What to look for in a personal trainer app
July 5, 2024

What to look for in a personal trainer app

by 
Trainwell Trainers
Fitness

With the rise in health consciousness and the increasing use of smartphones, fitness enthusiasts are turning to personal trainer apps as a convenient and effective way to achieve their fitness goals. 

These apps allow users to access personalized workout plans, track progress, and receive guidance from professional trainers. 

But with the many available options, how do you choose the right personal trainer app for your needs? Are there specific features, functionalities, or qualities you should look for? 

Read more as we explore the key factors you must consider when selecting a personal trainer app.

What is a personal trainer app?

A personal trainer app is a mobile app designed to provide customized workout plans, guidance, and support from certified personal trainers. Personal training apps help users achieve their fitness goals by offering a convenient and flexible way to access professional training anytime, anywhere.

Unlike most workout apps that have limited libraries and can't change things on the fly, personal trainer apps use advanced algorithms and human experts to create customized plans for users based on their:

  • Fitness goals
  • Current level of fitness
  • Individual needs and preferences

These workout apps typically feature workout routines, instructional videos, nutrition plans, progress tracking, and communication with personal trainers. Besides the unparalleled flexibility and personalization, you also get the accountability and empathy of a real human trainer without the high costs of hiring an in-person fitness coach.

Personal trainer apps vs. online training apps

Are you wondering what the difference is between personal trainer apps and online training apps? Given their similar functions, it's easy to confuse the two. But the main difference lies in the level of personalization, accountability, and support users get.

Personal Trainer Apps Online Training Apps
Offer personalized workout plans based on your goals, fitness level, and preferences Offer pre-made workout programs (videos and PDFs) not customized to individual needs
Provide real-time 1-on-1 feedback and support from certified personal trainers Follow a fixed schedule for workouts with limited scheduling flexibility
Allow for flexible scheduling and complete workouts at your own pace Limited or no access to professional trainers for real-time guidance and support
Track progress and adjust plans accordingly Basic progress tracking and minimal plan adjustments

While both types of apps offer convenience and flexibility, personal trainer apps provide a more personalized and comprehensive training experience without the high costs and limitations of in-person training.

Why you should use a personal trainer app for fitness

Personal trainer apps offer numerous benefits for individuals at all fitness levels. Let's explore how these apps can help beginners, intermediate, and advanced users achieve their fitness goals.

For beginner fitness levels

Starting a fitness routine can be intimidating, especially for beginners who are unable to hire a personal trainer. Personal trainer apps provide the right support and guidance you need to build confidence and establish a solid foundation. 

Key features for beginners include:

  • Easy-to-follow workouts: Simple and clear instructions, along with instructional videos, make it easy to understand and perform exercises with proper form.
  • One-on-one trainer motivation and encouragement:  Personal trainer apps can offer real-time feedback and support to keep you motivated and on track toward your goals. You also get tailored tips and advice to help you overcome challenges, stay consistent, and make progress.
  • Educational resources: These include meal plans, workout tips, and fitness articles to help you understand the fundamentals of fitness and adopt healthy lifestyle habits.

By offering a supportive and educational environment, personal trainer apps make it easier for beginners to stick with their fitness routines and see progress.

For intermediate fitness levels

Once you've established a fitness routine, you must continue challenging yourself to avoid plateaus and reach new goals. Personal trainer apps offer advanced features for intermediate fitness levels, such as:

  • Progressive workout plans: Based on your progress and goals, personal trainer apps adjust your workout plans and add more challenging exercises to keep you improving. If you can comfortably bench 50 pounds, the app or trainer will gradually increase your target to 55 pounds to help you build strength and endurance.
  • Tracking improvements and changes: With detailed progress tracking, you can see how far you've come and what areas need improvement. You can also track changes in your body composition and fitness levels over time.
  • Intermediate-level challenges: These workout challenges push you out of your comfort zone, increase strength and endurance, and improve overall fitness. They also keep your workouts exciting and engaging.

For advanced fitness levels

Personal trainer apps offer even more specialized and advanced features for advanced fitness levels to help users reach their full potential. These include:

  • Goal-centric training programs:  Personal trainer apps have a wide range of advanced training programs, such as HIIT (high-intensity interval training), strength training, and sport-specific training. These apps design these programs to challenge pro users with more intense and targeted workouts.
  • Detailed performance analytics: Advanced users can access detailed performance analytics, such as heart rate, calorie burn, and pace, to monitor their progress and make data-driven adjustments to their training plans.
  • High-intensity customized workouts: Users can customize their workouts to push their limits and reach peak performance. This can include incorporating high-intensity exercises, supersets, or increasing weights and reps. 

Key features to seek out in a personal training app

According to Allied Market Research, the global fitness app market reached $13.78 billion in 2020, and they expect it to grow 24.3% from 2021 to 2030 to hit $120.37 billion. With the increase in demand for personal trainer apps, it's essential to know what key features to look for when choosing the right one for your fitness needs. 

Here are some important features to consider:

Personalized workouts

Personal trainer apps specialize in personalized workouts. These apps use your goals, fitness level, and preferences to create customized workout plans that evolve with your progress. As you get stronger and fitter, the app adjusts the intensity and difficulty of workouts to continuously challenge you. 

Why should you seek out this feature? Because a one-size-fits-all approach to fitness rarely works, and personalized workouts can help you achieve your goals effectively and safely. These online personal training workouts build upon each other, gradually increasing in intensity, to ensure you make consistent progress while avoiding injuries.

Progress tracking

Progress tracking is essential for staying motivated, monitoring progress, and making data-driven adjustments to your workouts and nutrition plans. 

Look for apps that offer performance metrics, such as:

  • Heart rate and calorie burn
  • Progress graphs to visually see your improvements in strength, weight, heart health, or any metrics you personally care about.
  • Milestone tracking to track significant achievements. 

Exercise variety

A diverse exercise library keeps your workouts interesting and prevents boredom. The app you choose should have a wide range of exercises, including resistance training, cardio, bodyweight, and flexibility exercises, to provide a well-rounded and balanced workout routine. 

Exercise variety is also crucial for preventing overuse injuries and promoting overall fitness. For instance, if you only do push-ups and neglect other upper-body exercises, you may develop muscle imbalances, leading to pain and injury. Various exercises ensure you work all muscle groups and improve overall strength, endurance, and mobility.

User-friendly interface

Exercising is challenging enough — you don't want to add the frustration of a confusing or difficult-to-use app on top of it! A user-friendly interface promotes a seamless and enjoyable fitness experience. It makes it easier for you to stick to your routines. 

The app should be:

  • Easy to navigate
  • Have clear instructions and visuals for exercises
  • Allow you to track your progress effortlessly

A simple, intuitive interface reduces the learning curve and helps you focus on your workouts without distractions.

Why trainwell is the best solution for your fitness goals

Trainwell is a personal trainer app that provides a comprehensive and personalized fitness experience. Our advanced features and user-friendly interface make it the best solution for anyone looking to reach their fitness goals. 

Here’s why trainwell is the ideal solution for achieving your fitness goals.

Workouts customized for you

Trainwell is not a one-size-fits-all solution. We tailor every workout for each user based on their fitness level, goals, and preferences. With an extensive exercise library of over 1,500 exercises and variations, your trainer can create workouts for any environment, whether at home, in a gym, or anywhere in between. 

The best part? It doesn't matter what kind of equipment you have or don't have; your trainwell trainer will design a workout plan that fits your equipment and goals. 

Our app guides you through each step of the workout in your trainer's voice, providing instructions and motivation, just like having a personal trainer by your side. No more clunky video calls or trying to follow along with a pre-recorded workout; trainwell provides a truly personalized and interactive fitness experience.

Evidence-based approach

At trainwell, we believe in combining the science of fitness with consistency to create the most effective plans for our users. Our fitness professionals are certified personal trainers who use exercise science and basic nutritional guidance to develop programs that work. 

The evidence-based approach ensures you get the most effective strategies for achieving your fitness goals. We also regularly update our programs based on the latest research to provide our users with the best possible results. In other words, when you train with trainwell, you aren't just working out; you're following a scientifically proven program designed specifically for you.

Data tracking and real-time feedback

Our app uses cutting-edge technology to continually adapt and evolve with your fitness needs. Trainwell has motion-tracking through our smartwatch that tracks your movement, alerting you if you're going too fast or your range is off. It's as if your personal trainer is with you, providing real-time feedback and corrections to ensure you're performing each exercise correctly. 

Your trainer will then review the collected data from every workout to make necessary adjustments for your next training session. There are dozens of metrics you can track with trainwell, like:

  • Weight and calories burned
  • Emotional well-being day by day
  • Confidence level
  • Sleep patterns
  • Diet and nutrition
  • Body measurements
  • Body fat percentage
  • Heart rate
  • Cardiorespiratory endurance
  • Strength progress pics

You’ll get an in-app Month-in-Review every month to show off your consistency and the exercises you used. Your trainer will use this data to personalize your fitness experience further. Based on your progress, your trainer may adjust the intensity, frequency, or type of exercise to help you reach your goals more effectively. 

But what if you don't want to track all of these metrics? No problem. You can always turn off data tracking for specific metrics you don't want to focus on. 

And the best part? This advanced technology is seamlessly integrated into a user-friendly interface that's easy to use and navigate. You don't have to be tech-savvy to use trainwell; it's designed for everyone, from beginners to fitness enthusiasts.

Community and support network

With trainwell, you're not just getting an app; you're also becoming part of a supportive community of like-minded individuals committed to their fitness journey.

We have a very active private Facebook group where members share their progress, struggles, and success stories. It's a safe space to ask questions, find motivation, and connect with others on the same journey as you. 

Even though it's virtual, you can schedule video calls anytime to check in with your trainer for extra support or to discuss your progress. You'll build a real relationship with your trainer, providing a level of accountability and motivation that goes beyond just using an app. And with the trainwell community by your side, you'll never feel alone or intimidated in your fitness journey.

Dedicated, professional trainers

Trainwell trainers are not just certified personal trainers but experienced, dedicated professionals passionate about helping you reach your fitness goals. Less than 3% of applicants make it through our rigorous selection process, ensuring you work with the very best. All our trainers are certified personal trainers with a bachelor's degree and at least three years of experience in the fitness industry. 

Our most important factors when hiring trainers are clients' goals, availability, and gender preferences. We understand that each person is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. That's why we have a diverse team of adaptive trainers with a lot of diversity in gender, ethnicity, and training specialization, so you get a trainer who feels like the right fit for you. 

You can learn more about our trainers and their background on our Trainers page.

Find the ideal personal trainer for your goals with trainwell

Finding the right personal trainer is crucial for reaching your fitness goals. 

With trainwell, you get access to certified personal trainers who use an evidence-based approach and cutting-edge technology to create personalized fitness programs tailored to your specific needs. You'll also receive real-time feedback and data tracking, along with a supportive community and dedicated professional trainers committed to helping you succeed.

Don't just work out — train smart with trainwell. Join trainwell today.

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