The 9 best online coaching platforms in 2025
Choosing a coaching platform is like finding the perfect pair of running shoes—it needs to support your goals, fit your style, and help you go the distance without unnecessary friction. No one wants a blister. Choose wrong, and you’re stuck with a tool (or shoes) that create more problems than they solve.
The online coaching industry is booming—expected to reach $11.7 billion by 2032—and with that growth comes an overwhelming number of digital platforms, each claiming to be the one for your business. If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in decision fatigue, you’re not alone.
Many online coaches struggle with tech overwhelm, bouncing between a dozen disconnected tools just to keep things running. Scheduling here, payments there, client notes… somewhere? A scattered system not only creates a fragmented client experience but also eats up time you could spend actually coaching. Plus, your platform should grow with you, so you need to find a platform that will scale.
So, how do you cut through the chaos and choose a platform that’s right for you? We’re here to help.
In this article, we break down the best platforms, looking at:
- What a coaching platform even is
- How to choose the right one (spoiler: it’s based on what type of coach you are)
- Key features you should look out for
- The best online coaching platform by coach type
- A quick look at platform costs
What is a coaching platform?
Before we jump into choosing the right platform—let’s touch base on what a coaching platform is.
A coaching platform is a digital tool that empowers coaches to manage their business, deliver valuable content, and foster deeper connections with clients all in one place. These platforms are built to support various coaching styles, from one-on-one sessions to group coaching or even self-paced courses.
Beyond just scheduling and payments, coaching platforms often include features like content delivery, live events, client progress tracking, and community-building tools. The goal is to streamline the coaching process—freeing up coaches from administrative tasks so they can focus on the important part: connecting with their clients.
How to choose the right online coaching platform
Your ideal coaching platform isn’t just about flashy features—it’s about finding the right fit for how you coach and plan to grow your business. Instead of getting lost in an endless sea of options, start by getting clear on your business model.
❓Ask yourself:
- Am I a 1:1 coach who needs a simple, streamlined system for scheduling, payments, and client tracking?
- Do I run a group coaching program where community engagement and accountability are key–and I need to be able to scale personalization, manage cohorts, and group communication?
- Am I building a course + coaching hybrid that requires both structured content delivery and live interactions, and I can measure the impact of both?
It’s much easier to find a platform that supports your needs when you’re fully aware of them.
1:1 coaches: Prioritize personalization
When you’re coaching clients one-on-one, personalization is everything. Your platform should feel like a seamless extension of your coaching process—not a barrier between you and your clients. Whether you're managing a packed schedule, tracking client progress, or handling payments, you need a system that works effortlessly behind the scenes so you can focus on what matters most: your clients.
Here are the top things you should look for:
- Integrated scheduling features (no more back-and-forth emails)
- Secure video conferencing
- Private client portals for notes and progress tracking
- Automated payments and contracts
Group coaching: Prioritize community
Group coaching thrives on connection and accountability. The right platform should bring your clients together, not scatter them across a dozen different tools. If you want to build an engaged, supportive community where members interact, learn from each other, and stay motivated, you need features that make participation easy (and fun!).
Here are the top things you should look for:
- Built-in community and communication
- Gamification to boost participation
- Live group call hosting and event scheduling features
- Drip content abilities that guide clients step by step
Course + coaching hybrid: Prioritize connection
Balancing structured learning with live coaching requires a platform that can do both well. You need a system that delivers your course content smoothly while also allowing for real-time interaction with clients. Whether you're running a self-paced program with optional coaching sessions or a fully guided cohort experience, your platform should support both education and engagement without friction.
Here are the top things you should look for:
- Course hosting (video, text, quizzes)
- Ability to expense memberships and subscriptions
- Live session integration within app
- Automated email follow-ups
- Built-in community features
Mix live coaching, self-paced courses, and community engagement—all in one flexible platform. Start your free Circle trial today!
Key features every coaching platform should have
No matter how you structure your coaching business, the right platform should do more than just exist—it should actively make your life easier. The best tools remove friction, automate the busywork, and create a smooth experience for both you and your clients.
These must-have features will keep things running seamlessly:
✅ Scheduling & calendar management: Clients need to be able to book without a headache.
✅ Video conferencing integration: Does it have Zoom, Google Meet, or another built-in video feature?
✅ Progress tracking: It’s super empowering for clients (and yourself) to see the growth happening.
✅ Payment processing: Make sure there are ways to help ensure you’re getting paid. Do you need features for subscriptions, one-time fees, or pay-as-you-go?
✅ Course/content delivery: If content distribution is part of your business, look for features that allow for streamlined creation and delivery.
The 9 best online coaching platforms
Now, let’s talk about top coaching platforms—based on coaching type. From AI-powered tools to comprehensive course creation, these platforms offer unique features to help you grow and scale your coaching business.
The best coaching platforms at a glance
| Platform | Best For | Standout Feature | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circle | Coaches who prioritize community engagement and client retention | AI-powered Community Activity Scores and 24/7 AI agents to support and coach clients | From $89/month |
| Thinkific | Coaches who need flexibility in course creation and delivery | Customizable course pricing (free, one-time, subscription) and integrated quizzes and certificates | From $39/month |
| Teachable | Coaches focused on creating and selling online courses | Easy-to-use course creation and affiliate marketing tools | From $49/month |
| Kajabi | Coaches who need a platform combining courses, marketing, and sales funnels | Built-in email marketing, sales funnels, and customizable landing pages | From $71/month |
| Mighty Networks | Coaches who want to build a community alongside course offerings | Community-building tools like forums, groups, and events | From $39/month |
| Practice Better | Health, wellness, and fitness coaches needing appointment scheduling and client tracking | Integration with health apps and personalized wellness plans | From $25/month |
| Satori | 1:1 coaches needing simple and affordable client management | Automated scheduling, payments, and client onboarding in one seamless platform | From $33/month |
| Paperbell | Solopreneurs who need a streamlined platform for scheduling, payments, and session management | All-in-one solution for scheduling, payments, and client communication | From $47/month |
| Coach Accountable | Coaches who need detailed client progress tracking and accountability tools | Goal-setting, activity tracking, and automated reminders | From $20/month |
1. Best overall coaching & course platform: Circle
Circle is an all-in-one community-focused platform designed for coaches who want to build and manage a supportive, engaging environment for their clients. With features like gamification, AI-powered activity scores, and automation, Circle is perfect for coaches looking to enhance client interaction and retention.
Key features:
- Membership and subscription payments
- White-label options for your very own branded app
- Courses with static, scheduled, drip, and cohort-based delivery
- Live coaching calls, workshops, and Q&As (desktop and mobile)
- Native video capabilities for group coaching, 1:1 calls, and workshops
💰 Pricing:
Plans start at $89/month, with a 14-day free trial available.
💡 Ideal for:
Coaches who prioritize community engagement, ongoing client relationships, and connection.
💬 Users say:
👍🏼 "Circle.so excels in providing an intuitive and user-friendly interface that simplifies community building and management. Its comprehensive suite of features—including discussion forums, event management, and seamless integrations—empowers us to create a vibrant and engaging community space. The platform's customization options allow us to align our community's appearance with our brand identity, enhancing the overall member experience. Additionally, Circle.so's responsive and knowledgeable customer support team ensures that any questions or issues are promptly addressed, contributing to a smooth and efficient user experience."
🤔 “It generally serves our needs well. There are opportunities for deeper analytics or improvement of certain analytics. For example, we use Circle's tracking links to determine which events prompt folks to sign up and we learned it tracks clicks on links, not actual sign ups."
Pros:
- Strong community engagement tools, including leaderboards and gamification
- AI-powered Community Activity Scores for tracking client engagement
- Built-in messaging, live coaching, and workflow automation
- Flexible course delivery (static, scheduled, drip, cohort-based)
- Automated workflows to simplify your processes
- Email marketing and flexible payments to manage your coaching business from one central app
- Mobile app for on-the-go access
Cons:
- Limited analytics compared to some competitors.
- Can be a bit of a learning curve for advanced customization and integrations.
See how (and why) Josh Hall, a web design business coach, course creator, YouTuber, podcast host, and web agency founder, uses Circle to run his $240K web design community.
2. Best for coaches who want pricing flexibility: Thinkific
Thinkific is a top choice for coaches with courses who need a platform focused on delivering high-quality online education. The platform’s flexibility in course design makes it easy to create both structured and self-paced learning experiences.
Key features:
- Custom course pricing (free, one-time, subscriptions, bundles)
- Integrated quizzes, certificates, and student tracking
- Live sessions through Zoom integration
- Drip content and automated student progression
💰 Pricing:
Plans start at $39/month with a 14-day free trial available.
💡 Ideal for:
Coaches who sell structured courses with optional coaching add-ons.
💬 Users say:
👍🏼 “Great interface, support is available to talk to."
🤔 “Website layout has few options to customise. So many extra add ons to pay for, the membership plans kept increasing in price and rather invest in upgradng the platform, they seem to push paid plugins instead. Our website was not very easily found in Google search so we left, the customer service team were not experienced to help and instead said not to worry."
Pros:
- Custom course pricing (free, one-time, subscription, bundles)
- Integrated quizzes, certificates, and student progress tracking
- Drip content for structured learning
Cons:
- No built-in community features
- Advanced marketing and automation require external integrations
3. Best for course-focused coaches: Teachable
Teachable is perfect for coaches who want to create and sell online courses without the complexity. The platform is intuitive and easy to use, allowing coaches to focus on delivering their courses while Teachable handles the logistics.
Key Features:
- Easy-to-use course creation tools
- Customizable landing pages for marketing courses
- Drip content and student progress tracking
💰 Pricing:
Plans start at $49/month with a 14-day free trial available.
💡 Ideal for:
Coaches focused on creating and selling online courses.
💬 Users say:
👍🏼 “Teachable is intuitive to use. No fuss type of platform for course hosting. That is what I like the most about it "no fuss type of platform."
🤔 "Connection with your students. It was difficult to engage with them."
Pros:
- Affiliate marketing options for increased course sales
- Integration with email marketing tools like MailChimp and Kit
Cons:
- Lacks community engagement tools
- Fewer automation features than competitors
4. Best for business management: Kajabi
Kajabi is best for coaches who need an all-in-one platform that combines course creation, marketing, and sales funnels. It’s a powerful platform for coaches who want to sell, market, and deliver their courses all in one place.
Key features:
- Fully integrated course creation tools
- Customizable landing pages for sales and marketing
- Membership site management
- Analytics features for tracking course sales
💰 Pricing:
Plans start at $71/month with a 14-day free trial available.
💡 Ideal for:
Coaches who need an all-in-one platform for courses, marketing, and sales funnels.
💬 Users say:
👍🏼 "It is a very comprehensive platform, with access to metrics, funnel creation, email marketing, and easy landing page creation."
🤔 "Kajabi doesn't have a good community feature for members and students. Many people from our audience have to use different community platforms to meet their demands."
Pros:
- All-in-one platform with courses, marketing, and sales tools
- Built-in email marketing and sales funnel automation
- Advanced analytics for tracking course performance
Cons:
- Higher starting price compared to competitors
- Can be overwhelming due to its many features
5. Best for network-based communities: Mighty Networks
Mighty Networks is ideal for coaches who want to combine course creation with a social network-like environment. It’s perfect for building communities and offering exclusive content while keeping everything under one roof.
Key Features:
- Community-building features (forums, groups, and discussions)
- Event hosting for live workshops and Q&As
- Membership and subscription options for monetization
- Custom branding to match your business style
💰 Pricing:
Plans start at $39/month with a 14-day free trial available.
💡 Ideal for:
Coaches who want to build an active community alongside course offerings.
💬 Users say:
👍🏼 "Mighty Networks has a lot of great tools if you are looking for a smaller community. It is a great way for us to connect with our end users in our own controlled environment. The courses is what we use the most!"
🤔 "It's a very incomplete solution. It's mainly an online community, but it has very little customization available, the interaction with participants is choppy and flat, and the live class integration is terrible. But the biggest flaw is their inability to accommodate other software platforms that are utilized in your business. A community should be a part of a larger plan and unfortunately, Mighty Networks was built as a stand alone partial solution. Even if you purchase their top tier."
Pros:
- Strong community-building tools (forums, groups, discussions)
- Custom branding options
- Event hosting for live workshops and Q&As
Cons:
- Limited course creation features compared to competitors
- No built-in email marketing or automation
💡 Circle vs. Mighty Networks: Which platform is better for your coaching style?
While both platforms offer course, event, and community tools for coaches, Mighty Networks is not like us when it comes to ease of use, automation, gamification, or engagement features. While they’re great at creating a social-network-like experience, Circle is better for coaches, because we’re able to host events within the platform (natively), send email flows automatically, and create workflows that keep clients engaged and retained.
6. Best for health and wellness coaches: Practice Better
Practice Better is designed specifically for health and wellness coaches who need tools to manage client appointments, track progress, and deliver personalized plans. It’s perfect for coaches in the wellness space looking for a specialized platform.
Key features:
- Appointment scheduling and reminders
- Client progress tracking and health integrations (fitness trackers)
- Personalized wellness plans and progress reports
- Integration with popular health apps
💰 Pricing:
Plans start at $25/month, with 14-day free trial available
💡 Ideal for:
Health, wellness, and fitness coaches needing appointment scheduling and client tracking.
💬 Users say:
👍🏼 "Practice better is easy to use and very user friendly. It has most of the features I need without too much fluff, extras or complexity. The ability to create notes, prototola, schedule appointments, have clients fill forms, and secure communication satisfies most of my needs."
🤔 "With the US exchange rate being poor for my currency, it is a pricier investment. It's frustrating to not have some simple features available in the lower-tier plans, e.g. customisation of portal with brand colours and the ability to message all clients at once with updates. There's some basic things missing (that could streamline processes) that even with submitting tickets and feedback don't seem to get changed. I also dislike the massive price jump to take on one more practitioner, it makes scaling a small business challenging."
Pros:
- Designed specifically for health, wellness, and fitness coaching
- Appointment scheduling and automated reminders
- Personalized wellness plans and health app integrations
Cons:
- Less flexibility for non-health coaching niches
- Lacks robust marketing tools
7. Best affordable platform for 1:1 coaches: Satori
Satori is an affordable, user-friendly platform designed for coaches offering 1:1 sessions. It focuses on streamlining client management, scheduling, and payments, making it perfect for solo coaches who want an easy-to-use platform without the complexity.
Key features:
- Client management (progress tracking, session notes)
- Scheduling and calendar management
- Payment processing and invoicing
- Integrated video calls for seamless 1:1 sessions
💰 Pricing:
Plans start at $33/month with a 15-day free trial available.
💡 Ideal for:
Coaches who want a simple, budget-friendly solution for 1:1 coaching.
💬 Users say:
👍🏼 "Satori is very helpful! It was easy to use, has lots of features, and the support is awesome."
🤔 "Even though there are options to integrate with others tool, there are some limitations of not integrating some well known coaching tools."
Pros:
- Simple and budget-friendly
- Customizable coaching packages and pricing
- Automated reminders and follow-ups for clients
Cons:
- Lacks advanced automation and group coaching features
- Not suited for coaches focused on creating courses or larger communities
8. Best for solopreneurs' busy schedules: Paperbell
Paperbell is a perfect solution for solopreneurs who need an easy way to manage their coaching business. It includes tools for scheduling, payments, and session management, all in a simple, streamlined platform.
Key features:
- Scheduling and client management
- Payment processing and invoicing
- Client communication tools (messages and session notes)
- Simple client portal for easy access to materials
💰 Pricing:
Plans start at $47/month with a 7-day free trial available.
💡 Ideal for:
Solopreneurs who need scheduling, client management, and payment tools.
💬 Users say:
👍🏼 "Paperbell aligns with how I run my business. I am able to offer coaching packages with a certain number of sessions at either a one time price (with a discount if desired) or a monthly fee. Of all the coaching platforms I've checked out, it has the greatest flexibility to do what I need."
🤔 "Paperbell doesn't include any big marketing features to help you find clients. You have to find clients and then send them to Paperbell to purchase your packages."
Pros:
- All-in-one scheduling, payment processing, and client management
- Simple and intuitive platform for solo coaches
- Session notes and easy communication tools
Cons:
- No built-in community or course creation features
- Limited customization options
- Lack of tracking features to measure success
9. Best for accountability: Coach Accountable
Coach Accountable is built for coaches who prioritize accountability and tracking. With robust features for goal-setting, activity tracking, and client monitoring, it’s ideal for coaches who need detailed insights into their clients' progress.
Key features:
- Goal-setting and task management tools
- Detailed activity tracking and client progress reports
- Automated reminders and check-ins
- Client accountability features (e.g., goal tracking and journaling)
- Integration with other platforms for workflow automation
💰 Pricing:
Plans start at $20/month with a 14-day free trial available.
💡 Ideal for:
Coaches who focus on accountability and tracking client progress.
💬 Users say:
👍🏼 "It’s a comprehensive solution for coaches that are just starting out, who might not have the money for a client portal that hosts all their amazing content and fuels the client through their methodology."
🤔 "It isn’t an all in one system. It won’t do your accounting or automate your entire operational process from sales to fulfillment."
Pros:
- Advanced goal-setting and task management tools
- Automated reminders and check-ins
- Strong accountability features (goal tracking, journaling, etc.)
Cons:
- Focused more on client progress than course creation or easy communication
- Less emphasis on marketing and sales tools
Coaching platforms by budget
You gotta spend money to make money (and build a community). Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale, selecting the right platform that fits your budget is crucial. Here's a quick breakdown of the best coaching platforms by cost:
| Per user pricing | Under $50/month | Over $50/month |
|---|---|---|
Coach Accountable | Practice Better Podia Thinkific Teachable Paperbell | Circle Kajabi Mighty Networks |
Elevate your coaching with the right platform
Choosing the right coaching platform depends on your goals, budget, and the level of engagement you want with your clients. Whether you need a complete, scalable solution like Circle or a healthcare focused app like Practice Better, it’s crucial to find software that aligns with both your and your clients' needs.
Circle’s flexible approach lets you mix live coaching, self-paced courses, and community engagement, giving you the ability to scale your practice without losing the personal touch that keeps clients engaged. Try it for free today!
