Short answer: For a first fitness course in 2026, a specialized author platform (FitSpace and similar tools) is usually the best fit: checkout, protected video, and day-by-day structure without custom development. GetCourse works when you need complex funnels and webinars; your own website makes sense with a strong brand and ongoing maintenance budget.

When you decide to sell an online program, one of the first practical questions is where students will buy, watch, and follow the course. Filming workouts is only part of the job.

At first it looks like you have endless options: Telegram, YouTube, a custom site, a bot, GetCourse, or a fitness-focused platform. Each path has different costs, hidden labor, and student experience trade-offs.

This article compares where trainers should host a fitness course, what to weigh before you commit, and which setup fits a fast first launch.

When a fitness trainer decides to create their own online course, one of the first questions is:

Where should I place it?

Recording your workouts is only part of the job. We also need to understand where students will buy the course, watch the video, access it, go through the program and return to the materials.

At the start, it seems that there are many options: you can post a course on Telegram, upload a video to YouTube, make your own website, connect a Telegram bot, use GetCourse, or choose a specialized fitness platform.

But each option has its pros, cons and hidden difficulties.

In this article, we will analyze where it is better for trainers to place a fitness course, compare platforms in terms of cost, convenience, safety, and summarize which option is suitable for a quick launch.

What is important to consider when choosing a platform for a fitness course

Before choosing a platform, it is important to understand: a platform for a fitness course should solve not one problem, but several at once.

You need to do more than just “upload the video somewhere.” You need a system where he can:

• - beautifully design the course;
• - upload videos and materials;
• - accept payment;
• - automatically give access to students;
• - protect materials from unauthorized sharing;
• - show the program by day or week;
• - collect feedback;
• - see students and sales;
• - conveniently manage the product after launch.

If the platform solves only one problem, for example storing video, the trainer has to collect the rest manually: payment separately, access separately, chat separately, tables separately, support separately.

At the start, this may seem normal. But when there are more students, such a system quickly turns into chaos.

Option 1. Your own website for a fitness course

Your own website seems to be the most professional option. The trainer has a separate course page, his own design, his own structure, his own conditions and full control over the product.

Pros of your website

The main advantage is flexibility. You can make a website just for you: add course pages, a blog, a personal account, payments, videos, reviews, analytics, newsletters and any additional functions.

The site is well suited for trainers who have already built a strong personal brand, have stable sales and are ready to invest in long-term infrastructure.

Cons of your site

The main disadvantage is the high cost and complexity of launching.

To make a normal website for selling a fitness course, you need to think about:

• - design;
• - development;
• - personal account;
• - accepting payments;
• - video storage and protection;
• - access for students;
• - mobile version;
• - technical support;
• - data security;
• - sales analytics.

If you do everything efficiently, this is no longer just a “landing page on a designer”, but a full-fledged educational platform.

for trainers who is launching their first course, their own website often turns out to be too expensive and time consuming.

Who is your website suitable for?

Your own website is suitable if the coach already has:

• - stable audience;
• - development budget;
• - team or technical specialist;
• - clear product line;
• - willingness to support the site after launch.

If this is the first course, and the task is to quickly test demand, your own website may be too difficult a solution.

Option 2. YouTube via closed link

Many trainers look to YouTube as an easy way to post video tutorials. You can download workouts, set access “by link” and send them to students after payment.

At first glance, it is convenient and almost free.

Pros of YouTube

YouTube is really convenient for watching videos. Most people already have the habit of watching videos on this platform. There is no need to install additional applications, and downloading videos is technically simple.

For free content, promos, short training sessions, and public videos, YouTube can be a good tool.

Cons of YouTube

But YouTube is worse for selling a fitness course.

The main problem is security. If a video is available via a link, the student can easily forward that link to another person. As a result, the coach loses control over access.

Also, YouTube itself does not solve the problem:

• - accepting payment;
• - automatic granting of access;
• - designing the program by day;
• - student’s personal account;
• - course progress tracking;
• - protection of paid materials;
• - collecting feedback;
• - student management.

Another important point is accessibility. In Russia in 2025-2026, some users had problems accessing YouTube and other foreign services due to blocking, DNS/DPI filtering and restrictions, so for some of the audience viewing may be unstable without a VPN.

Who is YouTube suitable for?

YouTube is suitable for:

• - free training;
• - warming up the audience;
• - promotional videos;
• - open lessons;
• - short course fragments;
• - content to attract students.

But as the main platform for a paid course, YouTube is weak: it does not protect the product and does not provide a full-fledged sales system.

Option 3. Telegram channel or private chat

Telegram is one of the most popular ways to launch marathons and mini-courses. The trainer creates a private channel or chat, accepts manual payments and adds students.

This is a simple and fast option, especially if the audience is already on Telegram.

Pros of Telegram

The main advantage of Telegram is speed. You can literally create a channel in a day, upload materials, write posts and start selling.

Telegram is also convenient for communication. The student can quickly ask a question, and the coach can send a reminder, file, video or voice message.

Cons of Telegram

The problem is that Telegram is not a good fit for a structured fitness course.

Cons:

• - materials get buried in the feed;
• - it is difficult for a student to understand which day to complete;
• - videos and files can be sent;
• - access often needs to be granted manually;
• - payment must be checked separately;
• - no beautiful course page;
• - there is no full-fledged product catalog;
• - difficult to scale sales;
• - students may get confused in messages.

If the course lasts 7 days, Telegram can still work. But if it's a full-fledged 4-8 week program, especially with videos, meals, scheduling and support, Telegram quickly becomes inconvenient.

Also in Russia, Telegram faced restrictions: in August 2025, the AP reported partial restrictions on calls to Telegram and WhatsApp, and in 2026 there were reports of further tightening of restrictions and access problems.

Who is Telegram suitable for?

Telegram is suitable for:

• - short marathons;
• - idea test;
• - communication with students;
• - support;
• - warming up the audience;
• - support after purchase.

But to host the main course, it is better to use Telegram not as a platform, but as an additional communication channel.

Option 4. Telegram bot

Telegram bot seems to be a more advanced solution than a regular channel. Through the bot you can automate payments, delivery of materials, reminders and navigation.

For a coach, this already looks like a mini-platform inside Telegram.

Pros of Telegram bot

The bot can help automate some of the processes:

• - send lessons according to schedule;
• - grant access after payment;
• - collect student responses;
• - send reminders;
• - do simple navigation around the course;
• - reduce the manual work of the trainer.

If a trainer has a technical specialist or a ready-made service, a bot can be a quick way to launch a course.

Disadvantages of Telegram bot

But the Telegram bot still has many of the problems of Telegram.

Firstly, the materials are still inside the messenger. Videos, files and links can be shared. Secondly, the bot rarely provides a full-fledged beautiful course page, catalog, product cards, reviews, analytics and normal user experience.

Another problem is dependence on Telegram. If part of the audience has problems accessing the messenger, the course also becomes less accessible.

Who is the Telegram bot suitable for?

Telegram bot is suitable for:

• - short programs;
• - marathons;
• - automatic delivery of lessons;
• - warming up;
• - inexpensive products;
• - simple launches.

But for a serious fitness course with sales, protection, catalog and convenient completion, a bot may not be enough.

Option 5. GetCourse

GetCourse is one of the most famous platforms for online schools and educational projects. You can post lessons on it, accept payments, send mailings, set up funnels, webinars, analytics and CRM.

For large online schools, this is a powerful tool.

Pros of GetCourse

GetCourse gives you many options:

• - placement of courses and lessons;
• - accepting payments;
• - student management;
• - mailings;
• - CRM;
• - webinars;
• - analytics;
• - landing pages;
• - accesses;
• - affiliate programs.

On the official website, GetCourse describes itself as a platform for launching online courses, schools, webinars and trainings, and also highlights analytics, a payment module and project management tools.

Cons of GetCourse

The main disadvantage for a fitness trainer is the price and complexity.

GetCourse can often be overwhelming for trainers who just wants to post a course, upload the workouts, and start selling. There are many functions, but not all of them are needed for a fitness product at the start.

It's also important to consider cost. In public data on GetCourse tariffs, the minimum first payment is indicated from $60, and the cost depends on the number of active users; additional file storage is also paid separately by volume.

for trainers just testing out their first course, the monthly fees and complicated setup can be a barrier.

Who is GetCourse suitable for?

GetCourse is suitable if the trainer:

• - there is already a large online school;
• - several products;

  
  

• - team;
• - sales funnels;
• - mailings;
• - webinars;
• - constant flow of students;
• - budget for the platform and setup.

If a trainer is launching his first fitness course, GetCourse may be too complex and expensive.

Option 6. FitSpace

FitSpace is a platform created specifically for fitness trainers and their online products: courses, training programs, nutrition plans and student management.

The main idea of this format is to give the trainer a place where they can assemble a course, upload materials, design the product and sell it without developing a website or complex technical setup.

Pros of FitSpace

FitSpace is suitable for trainers who needs not just to store videos, but to create an understandable fitness product.

On the platform you can:

• - create a fitness course;
• - download workouts;
• - create a description and cover;
• - indicate the price;
• - give students convenient access;
• - sell the course online;
• - collect materials in one place;
• - do not create a separate website;
• - do not assemble a system from YouTube, Telegram, tables and manual payments.

This is also more convenient for the student: the course is in one place, the materials are not lost in messages, and the program looks like a full-fledged product.

Cons of FitSpace

FitSpace may not be suitable for those who need a very complex online school with dozens of funnels, custom integrations, webinars, complex CRM and a huge number of marketing scripts.

But most fitness trainers don’t need this at the start. It’s more important for them to quickly launch the course, package it beautifully and start selling it.

Who is FitSpace suitable for?

FitSpace is suitable for trainers who want:

• - to create their first online course;
• - sell training without your own website;
• - to avoid complex technical setup;
• - to avoid paying for unnecessary features;
• - to give students clear access;
• - to keep courses, sales, and students in one place;
• - to look professional without a large team.

Quick comparison: which platform when?

• Testing an idea in 48 hours — Telegram channel or short marathon; migrate to a real platform before scaling.
• Building a personal media brand — YouTube and Instagram for free content; paid product on an author platform.
• First paid course, solo trainer — FitSpace or similar fitness-focused platform: course page, payments, student access without code.
• Large school, multiple funnels, webinars — GetCourse, Teachable, or Kajabi-class systems with marketing automation.
• Established brand, dev budget, custom UX — Own website with LMS plugin or custom build; plan ongoing maintenance.

Hidden costs nobody talks about

Sticker price is only part of the equation. Count hours spent on:

• Manually confirming bank transfers and granting access.
• Re-sending videos because links expired or students lost files in chat.
• Handling "I cannot open the lesson" support tickets.
• Re-uploading content after a platform or policy change.
• Building workarounds for taxes, receipts, and refunds.

A platform with native payments and student accounts converts those hours back into coaching, content, and product improvement. That is why many trainers outgrow Telegram within the first 50 sales.

Decision checklist before you commit

Answer yes/no before choosing:

• Can a student buy and start the course in under 3 minutes on mobile?
• Are videos protected from casual forwarding?
• Is there a clear day-by-day or week-by-week structure?
• Do I see who purchased and who completed lessons?
• Can I add a meal plan or coaching upsell on the same profile?
• Will my audience access it without VPN workarounds?

If you answered "no" to more than two items, keep looking — or start with building the course on a platform designed for fitness authors.

After you choose: set up for sales

Platform selection is step one. Next: a conversion-ready page, preview video, and promotion plan. Trainers who switch platforms but ignore post-launch promotion often blame the tool for slow sales. The course page, offer, and traffic matter as much as hosting.

Ready to publish? Create your course on FitSpace and keep your profile, blog, and products in one author hub.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to host a fitness course? Telegram or Google Drive links are free but offer no payment automation, piracy protection, or structured learning path. Total cost is low; hidden cost is your time and lost sales.

Is a custom website worth it for a first course? Usually not. Development, hosting, payment integration, and video delivery often exceed $2,000–$5,000 and weeks of setup before your first sale. Test demand on an author platform first.

Can I use YouTube for paid course videos? Only as a supplement. Unlisted links get forwarded; there is no paywall or progress tracking. Use YouTube for free previews and marketing, not core paid content.

GetCourse vs FitSpace — which is better for a solo trainer? GetCourse targets large online schools with funnels, webinars, and CRM — powerful but heavy. FitSpace is built for fitness products: courses, meal plans, and coaching in one author profile. Compare in detail in what is FitSpace.

Can I move my course later if I choose the wrong platform? Yes, but migration costs time and may confuse existing students. Pick a platform that supports your next 12 months of growth, not just week one.

What should I optimize for as a new author? Speed to launch, payment + access in one flow, mobile-friendly video playback, and a professional product page. Fancy marketing automation can wait until you have consistent sales.

Create your course on FitSpace See examples on FitSpace trainer profiles.