Looking for a Kahunas alternative?
Coaches leaving Kahunas usually do so because there's no free way to start and the cheapest paid tier is $35/mo with a hard 25-client cap, while the branded app you actually wanted sits at $99/mo. hiignite is a modern 1:1 coaching app that's free forever for 1 active client and $18.90/mo for Pro — $1.89 per client past 10, no per-message fees, and a $0 Stripe platform fee.
hiignite vs Kahunas
Kahunas has no free tier (just a 14-day trial), and its flat tiers cap clients by price band — 25 clients at $35/mo, 50 at $69/mo — so a small 1:1 coach pays $35/mo minimum, and the branded native app plus team seats are locked behind the $99/mo Ultimate plan.
| Feature | hiignite | Kahunas |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes — $0 forever, 1 active client | No (14-day trial) |
| Entry paid price | $18.90/mo ($189/yr), up to 10 clients | $35/mo (Essentials, 25 clients); branded app needs Ultimate $99/mo |
| Per-client fees | None for your first 10 clients, then $1.89/client | No (flat tiers, but clients capped per tier: 25/50/unlimited) |
| Per-message fees | No | No |
| Program builder + templates | Yes — drag-and-drop, reusable templates | Yes |
| Form-check video | Yes — dedicated review flow | Partial (video messaging + check-ins; no named form-review tool) |
| Real-time chat | Yes — real-time 1:1 | Yes |
| Payments & payouts (Stripe) | Yes — $0 platform fee | Available, but only inside a plan that starts at $35/mo |
| Web + iOS + Android | Yes — web, iOS and Android | Yes |
Competitor pricing and features were researched from public sources in June 2026 and may change — verify current details on the vendor’s site. hiignite is in private beta; the comparison reflects what is available today, not roadmap items.
Why coaches switch to hiignite
Genuinely free to start, not a 14-day countdown
Kahunas has no free plan — after the 14-day trial you pay at least $35/mo for the 25-client Essentials tier. hiignite is $0 forever for 1 active client, so you can run real coaching and onboard your first clients before paying anything.
Pay $18.90, not $35+, while your roster is small
A 1:1 coach with a handful of clients pays $35/mo minimum on Kahunas, and the branded app jumps to $99/mo. hiignite Pro is $18.90/mo (or $189/yr) for up to 10 active clients, with $1.89 per client past 10, no per-message fees, and a $0 Stripe platform fee on payouts.
Modern 1:1 mobile coaching, built around the work
hiignite focuses on the core 1:1 loop: a fast drag-and-drop program builder with reusable templates, in-app form-check video review, live progress tracking, and real-time 1:1 chat — a lean, modern alternative to Kahunas' heavier all-in-one suite, at a price that starts free instead of $35/mo.
What you get with hiignite
- A free-forever plan for 1 active client — Kahunas is a 14-day trial only
- $18.90/mo Pro ($189/yr) against $35/mo for the Kahunas entry plan
- Ten clients included (then $1.89 each), no per-message fees, and a $0 platform fee on Stripe payouts
- Program builder + templates, real-time 1:1 chat and a dedicated form-check video review flow
What you’ll actually pay
Kahunas uses flat, client-capped tiers: Essentials $35/mo for up to 25 clients, Growth $69/mo for up to 50, and Ultimate $99/mo for unlimited clients plus branded native iOS/Android apps and team seats (annual billing is 25% cheaper — Ultimate works out to ~$75/mo, or $900/yr). There's no free plan, just a 14-day trial, so a working 1:1 coach pays at least $35/mo, or $99/mo to lift the client cap. hiignite is free forever for 1 active client and $18.90/mo (or $189/yr) for Pro with up to 10 active clients, $1.89 per client past 10, no per-message fees, and a $0 Stripe platform fee.
Questions, answered.
Yes, if you're a 1:1 (and small-group) coach who wants to start free and keep costs low. hiignite is free for 1 active client and $18.90/mo for Pro, with $1.89 per client past 10 and no per-message fees, plus a fast program builder, form-check video, and real-time chat. Kahunas starts at $35/mo with no free tier, so hiignite is roughly half the entry cost — and free while you build your roster.
Kahunas has three flat tiers: Essentials at $35/mo (up to 25 clients), Growth at $69/mo (up to 50 clients), and Ultimate at $99/mo (unlimited clients plus branded iOS/Android apps and team seats). Annual billing saves about 25% (e.g. Ultimate is $900/yr). There's no free tier, only a 14-day trial, and every tier caps your roster by price band.
Free forever for 1 active client, then $18.90/mo ($189/yr) on Pro for up to 10, with extra client seats at $1.89 each and no per-message fees and a $0 platform fee on Stripe payouts — the number you sign up at is the number you keep paying.
How hiignite compares elsewhere.
Be first when we open the doors.
Early-access trainers get extended trial periods and founders-tier pricing for life.