An honest comparison of Google Sheets and Everfit for managing online coaching clients. Cost, flexibility, features, and which one actually helps you scale.
Everfit markets itself as the "all-in-one" coaching platform. AI-powered programming, automation features, and a free tier that lets you start without paying anything. Sounds perfect — until you actually need to scale your business.
Here's the honest comparison between Everfit and a Google Sheets system, so you can decide what makes sense for where you are now and where you're heading.
The Quick Comparison
| Feature | Google Sheets + GSheetsPro | Everfit |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | £199 one-time | Free (5 clients) to $105/month |
| Recurring fees | None | Yes, on paid plans |
| Client limit | Unlimited | 5 free, then tiered |
| Workout programming | Fully customisable | AI-assisted builder |
| Nutrition tracking | Build exactly what you need | Paid add-on ($9–39/month) |
| Check-in forms | Completely custom | Template-based |
| Automations | Google Apps Script + integrations | Autoflow (paid add-on) |
| Client app | Shared via link (mobile-friendly) | Branded iOS/Android app |
| Custom branding | Full control | Higher tiers only |
| Data ownership | 100% yours | On their servers |
The Free Tier Trap
Everfit's free tier is their best marketing tool. You sign up, add 5 clients, and everything works. No credit card required. It feels generous.
But here's what happens next: client number 6 requires the Starter plan at $19/month. You want nutrition tracking? That's the $29/month add-on. Need automations to stop doing everything manually? Autoflow starts at $9/month extra. Want your own branding? That's the Pro tier at $105/month.
By the time you've assembled the features a real coaching business needs, you're spending $60–140/month. That's $720–1,680 per year. Every year.
| Everfit Configuration | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | 3-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free (5 clients) | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Starter + Nutrition | $48 | $576 | $1,728 |
| Pro (full features) | $105 | $1,260 | $3,780 |
| Pro + Autoflow + Nutrition | $140+ | $1,680+ | $5,040+ |
| GSheetsPro | — | — | £199 total |
The free plan is a tasting menu. The real cost shows up when you're serious about coaching.
For a full breakdown across all platforms, see the true cost of online coaching software.
Where Everfit Wins
AI programming tools. Everfit's AI-assisted workout builder can generate programmes from templates and client data. If you want to produce training plans quickly without building from scratch, this saves time on the initial setup.
Autoflow automations. For coaches who want automated programme delivery, Everfit's Autoflow feature handles scheduling, programme rotation, and client progression. It's well-designed — but it's a paid add-on.
Client app. Like most coaching platforms, Everfit has a dedicated mobile app with exercise demos, logging, and messaging built in.
Free to start. If you have fewer than 5 clients and want to test the waters, Everfit's free tier is genuinely useful. No argument there.
Where Google Sheets + GSheetsPro Wins
No feature gating. With GSheetsPro, you get everything — client management, programming, nutrition tracking, check-ins, automations, and business dashboards — in one package. Nothing is locked behind a higher tier or sold as an add-on.
Total customisation. Everfit gives you their templates and their way of doing things. If you want to add a metric they don't support, track something they didn't think of, or lay out your programming differently, you're stuck. With Sheets, you change anything you want.
Unlimited clients, always. Scale from 5 to 500 clients without your costs changing. Everfit's pricing tiers punish growth — you're rewarded for staying small and penalised for scaling.
One-time cost. £199 once versus $720–1,680 every year. After month four of Everfit's mid-tier plan, GSheetsPro has already paid for itself.
Data ownership. Your coaching data lives in Google Drive, under your control. If Everfit changes their terms, raises prices, or shuts down, your client history doesn't disappear with them.
The Autoflow Question
Everfit's biggest selling point is Autoflow — automated programme delivery that assigns workouts on a schedule. It's a clever feature for coaches running template-based programmes at scale.
But here's the thing: Google Apps Script does the same job, and it's free. With GSheetsPro, you can automate client sheets to trigger programme updates, send check-in reminders, and flag at-risk clients — without paying $9–39/month for the privilege.
The difference is that Autoflow is point-and-click, while Apps Script requires a bit more setup. But once it's running, your automations are yours forever. They don't disappear if you stop paying.
Who Should Use Everfit
Everfit makes sense if:
- You have fewer than 5 clients and want to start free
- You want AI-assisted programming and don't mind paying for it
- Your clients expect a branded mobile app
- You prefer a point-and-click setup over spreadsheet-based systems
Who Should Use Google Sheets + GSheetsPro
GSheetsPro makes sense if:
- You want to pay once and own your system forever
- You coach (or plan to coach) more than 5 clients
- You want nutrition, automations, and full features without add-on fees
- You'd rather invest in your business than rent features monthly
- You value flexibility over a locked-down platform
The Verdict
Everfit's free tier is smart marketing, not a long-term business strategy. The moment you need real features — nutrition, automations, branding, more than 5 clients — you're on a subscription that compounds every year.
GSheetsPro gives you the complete coaching system from day one. One payment, everything included, unlimited clients, forever.
