Promealplan vs TrueCoach: Nutrition Depth vs Workout Programming
TrueCoach runs workout programming for 16,000+ coaches with a 3,000+ exercise video library and strong CrossFit roots. Promealplan runs macro-first meal planning with 1,000+ dietitian-validated recipes and white-label PDFs. Two different jobs, one honest comparison.
Coaches comparing these two are usually asking one question: do I want one tool that covers workouts and nutrition, or do I want purpose-built tools for each job?
TrueCoach answers yes to the first: workouts, messaging, video feedback, and MyFitnessPal-powered nutrition tracking in one place. Promealplan answers yes to the second: nutrition as a specialty, built on a macro engine and dietitian-written recipes. The right choice depends on how central nutrition is to your coaching.
What Is TrueCoach?
TrueCoach is a web-based coaching platform founded in Boulder, Colorado. It's used by 16,000+ coaches and 250,000 clients, with 50 million+ workouts delivered. Popular in the CrossFit community and with strength coaches, it's built around workout programming as the core job.
Strengths: a free-form workout builder (supersets, %1RM, AMRAP, EMOM), 3,000+ exercise demonstration videos, client video feedback (clients record their sets, you review and correct form asynchronously), in-app messaging, Stripe payments, and wearable sync (Apple Health, Garmin, WHOOP).
Nutrition is secondary: MyFitnessPal integration on the Standard and Pro tiers (food logging, macros, calorie targets). A free Notion template with 100+ recipes is offered as an external resource, not integrated into the platform. Pricing runs from $26.34 to $136.99/month by client count, with a 14-day free trial (no credit card).
What Is Promealplan?
Promealplan is a meal planning tool built for coaches, dietitians, and nutrition professionals. No workout programming, no Stripe payments, no video library. One job: generate and deliver professional meal plans fast.
You set each client's calorie and macro targets (protein, carbs, fat). The algorithm picks from 1,000+ dietitian-validated recipes, calculates portions, filters 200+ allergens and intolerances, and builds the complete plan in minutes. Dietitians write the recipes. The algorithm handles the macro math.
Every paid plan includes full white-label: client portal and meal plan PDFs with your logo, colors, and brand. Pricing starts at $49/month after the free trial (3 plans, no credit card). Works natively in English, French, and Spanish with recipes localized per market. Trustpilot sits at 4.5 stars.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Promealplan | TrueCoach |
|---|---|---|
| Primary job | Macro-driven meal planning | Workout programming |
| Workout programming | No | Yes (free-form builder + 3,000+ videos) |
| Recipe library | 1,000+ dietitian-validated recipes | 100+ recipes (external Notion template) |
| Plan generation | Automated (macro-based algorithm) | Manual via Notion template |
| Macro control | Full (protein, carbs, fat, calories per client) | Targets via MyFitnessPal |
| Allergy filtering | 200+ allergens and intolerances (automatic) | None built in |
| White-label (nutrition) | PDF + portal, every paid plan | None on nutrition outputs |
| Client video feedback | No | Yes (form correction at distance) |
| In-app messaging | No | Yes |
| Stripe payments | No | Yes (+ 5% TrueCoach processing fee) |
| Languages | English, French, Spanish | English |
| Starting price | $49/month (free trial) | $26.34/month (Starter, 5 clients) |
| Best for | Coaches who charge for nutrition | CrossFit, strength, 1:1 PT coaches |
Pricing Side by Side
The two tools price differently. TrueCoach charges by client count with clear tier breaks. Promealplan charges by plan volume with full white-label included from the first paid tier.
| Tier | Promealplan | TrueCoach |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | $49/month | $26.34/month (Starter, 5 clients) |
| Mid tier | Plan-volume based | $57.99/month (Standard, 20 clients) |
| Top tier | Plan-volume based | $136.99/month (Pro, 50 clients) |
| White-label included | Yes, PDF + portal, every paid plan | Custom-branded app on Standard+ (no white-label on nutrition) |
| Nutrition tracking | Native macro engine | MyFitnessPal on Standard and Pro |
| Free trial | 3 meal plans, no credit card | 14 days, no credit card |
A note on fees: TrueCoach adds a 5% processing fee on Stripe payments on top of Stripe's standard 2.9% + $0.30. On $5,000/month in coaching revenue, that's an extra $250/month in platform fees. The jump from Standard ($58, 20 clients) to Pro ($137, 50 clients) can also sting a growing coach stuck at 21 clients.
Add Promealplan to your TrueCoach stack for macro-grade meal plans.
Try Free (3 plans, no card)Nutrition: Where It Actually Gets Decided
This is the section that matters most for coaches torn between the two. TrueCoach was built for training. Promealplan was built for nutrition. The approaches diverge completely.
TrueCoach: food logging, not plan creation
Nutrition in TrueCoach comes down to MyFitnessPal tracking: you see what your clients eat, you set calorie and macro targets. It's useful for compliance checks, but you're not creating plans. The Notion template with 100+ recipes is an external resource you download separately. It doesn't integrate with the platform. No internal recipe database, no automated generation, no allergy filtering, no white-label PDF output.
Promealplan: macro engine + dietitian-written recipes
Promealplan builds each plan from the client's macro targets. The algorithm picks recipes from the 1,000+ dietitian-validated library, calculates portions to hit the targets, and filters 200+ allergens and intolerances. The full plan generates in minutes and ships as a branded PDF. Dietitians write the recipes, which matters because AI-generated recipes at scale tend to hallucinate macro counts, bakery proportions, or unusual ingredient combinations. Human-written recipes don't.
Honest verdict
If nutrition is a side feature for you (checking logs, setting macro targets), TrueCoach is fine. If nutrition is a service you charge for, if clients expect personalized plans with recipes, portions, and your brand on every page, TrueCoach falls short. A dedicated tool like Promealplan becomes essential.
Who Each Tool Is Best For
TrueCoach fits when you...
- + Coach CrossFit, strength, or 1:1 personal training
- + Program workouts as your core deliverable
- + Need client video feedback for remote form checks
- + Treat nutrition as a light add-on (macro tracking only)
- + Want workouts, messaging, and Stripe payments in one tool
Promealplan fits when you...
- + Work as a dietitian, nutritionist, or nutrition-first coach
- + Charge for meal plans as a core deliverable
- + Need per-client macro precision (160g protein on training days, 120g on rest days)
- + Manage clients with multiple allergies and intolerances
- + Deliver branded PDFs with your logo, colors, and domain
- + Serve French or Spanish-speaking clients
Using Promealplan and TrueCoach Together
This is the most common setup for coaches who deliver both workouts and nutrition at a professional level. TrueCoach (or Trainerize, Everfit, Hexfit) handles workouts, video feedback, and client communication. Promealplan handles meal plan creation and branded delivery.
Each tool does what it does best. No compromise on training. No compromise on nutrition. Clients get a detailed workout program with demo videos and progress tracking on one side, and a precise meal plan with dietitian-written recipes and a grocery list on the other, all under your brand.
For the bigger picture, see our guide to the best personalized meal planner software for coaches in 2026, our TrueCoach alternatives for coaches, or our Trainerize vs TrueCoach comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between Promealplan and TrueCoach?
TrueCoach is a workout programming platform used by 16,000+ coaches, with a 3,000+ exercise video library and basic MyFitnessPal nutrition tracking. Promealplan is a dedicated meal planning engine: you set each client's macros, the algorithm builds a plan from 1,000+ dietitian-validated recipes, and delivers it as a white-label PDF. TrueCoach wins on workout programming. Promealplan wins on nutrition depth.
Does TrueCoach have meal planning?
TrueCoach offers basic nutrition tracking through MyFitnessPal integration on the Standard and Pro plans: food logs, macros, calorie targets. That's food logging, not meal plan creation. TrueCoach also markets a free Notion template with 100+ recipes, but it's an external resource you download separately, not a platform feature. For generating personalized macro-based meal plans, you need a dedicated tool like Promealplan.
Can I use Promealplan and TrueCoach together?
Yes. It's the recommended setup for many coaches who deliver both workouts and nutrition at a professional level. TrueCoach handles workouts, client video feedback, and messaging. Promealplan handles meal plan creation with macro targeting, allergy filtering, and white-label branding. The two tools complement each other cleanly, with no overlap. You deliver purpose-built tools for each side of your coaching.
Which one is cheaper, Promealplan or TrueCoach?
TrueCoach starts at $26.34/month (Starter, up to 5 clients, no nutrition). The Standard plan at $57.99/month (20 clients) includes MyFitnessPal nutrition tracking. Promealplan starts with a free trial (3 plans, no credit card) then $49/month with full white-label included. For a coach who charges for nutrition, Promealplan delivers more nutrition features at a comparable price point.
Is TrueCoach good for dietitians and nutrition coaches?
TrueCoach was built for workout programming. Nutrition features are limited to MyFitnessPal tracking: seeing what clients eat, setting calorie and macro targets. There's no built-in recipe database, no automated plan generation, no allergy filtering, no white-label PDF output. If nutrition is central to your practice, a specialized tool like Promealplan is essential alongside TrueCoach.
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Build a macro-driven meal plan in minutes. 1,000+ dietitian-validated recipes, full white-label, no credit card required.
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