Best Online Personal Training Programs
Based on In-Depth Reviews

Studies show that the low level of physical activity among Americans is a major contributor to chronic disease in the nation. Generally incurable, chronic illnesses currently affect approximately 133 million Americans, representing nearly half of the total population. 

According to the Centers for Control and Disease (CDC), six in ten adults in the United States have a chronic disease, with four out of ten having two or more serious health conditions. 

Managing chronic disease is costly, which often result in above-average use of hospital and ER visits, higher spending, and multiple related conditions. The CDC reports that chronic disease and mental health conditions are the leading cause of death and disability, driving up the nation’s annual health care costs by an estimated $3.5 trillion.  

The most prevalent and costly of chronic diseases include cardiovascular (heart) disease, obesity, cancer, asthma, arthritis, depression, and diabetes, though these are only a few of many illnesses that lower the quality of life of millions of Americans each year.

The important thing to take away is that chronic illnesses are preventable and if you already have one, managing symptoms by leading a healthy lifestyle can reduce medical costs and help you lead a longer life.  

The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion states that many chronic diseases are caused by a short list of key risk behaviors, including:

• Poor nutrition: Fewer than 1 in 10 US adults and adolescents consume enough fruits and vegetables.
• Lack of physical activity: Recent studies show that just below 24% of Americans meet federal physical activity guidelines
• Excessive alcohol use: Too much consumption can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, or cancer
• Tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke: 58 million people are exposed to secondhand smoke each day

Experts agree that simply by making small changes to your daily life such as eating healthier and exercising, you can improve your quality and longevity of life. Regular exercise can help reduce stress, maintain your weight, improve your daily life and stamina, and sharpen your mental functioning.

From Jazzercise to Online Personal Trainers

Being physically active on a regular basis can help you improve your overall health and fitness by reducing the risk of developing chronic diseases as you age. But let’s face it: exercising can feel like a hassle, especially when it seems that there aren’t enough hours in the day to work out. Additionally, working with a personal trainer can be costly. 

If you get the impression that you could be more active than you currently are, you’re not alone. Researchers at the US Department of Health and Human Services estimated that nearly 80% of Americans don’t exercise enough. 

“A lot of people don’t care enough about exercise or don’t find the motivation to engage in physical activity due to a variety of factors, including lack of access to support and resources,” said Patricia McKinley, a retired McGill University professor who holds a PhD in Physiology and Rehabilitation Medicine. “Underserved communities normally lack community centers and parks which affects residents in the area and youth. Additionally, some people may feel insecure working out or face their own obstacles caused by mental or physical health. The way to overcome that is by finding alternatives to make exercising look like less of a task and more as an activity that is enjoyable.”

Nationally, only about 24% of US adults aged 18-64 met the federal physical activity guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities in 2018. While the numbers slightly surpassed the proposed 2020 target of reaching 20.1%, the levels of physical activity for Americans have remained nationally low for nearly 25 years.

McKinley, whose research interests include the use of community-based leisure activities to enhance the physical and mental quality of life in vulnerable populations, recommends community-based activities such as dance that encourage a state of flow. 

“A flow-state is something that occurs to musicians,” she explained. “When you are in a state of flow if feels as if time is elastic and you are not mindful of anything but the sense of joy or pleasure you have in meeting goals and improving your sense of wellbeing. Activities such as dancing or boxing can serve as a motivational outlet that encourages one’s efforts to improve wellbeing. Activities such as dance can promote a state of flow because you are not being mindful that you are exercising but focused on enjoying the moment which increases ones chance to repeat the activity in the future.”

Jazzercise, the company that pioneered its own brand of dance-based exercise routines is a great example of this. Founded in the late 1960s, Jazzercise quickly became a global phenomenon, bringing the fitness world’s first-ever on-demand video subscription to exercising to reality. 

The best thing was its convenience. Jazzercise provided people with a fun way to work out in their garage, home, living room, or community center. For a low price, these instructional exercise videos made getting fit easy for those who don’t live near a park or have enough money to afford a gym membership. It was as easy as going to your local Blockbuster, renting a tape, and working out on your own time.

What made this brand popular was the fact that it promoted a flow state, it made exercising fun, cheap, and accessible. 

“As a team I think we really did make a difference, including older adults, children, a friend of mine whose lifestyle included a wheelchair, and showing mild, moderate and intense exercise options,” said Lara Lauzon who worked as a Co-Producer for Body Moves, an internationally syndicated show.

Almost 50 years later, online personal trainers are doing much of the same. These online platforms broaden their reach to diverse communities by re-engaging audiences that may not have a park, gym or community center nearby. Like Jazzercise, online personal trainers take fitness to the next level by providing guided expert advice and workout routines through your mobile device.

The Growth of Health Apps in the United States

There are many reasons why people don’t exercise. Lack of time is a significant reason, followed by a lack of support and a scarcity of resources.  Luckily, we live in a digital world and the rate at which mobile devices have adopted healthy lifestyle software apps (health apps) is rapidly growing, according to various studies. 

Mobile devices and apps have provided significant health benefits to the general population. An increasing number of people have taken advantage of the tools these devices provide for developing health-related behaviors and managing chronic conditions. 

In 2018, researchers in Germany found that health app use could effectively determine a user’s motivation to change or maintain health behaviors. Their conclusion revealed that the main users of health apps tended to be younger, have more education and higher income, and reported excellent health. 

Their findings are in line with numerous studies published in the United States, which suggest an association between health app use and sociodemographic factors, although in the US subjects were more likely to be Hispanic and had a higher body mass index. 

The bottom line is that health apps have become highly popular for certain age groups, but they aren’t for everyone. Both studies showed that older people didn’t engage much with health apps; but that could change. 

“Older adults benefit more from community-centered activities due to the added layers of social interaction and positive reinforcement they receive from others,” said McKinley. “We once considered using Fitbits with a group of seniors, but decided to toss the idea because we didn’t think they would engage well with such mobile devices to monitor their health. Instead, group activities such as dancing were more popular because everyone is working toward a goal and it also boosts self-esteem.”

McKinley added that, based on her research and experience with people with disabilities or mental illness, an in-person fitness trainer or community-focused environment would be a better fit for certain people.  

“If you’re working out through an online training device, you could easily fall off the wagon should you not receive the encouragement you need to continue,” said McKinley. “It’s not to say that online personal trainers aren’t great for certain people. However, if you have a disability, you could potentially run the risk of injuring yourself by not exercising correctly.”

Benefits of Online Personal Trainers

As health apps have become more popular, it’s no wonder that personal trainers have learned to use these tools to their advantage as well. 

Many phones already come with integrated fitness and health awareness apps that register how many calories you’ve burned in a day and keep a calendar that tracks your daily health. The advantage of investing in an online personal trainer is that it takes that access to health to the next level. 

Online Personal Training Highlights 

Online personal trainers aren’t just becoming popular now. Fitness coaches have been around long before Jazzercise. The key difference today is our mass connectedness via social media. Exercise programs are easily available on YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and even Twitter. The advantage of investing in an online personal trainer is getting a personalized expert guide to your training experience from the comfort of your home, instead of just watching a generic video.

An online personal trainer can develop a customized workout routine, meal plan, and overall strategy for you to achieve your fitness goals. Now imagine having all of that as easy as a click away on your mobile device. 

“A lot of people don’t have parks or gyms in their neighborhood, they don’t have YMCA’s, Boys and Girls Clubs, or a Planet Fitness. Most people have a smartphone or some kind of device if you have WIFI,” said Terrence Gordon, a former professional basketball player for Tranas Basket, Athletes in Action, and the Cottbus White Devils. “If you need to drive to the gym, then you need a car. If you have a car, you need money for gas and insurance. Access, price and convenience are main factors that could motivate you to get this kind of training program.”

What you get from an online personal trainer depends on what type of program you choose. Certain apps, such as HitchFit ($99 per month), offer unlimited access to your own fitness coach who will create a customized workout and nutritional guided program tailored to your goals. 

With an online personal trainer, you’ll be able to receive the kind of service you will not get from standard programs that every user can use. 

Things to consider when looking for an online personal trainer:

• Your fitness level: Think about your personal fitness goals and motivation; choose a program that fits your personality and feels like something you would actually do
• Engagement: Consider how much feedback you want from your personal trainer; it’s called personal training for a reason
• Available Programs: Programs that offer realistic goals and a holistic approach to health are usually better for you in the long-run rather than intense 14-day challenges that can put your wellbeing at risk
• Trainer’s Credentials: A trainer should be able to show you a fitness certification from reputable organizations 
• Price: Choose a cost-effective program that fits your finances

Are Online Personal Trainers For You?

A workout and nutrition plan that works for one person might not work at all with a different person. In fact, our researchers at Consumers Advocate recently looked into the best diet plans, some of which might be used in conjunction with online fitness trainers for optimum health and fitness.  

If you have a busy family life, maybe you don’t want to wake up extra early to go to the gym. With an online personal trainer, you can easily go to your basement or living room and work out using your mobile device. 

Nonetheless, there are some aspects of online personal trainers that you should also consider carefully:

• You could be exercising wrong: Since an online personal trainer isn’t there to spot your form, you could potentially run the risk of injuring yourself. Not only that, but you could reduce the efficiency of the workout. A potential solution to this? Communicate with your instructor often and, if they are available, watch instructional workout videos to check your form. 
• Accountability: With any training or nutrition plan, there’s always the risk of throwing in the towel and quitting. An online personal trainer won’t be physically there to motivate you into finishing a workout or not eating that delicious piece of chocolate cake.
• Judging progress: Most online personal training apps come with an integrated fitness tracker to help monitor how much you’ve been working out, how much weight you’ve lost, and evaluate your meals. The thing is that your trainer won’t be there to check your scale and actually see you to know what you have to work on. 

Other Online Options

Other apps like Nike Training Club offer free instructional workouts that can keep track of your fitness goals. The only difference between instructional exercise apps and an online personal trainer is that with one, you will have the personal touch of a trainer working alongside you to keep you accountable; with the other, you will not.

“I’ve used the Nike Training Club app for some time now and swear by it. I use it about four to five times a week for strength-building and yoga,” said Gordon. “It’s great because it allows you to build your own program, track progress, and includes a series of instructional videos anywhere from a two-minute quick sweat if you’re in a hurry or a 45-minute full-body workout.”

Apps like the Nike Training Club app are completely free and are available on Android and Apple mobile devices. 

Similarly, Fitness Blender offers over 500 free classes and exercise videos. They do not have a mobile app available yet, but their material is very good in terms of quality and substance. Fitness Blender also offers nutrition guides and programs available for purchase from $7.99 to $19.99.