How we test personal trainer software

By Mikey Salcumbe, Editor · Reviewed by Dan Salcumbe, Level 3 Personal Trainer

We sign up for each app ourselves, set up a test client from start to finish, and record every step. A qualified personal trainer then checks the review before it's published.

1. We sign up like a real trainer

We use the plan a working personal trainer would choose, not a special demo account from the software company. That way we see the same setup, limits and prices you would.

2. We set up a test client

For every app, we run through the jobs a trainer does each week:

  • Adding and onboarding a new client
  • Building and assigning a training programme
  • Adding nutrition or meal plans
  • Setting up payments or packages
  • Running check-ins and tracking progress
  • Using the client's side of the app

3. We screenshot every step

Our reviews and how-to guides use our own screenshots, so you can see exactly what each screen looks like before you sign up.

4. We score each app the same way

Every app is rated on the same five areas: ease of use, features for coaching, client experience, value for money, and support. Our overall rating reflects how well the app suits the kind of trainer it's built for.

5. A qualified PT checks every review

Before any review goes live, our Expert Advisor, Dan Salcumbe, a Level 3 personal trainer with 15 years in the fitness industry, checks it for accuracy and for whether it reflects how trainers actually work.

6. We keep reviews up to date

Software changes often. We recheck prices and features regularly and show the date each review was last updated. If you spot something out of date, let us know.

What doesn't affect our ratings

Software companies can't pay for a review, a better score or a place on our lists. If we earn a commission from a link, that never changes what we say. Read our affiliate disclosure.