CoachesVault vs. Spotlock: which fits a private coach?
Spotlock and CoachesVault are after the same problem: private coaches running their business out of texts and Venmo. They solve it in different ways. Here's the honest difference, including where Spotlock is the better pick.
CoachesVault··5 min read
If you're a private coach looking at booking software, Spotlock is probably on your list. It's built for solo coaches, it's priced simply, and it takes payment when athletes book. That's the right idea. We think so too.
So the real question isn't which one takes payments. It's who builds and runs the thing, and whether you need a booking app or a whole business.
CoachesVault
Spotlock
Who sets it up
We do. Site, payments, sessions, and packs, built for you.
You do, from a new account.
Your website
A full site on your own brand and domain.
A booking page inside the app.
Price
$49/month plus a platform fee of 1.5% or less, plus Stripe.
$39/month plus Stripe, per its listings.
Free trial
No. No setup fee and no lock-in instead.
14 days, no card, per its listings.
Memberships and bank payments
Recurring memberships, packs, and ACH bank payments.
Session packs. Check its site for memberships and ACH.
Best for
Coaches who'd rather coach than configure.
Coaches who want a simple app and like setting it up.
Where Spotlock is the better pick
If you already have a website you like, you mainly do one on one sessions, and you're happy spending an afternoon setting things up, Spotlock is cheaper and you can start today. That's a real advantage, and we'd rather tell you that than pretend otherwise.
Where CoachesVault fits
CoachesVault is for the coach whose business has outgrown a booking link. If a few of these sound like you, done for you is probably what you actually want:
You don't have a real website, or yours can't take bookings or payments.
You run memberships, group classes, or drop-ins, not just privates.
Parents pay you by bank transfer and you want that automated too.
You don't want to learn, set up, and babysit another app.
You want athletes to feel like they're with you, not inside someone else's app.
You can see what that looks like for real coaches on our work, and exactly what it costs on pricing.
Not sure which one fits?
Tell us how you run things today. If a simple booking app would serve you better, we'll say so.
Spotlock details here come from its public listings on GetApp, Capterra, and Product Hunt as of October 2026. Apps change fast, so check Spotlock's own site for its current features and price. For how CoachesVault handles money, read how to take payments as a coach.
Common questions
Is CoachesVault a Spotlock alternative?
Yes, for coaches who want more than a booking app. Both take payment at booking through Stripe. Spotlock is a self-serve app you set up yourself. CoachesVault builds your full website on your own domain, sets up your payments, sessions, packs, and memberships, and maintains it all for you.
Which one is cheaper?
Spotlock. Its listings show one plan at $39 per month, with coaches keeping what they charge minus Stripe's processing fees. CoachesVault is $49 per month plus a platform fee of 1.5% or less on payments, which goes down as your business grows, plus Stripe's processing. The difference pays for a custom website and for us doing the setup and upkeep.
Does Spotlock have a free trial?
Its directory listings mention a 14 day free trial with no card required. CoachesVault doesn't run a free trial because we build your site for you. There's no setup fee and no lock-in, so you can leave any time and keep your brand, domain, and data.
Do I get my own website with either one?
With CoachesVault, yes: a professional site on your own brand and domain that athletes book and pay on. Spotlock gives you a booking page inside its app, so most coaches pair it with a separate website.