As a coach, you're always looking for the best way to reach clients. And then you see it: a coaching platform that promises to be “free for coaches.” No start-up costs, no subscription, no risk. Sounds perfect, right?
Not quite. Behind that attractive promise lie hidden costs that end up costing you far more in the long run than a transparent, affordable subscription. In this article, we explain exactly what those costs are — and how you can avoid them.
The hard truth: “Free” coaching platforms typically charge 20–30% commission on every payment. With 10 clients each paying €100/session, you lose €200–300 per round of sessions. That's €800–1,200 per month — invisible, but impactful.
1. High Commissions: The Biggest Hidden Cost
Most “free” coaching platforms generate their revenue by taking a percentage of every transaction. This typically ranges between 20% and 30%, sometimes even higher for new coaches.
Let's make that concrete. If you charge €100 per session and the platform takes 25% commission, you only receive €75 per session. If you do 4 sessions per week with that client, you lose €100 per month — on just a single client.
Example: Commission Platform vs. MentraNova
With 10 clients, that difference becomes €850 per month, or more than €10,000 per year that stays in your pocket instead of going to the platform.
Example: Annual Difference with 10 Clients
2. Limited Features: You Get What You (Don't) Pay For
Free platforms typically offer a stripped-down basic version. Want more features? You'll need to upgrade to a paid plan — which quickly becomes more expensive than a platform that includes everything from the start.
- No built-in chat: Communication goes through external apps, which looks unprofessional and creates privacy risks.
- No goals & tasks: No tools to track progress, leading to client loss.
- Limited profiles: You can't properly showcase your specialisations and approach.
- No AI matching: Clients only find you if they already know your name or scroll randomly.
Watch out: Many platforms lure coaches with free basic versions, but hide essential features behind expensive premium subscriptions of €50–100/month — on top of the commission.
3. Poor Matching: Quantity Over Quality
Free platforms rarely invest in advanced matching algorithms. The result? Random pairings between coaches and clients who aren't a good fit. This leads to:
- Higher dropout after the first session
- Negative reviews due to mismatched expectations
- More time wasted on intake conversations that lead nowhere
- Lower client satisfaction and fewer referrals
MentraNova uses AI matching based on embeddings to pair clients with coaches who match their specific needs, personality and goals. The result: better matches, longer engagements and more satisfied clients.
4. No Client Retention Tools
Finding clients is one thing. Keeping them is another. Free platforms typically offer no tools for client retention:
- No progress overview: Clients can't see their growth, so they drop out.
- No task management: Without weekly tasks, coaching loses its momentum.
- No achievements: Gamification keeps clients motivated — but it's absent on free platforms.
- No reminders: Clients forget appointments and tasks without automated notifications.
MentraNova advantage: Built-in goals, tasks, achievements, progress visualisation and push notifications. Everything you need to keep clients motivated and engaged — included in the €20/month.
5. Privacy Concerns: Who Owns Your Data?
On many free platforms, you don't pay with money — you pay with your data. Your client information, session notes and communications are stored on servers you have little control over. Some risks include:
- Data resale: Some platforms use anonymised data for advertising or sell insights to third parties.
- No end-to-end encryption: Your messages and session notes aren't encrypted, which may violate GDPR.
- Limited data export: Try to request your data and you'll discover the platform doesn't make it easy.
GDPR risk: As a coach, you are responsible for your clients' privacy. A platform without adequate privacy protections can put your professional reputation at risk.
6. Lock-in Effect: Easy to Join, Hard to Leave
The most dangerous aspect of free platforms is the lock-in effect. After months or years on a platform, you have:
- Reviews and ratings you can't take with you
- Client relationships that run through the platform and aren't transferable
- Session history and notes trapped in the system
- A profile and visibility that disappear the moment you leave
This makes it increasingly difficult to switch, even if costs rise or the service deteriorates. You're effectively held hostage by the platform.
The Real Comparison
| Aspect | “Free” Platform | MentraNova |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | 20–30% per transaction | 0% — no commission |
| Monthly cost | “Free” + hidden costs | €20/month, flat |
| Matching | Random / search by name | AI matching based on needs |
| Chat & communication | External apps required | Built-in, encrypted |
| Goals & tasks | Not available / premium | Included |
| Progress visualisation | Not available | Dashboard for coach & client |
| Privacy | Unclear data policies | GDPR-compliant, encryption |
| Lock-in | High — data not transferable | No lock-in |
What Does “Free” Really Cost You?
Total Annual Cost: Free Platform vs. MentraNova
No Commission
Keep 100% of your session income. Pay only €20/month.
AI Matching
Clients are automatically matched based on needs and specialisation.
Built-in Chat
Encrypted communication directly in the app. No external tools needed.
Goals & Tasks
Set goals, assign tasks and track your clients' progress.
Progress Visualisation
Clients see their growth. This keeps them motivated and engaged.
Privacy & GDPR
End-to-end encryption, GDPR-compliant. Your data stays yours.
Stop Paying for “Free”
MentraNova offers everything you need for €20/month. No commissions, no hidden costs, no lock-in. Start today and keep more of your earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Free platforms need to generate revenue somehow. They typically charge 20–30% commission on every session or payment. This means for every €100 a client pays, you only receive €70–80.
With MentraNova you pay a flat fee of €20/month, regardless of how many sessions you do. On a 25% commission platform with a client paying €400/month, you lose €100/month. With MentraNova you save €80/month per client.
Lock-in means the platform makes it difficult to leave. Your client data, session history, and reviews are trapped in the system. If you switch, you lose everything and have to start from scratch.
Yes. MentraNova works with a fixed monthly fee of €20 instead of commissions. You keep 100% of your session income, regardless of your rate or number of sessions.