Three different things with similar names
- The gym floor trainer. Employed by the gym, included in your membership, responsible for everyone on the floor at once. Good for showing you a machine; not able to plan or watch your training.
- The gym's personal-training package. The same trainer's time, bought in a block of sessions, often alongside your membership. One to one for the session, but tied to that gym, that trainer's roster and that gym's price.
- The live online personal trainer. A coach on a video call with you for every session, at your own gym or at home. One client, the whole session, a plan built for you, at a per-session price.
| Gym floor trainer | Gym PT package | Live online coach (MakeMyFitness) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attention during your session | Shared with the whole floor | Yours, in their gym | Yours, 45 minutes, wherever you are |
| Who plans your training | Nobody, usually | The trainer, within the package | Your coach, around your goal, space and equipment |
| Watches every rep and cues form | Occasionally | Yes | Yes, on video, every set |
| Where | That gym | That gym | Your gym, your home, a hotel room |
| Price | Included in membership | Package on top of membership | ₹799 a session at your gym; about ₹589 on a 4-week plan |
| Commitment | Membership term | Package of sessions, often a minimum | A session or a 4-week plan; nothing renews |
| If you change gyms or cities | Start again | Package lost or non-transferable | Nothing changes |
When the gym floor trainer is enough
If you already know how to train, have a plan you trust and only need someone to point at the right machine or spot a heavy set, the floor trainer included in your membership is fine. Be honest about whether that's you. Most people who ask "do I need a personal trainer if my gym has trainers?" are asking because the floor trainer hasn't taught them anything in months.
When a gym PT package makes sense
If you want a trainer physically beside you, for maximal lifting with a spotter or because you prefer hands-on cueing, the gym's package is the right product. Ask three things before buying: how many sessions, how long each one is, and what happens when you miss one. Then divide the price by the sessions; our fees guide shows the published estimates for what those packages cost in Indian metros.
When a live online coach wins
For almost everyone learning to lift, getting back into training or trying to make a gym membership finally pay off. The evidence is on the side of supervision: a 2022 systematic review found supervised resistance training produced greater strength gains and better adherence than unsupervised, and the benefit was largest for the least experienced. A live online coach gives you that supervision for every set, at your own gym, without buying a package from that gym. And because the coach isn't tied to the gym, the plan follows you to a new city, a hotel or your living room.
Cost per session, honestly
A MakeMyFitness session at your gym is ₹799, or about ₹589 on a 4-week plan of 12, and it is one coach for one client for the whole 45 minutes. A gym package divides to whatever its price is over its sessions, on top of the membership you already hold. The floor trainer is free and shared. The question isn't which is cheapest; it's what you get per rupee for the thing you need, which is someone watching you train.
The questions to ask any of them
- What's your certification, and where can I check it? Our guide to choosing a personal trainer shows how.
- How many clients are you responsible for during my session?
- Who writes my plan, and does it change when I do?
- What's the price per session, and what happens if I miss one?
- Can I do one session before committing? Ours: yes, at the normal price.
Sources
- The role of supervision in resistance training: an exploratory systematic review and meta-analysis (2022), Fisher J, et al., International Journal of Strength and Conditioning
- WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour (2020), World Health Organization
Written by the MakeMyFitness team from the sources above. First published , last updated . Spotted something out of date? Tell us at hello@makemyfitness.com.
