Trainerize (now ABC Trainerize) is one of the most established names in online coaching software. It offers a free tier and scales through paid plans, but many features are limited or absent even on premium subscriptions. There is no AI assistant, no event-driven automations, and the workout builder lacks advanced section types. Here is how Athli compares across the features that matter most.
Trainerize's Free Tier Covers 1 Client. Athli's Covers 5.
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Trainerize's free plan supports just 1 client, and their Pro plan starts at $19.80 per month. Athli's free Starter plan lets you coach up to 5 clients with mobile apps, workouts, a training calendar, the exercise library, and messaging. When you upgrade to Pro (from $20/mo), you unlock the AI workout builder, custom exercises, questionnaires, and habit tracking. Add-ons for AI assistance, automations, and payments let you expand further as your business grows.
No AI Assistant to Accelerate Programming
Trainerize offers no AI-powered coaching assistant. Every workout, programme adjustment, and client analysis has to be done manually. Athli offers Lyra, an AI coaching assistant available as an add-on ($25/mo), that can generate complete training plans, analyse client data, suggest programme modifications, and answer questions about any client, all from a single chat interface.
Why this matters: AI-assisted programming lets you deliver highly personalised plans at scale without spending hours on each client.
No Event-Driven Automation Flows
Trainerize lacks automation flows that respond to client behaviour. If a client misses a check-in or stops logging workouts, you will not know until you manually check. With Athli's Automations add-on ($20/mo), you get an automation engine that triggers actions based on real events like missed sessions, overdue forms, and stalled habits, keeping your coaching proactive rather than reactive.
Why this matters: Event-driven automations mean your business runs in the background, following up with clients before problems become drop-offs.
No Custom Onboarding Sequences
Getting new clients started on Trainerize involves manual programme assignment and individual messages. There is no way to automate a welcome sequence or trigger onboarding steps when a client signs up. With Athli's Automations add-on ($20/mo), you can build complete onboarding flows that welcome clients, assign programmes, deliver intake forms, and send introductory messages, all automatically.
Why this matters: A structured onboarding flow sets the tone for the entire coaching relationship and removes repetitive setup work from your plate.
Limited Workout Customisation Options
Trainerize's workout builder handles standard sets and reps but offers limited support for advanced section types like AMRAPs, EMOMs, circuits, and tabatas. On Athli's Pro plan (from $20/mo), you get a fully customisable workout builder with every section type, custom fields, and drag-and-drop structure, so your programmes reflect your coaching style exactly.
What Athli's Workout Builder Supports
Why this matters: Coaches who use varied training methods need a builder that supports their full repertoire, not just basic set-and-rep structures.
No Custom Forms or Questionnaires
Trainerize does not offer custom form building for check-ins, intake questionnaires, or scheduled surveys. Client data collection is limited to their built-in options. On Athli's Pro plan (from $20/mo), you get a full form builder that lets you create any form you need, connect responses directly to client metrics and progress photos, and automate submission schedules.
Why this matters: Custom forms ensure you collect exactly the data you need, in the format you want, on the schedule that works for your coaching method.
No Per-Client File and Resource Storage
Trainerize does not offer dedicated file storage for client documents, meal plans, contracts, or resources. Athli provides organised per-client file storage (5GB on Pro, unlimited on Max) where you can upload and manage any document, keeping everything accessible in one place without relying on external cloud drives.
Why this matters: Having all client resources in one platform eliminates the chaos of scattered Google Drive folders and lost email attachments.
The Verdict
Trainerize has broad name recognition but falls short on the features modern coaches need. Athli's free Starter plan gets you coaching immediately, the Pro plan (from $20/mo) adds advanced workout building, custom forms, and habit tracking, and optional add-ons for AI ($25/mo), Automations ($20/mo), and Payments ($10/mo) round out the platform. That is a far more complete package than what Trainerize delivers at scale.