Best Website Builders for Personal Trainers
Comparison of the best website builders for personal trainers with features, pricing, tradeoffs, and a decision checklist to match needs like
Best Website Builders for Personal Trainers
Personal trainers need websites that convert visitors into clients, handle bookings and payments, present programs and testimonials, and support content like videos and blogs. This guide compares the best website builders for personal trainers, focusing on ease of use, scheduling and payment integrations, ecommerce or membership support, SEO and mobile responsiveness, and cost. The comparison covers five real options: Wix, Squarespace, WordPress with Elementor, Webflow, and Kajabi, with practical notes on when each makes sense.
Key decision criteria are: simple appointment and class booking, integrated payments and invoice handling, easy media and video hosting, leads and email marketing, search engine visibility, and total monthly cost. Quick summary: Wix is easiest for mixed needs and built-in scheduling; Squarespace excels at polished templates and basic commerce; WordPress plus Elementor is the most flexible and cost-efficient at scale; Webflow gives pixel-level design control and clean code for branding-focused trainers; Kajabi is the all-in-one for trainers packaging courses, memberships, and marketing funnels.
Wix
Overview and Positioning
Wix is a mainstream drag-and-drop website builder with hundreds of templates and a large app marketplace. It balances ease of use with a broad feature set, including built-in booking (Wix Bookings), ecommerce, client management through apps, and Wix Payments. For personal trainers who want to launch quickly and manage bookings without separate systems, Wix is an approachable choice.
Key Features and Strengths
- Visual drag-and-drop editor with responsive templates tailored to fitness and wellness.
- Wix Bookings for one-on-one sessions, group classes, packages, and automatic reminders.
- Built-in payment processing and subscription support via Wix Payments and third-party gateways.
- App Market includes CRM, email marketing (Ascend), class calendars, and Zapier integration.
- Templates and SEO Wizard for basic optimization; mobile editor to refine mobile layouts.
Limitations and Tradeoffs
- Design freedom can break responsiveness if you over-customize; mobile view often requires manual tweaks.
- Site performance and code bloat can be worse than hand-coded or headless alternatives.
- Exporting a site to another platform is not straightforward.
- Advanced membership functionality or complex learning management features are limited compared with dedicated course platforms.
Pricing and Value (as of June 2024)
- Free plan with Wix branding and limited features.
- Website plans: Combo $16/mo, Unlimited $22/mo, Pro $27/mo, VIP $47/mo (billed annually).
- Business/Commerce plans (required for taking payments): Business Basic $27/mo, Business Unlimited $32/mo, Business VIP $59/mo.
- Wix Bookings is included on business plans; Ascend marketing tools add cost depending on volume.
Best For
Trainers who want a fast, low-friction site with built-in booking and payments and prefer a point-and-click builder over self-hosting. Good for independent trainers, small studios, and those who prioritize ease of admin over total flexibility.
Squarespace
Overview and Positioning
Squarespace emphasizes design-forward templates and a refined editor that produces visually consistent sites out of the box. It includes Squarespace Scheduling (Acuity) for appointments, native commerce features, and blogging tools. For trainers who care about brand aesthetic and professional photography or video presentation, Squarespace provides an elegant, opinionated platform.
Key Features and Strengths
- High-quality, mobile-optimized templates suited to fitness profiles, portfolios, and landing pages.
- Integrated scheduling via Squarespace Scheduling for appointments, packages, and automated reminders.
- Native commerce: sell services, gift cards, class passes, and digital products without external plugins.
- Built-in SEO settings, blogging, and analytics; solid performance for content-focused sites.
- Simple membership features via Member Areas (paid add-on) for gated content and basic subscriptions.
Limitations and Tradeoffs
- Less flexible layout control than Wix or Webflow; templates are opinionated.
- Advanced ecommerce or marketplace features are more limited than specialized platforms.
- Member Areas is an extra cost and not as feature-rich as dedicated LMS platforms.
- Custom functionality often requires third-party integrations or developer help for deep customization.
Pricing and Value (as of June 2024)
- Personal plan $16/mo (billed annually) but does not support commerce.
- Business plan $23/mo (billed annually) for basic commerce and marketing features.
- Basic Commerce $27/mo and Advanced Commerce $49/mo for higher-level selling features.
- Squarespace Scheduling often included but may require higher tiers depending on needs; Member Areas add-on typically $5-$10/user or an additional site cost component.
Best For
Personal trainers and boutique studios that want a beautifully designed online presence, straightforward booking, and integrated commerce without managing plugins or hosting. Ideal for trainers who rely on brand imagery and content to attract clients.
Wordpress with Elementor
Overview and Positioning
Self-hosted WordPress paired with the Elementor page builder is a flexible, scalable option. You control hosting, plugins, and integrations, which makes this setup suitable for trainers who expect to grow (multiple trainers, ecommerce, membership portals, and advanced SEO). Elementor adds a visual builder experience similar to Wix but with the extensibility of the WordPress ecosystem.
Key Features and Strengths
- Total control over design, SEO, and functionality using thousands of plugins (WooCommerce, Bookly, Amelia, MemberPress, LearnDash).
- Elementor Pro offers a visual theme builder, forms, pop-ups, and global widgets for consistent brand elements.
- Lower long-term cost potential: hosting from $5-$30/mo and Elementor Pro at a one-time or annual fee.
- Best for complex workflows: multi-trainer schedules, subscription billing, integrated course delivery, analytics, and campaign tracking.
- Easy to migrate or export content; broad developer community for custom features.
Limitations and Tradeoffs
- Requires more technical maintenance: hosting, backups, security, and plugin updates.
- Learning curve to select the right plugins and avoid conflicts or performance issues.
- Initial setup time and possible developer cost if you need custom functionality.
Pricing and Value (as of June 2024)
- Hosting: $5-$30/mo (shared hosting starting around $3-$10/mo; managed WP around $20+/mo).
- Elementor Pro: starts at $59/year for one site (about $5/mo equivalent).
- Domain: $10-$20/year; premium plugins for bookings or LMS often $50-$200/year each.
- Typical small business budget: $10-$60/mo for hosting + $5/mo Elementor + $10/mo for booking/Membership plugin amortized = $25-$75/mo total.
Best For
Trainers who want maximum flexibility, advanced membership or LMS features, robust ecommerce, or plan to scale. Recommended for those comfortable with some technical overhead or willing to hire a developer for setup.
Webflow
Overview and Positioning
Webflow targets designers and businesses that need pixel-perfect control and cleaner front-end code. It combines a visual designer with CMS and hosting on a performant platform. For trainers focused on premium branding, fast loading times, and custom visual layouts, Webflow delivers designer-level flexibility without full-code deployment.
Key Features and Strengths
- Visual CSS and layout control with production-ready HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Webflow CMS for blogs, trainer profiles, class schedules, and flexible content structures.
- Hosting optimized on AWS/Cloudflare with good speed and uptime.
- Ecommerce and form handling are available with native checkout and integrations.
- Interactions and animations without code for engaging landing pages and funnels.
Limitations and Tradeoffs
- Steeper learning curve than Wix or Squarespace; not as beginner-friendly.
- Native booking and membership features are limited; often rely on third-party integrations (Calendly, Memberstack, Outseta).
- Costs can rise with multiple site plans or higher CMS item counts.
- Less plugin ecosystem; many needs require external services.
Pricing and Value (as of June 2024)
- Site plans: Basic $18/mo, CMS $29/mo, Business $49/mo (billed annually).
- Ecommerce site plans: Standard $42/mo, Plus $84/mo, Advanced $235/mo.
- Workspace plans for teams start at $19/mo per seat.
- Third-party membership or booking tools (Memberstack, Outseta, Calendly) add $10-$50+/mo.
Best For
Brand-focused trainers or boutique studios who need pixel-perfect sites, fast performance, and are comfortable linking a few external services for bookings and memberships. Good for trainers who hire a designer or want a unique visual identity.
Kajabi
Overview and Positioning
Kajabi is an all-in-one platform built for course creators, membership communities, and digital product businesses. It includes a site builder, email marketing, pipelines (funnels), subscriptions, course hosting, and payment handling. For trainers packaging programs as courses or recurring membership content, Kajabi reduces the need for separate tools.
Key Features and Strengths
- Built-in course and membership delivery with drip content, community areas, and assessments.
- Email marketing, automation, and sales funnels included; analytics for conversion tracking.
- Landing pages, checkout, payment processing, and affiliates all in one platform.
- No need to piece together hosting, LMS, and email providers.
Limitations and Tradeoffs
- Higher price point compared with general-purpose builders.
- Not optimized for complex public-facing websites outside course funnels; design is more functional than pixel-perfect.
- Transaction fees and limits on contacts or products depending on plan.
- Less control over custom code and SEO compared with WordPress or Webflow.
Pricing and Value (as of June 2024)
- Basic $149/mo, Growth $199/mo, Pro $399/mo (billed monthly; lower if billed annually).
- All plans include website hosting, course hosting, email marketing, and funnels.
- Ideal if you would otherwise pay separately for hosting, LMS, email service, and funnel builder.
Best For
Personal trainers who sell paid programs, multi-week courses, or memberships and want integrated sales funnels and email automation without assembling multiple tools. Best for scaling digital programs and recurring revenue models.
How to Choose
Start by defining your primary goals: booking one-on-one clients, selling classes and memberships, or building a premium brand with custom design.
- Booking and payments first? Choose a platform with native scheduling (Wix, Squarespace) or ensure your booking tool integrates cleanly (WordPress plugins, Calendly with Webflow).
- Selling courses or memberships? Kajabi or WordPress with MemberPress/LearnDash provide the richest LMS and subscription controls.
- Brand and design control? Webflow or WordPress with Elementor offers pixel-level control; Squarespace offers elegant, ready-made designs.
- Budget and maintenance tolerance? Wix and Squarespace are low-maintenance with predictable pricing; WordPress offers lower baseline costs but needs ongoing maintenance.
- Growth and integrations? WordPress has the broadest ecosystem; Kajabi simplifies growth with built-in funnels and email automation.
If you prioritize speed and minimal technical overhead, pick Wix or Squarespace. If you anticipate scaling, complex memberships, or custom workflows, pick WordPress. If your business is built around packaged online programs, choose Kajabi.
If brand differentiation through design and performance is critical, use Webflow.
Quick Comparison
Feature | Wix | Squarespace | WordPress + Elementor | Webflow | Kajabi — | —: | —: | —: | —: | —: Starting price (site, billed annually) | $16/mo | $16/mo | Hosting $5+/mo + Elementor $59/yr | $18/mo | $149/mo Booking support | Built-in Wix Bookings | Squarespace Scheduling | Plugins like Amelia/Bookly | Integrations (Calendly) | Native with product checkout Memberships/LMS | Basic via apps | Member Areas add-on | MemberPress/LearnDash (powerful) | Third-party (Memberstack/Outseta) | Native, robust Ease of use | Very easy | Easy, polished | Moderate to high (setup) | Moderate to high (designer-focused) | Easy for courses, steeper price Design control | High visual control, can be messy | Opinionated templates | Very high with Elementor | Pixel-perfect control | Template-focused for funnels Best for | Trainers needing easy booking and site | Trainers wanting polished brand site | Trainers needing flexibility and scale | Design-forward studios | Trainers selling paid programs and subscriptions
Pricing Breakdowns
Minimum viable site monthly cost estimates:
Wix: $0 (free) to $27/mo typical for business features; bookings require Business plan ($27+/mo).
Squarespace: $16/mo (personal) to $27+/mo for commerce; scheduling or Member Areas may add cost.
WordPress + Elementor: $10-$60/mo (hosting) + $5/mo equivalent for Elementor Pro + $5-$20/mo for booking/membership plugins = $25-$85/mo.
Webflow: $18-$49/mo site plan; additional membership/booking tools $10-$50/mo.
Kajabi: $149-$399/mo all-in-one.
Upfront vs recurring:
WordPress has potential one-time theme/plugin costs but recurring hosting and plugin renewals.
Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, Kajabi are mainly recurring subscription models with minimal extra hosting costs.
Transaction fees:
Watch for payment processor fees (Stripe/PayPal) on all platforms.
Some platforms add platform transaction fees on lower tiers or for certain payment methods.
FAQ
Which Builder is Best If I Just Need a Simple Landing Page and Booking Form?
For a one-page landing with booking, Wix or Squarespace are the fastest solutions because they include templates and built-in scheduling, letting you accept payments and appointments with minimal setup.
Can I Accept Recurring Payments for Memberships or Weekly Coaching?
Yes. Kajabi and WordPress with membership plugins (MemberPress, WooCommerce Subscriptions) support recurring payments natively. Wix and Squarespace support subscriptions at higher plan levels or via apps; Webflow requires third-party membership services.
Is Wordpress Still Better for SEO than Hosted Builders?
WordPress offers the broadest SEO plugin ecosystem and granular control, but hosted builders like Squarespace and Webflow provide solid built-in SEO tools and often enough for most local trainers. SEO success depends more on content and optimization than platform alone.
How Do I Handle Class Scheduling for Multiple Trainers?
If you have several trainers and complex schedules, choose a robust booking system: WordPress with Amelia/Bookly, or dedicated software integrated into your site (Trainerize, Vagaro, Mindbody). Wix and Squarespace handle small team schedules but can get limited with complex workflows.
Can I Migrate My Site Later If I Start on a Simpler Builder?
Migrating away from WordPress is easiest because of its export tools. Moving from Wix or Squarespace to another platform often involves manual content transfer and rebuilding layouts. Plan for scalability if you expect to migrate.
Do I Need an LMS to Sell Training Programs?
Not always. Small programs can be delivered via gated pages, email drip sequences, or private video links. For structured courses, quizzes, progress tracking, and certificate issuance, an LMS (Kajabi, LearnDash on WordPress) provides a better client experience.
Further Reading
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