Deconstructing Sesh: How a $75K/Month Fitness App Converts Women Through Personalized Onboarding & Smart Monetization

The Power of a Personalized Welcome

Sesh understands that fitness is deeply personal. Instead of a generic entry, it employs a detailed, multi-step onboarding flow designed to gather crucial information and tailor the experience from the very first interaction. This isn't just data collection; it's relationship building.

Users are immediately asked about their current fitness level, ranging from "Brand New" to "Advanced." This segmentation is critical, ensuring workout recommendations are appropriate and achievable, reducing intimidation for novices while challenging experienced users.

The app then smoothly transitions into gathering vitals like birth date, height, and current weight. The why is transparently communicated: this data fuels accurate macro calculations, a core feature offered early on. Seeing personalized Macro Goals (e.g., 1654 calories, 50g Fat, 189g Carbs, 112g Protein) delivered during onboarding provides instant, tangible value. Users see the app is already working for them. 💪

Crucially, Sesh also asks users to articulate their "why" – their core motivation. This tap into emotional drivers is a powerful retention tactic, reminding users of their deeper goals during moments of waning motivation. The process feels less like a setup and more like the first step towards a personalized fitness partnership.

Verification relies primarily on phone numbers, presented as a secure method for saving progress. Collecting name and email follows standard practice but occurs after the user has already invested time and received initial value (like macro goals), likely increasing completion rates.

Flexible Monetization: Subscription Meets À La Carte

Sesh employs a smart, multi-pronged approach to monetization, recognizing that users have different commitment levels and needs. It masterfully blends subscription access with one-off program purchases, presenting options strategically.

After the initial onboarding and macro calculation, users are often presented with paths like "Start with Fit In 30" or the "Workout Generator." This leads to clear choices:

1. Program Purchase: Buy a specific program like "Fit in 30" for a one-time fee (e.g., $75). This caters to users seeking a defined, short-term solution. The ability to keep the program forever is a key selling point. 💰
2. Premium Subscription: Unlock access to 50+ programs, the workout generator, macro tracking, check-ins, and more. This is positioned as the best value, often highlighted with discounts for longer commitments (e.g., 3 months at $44.99, 12 months at $129.99 – showing significant savings). A free trial (e.g., 2 weeks) for first-time subscribers acts as a powerful conversion driver, lowering the barrier to entry. ✨
3. Installment Payments: Offering to split larger purchases (like the $75 program) into interest-free payments further reduces financial friction.

The paywall screens clearly list the benefits of Premium, contrasting it implicitly or explicitly with basic access. Social proof like star ratings and testimonials are woven in to build trust right before the purchase decision. Adding a "Have a promo code?" field also caters to specific marketing campaigns or partnerships. This flexibility is key to capturing revenue from a wider range of users.

A Feature-Rich, Guided Experience

Beyond onboarding and monetization, Sesh delivers a robust core experience designed for results and engagement.

Workout Variety & Guidance: Users can select workouts targeting specific muscle groups (Abs, Legs, Back, etc.) or follow structured programs like "Build a Booty 2.0." Each exercise includes clear video demonstrations, ensuring proper form. Workouts often feature supersets and define sets, reps, or timed durations (like planks). 🏋️‍♀️

Seamless Tracking: Logging progress is integrated directly into the workout flow. Users can easily input reps (or weight, though the example focused on bodyweight) for each set. A built-in rest timer activates automatically or manually after sets, keeping the workout paced.

Holistic Check-Ins: The app encourages regular check-ins beyond just weight. Users can log weekly progress photos (front, side, back), track their menstrual cycle (acknowledging its impact on fitness), log cardio sessions (duration and type), and journal Non-Scale Victories (NSVs) and notes. This fosters a more holistic view of progress. 📝

Dashboard & Resources: The main dashboard provides an overview of macros, links to resources like a "Jumpstart Guide" or blog posts, and access to the workout generator or programs. This central hub keeps users informed and engaged.

The UI is clean, visually appealing with high-quality imagery and video, and navigation feels intuitive. Elements like progress bars during onboarding and checkmarks upon completion provide satisfying feedback loops.

Key Growth & Retention Drivers

Sesh's estimated $75k monthly revenue, despite a 2018 launch and seemingly modest recent download figures, points towards a high lifetime value (LTV) per user. This is likely driven by:

• Deep Personalization: Tailoring workouts and nutrition from the start increases perceived value and user investment.
• Value-Driven Onboarding: Providing macro calculations early makes the app immediately useful.
• Flexible Monetization: Catering to different user budgets and commitment levels maximizes revenue potential.
• Habit Formation: Integrated tracking, check-ins, rest timers, and potentially notifications encourage consistent use.
• Holistic Approach: Incorporating NSVs, cycle tracking, and progress photos addresses the multifaceted nature of women's fitness journeys.
• Clear Outcome Focus: The app consistently message around "reaching goals" and achieving results.

Final Thoughts: Lessons from Sesh

Sesh provides a compelling case study in building a successful fitness app for a specific demographic. Its strengths lie in a meticulously crafted onboarding experience that emphasizes personalization and delivers immediate value, coupled with a flexible monetization model that lowers friction and caters to diverse user needs.

The focus on detailed tracking, guided workouts, and holistic progress monitoring likely contributes to strong user retention and high LTV. For app creators in any vertical, Sesh demonstrates the power of understanding your user deeply, tailoring the experience accordingly, and strategically aligning your monetization with the value provided. Building trust and demonstrating results early is a repeatable pattern for success. ✨