Booking Software for Personal Trainers: 12 Best Options for 2026
Booking software for personal trainers compared: 12 tools on session packages, payments, reminders and free plans, with prices checked 14 October 2026.
Photo: maxhome fitness / Unsplash
The best booking software for personal trainers depends on how you train. My PT Hub suits trainers who want booking, session packages and workout plans in one app. Acuity Scheduling is the strongest pure scheduler, with packages and recurring sessions from $34 a month. Square Appointments has the most useful free plan in the US and UK.
startbuddi is our product. It’s on this list for one-to-one trainers who take deposits, and its limits (no session packages, no recurring bookings, no workout plans) are listed as plainly as everyone else’s. Prices were checked on each vendor’s site on 14 October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Decide first whether you need a scheduler or a coaching app. Schedulers (Acuity, Calendly, Square, Setmore) are best at bookings and payments. Coaching apps (My PT Hub, Trainerize, Everfit, PT Distinction) add workouts, nutrition and a client app.
- Session packs are what most trainers sell, so check whether the tool tracks them and on which plan. Acuity and Calendly put packages on paid tiers; Square puts them on Plus.
- Recurring sessions (every Tuesday at 7am) save the most admin. Acuity, Setmore Pro and SimplyBook.me support them.
- Free plans exist (Square, Calendly, Setmore, SimplyBook.me, Trainerize, Everfit), but each caps something that matters: clients, event types, bookings or payments.
Personal trainer booking software compared
| Tool | Best for | Starting price (checked 14 Oct 2026) | Free plan | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My PT Hub | Trainers wanting booking, packages and workouts in one app | $25/month (Starter, 3 clients) | Not described (30-day trial) | One-to-one booking on every plan |
| Acuity Scheduling | In-person trainers selling packs and regular slots | $20/month, or $16 billed annually | No (7-day trial) | Packages, subscriptions and recurring sessions (Standard) |
| Square Appointments | US and UK trainers on a budget | $0 (Free); Plus $49 per location | Yes | Deposits and reminders on the free plan |
| Trainerize | Online and hybrid coaches | From $10/month (Grow) | Yes (1 client) | Workout and nutrition coaching app |
| Everfit | Coaches starting online programming | $19/month for 5 clients (Pro) | Yes (5 clients, no booking) | Free coaching app for up to 5 clients |
| Calendly | Trainers who mostly book consultations | $12 per seat/month, or $10 billed annually | Yes (1 event type) | Prepaid meeting packages on Standard |
| Setmore | Small teams wanting a free plan with classes | $5 per user/month billed annually (Pro) | Yes (up to 4 users) | Group classes on the free plan |
| SimplyBook.me | Low-volume trainers in Europe | €13.9/month, or €11.9 billed annually | Yes (50 bookings a month) | Recurring bookings on every plan |
| PT Distinction | Online coaches who sell packages | $19.90/month (Basic, 3 clients) | No (1-month trial) | Package sales and an AI programme builder |
| Vagaro | PT studios that also run classes | $23.99/month for 6 months, then $30 (US) | No (30-day trial) | Memberships and packages in every plan |
| Mindbody | Studios with several trainers and classes | From $79/month (US) | No | Consumer app listing |
| startbuddi | One-to-one trainers in Nigeria and Africa taking deposits | See pricing | Yes | Deposits through Paystack, with WhatsApp and invoices in one place |
Prices are in each vendor’s own currency, before tax. Some vendors scale prices by clients, staff or bookings, so check the page for your size.
How we chose
We looked at tools an independent personal trainer could set up in an evening, and judged them on:
- Booking: a link clients can book from, working hours, buffers and reminders.
- Selling sessions: payment at booking, deposits, session packs and monthly plans.
- Regular clients: recurring sessions and rebooking.
- Coaching extras: workout programming, nutrition and a client app, for trainers who coach online.
- True cost: what the plan you’d actually need costs, including add-ons and client caps.
Every price and feature comes from the vendor’s own pricing or feature pages, checked on 14 October 2026. We didn’t run hands-on tests and don’t quote review scores. TrueCoach was left out because its pricing page doesn’t advertise a booking calendar, and Exercise.com because it doesn’t publish prices.
1. My PT Hub
My PT Hub is an all-in-one app for personal trainers: booking, payments, workouts, nutrition and a client app.
Best for: trainers who coach in person and online and want one app for both.
Key features:
- One-to-one session booking on every plan; group bookings, classes and livestreams on Premium.
- “One-off or recurring payments” through Stripe, and packages.
- Workout and nutrition plans, habit coaching and a client app.
Pricing: My PT Hub’s pricing page lists Starter at $25 a month ($22.50 on an annual plan) for three clients, Premium at $59 ($52 annual) with unlimited clients, and Ultimate at $215 ($195 annual) for five trainers. There’s a 30-day trial with no card. A branded app is a $95 one-off fee.
Pros:
- Booking, payments and programming without stitching tools together.
- Unlimited clients from Premium.
Cons:
- Starter’s three-client limit makes it a trial in all but name.
- Group classes need Premium.
- The free plan it drops you to after the trial isn’t described on the pricing page.
Who should skip it: a trainer who only needs a booking link and never writes programmes in an app.
2. Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling, owned by Squarespace, is a scheduling tool used by many trainers and wellness businesses.
Best for: in-person trainers who sell session packs and keep clients on regular slots.
Key features:
- “Appointment packages and recurring sessions”, plus gift certificates and subscriptions on Standard and Premium.
- Class scheduling, custom client forms on every plan and payment at booking.
- A Business Associate Agreement for HIPAA on Premium only, which matters to US health businesses.
Pricing: Acuity’s pricing page lists Starter at $20 a month ($16 billed annually) for one calendar, Standard at $34 ($27 annually) for up to six, and Premium at $61 ($49 annually). There’s a 7-day trial and no free plan.
Pros:
- Packages and recurring sessions, the two things most trainers need.
- Intake forms on every plan.
Cons:
- Packages and subscriptions need Standard, not Starter.
- No workout programming or client app.
Who should skip it: online coaches who live in a training app. If you’re comparing it with ours, see startbuddi vs Acuity.
3. Square Appointments
Square Appointments is Square’s booking app, linked to its card readers and point of sale.
Best for: US and UK trainers who want a free plan and take card payments in person.
Key features:
- On the US Free plan: online booking, deposits, prepayments, reminders, invoices and recurring invoices, and unlimited staff calendars.
- On Plus: class booking and packages, cancellation and no-show fees, a waitlist and Google Calendar sync.
- Card readers and point of sale from the same company.
Pricing: Square’s US pricing page lists Free at “$0/mo. per location”, Plus at “$49/mo. per location” and Premium at $149, with a 30-day trial of the paid plans. In the UK, Plus is £29 and Premium £69 per location.
Pros:
- The most capable free plan here.
- Hardware and payments from one supplier.
Cons:
- Packages, class booking and no-show fees need Plus.
- Not available in Africa.
Who should skip it: trainers outside Square’s countries. See our startbuddi vs Square Appointments comparison for the differences.
4. Trainerize
Trainerize, from ABC Fitness, is a coaching app for workouts, nutrition and habits, with scheduling as an add-on.
Best for: online and hybrid coaches whose clients follow programmes in an app.
Key features:
- Workout programmes, habit coaching and a client app, even on Free.
- Meal and macro tracking from Grow.
- Appointments and classes, with shareable booking links in the Business add-on.
Pricing: Trainerize’s pricing page has a free Basic plan for one client. Its FAQ says Grow “starts at $10/month” and Pro “starts at $25/month”, scaling to $135 a month for 50 clients, with 10% off annual billing. Booking links come with the Business add-on at $25 a month, and Stripe payments are a $10 a month add-on on Grow and Pro. There’s a 30-day trial.
Pros:
- A strong client app for programmes.
- A genuinely free way to try it with one client.
Cons:
- Booking and payments are add-ons, so the real price is higher than the plan.
- The plan cards, comparison table and FAQ show different figures, so confirm your price at checkout.
Who should skip it: in-person trainers who only need a diary.
5. Everfit
Everfit is a coaching platform with a free plan for small client lists.
Best for: new coaches moving into online programming.
Key features:
- A “Forever Free” Starter plan for up to five clients, with a workout builder, messaging and apps.
- Session booking from Pro.
- A “Payments & Packages” add-on for packages and recurring subscriptions.
Pricing: Everfit’s pricing page lists Pro at $19 a month for five clients ($16 billed annually), $29 for 10, $49 for 20 and $95 for 50. Payments & Packages is an add-on from $9 a month.
Pros:
- A real free plan for coaching.
- Pricing that grows with your client list.
Cons:
- No booking on the free plan.
- Packages and payments are an add-on even on Pro.
Who should skip it: trainers who need group class booking.
6. Calendly
Calendly is a general scheduling tool, popular for consultations.
Best for: trainers who mainly book free consultations and assessments.
Key features:
- A booking link with your availability, and calendar connections.
- Payments through Stripe or PayPal, and group events, on Standard.
- “Meeting packages for prepaid sessions” on Standard.
Pricing: Calendly’s pricing page lists Free (“Always free”, one event type), Standard at $12 per seat a month ($10 billed annually) and Teams at $20 ($16 annually). There’s a 14-day trial.
Pros:
- Simple, and clients already know it.
- Prepaid packages on Standard.
Cons:
- The free plan allows one event type.
- Recurring appointments aren’t mentioned on its pricing page.
Who should skip it: trainers who want gym-style features. Our startbuddi vs Calendly page compares the two.
7. Setmore
Setmore is a free-first appointment scheduler.
Best for: small PT teams that want a free plan with group classes.
Key features:
- Free for up to four users, with unlimited appointments, group classes, online payments and email reminders.
- Recurring appointments, deposits, text reminders and video appointments on Pro.
Pricing: Setmore’s pricing page lists Free at $0 for up to four users and Pro at “$5* user / mo” with the asterisk marking annual pricing. Pro comes with a 30-day money-back period rather than a trial.
Pros:
- A generous free plan.
- Group classes without paying.
Cons:
- Recurring sessions and deposits need Pro.
- The monthly-billed Pro price isn’t clearly labelled on the page.
Who should skip it: trainers who want packages built in; they aren’t mentioned on Setmore’s pricing page.
8. SimplyBook.me
SimplyBook.me is booking software sold by booking volume, popular in Europe.
Best for: part-time trainers with a modest number of sessions.
Key features:
- Recurring bookings and group bookings on every plan.
- Packages and memberships as optional “custom features”.
- Payments at booking from Basic.
Pricing: SimplyBook.me’s pricing page lists Free (50 bookings a month, one provider, no payments), Basic at €13.9 a month (€11.9 billed annually, 100 bookings) and Standard at €29.9 (€24.9 annually, 500 bookings). There’s a 14-day trial.
Pros:
- Recurring bookings even on cheap plans.
- A free plan for very light use.
Cons:
- The free plan can’t take payments.
- Packages use up limited “custom feature” slots.
Who should skip it: a trainer doing more than about 25 sessions a week on Basic.
9. PT Distinction
PT Distinction is coaching software for online and hybrid personal trainers.
Best for: online coaches who sell programmes and packages.
Key features:
- A programme builder, an AI programme builder and nutrition coaching.
- “Sell packages and take payments”.
- A branded app on Pro and Master.
Pricing: PT Distinction’s pricing page lists Basic at $19.90 a month for three clients ($6 per extra client), Pro at $59.90 for 25 and Master at $89.90 for 50, billed monthly with no minimum term. There’s a one-month trial.
Pros:
- Strong programming tools.
- Unlimited trainers at no extra cost.
Cons:
- Its pricing page doesn’t mention client self-booking, so you may still need a separate scheduler.
- Basic covers three clients.
Who should skip it: in-person trainers whose main need is a booking link.
10. Vagaro
Vagaro is salon, spa and fitness software with a consumer marketplace.
Best for: PT studios that also run small group classes.
Key features:
- Classes, memberships, packages and a waitlist in every plan.
- Unlimited reminders and a marketplace listing.
Pricing: Vagaro’s US pricing page shows “$23.99 / mo.” for six months, then $30, plus $10 a month for each extra bookable calendar. Selling memberships and packages online in the US needs the Online Shopping Cart add-on at $10 a month. There’s a 30-day trial.
Pros:
- Packages and memberships included.
- Room to grow into classes.
Cons:
- Many extras are add-ons.
- Sold in the US, UK, Canada and Australia only.
Who should skip it: solo online coaches.
11. Mindbody
Mindbody is a large platform for fitness, wellness and beauty businesses.
Best for: studios with several trainers, a class timetable and a need for the Mindbody consumer app.
Key features:
- Memberships with automatic renewals, automatic late-cancel and no-show fees.
- A listing in the Mindbody app; a fee applies on a new client’s first purchase through it.
Pricing: Mindbody’s pricing page says “Starting at $79 USD/month”; its Starter, Accelerate and Ultimate tiers are priced after a call.
Pros:
- Built for studios with lots of moving parts.
Cons:
- Tier prices aren’t published.
- Mindbody’s own FAQ says it may not fit one-person operators who rent time at a shared location.
Who should skip it: most independent trainers. Our Mindbody alternatives list has lighter options.
12. startbuddi
startbuddi is an all-in-one workspace for service businesses: bookings, client records, an inbox for WhatsApp, Instagram and email, invoices and payments together.
Best for: one-to-one trainers in Nigeria and across Africa whose clients book on WhatsApp and pay by transfer, USSD or mobile money.
Key features:
- A booking page for each session type (assessment, one-to-one, couples session), with prices in NGN, USD, GBP, EUR, KES, ZAR or GHS.
- Require full payment or a deposit to confirm the booking: through Paystack (card, bank transfer, USSD or mobile money) or Stripe (card). The slot is held for 30 minutes while the client pays.
- Booking questions (goals, training history, preferred times), with answers saved to the client’s record.
- Subscriptions in Money for a monthly training plan, renewed automatically by card through Stripe or Paystack.
- Online sessions in startbuddi’s own video room from the Starter plan, or by Google Meet or your own link.
Pricing: free plan available; see pricing. The Free plan allows one live service and one team member.
Pros:
- Deposits in naira with the payment methods your clients use.
- Bookings, WhatsApp chats, client notes and invoices in one place.
Cons:
- No session packs or credits: a monthly subscription isn’t linked to a number of sessions, so you track what’s left yourself.
- No recurring bookings: each session is booked on its own.
- No workout programming, nutrition tracking or client training app.
- No group classes.
- Calendar sync is one way: bookings go to Google Calendar, but your Google events don’t block slots.
Who should skip it: online coaches who need a training app, and anyone selling 10-session packs who wants them counted down automatically. For what to track about each client, see our guide to a CRM for personal trainers.
How to choose booking software for personal trainers
Work through these in order.
- In person, online or both? In-person trainers need a booking link, reminders and payments. Online coaches need a programme app first, then booking. Hybrid trainers should look at My PT Hub or a coaching app with a booking add-on.
- How do you sell? If you sell 10-session packs, choose a tool that counts them down: Acuity Standard, Calendly Standard, Square Plus, My PT Hub, or Everfit with its add-on. If you sell monthly plans, look for recurring billing.
- Do clients book the same slot each week? A recurring appointment saves you rebooking 40 sessions a month by hand. Acuity, Setmore Pro and SimplyBook.me do this.
- How will you handle late cancellations? Take a deposit or keep a card on file, and publish your policy. Our explainer on the no-show fee covers what’s fair to charge.
Here’s an illustrative monthly cost for a solo trainer with 20 clients who sells session packs, using list prices billed monthly, checked on 14 October 2026, before card payments:
| Tool and plan | Monthly cost | Packages | Workout app |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calendly Standard | $12 | Yes (prepaid meeting packages) | No |
| Acuity Standard | $34 | Yes | No |
| Everfit Pro (20 clients) plus Payments & Packages | $49 + $9 = $58 | Yes | Yes |
| My PT Hub Premium | $59 | Yes | Yes |
The figures are illustrative: client numbers, annual billing and your country change them. The question is whether a workout app is worth about $25 to $45 a month more to you. If the answer is no, a scheduler will do. For other booking tools beyond fitness, see our best booking software list, and for coaching businesses specifically, booking software for coaches.
Is there a free booking system for personal trainers?
Yes, several, each with a catch. Square Appointments’ free plan (US and UK) takes deposits and sends reminders but leaves packages for Plus. Setmore is free for up to four users but keeps recurring sessions for Pro. Calendly Free gives you one event type. SimplyBook.me is free for 50 bookings a month without payments. Trainerize and Everfit are free for one and five coaching clients. startbuddi has a free plan with one live service.
Try startbuddi Bookings
If you train clients one to one in Lagos, Nairobi or Accra and want deposits before the session, start free with startbuddi Bookings. Set up your assessment session, share the link on WhatsApp and Instagram, and compare plans on the pricing page when you need more services.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best booking software for personal trainers?
For trainers who also write programmes, My PT Hub combines booking, packages and workouts. For in-person trainers who sell packs and regular slots, Acuity Scheduling is the strongest scheduler. Square Appointments has the best free plan in the US and UK.
Is there a free booking system for personal trainers?
Yes. Square Appointments, Setmore, Calendly and SimplyBook.me have free plans, and Trainerize and Everfit have free coaching plans for one and five clients. Each limits something important, such as packages, recurring sessions, event types or payments.
Can clients buy session packages through booking software?
Yes, on some tools and plans. Acuity puts packages on Standard, Calendly on Standard, Square on Plus, and My PT Hub supports packages through Stripe. startbuddi takes payment or a deposit per booking but doesn't track packs of sessions.
Do I need booking software or a personal training app?
If you train clients in person, booking software with payments and reminders covers most of the admin. If clients follow programmes on their own, a training app such as My PT Hub, Trainerize or Everfit matters more, and its booking features may be enough.
Can booking software book recurring PT sessions?
Some can. Acuity offers recurring sessions, Setmore has recurring appointments on Pro and SimplyBook.me includes recurring bookings on every plan. startbuddi doesn't create recurring bookings, so each session is booked separately.
How do personal trainers reduce no-shows?
Take a deposit or full payment when the client books, send a reminder the day before, and publish a cancellation policy with a fee. Most tools here support at least two of the three.
Omolola Akiyode is the operations and project manager at startbuddi, leading cross-functional projects and the content that helps founders get set up. Omolola writes about projects, websites and getting found online, and turns complex ideas into clear, practical steps.
Runs operations and projects at startbuddi
