Online Personal Trainer Vs. In‑Person: Pros, Cons, and Cost

​Table of Contents

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• What Personal Training Typically Includes

• Cost-Breakdown of Online Vs. In-Person Personal Training

• Pros and Cons of Online Personal Training

• Pros and Cons of In-Person Personal Training

• What Type of Personal Training Is Best For Me?

• Jackson Ryan Fitness vs. Other Online Personal Training

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Whether you're looking to start a new chapter in your fitness journey, break through a plateau in your training, or just need someone to hold you accountable, hiring a personal trainer is a great way to fast-track your progress. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, online personal training services became more prominent as an option for individuals to receive coaching, workout programming, and accountability virtually compared to a traditional in-person training approach. If you’re deciding between online personal training and in-person sessions, this guide breaks it down in plain English. We’ll compare what you actually get, realistic price ranges, which option fits bets for you, and how to pick (or combine both) for results that stick.

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What Personal Training Typically Includes​​

 

Online personal training packages can vary a lot. When considering hiring an online coach, it is important to understand what they are offering, and if it is a feature that would be beneficial for you. Most online training packages will include the following (if they do not, this should be considered a red flag):

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Intake Form/Consultation

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Before you start working with a personal trainer, the trainer should have some way to get to know more about you, your goals, your general health and fitness history, your schedule, and your access to exercise equipment. This can come in the form of an intake form where you fill out some personal information and answer a few questions, or some type of phone call or meeting where this information is discussed. During this phase, in-person trainers might even conduct a physical assessment and take body measurements, perform some movement screens, and have you perform some exercise tests to better gauge your needs.

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A Training Plan that Matches Your Goals

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A good personal trainer will tailor an exercise plan to exactly what you need, and craft it around all of the information gathered during the consultation phase. If you are training online, this training plan might be delivered through an app or website, an excel sheet, or document that you are expected to track your progress with. During in-person training sessions, your trainer will typically log this for you, but they might provide an additional training plan for the days you are not directly working with them.

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Accountability and Coaching Opportunities

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Your personal trainer should have some way to hold you accountable and provide opportunities to coach you throughout your time working with them. Online coaches will typically provide these opportunities via regularly scheduled check-in calls, and maintaining open and regular communication via text. An in-person trainer should provide this information at any moment during your in-person training sessions.

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Cost-Breakdown of Online vs. In-Person Personal Training

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Prices of personal training in any capacity can vary based on a number of factors including location, trainer credentials and experience, number of services included in your training package, and the scope of your trainer. Here are some realistic prices of both online and in-person personal trainers in the United States in 2025: 

 

In-Person Personal Training Cost

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Most consumer/industry summaries cluster personal training services around $40–$70 per hour, with wider ranges of $25–$100+ depending on market and reputation. Most personal trainers will sell these sessions in packages of around 12-16 sessions/month. Based on consumer averages, this would cost you approximately $480-$840/month for 2-3 sessions with a trainer per week. 

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It should also be noted that some in-person trainers also contract to work in gyms, and you may need to factor the cost of your membership to that gym into the equation as well when considering the total cost of personal training.

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Online Personal Training Cost

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Online personal training cost is much more variable. This is partially due to the differences in services offered by online personal trainers. For example, some online trainers will only offer a pre-designed workout program that is not as tailored to your goals, while other trainers while thoroughly design every workout and be more hands-on with their coaching approach. For this reason, online personal training services could cost anywhere from $30-$1000 per month. 

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This is obviously a very wide range, but most online coaches who provide custom training programs and regularly scheduled check-ins will charge around $250-$400/month.

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Pros and Cons of Online Personal Training

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Pros

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• Flexible & travel-proof: You can train anywhere, anytime, without having to schedule specific workout times. This is perfect for shifting or busy schedules. Additionally, you can meet virtually with your coach from almost anywhere in the world

• More touch-points with your coach: A good online coach will be easily accessible through messaging and  weekly adjustments. This leads to faster course-corrections when life happens.

• Value per month: Online personal training often costs less than weekly in-person sessions while delivering support across the week.

• Self-efficacy growth: You learn to own your training which is a major key for long-term consistency. By developing autonomy you develop the tools necessary for maintaining the fitness habit you are developing for life.

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Cons

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• No hands-on cueing: You don't get a live set of eyes monitoring your exercise form, or giving you cues to improve your technique. You also do not have someone readily available to spot you if you are lifting heavier weights. 

• Requires some level of minimal tech comfort: In an increasingly technological world, if you are someone who is not very tech savvy, online personal training might be challenging. Filming lifts, following an app, and answering check-ins are all required in some capacity with online training. 

• Gym etiquette/setup isn’t taught live: You’ll learn how to flow through a gym setting on your own. A good coach can verbally walk you through this, but it is not as hands-on as an in-person trainer.

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Pros and Cons of In-Person Personal Training

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Pros

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• Immediate, tactile coaching (real-time fixes + confidence): You get eyes on every rep and hands-on cues for setup, bracing, and bar path. A coach can physically adjust your stance, spot heavy sets, and give instant feedback you can apply on the very next rep—huge for confidence and safety.

• High “show-up” accountability: A booked session on the calendar removes decision fatigue. You’re committed to a time, a place, and a person, so you go.

• Great for early phases or technical needs: New lifters and anyone learning complex lifts (Olympic variations, heavy barbell work) benefit from real-time cueing. An experienced coach can scale load, range of motion, and tempo on the fly to match your readiness that day.

• Equipment setup and gym flow, taught live: You don’t have to guess which rack to use or how high to set a bench. Your coach handles it all so you learn “the rules of the room” while you train.

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Cons

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• Scheduling friction & commute: Fixed time slots can be the bottleneck if life doesn’t always align with your trainer’s calendar (or traffic). Missed sessions and last-minute changes add stress and reduce consistency.

• Higher monthly cost (if weekly or more): Paying per session adds up quickly, especially at 2–3x per week. You may also have gym dues or package minimums. Small-group sessions can lower cost, but you’ll share attention of your trainer.

• Limited between-session support (unless you add it): Many in-person packages focus on the hour itself. Without a written plan, check-ins, and messaging between sessions, momentum can stall on non-training days. Ask what ongoing support is included.

• Dependency risk: If every decision happens only when you’re with your trainer, you may not build the autonomy needed to train confidently alone. That can cap progress when schedules shift or budgets tighten.

• Geographic limitations: You’re limited to who’s within driving distance and to their available times. If you move or your trainer leaves the facility, continuity can take a hit.

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Summary

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Online personal training is typically best for busy professionals, parents, students with changing schedules, hybrid athletes, and anyone who’s comfortable following a plan with regularly scheduled asynchronous feedback. It is not best for someone who desires a more interactive experience with their trainer.

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In-person is typically best for nervous beginners building gym confidence, lifters with technique-specific goals (Olympic lifts, heavy barbell work), or anyone who simply thrives on face-to-face energy and a scheduled, high-accountability hour.

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Which Type of Personal Training Is Best for Me?

 

Use this simple table to compare and contrast online vs. in-person personal training for yourself:

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Jackson Ryan Fitness vs. Other Online Personal Training

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Plenty of online coaching options exist. Here’s how Jackson Ryan Fitness online personal training sets itself apart from the rest.

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How it Works and What's Included

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• Start with a free consultation call scheduled at your convenience. We will talk about your fitness goals, your challenges, your schedule, and much more to gather all the information necessary to create the best training plan possible.

• Custom workout programming aligned to your goals, schedule, preferences, and equipment access. All workouts are delivered through an exclusive training software that includes an added level of accountability and communication.

• Check-ins with your coach whenever you need them. We don't believe in limiting your connection to your coach. You'll be given a special link to schedule a check-in call whenever it works best for you. Most clients schedule weekly or biweekly. 

• Regular exercise form checks. Have a question about a specific exercise? Send your coach a video and they will given you feedback!

 

Other Features That Set Us Apart From Other Personal Trainers

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• Guaranteed results

  • If you don't see progress within 3 months of sticking with your plan, we will offer a 100% refund.

• An experienced coach who truly wants to see you succeed

  • Jackson has been an online personal trainer since 2020, graduated at the top of his class with a degree in kinesiology, clinical exercise physiology, and psychology, and will graduate with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2026.

• More bang for your buck

  • At just $247/month, Jackson Ryan Fitness Online Training is more affordable than most online and in-person personal trainers, so you get readily available access to world class coaching services and expertise at an affordable rate

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​How to Get Started with Online Personal Training

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If you're ready to start the next step of your fitness journey, click the button below to schedule your free consultation or click here to learn more about Jackson Ryan Fitness Online Personal Training.​