBudd reserves it for Elite plans. Trainerize provides it on Studio plans.
You run a multi-trainer studio. Everfit includes team management in Pro; FitBudd charges $50/month extra for team features.
Both platforms serve fitness professionals well, but for different needs.
TrueCoach excels at straightforward workout delivery with excellent wearable integrations. It's ideal for coaches who prioritize simplicity and don't need video calling or branded apps.
FitBudd excels at brand-building with white-label apps, bundled features, and global payment processing. It's the best TrueCoach alternative for coaches who want a professional, independent presence.
The right choice depends on what you value most. Take advantage of free trials to test both with your actual coaching workflow.
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