Six honest options if you want a live coach, no hardware to buy, or a lower monthly cost than Tonal.
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.
Tonal is a wall-mounted smart strength machine. Tonal 2 costs $4,295, and the membership is $59.95 a month with a 12-month commitment. You can also rent one for $279 a month after a free first month, plus a $149 setup fee. People look for alternatives for a few structural reasons: they don't want to buy or install hardware, they want a person coaching them live rather than classes, or they want a lower monthly cost. If you already own a Tonal and use it, staying may be the smart move. We cover that below.
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. Our coaches teach strength training, weightlifting, functional training and mobility, and they work with whatever you have at home, even just your body weight. You see the same coach every session and can switch anytime. Thirty-minute sessions cost $59.49/mo for one a week, $119.99/mo for two, or $179.99/mo for three, 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, and HipTrain is HSA / FSA eligible.
"I have been training with Juan Garcia for about a year now. He is very knowledgeable, and helped me get to a consistent strength training schedule, even though I didn't have any strength training experience when we started." (Manya S., Google review)
Where we're not the right fit: without heavy equipment at home, you won't lift the loads a machine like Tonal offers. You need to show up at a set time on camera. We have far fewer reviews than the big brands (29 App Store ratings), a small coach roster, no big class library, and no in-person sessions. More in HipTrain vs Tonal.
Best for: people who want a coach guiding their strength work live, with nothing to install.
FORME offers weekly live 1-on-1 sessions with a trainer in its app, a custom weekly plan and on-demand classes. It also sells smart home gyms, the FORME Studio and the FORME Lift (up to 200 pounds of digital resistance), but doesn't list hardware prices on its site. You don't need the hardware to train live. FORME lists $49 for the first month, then $399 a month, and also shows $149 a month in places, so ask what each covers. More in HipTrain vs FORME.
Best for: people who want both a smart gym and a live personal trainer.
Peloton offers live and on-demand classes, including strength. Peloton Strength+ is a strength-only app at $9.99 a month with a 14-day trial and no equipment needed. App+ is $28.99 a month. If you want equipment, the Cross Training Bike is $1,695 plus a $49.99 a month All-Access Membership. Peloton also offers Peloton Personal Trainer, powered by Trainwell, at $99.99 a month on top of a membership; workouts are done on your own schedule. More in HipTrain vs Peloton.
Best for: people who like classes and want cardio and strength in one place.
Fitbod builds strength workouts with an algorithm, based on your goals, level and the equipment you have, and updates them as you progress. It costs $15.99 a month or $95.99 a year after a 7-day free trial. Fitbod says subscriptions "may be eligible" for HSA/FSA with a Letter of Medical Necessity. It holds a 4.8 rating from about 287,000 iOS ratings. More in HipTrain vs Fitbod.
Best for: confident lifters with dumbbells or a gym who want Tonal-style programming without the machine.
Future pairs you with a coach who builds your workouts in its app and texts with you. It does not advertise live video sessions. Future costs $199 a month, with a $50 first month, or $149 a month if you prepay a year. It offers a 30-day full refund and accepts HSA/FSA through Truemed.
Best for: people who want a personal coach's plan but train on their own time.
Apple Fitness+ is a library of recorded workouts, including Strength, HIIT, Yoga and Pilates, from 5 to 45 minutes. It costs $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year, with one month free for new subscribers, and it needs an iPhone. Apple does not mention live classes or coaching.
Best for: people who want follow-along strength workouts for the lowest price.
Tonal is a strong product, and switching has costs. Stay with Tonal if:
HipTrain, FORME, Fitbod, Future and Apple Fitness+ all work without buying a machine. HipTrain and FORME include a live 1-on-1 trainer. Fitbod, Future and Apple Fitness+ are app-based.
Tonal offers live and on-demand group classes, plus automatic form cues. Its site does not advertise live 1-on-1 sessions with a coach.
HipTrain is HSA / FSA eligible. Tonal and Future accept HSA/FSA through Truemed, and Fitbod says it "may be eligible." Always check your own plan.
Apple Fitness+ ($9.99 a month) and Peloton Strength+ ($9.99 a month) cost the least. For a live 1-on-1 coach, HipTrain starts at $59.49 a month for four 30-minute sessions. See also affordable online personal trainers.
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.