Personal training · Alternatives
Online coaching and small-group training: most of the coaching, half the price
The one-to-one hour is not the only way to be coached. Online programming with weekly check-ins, small-group PT at the club, and hybrid models now cover most of what people buy PT for. What each costs, what you get, and when the hour is still worth it.
Updated September 2026 · Prices and facilities are illustrative and need verification
The models
| Model | Monthly cost | What you get | Best for | Weak spot | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-to-one PT, weekly | £200 to £500 | An hour of coaching a week; programme | Technique; accountability; complex goals | Price | Any club |
| Small-group PT (2 to 4) | £100 to £180 | Coached sessions with others; shared programme | Motivation; value | Less individual | Growing at David Lloyd, Third Space, Nuffield |
| Online coaching (individual) | £100 to £300 | Custom programme, weekly check-in, form video review | Self-motivated; travel; specific goals | Nobody watching the set | Independent coaches; apps |
| Online programme (templated) | £15 to £50 | App-based plan, some feedback | Structure on a budget | Generic | Apps, brands |
| Hybrid (monthly in-person + online) | £150 to £350 | One session a month plus remote programming | The sweet spot for most experienced members | Requires discipline | Independent coaches |
| Club programme review (included) | £0 | Quarterly programme with a floor trainer | Beginners | Basic | Most premium chains |
Typical UK ranges, September 2026; verify.
Who needs the hour
Beginners learning to lift, anyone injured or with a medical condition, and people whose problem is turning up. For these the in-person hour is worth the money for the first three to six months. After that, most people have the technique and the habit; what they need is a programme and someone checking it, which is what online and hybrid coaching sell.
Small-group at the club
The fastest-growing PT product at premium chains: two to four members, a coach, a shared programme with individual loads. It captures most of the technique correction at £25 to £45 a session and adds the accountability of a group. Ask your club; it is rarely advertised well.
Choosing an online coach
Same rules as in person (see how to choose a PT) plus: how quickly do they respond, do they review form videos, and can you speak to a current client. Avoid anyone selling a “transformation” on a timeline or a supplement stack.
Making it work at a premium club
A club gives you every piece of equipment an online programme could ask for and a floor team who will spot you. Tell the coach which club you train at; a good one will programme around its kit and its busy hours.
FAQs
Common questions
Is online coaching worth it?
For experienced trainees who want a programme and accountability, usually yes at £100 to £300 a month. Beginners and anyone with injuries should start in person.
What is small-group personal training?
Coached sessions for two to four people with individual loads on a shared programme, typically £25 to £45 each. Most premium chains now offer it.
Injured or in pain? That is a physio, not a PT.
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