Six honest options if you want live sessions, a lower price, or a different kind of coach than Future offers.
Full disclosure: HipTrain wrote this page, and we're the first option on the list. So yes, we have a stake in it. Every fact about other companies comes from what they publish, and you'll find the sources at the end.
Future is a popular app. Future calls itself "Personal training, reimagined," and it holds a 4.87 rating from 10,714 ratings on the iOS App Store. Your Future coach builds your workouts and texts with you through the app. Future does not advertise live video sessions. People usually look around for one of three reasons: they want a coach who trains with them live, they want to spend less than $199 a month, or they want a different kind of help, like nutrition coaching. If Future already keeps you going, you may not need to switch at all. We cover that below too.
HipTrain is live, 1-on-1 personal training over video. You book a time, join from your phone, tablet or computer, and a real coach trains you in real time. You see the same coach every session, and you can switch coaches anytime if it isn't a fit. 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. Your first session is free, with no credit card needed. HipTrain is HSA / FSA eligible, so check your plan. One member wrote about coach Miranda: "I am 68 years old, she is VERY patient with me." (Douglas Hendrick, Google review)
Where we're not the right fit: we have far fewer reviews than Future (29 App Store ratings against thousands), and our coach roster is small. You need to show up at a set time on camera. We don't offer nutrition or dietitian coaching, a big on-demand workout library, or in-person sessions. See the full breakdown in HipTrain vs Future.
Best for: people who want a coach training them live, every week, for less than Future's monthly price.
Trainwell (formerly CoPilot) says it offers "Personal Training You'll Actually Stick With." Coaching happens mostly through the app, plus calls. Trainwell lists $149/mo billed quarterly, and Garage Gym Reviews lists $99. It also powers Peloton Personal Trainer at $99.99/mo. Trainwell offers a 14-day free trial that starts with a 40-minute call, and 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 like Future's app style but want to try it free for two weeks first.
Caliber's tagline is "It's not you. It's the science." It has a free app, a Pro plan at $19/mo with group coaching, and a Premium 1-on-1 plan. Premium is coaching through the app with video check-ins, at about $200/mo, and it's sold through a consultation call. Trial terms and HSA/FSA details: Not published. Caliber has a 4.84 rating from 5,985 iOS ratings. More in HipTrain vs Caliber.
Best for: people focused on strength training who want to start free and only pay if they want more.
Ladder runs team workout programs with in-ear coach audio. It isn't 1-on-1, but it costs far less: $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 structured plan at the lowest monthly price.
Echelon Coach (formerly FlexIt) offers live 1-on-1 video training, like HipTrain. 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 but prefer to pay per session instead of a monthly plan.
Kickoff pairs you with a coach who is both a dietitian and a trainer. You get a weekly video call plus daily texts. Kickoff says it's "$0 out-of-pocket" through insurance with Aetna, Cigna, UHC, BCBS and 100+ plans, and $250/mo if you pay yourself. It offers a coach-swap guarantee. More in HipTrain vs Kickoff.
Best for: people who want nutrition and exercise help together, especially if their insurance covers it.
Future works well for a lot of people, and switching has a cost of its own. Stay with Future if:
Future does not advertise live sessions. Its coaching is app-based: programmed workouts plus texting with your coach. If you want a coach on camera in real time, HipTrain and Echelon Coach both offer live 1-on-1 video.
Ladder is the lowest monthly price at $29.99/mo, but it isn't 1-on-1. For live 1-on-1 training, HipTrain starts at $59.49/mo for four 30-minute sessions a month, about $14 each. Future is $199/mo.
Future says it's eligible through Truemed. HipTrain is HSA / FSA eligible. Trainwell says plans "may be eligible." Ladder is not. Always check your own plan before you buy.
HipTrain's first session is free with no credit card. Trainwell has a 14-day free trial. Ladder has a 7-day free trial with no card. Echelon Coach lists the first session as free or $5.
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.