How to switch from PT Distinction with exports and billing checked.
You have decided to move. The fear is not the new platform - it is the migration: the export, the rebuild, and the moment your clients have to download something new. This is the calm, step-by-step way to do it so the switch is a non-event for the people who matter.
By Markus Evers · Updated September 25, 2026
the short version
Inventory the records you need, ask PT Distinction for the available export formats and test a sample with the destination. Confirm existing billing separately, then move clients in small groups. The timeline depends on the rebuild, provider support and billing dates; a processor connection alone does not make subscriptions portable.
Use the migration checklist and downloadable tracker to record your export, billing and client-access checks.
What you can export from PT Distinction.
Before you move anything, get clear on what comes with you and what gets rebuilt. PT Distinction is a UK-built platform with deep customization, which is a strength while you are on it and a small consideration when you leave: the more you built inside it, the more you will want to inventory before the move.
01
Check your payment setup.
Check the Stripe or PayPal account and integration that control each subscription. Account access is useful, but it is not evidence that another coaching app can manage the same recurring charges. Stripe documents subscription migration separately. Ask both providers how your actual setup would be handled.
02
Programs and meal plans.
Your training templates, assessments, and the nutrition plans you built - some platforms let you download these in bulk, others expect a manual copy. Check PT Distinction's current export options or ask its support team for the up-to-date list before you assume.
03
Client records and history.
List contact details, check-ins, photos and any records held in connected tools. Ask which formats are available and whether the destination can use them. A client contact file does not establish that progress history comes with it.
This guide does not verify PT Distinction export formats. Ask support for the current options and test a sample. Missing historical records may not be reconstructable, so record any gaps before telling clients what will follow.
How to plan the client migration.
Use these steps to separate the export work, billing decisions and client onboarding. Move the next group only after the pilot checks pass.
Export everything you can, first.
Save the available client, program, nutrition and progress exports while your account is active. Separately record recurring billing amounts, next charge dates and prepaid service periods, then confirm the supported billing approach with both providers.
List what exported successfully, what needs rebuilding and what will be unavailable. Estimate the rebuild only after checking a representative plan.
Pick the new platform deliberately.
You are switching once - choose so you do not have to do this again in a year. Match the platform to how you actually coach: how you program, how you handle nutrition, how check-ins run, and what your clients expect the app to feel like. The next section lists exactly what to weigh.
If you are still comparing, the full platform evaluation framework covers the criteria that matter beyond price.
Run both platforms in parallel.
Keep PT Distinction available while you test the destination. Rebuild a representative template, complete the client onboarding flow and agree billing handling before moving a group. Check the cost and duration of the overlap against the remaining work.
This is the step that makes the rest feel boring instead of frightening. By the time clients move, you have already walked the path yourself.
Switch clients in waves.
Do not move everyone on the same day. Start with a small group of your most engaged clients - the ones who will tell you honestly if anything feels off. Move them, watch for friction, fix it, then move the next wave. Five to ten clients at a time is plenty.
Waves turn a scary all-or-nothing event into a controlled routine. If something goes wrong, it goes wrong for five people you can call, not your whole business at once.
Communicate the change clearly.
Tell each group what is changing, when to use the new app and how to get help. Describe only the programs and history you have verified will be available, and explain any billing action they need to take.
Track the first login and check-in, then follow up on unresolved issues. Clear communication helps clients adapt, but it cannot guarantee retention.
What to look for in the platform you move to.
Write down what you need the next platform to improve, then test those requirements with your own workflow. The following criteria help you compare destinations.
No lock-in.
You are leaving one platform - do not walk into another that traps you. Look for cancel-anytime terms, no binding period, and the ability to export all your client data whenever you want. If you ever need to leave again, that should be your call, not a negotiation.
Predictable pricing.
Per-client pricing you can forecast beats anything that scales fees against your revenue. Map the cost at your real client count, not the headline tier, and check whether you keep your own payment processor so money flows straight to you.
A unified workflow.
The real time saver is one screen where a client's check-in, program, meal plan, and chat all sit together. If you are clicking between four places to handle one client, you have rebuilt the friction you left.
Built-in nutrition.
Test the nutrition workflow you actually use: planning, food tracking, recipe editing and check-in review. Confirm how any connected nutrition records will remain accessible after the move.
A branded client experience.
Check how your branding appears in the client app, what the destination plan includes and whether clients need a different login or download. Show the pilot client the expected experience before rollout.
Real human support.
During a migration you will have questions, and the speed of the answer matters. Look for same-day support from people who actually know the platform - especially in the week you are moving clients across.
What is actually hard about switching.
Scope both the technical work and client support before setting a completion date. Neither a full data transfer nor a particular retention outcome should be assumed.
01
Client communication.
Clients need clear instructions and a usable plan in the new app. Budget time for follow-up while tracking unresolved export and billing issues in the same migration plan.
02
Re-onboarding and rebuild.
Test how long a representative program takes to recreate. Separate that work from records that cannot be recovered and from the time needed to help clients settle in. Ask the destination to confirm its import support before estimating the total.
Move the next group when the previous group can use its plans and check-ins and the billing checks are resolved. Delay the next wave when issues remain.
Validate a Coachway migration with a sample.
If Coachway is on your shortlist, use a demo to test the destination workflow and review a limited sample export. Confirm editable imports, manual rebuilds, archive handling and billing responsibilities before committing to the move.
workflow
One screen.
Check-in, program, meal plan, and chat for each client in the Power Panel, so you are not clicking between tabs to handle one person.
built in
Native library.
1,800+ exercises and 1,100+ recipes across 3,900+ ingredients, baked in - so rebuilding programs and plans is assembly, not authoring from scratch.
pricing
Per client, in EUR.
EUR 69 for up to 5 clients, then EUR 9 each. Keep your own Stripe so payments flow directly to you, plus one client app on iOS and Android in 6 languages.
Frequently asked.
Can I export all my data from PT Distinction?
Confirm the current export options in your PT Distinction account or with its support team. Ask for formats and limits for contacts, programs, check-ins, messages and photos. Test a sample before promising a complete transfer.
Will my recurring payments move automatically?
Do not assume so. Confirm the account and integration that manage each subscription, what the destination supports and whether billing will stay separate or require a coordinated replacement. Access to a processor account alone is insufficient.
How long should I allow for the switch?
Estimate the work after a sample migration. The schedule depends on record volume, template rebuilding, provider support, client onboarding and charge dates. Keep the old service available where needed until the checks pass.
Can a platform switch guarantee that every client stays?
No. Clear instructions, a pilot and small groups can make problems easier to resolve. Verify client access and current plans, explain missing history and follow up with people who need help.
Should I cancel PT Distinction before setting up the destination?
Finish the required exports and tests first. Confirm remaining billing responsibilities and client access before ending the old service. Account cancellation and client subscription cancellation may be different actions.
Can Coachway import my existing plans?
Ask for a sample assessment. Confirm which records can become editable plans, which require rebuilding and which remain archives. Agree the migration scope before inviting clients.
Keep reading
all guidesHow to Switch from Trainerize: Exports and Billing
Leaving Trainerize? Export your contact CSV, save workout PDFs, check the data that cannot export, and plan billing before cancelling.
Read the guideHow to Switch from TrueCoach: CSV, Workouts and Payments
Export TrueCoach client lists and workout text files, distinguish internal account transfers, and check Stripe billing before moving platforms.
Read the guideFree tools for this: Client Capacity Calculator · Coaching Rate Calculator · Coaching Tool Stack Cost Calculator
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