CoachDesk vs TrueCoach: An Honest Comparison for Personal Trainers
CoachDesk and TrueCoach both help coaches deliver workouts, message clients and take payments. The biggest difference is how they charge. TrueCoach prices by how many clients you have and takes a 5% fee on payments, so your costs climb as you grow. CoachDesk is one flat subscription with unlimited clients and a much lower payment fee. Here's the honest comparison.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | CoachDesk | TrueCoach |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | £19/month | ~$26/month (up to 5 clients) |
| 20-client plan | £19/month (unlimited) | ~$58/month |
| 50-client plan | £29/month (unlimited) | ~$137/month |
| Per-client subscription fees | None | Yes — price scales with client count |
| Payment fees | 1.5% platform fee on payments (via Stripe) | 5% platform fee on payments (added Jan 2026) |
| Built in | UK (GBP native) | US |
| Exercise library | AI workout builder + 80+ exercises | 3,500+ video library |
| Free trial | 14 days, no card | 14 days, no card |
If you want predictable flat pricing — the same £19 or £29 whether you've got 5 clients or 500 — with invoicing, a booking page and a client portal all in one place, CoachDesk is built for you. No per-client subscription tiers, and a 1.5% payment fee that's under a third of TrueCoach's.
TrueCoach suits online coaches who want a large video library and don't mind their bill climbing with each client they add, plus a 5% cut of their payments.
The honest bit
TrueCoach has more years and a bigger video library behind it. But it's US-built, priced per client, and takes 5% of every payment — so it gets steadily pricier as you grow. CoachDesk is UK-first, flat, and its payment fee is 1.5% — under a third of TrueCoach's 5%.
Frequently asked questions
Is CoachDesk cheaper than TrueCoach?
For most trainers, yes — and more so as you grow. TrueCoach charges by client tier (around $58/month at 20 clients) plus a 5% payment fee. CoachDesk stays at £19 or £29/month with unlimited clients and a 1.5% payment fee.
Does TrueCoach charge transaction fees?
Yes — TrueCoach added a 5% fee on payments through its platform in January 2026. CoachDesk's platform fee is 1.5%, under a third of that, plus standard Stripe processing.
Is CoachDesk good for online personal trainers?
Yes. Clients get their own portal to view workouts, log progress and check in from anywhere.