10 Apps Personal Trainers Can Use to Improve Communication with Their Clients

Editor's Note: This post was originally published January 2019 and has recently been updated and revised for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Whether you’ve just started your journey to becoming a personal trainer or have been a certified personal fitness trainer for a while, looking for the best ways to communicate with your clients is essential. And, with the recent growth in the development of apps and software, it’s an absolute necessity to start using technology in order to take your personal training business to the next level.

You’ve probably noticed that there are hundreds of apps and software programs which can help you grow your personal training business.  The difficult part is deciding which of them will help you put your personal trainer certification to the most use.

Of course, some apps are better than others. It’s important to use ones which will allow you to focus on giving your clients the results they want and to spend less time on the mindless recording, tracking, and unnecessary clerical work that very few personal trainers like to do.

In this article, we’ve done the research for you and have compiled a list of the top 10 apps and software programs you can use to streamline your personal training business and experience growth like never before.

1. The Training Notebook (iOS)

The Training Notebook is one of the most robust and simple iPad apps out there for personal trainers. The home page gives you a central hub where you can easily access each one of your client’s workout regimens, training schedule, contact information, and assessments.

The program page allows you to start building your client’s training program in just minutes. You can then copy and paste your favorite workouts, email them to your clients, and even choose from pre-made program templates. The body assessment feature allows you to store before and after pictures of clients in one place. Additionally, the app can calculate your clients’ caliper readings for you. 

All of the features in The Training Notebook allow you to save time that would otherwise be used writing on paper.

2. Coach Pro (iOS)

Coach Pro is a fantastic app for managing your personal training business. It’s an app designed by coaches, for coaches. The interface is user friendly and allows you to update client progress seamlessly.

It allows you to record session notes for your clients immediately after a session through voice dictation on your iPhone, track goals per client, successes, and manage your appointment calendar and billing information all in one app.

3. GAIN Trainer (iOS)

GAIN Trainer is an app designed by trainers to help you scale your personal training business. The app comes with over 1,600+ exercises in their database and is developed to help you draw in a larger tech-savvy client base.

With GAIN Trainer, you can communicate with your clients, create programs, and train clients remotely.

The ease-of-use will help you retain clients longer with more consistent training. The developers thrive on using the latest technologies and simple, effective design methods so you can focus more time on growing your client base and less on unnecessary client instruction.

4. FitSW (iOS)

FitSW is an excellent app for staying in communication with your clients. It allows you to manage multiple clients, their workouts, fitness progress graphs, and more, all in one centralized location.

This makes it easier for you to stay on the same page with your client. Goal progress tracking and fitness graphs helps your clients stay motivated, which will help with client retention.

It also includes a large workout database with demonstration videos so your clients know exactly how to perform each exercise you assign them.

5. Vagaro

Vagaro is a cloud-based app specifically for salons, spas, and personal trainer management. It is a perfect solution for allowing personal trainers to book appointments and manage different facility roles. Using Vagaro allows you to handle client databases, bookkeeping, and payroll, all in one software.

If your personal training business is growing quickly Vagaro is a great software to help keep up with your clients. You can list available appointment slots through Vagaro. Clients can also look at fitness facilities nearby and book appointments through the website or app.

Vagaro lets you create your own uniquely customizable web page to promote any discounts, offers, or special events you may be having. And it even includes email marketing, QuickBooks integration, and text reminders.

6. PTminder Software

PTminder is a cloud-based website and mobile app that helps you manage the day-to-day of your personal training business with ease. You can access it through your phone or any device with internet connection.

PTminder allows personal training businesses like yours manage administrative tasks, like payment processing and client management, all through the cloud. It is one of the simplest, most efficient personal training softwares you can implement immediately to help you become and stay organized.

PTminder can help you save a significant amount of time so you can focus more on your efforts on growing your business and helping your clients get results and less on time consuming administrative tasks. 

It also allows you to collect payments from clients via debit and credit cards, Paypal, Stripe, DebitSuccess, and Ezidebit.

7. Trainerize Software

Trainerize is a cloud-based personal trainer software that helps personal trainers stay on track with their clients.

With Trainerize, you can create individual personal training programs specific to each client. The app allows you to track meal plans and , exercise regimens, and communicate with clients all in real-time.

It also allows you to customize each workout using videos, photos, and workout descriptions to give it even more of a personal touch. Trainerize then sends notifications to the personal trainer when the client checks in. This helps the client-trainer relationship stay on the same page so you can coach your clients towards reaching their goals even faster!

8. MINDBODY

MINDBODY is a cloud-based management and appointment scheduling software designed for both small personal trainer entrepreneurs and large fitness businesses. It is mostly used by gyms, personal training centers, wellness centers, salons, and spas.

With MINDBODY, you can attract new customers by listing your business in the app. This gives your business more exposure to your exact target demographic.

Furthermore, MINDBODY gives you all of the fitness management needs you could possibly ask for. The software allows you to manage billing, class schedules, trainer rosters, and payroll. You will no longer have to worry about having any paperwork slip through the cracks thanks to MINDBODY’s ease of use. It is an all-in-one solution.

9. Coach’s Eye

Coach’s Eye is best for clients who are more focused on their form for each workout and improving their lifts. This app is perfect for assessing any downfalls your clients may have regarding form and technique.

Coach’s Eye lets you record your clients while they perform their workouts and it allows you to slow the video down, add notes to it, and correct their form, so your client knows exactly what they’re doing incorrectly and how to improve the lift.

Use Coach’s Eye for your clients who are serious about perfecting their form and want constructive feedback so they can improve on their weaknesses.

10. My PT Hub

Used by over 50,000 personal trainers globally, My PT Hub is an online web application that helps personal trainers create customizable training programs unique to each client. You can then track their progress and achievements directly from My PT Hub.

It also has an extensive database of over 7,000 exercises with step-by-step tutorials, so your clients knows exactly how to perform each exercise. Additionally, you can create workout packages to sell to new and existing clients.  My PT Hub also allows you to accept payment directly from the app. 

It’s important to stay ahead of the curve if you want to maintain a successful personal training business. Taking advantage of online apps and software programs will help give you a competitive edge against your competitors.

These apps will not only streamline your business - freeing up more time for yourself - but you could also benefit from increased client retention, helping you make more money.

So whether you’re just starting out with your personal training business or you’re an experienced trainer, using just one of the apps listed above could help you make more money, stay more organized, and get more fitness clients.