Last updated on March 26, 2024
There’s no shortage of platforms for managing a coaching business. However, the price tags attached to many of them can be pretty hefty.
Fortunately, there are options out there that come at zero cost. You heard right—free coaching software exists.
Below are some of the best ones.
- Paperbell – Best all-in-one coaching software
- NudgeCoach – Best for self-directed coaching programs
- Omnify – Best for coaches who only need software solely for scheduling, conducting sessions, and collecting payments
- Everfit – Best for health coaches
- Vectera – Best for video conferencing
- DoTimely – Best for communication
- Thinkific – Best for coaches who create and sell courses
Table of Contents
Top Pick: Paperbell
Paperbell is an intuitive, all-encompassing life coaching software designed to act as a central hub for all your coaching operations.
It contains coach-specific features, including scheduling, client management, creating and selling coaching packages, contract signing, and collecting payments.
You can even use it to create custom shop pages and sell digital products like e-books, workbooks, and journaling prompts.
Another stand-out feature is group coaching, which allows for various customizations, including one-on-one sessions.
With a free account, you’ll get access to all functionalities; however, you can only add and manage one client. Once you exceed that limit, they’ll ask you to upgrade to a paid plan, priced at $47.50/month.
For a detailed overview, check out this review.
Our recommendation: Best for coaches who want an all-in-one coaching software.
NudgeCoach
NudgeCoach is a coaching platform that provides tools for delivering coaching programs at scale, allowing coaches to create their own customized apps to engage with clients effectively.
The software offers a range of pricing plans to suit different needs. The free plan allows coaching up to three clients and customizing the app to fit specific programs and protocols.
Paid plans offer additional capabilities, such as managing more clients, building program sequences, creating in-app communities for group coaching, and launching a custom-branded version of the apps.
Our recommendation: Best for coaches who provide self-directed coaching programs
Note: We’ve done an in-depth comparison between Paperbell and NudgeCoach if you’d like to explore their differences.
Omnify
Omnify’s primarily designed for scheduling, conducting sessions, and managing payments. Although it does not offer an extensive range of features specific to coaching, it is capable of handling a variety of tasks that coaches can benefit from.
The software offers a three-tiered pricing structure, including a free plan that covers essential functionalities. This free version allows for automated appointment booking, integrated video conferencing, and integrations with tools like Zoom, Stripe, and PayPal for client payments.
However, the free plan does have its limitations, such as a 5% transaction fee and a cap of adding up to two members.
Our recommendation: Best for coaches who need software solely for scheduling, conducting sessions, and collecting payments.
Everfit
Everfit is a modern platform designed specifically for health coaches and personal trainers.
It offers a free Starter plan that supports up to 5 clients. With the free account, users can access both the client and coach apps, facilitating easy communication with clients through these platforms.
The platform boasts a Custom Exercise Library feature, allowing coaches to personalize programs with their own exercise videos or select from an extensive library of over 1000 videos. It also supports sharing videos from YouTube or Vimeo.
Additionally, coaches can track various metrics, such as body fat percentage, weight, and waist measurements, and enhance this with visual progress photos.
Our recommendation: Best for health coaches
Note: If you’re a health coach and are open to considering paid solutions, refer to our list of best coaching software specifically for your niche.
Vectera
Not ready for full-fledged coaching software? Consider Vectera.
Vectera is a coaching platform that offers essential features like:
- Video conferencing – You can register for free and take advantage of unlimited 1-on-1 meetings, screen sharing, and end-to-end encrypted streams.
- Scheduling – This feature puts your meeting scheduling on autopilot and integrates with calendars such as Office365, Google, Exchange, and iCloud.
Our recommendation: Best for coaches who want a platform for scheduling and hosting live video sessions.
DoTimely
DoTimely is a versatile platform that combines scheduling and messaging, suitable for various industries.
The app allows clients to request appointments, either as one-time or recurring bookings. Managing appointments is easy: you can adjust schedules with a simple drag-and-drop action in the app, and clients will receive automatic notifications of any changes.
The platform also includes an in-app chat feature for direct communication with clients. It supports sending notifications through email, SMS, or in-app pop-up alerts.
Our recommendation: Best for coaches who want an app for scheduling and communicating with clients
Thinkific
Thinkific specializes in course design, creation, and sales. Although its free plan is limited to one course and community, you can still access the drag-and-drop course builder, various website themes, and tools like quizzes and surveys to engage clients.
Thinkific’s platform enables direct course sales with its integrated Tcommerce feature. This feature simplifies payment acceptance, automates tax handling, and helps enhance sales conversions.
For tax management, Thinkific offers automated solutions that handle the collection, calculation, and remittance of taxes for sales in the U.S. and Canada.
Our recommendation: Best for coaches who create and sell coaching courses
Note: Check out our in-depth comparison of Thinkific and Simplero—go-to solutions for many coaches. If you wish to understand how Thinkific stacks up against the competition, this is a must-read.
Conclusion
Managing your coaching business effectively doesn’t have to be expensive, and platforms like Thinkific, DoTimely, and Vectera are here to prove it.
Our top pick, however, is Paperbell. It offers a comprehensive, all-in-one solution with an impressive design, making it particularly appealing for coaches in 2024.
That’s all! We hope this resource has helped you find the perfect coaching software for your needs.
If you’re looking to try paid software, check out our list of the best life coaching software.
The Life Coach Magazine staff is your team for high-quality content on topics from personal development, to coaching tips, to how to grow your coaching business.
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