With dozens of strength and conditioning platforms on the market, picking the right one can feel like a workout in itself. Some offer flashy features. Others promise simplicity and ease. But at the end of the day, the best software is the one that fits your goals, your workflow, and your people.

Whether you’re running a facility, training athletes remotely, or coaching a team, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you cut through the noise and choose a solution that actually works—for you and the people you train.

1. Start With Your Objective

Before you even look at a feature list, ask yourself:

What are you trying to solve?
Is it about saving time on programming? Creating structure for remote athletes or clients? Elevating your brand? Increasing program compliance?
Who are you training?
Youth athletes? General population fitness clients? High-performers? Hybrid clients you see sometimes, but also support virtually?
What kind of experience do you want to deliver?
Empowering? Guided? Flexible? Personalized? Professional? Premium? Simple?

👉 When you’re clear on your goals, you can evaluate software based on what matters to you—not just what the company is marketing.

2. Think About the End-User Experience

It’s easy to focus on what makes your life easier as a coach or trainer—but don’t forget: your clients or athletes are the ones logging in every day.

Ask yourself:

Is the app or delivery method intuitive for them?
Will they feel guided, or overwhelmed?
Can they access it on their phone, tablet, or even offline?
Does it feel like “just another app”—or like part of your coaching?
Can my clients or athletes communicate with me through the app?

📣 Pro tip: Talk to your athletes or clients during the trial. Ask what they like. Watch how they use it. Their feedback is gold.

3. Customization & Flexibility

No two clients or athletes are the same. Your software should reflect that.

Look for tools that let you:

Adjust workouts on the fly for injuries, travel, or schedule changes
Swap movements for different equipment or skill levels
Build your own programs—or personalize a starting template

The best software won’t box you in. It will help you coach more effectively.

4. Save Time, Don’t Spend It

Here’s the real question: does this software actually save you time?

Can it automate progressions, rep/weight adjustments, and equipment selection?
Do you still have to manually calculate things, or copy/paste templates?
Is it easy to reassign programs or manage multiple athletes or clients at once?

If it’s taking you longer to use than your current setup (even if that setup is a spreadsheet), it’s probably not the right fit.

5. Look at the Data

Great training software should help you become a smarter coach or trainer—not just a busier one.

Check for:

Clear insights into client or athlete consistency
Progress tracking that’s easy to interpret
Red flags you can spot early (like skipped sessions or reports of pain/exhaustion)

Not just lots of data but clear and actionable data

6. Evaluate Support and Company Culture

Even the best software can be frustrating if it comes with poor support.

Ask:

Will someone walk you through the setup?
Can you actually talk to a qualified human when you need help?
Is the platform improving over time, based on coach feedback?

You’re not just choosing a tool. You’re entering a partnership. Choose a team that feels like they’re in it with you.

7. Trial It—With Intention

Most platforms offer a trial. But instead of poking around aimlessly, do this:

Onboard 2-3 real clients or athletes and 1 additional coach or trainer
Use it how you’d use it in real life
Try a workout for yourself to understand the user experience
Track how your people respond to the interface, guidance, and accountability

After a week or two, you’ll feel whether it fits—or frustrates.

8. Think Long-Term

Finally, consider scalability:

Will this grow with you as you take on more clients or athletes?
Can it flex for new training goals/needs?
Does it align with where you want your coaching or training to go?

Sometimes the right solution isn’t the cheapest or flashiest—it’s the one that helps you show up better, consistently, for your people.

TL;DR

The best training software won’t replace your coaching—it’ll amplify it.

Choose a solution that aligns with your goals, centers your athletes and clients, and saves you time so you can do more of what you love.