The market for personal training software has never been more crowded. With clients to coach, programs to build, and a business to run, picking the right platform matters more than ever. In this guide, we take a close look at two options: ABC Trainerize vs. Kahunas. Read on to see where they differ, what each does well, and how to figure out which one fits your situation.
ABC Trainerize vs. Kahunas at a Glance
Here’s the short version before we go deeper. The table below focuses on the features that matter most to coaches: how you deliver programming, engage clients, and run the business side. Click here to view the table in full-screen.
| Feature | ABC Trainerize | Kahunas |
| Workout Builder & Program Delivery | Calendar-based programming, AI workout builder, master programs | Functional builder, 1,000+ exercises, no AI generation |
| AI Workout Builder | Yes, on all paid plans | No |
| Exercise Video Library | 2,400+ pre-made exercises, plus custom uploads | 1,000+ exercises |
| Nutrition & Meal Planning | Yes (meal plans, macros, habits, Smart Meal Planner, Flexible Meal Planner) | Basic |
| Habit Coaching | Yes (pre-made and custom habits, habit streaks) | Yes |
| Progress Tracking & Photos | Yes (overlay, body stats, wearable sync) | Yes (overlay comparison) |
| Group Training | Yes (groups up to 1,000) | Yes |
| In-App Messaging | Yes + voice notes | Yes + voice notes |
| Automated Messaging / Drip Campaigns | Yes (auto messages, drip campaigns) | Included in Growth plan ($69/mo) and above |
| Client Check-In | Yes | Yes |
| Leaderboard & Challenges | Yes (leaderboard + threshold challenges) | Basic |
| Payment & Billing Management | Yes (Stripe, in-app automations) | Yes (Stripe + PayPal, no commission) |
| Lead Gen & Client Acquisition | Yes (trainerize.me + trial products) | Included in Growth plan ($69/mo) and above |
| Custom Branded App | Pro, Studio, and Enterprise tiers | Included in Ultimate plan ($99/mo) |
| App Integrations | Yes (Apple Health, Fitbit, MyFitnessPal, Garmin, Withings, etc.) | Yes (Apple Health and Google Health Connect only) |
| Multi-Trainer / Team Support | Included in Studio Plan ($275/mo) and above | Included in Ultimate plan ($99/mo) |
| Starting Price | Free plan + paid from ~$9/mo | $35/mo (Essentials) |
| Client Capacity | Scales with plan (up to 500+ on Studio/Enterprise) | Unlimited on all plans |
| Free Trial | 30-day free trial, no credit card required | 14-day free trial, no credit card required |
| Capterra Rating | 4.6/5 (691 reviews) | 4.9/5 (40 reviews) |
What’s the Difference Between ABC Trainerize and Kahunas?
Both platforms let you deliver coaching, manage clients, and collect payments. But they were built with different priorities, and that shows in where each one is strong.
Workout Builder and Program Delivery
Kahunas has a solid workout builder with a library of 1,000+ exercises, video demonstrations, and the ability to build reusable templates. You can organize programs by phases, set up progression blocks, and deliver content on a schedule. For coaches who like to build their own systems and work from a structured library, it covers the fundamentals well.
ABC Trainerize goes further, with master programs, an on-demand workout library, and an AI Workout Builder.
The AI workout Builder is available on all paid plans, and it reads a client’s training history, goals, available equipment, and body stats, then generates a complete, personalized program in minutes.
Read More: Introducing the AI Workout Builder: Less Time Building. More Time Coaching.
Branded App
Kahunas was built around the branded app from the start. It was central to how they came to market, and it’s still one of their standout features. That said, it only comes with the Ultimate plan at $99/month. Lower tiers don’t include it, so it’s a top-of-range add-on rather than something you grow into.
ABC Trainerize’s branded app scales with you. Logo and colors on Pro, your own App Store listing on Studio, full e-commerce, and widgets on Enterprise. Better option if you’re building a brand over time.
Check Out: What is an ABC Trainerize Custom Branded App (CBA)?
Client Acquisition and Lead Management
Kahunas includes embeddable lead capture forms from the Growth plan ($69/mo) and above. When someone fills one out, they land straight in your platform. Solid if you already have a website or content funnel driving traffic.
One gap worth knowing: there’s no native e-sign, so most coaches handle contracts through DocuSign or bake their terms into the onboarding form.
ABC Trainerize gives you trainerize.me, a public coach profile built for discovery, plus trial products so prospects can experience your coaching before committing. Both tools live inside the platform; no extra software is needed.
Check Out: Introducing Trial Products: Grow Your Client Base by Letting Prospects Try First
Business Management and Billing
Both coaching platforms handle payments well. ABC Trainerize runs through Stripe with packages, subscriptions, and one-time purchases in one place. Kahunas adds PayPal and charges zero commission, which adds up on high-ticket offers.
Where they split is in automation. Kahunas handles the essentials: welcome messages when a client joins, reminders when they skip a workout, and scheduled forms at set intervals.
ABC Trainerize goes further. You can set up automatic messages that fire when a client hasn’t logged in, when they hit a streak, when they complete their first week, or when their check-in shows they’re struggling. With the admin running in the background, you spend less time chasing and more time actually coaching.
Read More: How to Automate Your Fitness Business and Work Less
Client Engagement and Retention Tools
Beyond the features covered above, when it comes to keeping clients engaged and coming back, both cover the fundamentals. Think messaging, habit tracking, check-ins, and progress photos with overlay comparison on both sides.
Kahunas adds voice notes to messaging, which a lot of coaches prefer for async check-ins. It feels more personal than typing out feedback, and clients tend to respond better to it.
ABC Trainerize goes broader. You get compliance graphs that show you at a glance who’s on track and who’s going quiet, push notifications to nudge clients back in, and 100+ integrations, including Apple Health, Fitbit, and MyFitnessPal.
Client data syncs in automatically, so you’re working from a fuller picture without asking clients to log everything manually. If retention is something you actively manage, ABC Trainerize gives you more to work with.
Why Personal Trainers Choose ABC Trainerize
More than 400,000 fitness professionals worldwide use ABC Trainerize, and together they coach over 1.6 million clients through the platform. ABC Trainerize gives you everything you need to coach, retain, and grow, without stitching together separate tools.
| All-in-One Coaching Platform | AI-Powered Programming | Built to Scale | 30-Day Free Trial, No Credit Card |
| Workouts, nutrition, habits, messaging, and business management in a single app. | Build personalized programs in minutes, not hours. The AI Workout Builder does the heavy lifting. | Add team members, run group training, and manage more clients without switching tools. | Test every feature with real clients before spending a dollar. |
| See All Features | Try the AI Workout Builder | See All Plans | Start Free Trial |
Pricing: How Do ABC Trainerize and Kahunas Compare?
ABC Trainerize scales by roster size and offers a 30-day free trial, no credit card required.
- Basic (Free): 1 client, core workout and nutrition tools, no integrations or add-ons.
- Grow ($9/mo): 2 clients, adds AI Workout Builder, MyFitnessPal/Fitbit/Garmin integrations, and Zapier. Add-ons available at extra cost (Business, Nutrition, Payments, Video Coaching). No branded app.
- Pro (from $23/mo): 5 to 200 clients, adds live support and branded app as a $169 one-time add-on. Groups and Challenges only unlock at the 30-client sub-tier.
- Studio Plus ($248/mo): 500–1,000 clients, all add-ons included, plus Glofox/Mindbody integrations, API access, and personalized onboarding.
Kahunas uses flat-rate pricing and offers a 14-day free trial, no credit card required.
- Essentials ($35/mo): Up to 25 clients, includes the Kahunas-branded app, unlimited workout and nutrition plans, and voice messaging. No lead gen, automations, or branded app.
- Growth ($69/mo): Up to 50 clients, adds lead gen forms, automations, and Health Score AI. Branded app available as a $169 one-time add-on. Group messaging and Zapier are paid extensions, not included.
- Ultimate ($99/mo): Unlimited clients, includes your own branded iOS and Android app, group messaging, and Zapier. Requires a separate Apple Developer account ($99/yr) to publish your app.
If you’re starting out or coaching a smaller roster, ABC Trainerize’s free plan and lower starting price give you more room to grow into it. If you want flat-rate pricing and unlimited clients from the start, Kahunas is easier to budget.
Who’s Behind the Platform and What Coaches Say
ABC Trainerize has been in the market for over a decade. It carries a 4.6/5 on Capterra across 694 reviews. Coaches consistently highlight the feature depth, integration library, branded app interface, and team support.
The community of 400,000+ coaches also mentions that peer advice, workflows, and troubleshooting are easy to find. If you hit a wall, someone has likely been there already.
Kahunas carries a 4.9/5 on Capterra with only 58 reviews. The support team is consistently praised as fast and genuinely helpful. The smaller review count reflects a younger platform, not a quality gap, but the community is thinner, and peer resources are harder to come by.
If you want a platform backed by a decade of iteration and a large coach community, ABC Trainerize is the more proven option. If hands-on support from a responsive team matters more to you, Kahunas delivers that well.
FAQ
What are the main differences between ABC Trainerize and Kahunas?
Kahunas is a delivery-first platform with a strong branded app and simple pricing. ABC Trainerize is a full coaching ecosystem with AI-powered programming, deeper automation, 100+ integrations, and business tools built for coaches who are scaling.
Is Kahunas easier to use than ABC Trainerize?
Yes, for getting started. Kahunas has a clean, focused interface with a shorter learning curve. ABC Trainerize has a broader feature set, which takes more time to set up but pays off as your client roster and business grow.
Does Kahunas have a custom-branded app?
Yes, on the Ultimate plan at $99/month. You get a branded iOS and Android app with your logo and name in the App Store. ABC Trainerize offers branded app options starting earlier, from the Pro plan and up.
Can I see a quick comparison chart on ABC Trainerize vs Kahunas?
| Feature | ABC Trainerize | Kahunas |
| Workout Programming & Delivery | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI Workout Builder | ✓ | ✗ |
| Exercise Library | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nutrition & Meal Planning | ✓ | Basic only |
| Smart Meal Planner | ✓ | ✗ |
| Custom Recipes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Habit Coaching | ✓ | ✓ |
| Progress Tracking & Photos | ✓ | ✓ |
| Leaderboard Challenges | ✓ | ✗ |
| Threshold Challenges | ✓ | ✗ |
| In-App Messaging | ✓ | ✓ |
| Voice Messaging | ✓ | ✓ |
| Group Training | ✓ | ✓ |
| On-Demand Workout Library | ✓ | ✗ |
| Automated Messaging / Drip Campaigns | ✓ | Growth plan ($69/mo)+ |
| Client Check-In | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lead Gen Forms | ✓ | Growth plan ($69/mo)+ |
| Payment & Billing Management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom Branded App | ✓ | Ultimate plan ($99/mo) |
| White Label App | ✓ | ✗ |
| Multi-Trainer / Team Management | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free Plan Available | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free Trial | 30 days | 14 days |
Click here to view the table as an image.
Can I switch from Kahunas to ABC Trainerize?
Yes. ABC Trainerize offers onboarding support, and the 30-day free trial gives you enough time to run both platforms side by side before committing.
Which platform is better for online personal training?
Both support online coaching. Kahunas handles program delivery and client communication well. ABC Trainerize adds AI programming, habit coaching, nutrition tools, automated engagement, and lead management, covering more of what an online coaching business actually needs.
How does Kahunas’ pricing compare to ABC Trainerize?
Kahunas starts at $35/mo with unlimited clients on all plans. ABC Trainerize starts lower at ~$9/mo but scales with client count. For a fully featured setup with lead gen and integrations, Kahunas’ effective entry point is $69/mo. See all ABC Trainerize plans.
Which platform is better for client retention?
ABC Trainerize has more built-in retention tools, including automated messaging sequences, compliance graphs, wearable integrations, and a broader set of habit and nutrition features. Client engagement features are available across all paid tiers. Kahunas covers the essentials but reserves some automation for the Growth plan and above.
Does Kahunas integrate with MyFitnessPal or Apple Health?
No. Kahunas supports wearable device sync for check-in data, but does not currently integrate with MyFitnessPal or Apple Health directly. ABC Trainerize connects with over 100 apps, including Apple Health, Fitbit, Garmin, and MyFitnessPal.
ABC Trainerize or Kahunas: Ready to Choose?
If you’re building a serious coaching business and want a platform that grows with you, ABC Trainerize is the clear choice. The AI Workout Builder alone saves meaningful time every week. Add in the 100+ integrations, the tiered branded app options, the deep nutrition and habit coaching tools, and a community of 400,000+ coaches, and the platform earns its place as the market standard.
Kahunas is a well-built, well-supported tool that makes sense for coaches who want simple flat-rate pricing, a no-commission payment setup, and a streamlined onboarding experience. If your workflow is lean and you do not need advanced programming tools or extensive integrations, it is worth a look.
But if you want to coach more clients in less time, build out your brand, and run a business that is not held back by platform limitations, start your 30-day free trial on ABC Trainerize. No credit card required.