Looking for a PT Distinction alternative?
Coaches leave PT Distinction when the per-client fees and the $59.90/mo jump just to unlock a branded app stop making sense for a lean roster. hiignite is a modern coaching app that’s free to start and $19/mo for Pro, with no per-client or per-message fees and zero Stripe platform cut.
hiignite vs PT Distinction
PT Distinction’s headline $19.90 is misleading: it caps you at 3 clients with no branded app, and you pay a per-client fee for everyone past your tier. To actually get the custom branded apps you have to jump to the $59.90/mo Pro plan, so the real monthly bill climbs fast as your roster grows.
| Feature | hiignite | PT Distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes — $0, up to 2 clients | No (1-mo free trial only) |
| Entry paid price | $19/mo ($190/yr), up to 10 clients | $59.90/mo (Pro, branded app + 25 clients); Basic $19.90 = 3 clients, no app |
| Per-client fees | No | Yes — $6/$2.40/$1.60 per extra client |
| Per-message fees | No | No |
| Program builder + templates | Yes | Yes (templates) |
| Form-check video | Yes | Yes |
| Real-time chat | Yes | Yes (Messenger) |
| Payments & payouts (Stripe) | Yes — $0 platform fee | Yes — Stripe & PayPal, no extra platform fee |
| Web + iOS + Android | Yes | Yes |
| Custom branding | Yes — in-app logo, colors & invites | Yes (branded apps, Pro+) |
| Nutrition coaching | No — not on the roadmap | Yes (+ MyFitnessPal) |
| White-label native app | No — in-app branding only | Yes (Pro/Master, $59.90+/mo) |
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
No per-client fees, ever
PT Distinction bills $6, $2.40 or $1.60 per extra client depending on tier, so your cost scales with your roster. hiignite has no per-client and no per-message fees — Pro is a flat $19/mo (or $190/yr) for up to 10 active clients, with extras available without surprise tiering.
Genuinely free to start
PT Distinction only gives you a 1-month trial before you must pay. hiignite has a $0-forever Free tier for up to 2 active clients with real program building, form-check video and chat — so you can run your first paying clients before spending anything.
Modern mobile UX and keep 100% of payments
Reviewers flag PT Distinction’s occasionally clunky, slow mobile app. hiignite is built mobile-first with a fast drag-and-drop block builder, real-time 1:1 chat and form-check video review, plus Stripe payouts at a $0 platform fee on web, iOS and Android.
Where PT Distinction still wins
- Built-in nutrition and habit coaching with photo food diary, meal planner and a deep MyFitnessPal integration — hiignite has no nutrition/macro coaching at all
- Published white-label native apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play under your brand (included on Pro/Master) — hiignite only offers in-app logo/color branding, not a store-published native app
- Much higher client capacity (25–50+ with cheap per-client overage) versus hiignite’s 2 free / 10 on Pro
- Long track record plus deep automation: workflows, automated onboarding, trials and challenges, and more third-party integrations
- Mature feature breadth overall for established coaches with large rosters
What you’ll actually pay
PT Distinction’s entry Basic plan is $19.90/mo but limits you to 3 clients and does not include the custom branded apps; reaching for those apps means the Pro plan at $59.90/mo (25 clients) or Master at $89.90/mo (50 clients), and every client beyond your tier adds $6/$2.40/$1.60 per month. So a typical working coach who wants the branded experience pays around $59.90/mo and rising. hiignite is $0 forever for up to 2 active clients, or $19/mo ($190/yr, ~17% off) for Pro with up to 10 active clients — and there are no per-client fees, no per-message fees, and a $0 platform fee on Stripe payouts.
Questions, answered.
Yes, if you run a lean roster and want predictable pricing — hiignite is free to start, $19/mo for Pro, with no per-client or per-message fees. It’s not the right fit if you need built-in nutrition coaching or a store-published white-label native app, both of which PT Distinction has and hiignite does not.
Basic is $19.90/mo but caps you at 3 clients with no branded app. To get the custom branded iOS/Android apps you need the Pro plan at $59.90/mo (25 clients), and extra clients add $1.60–$6 each per month. So a working coach’s real bill is typically $59.90+/mo.
No. PT Distinction includes built-in nutrition and habit coaching plus a MyFitnessPal integration. hiignite focuses on training delivery — program builder, form-check video, real-time chat and progress tracking — and does not offer macro or nutrition coaching.
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