Five honest options if you want live sessions or a different price than Caliber's Premium coaching.
In the interest of honesty: HipTrain wrote this guide, and we're one of the options in it. We're biased, and you should know that. We've kept every fact about other services to what they publish themselves, and the sources are listed at the end.
Caliber is a strength training app with a clear message: "It's not you. It's the science." It has a 4.84 rating from 5,985 ratings on the iOS App Store. The app is free, Pro costs $19/mo for group coaching, and Premium 1-on-1 coaching costs about $200/mo. Premium works through the app with video check-ins and is sold through a consultation call. People look for alternatives when they want a coach who trains them live, a 1-on-1 coach for less than Premium, or clear trial and HSA/FSA terms. If you're happy on the free app or Pro, you may not need anything else. More on that below.
HipTrain is live, 1-on-1 personal training on video. You book sessions that fit your week, and a real coach trains you in real time. You keep the same coach, and you can switch anytime if the match isn't right. Our coaches cover strength, weightlifting, mobility, Pilates, HIIT and more. Thirty-minute sessions cost $59.49/mo for one a week, $119.99/mo for two, or $179.99/mo for three. That's about $14 a session. Sixty-minute sessions cost $109.99/mo, $219.99/mo or $319.99/mo, about $25 a session. The first session is free with no credit card, and HipTrain is HSA / FSA eligible (check your plan). As one member wrote: "Angel is great at adapting exercises to my needs." (Emma S., Google review)
Where we're not the right fit: we have 29 App Store ratings, while Caliber has thousands, and our coach roster is small. You need to be on camera at a set time, so if you like to train whenever you want, an app may suit you better. We don't offer nutrition or dietitian coaching, a big on-demand workout library, or in-person sessions. More in HipTrain vs Caliber.
Best for: people who want a coach live with them every session, for less per month than Caliber Premium.
Future calls itself "Personal training, reimagined." Your coach programs workouts and texts with you through the app. Future does not advertise live sessions. It costs $199/mo, with a $50 first month, or $149/mo if you prepay for a year. It offers a 30-day full refund and says it's HSA/FSA eligible through Truemed. Future has a 4.87 rating from 10,714 iOS ratings. More in HipTrain vs Future.
Best for: people who like Caliber's app approach and want clear refund terms before they commit.
Trainwell (formerly CoPilot) says it offers "Personal Training You'll Actually Stick With." Coaching is mostly through the app, plus calls. Trainwell lists $149/mo billed quarterly, and Garage Gym Reviews lists $99. There's a 14-day free trial that starts with a 40-minute call, and Trainwell says plans "may be eligible" for HSA/FSA. It has a 4.90 rating from 5,532 iOS ratings. More in HipTrain vs Trainwell.
Best for: people who want app coaching and a free two-week trial.
Ladder runs team workout programs with in-ear coach audio. It isn't 1-on-1. It costs $29.99/mo or $179.99/yr, with a 7-day free trial and no card needed. Ladder is not HSA/FSA eligible. Its headline is "Stronger, not smaller," and it has a 4.95 rating from 203,880 iOS ratings. More in HipTrain vs Ladder.
Best for: self-starters who want a guided strength plan at a low monthly price.
Echelon Coach (formerly FlexIt) offers live 1-on-1 video training. Garage Gym Reviews named FlexIt its "Best Live Training" pick. Echelon Coach lists $36 to $40 per 30 minutes and $72 to $80 per 60 minutes, with packs from about $30.60. The first session is free or $5. HSA/FSA: Not published. More in HipTrain vs Echelon Coach.
Best for: people who want live sessions and prefer paying per session.
Caliber may be the right place for you already. Stay if:
Caliber Premium is 1-on-1 coaching through the app with video check-ins. If you want each workout to be a live video session with your coach, HipTrain and Echelon Coach both work that way.
Caliber Premium is about $200/mo. HipTrain starts at $59.49/mo for four live 30-minute sessions a month. Ladder is $29.99/mo but isn't 1-on-1. Caliber's own Pro plan is $19/mo.
Caliber's HSA/FSA terms: Not published. HipTrain is HSA / FSA eligible. Future says it's eligible through Truemed, and Trainwell says plans "may be eligible." Check your own plan first.
HipTrain's first session is free with no credit card. Trainwell has a 14-day free trial, and Ladder has a 7-day free trial with no card.
Want to see if live coaching fits you? Try your first HipTrain session free. No credit card needed.
We checked pricing and features for every service here in October 2026. They change often, so double-check before you sign up.