Updated October 17, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
ISSA vs Mindvalley
ISSA
Higher score in this comparison
Mindvalley
Where ISSA and Mindvalley differ
| Compare | ISSAReviewVisitVisit | MindvalleyReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Certification type | Fitness | Coaching |
| Price from | $868 | $299Lower |
| Teaching practicum | No | YesHas it |
| Typical completion time (weeks) | 12 | 16 |
| Money-back period | 7 days | 15 daysHigher |
| Exam fee included | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Recertification period | 2 years | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Tutor support (Yes), Job support (Yes).
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Key differences
- ISSA scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Price from is lower at Mindvalley: $299 vs $868.
- Teaching practicum: only Mindvalley.
- Money-back period is higher at Mindvalley: 15 days vs 7 days.
- Support channels: only ISSA offers Phone, Community.
- Accreditation: only ISSA offers Ncca.
- Accreditation: only Mindvalley offers Icf.
- Founded is lower at ISSA: 1988 vs 2003.
Our verdict on each
ISSA
ISSA suits adults who want a fitness certification they can finish at their own pace, with accreditation from ncca plus tutor support and job support in the fee. The Certified Personal Trainer plan starts at $868, and that entry price is what to weigh before you enrol.
Mindvalley
Mindvalley suits learners who would rather commit to a year of business courses than buy them separately. Its coaching certificate runs to 16 weeks with a practicum and tutor support built in, so career switchers get guided practice rather than reading alone.
Score breakdown
| Area | ISSA | Mindvalley |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.5HigherEntry at $868 ranks 69 of 87 by price from, with $89 monthly terms available. | 8.3Membership is $499 a year and a single course starts at $299, a high entry point in the field. |
| Offer | 9.1HigherFor a fitness certificate, tutor support, job support, assessments and the exam fee are included, though the practicum is not. | 9.0A free tier, 110 courses, assessments and a team plan under one subscription. |
| Trust | 9.4Accreditation from ncca, founded 1988 in US, with a 7 days money-back period. | 9.4Founded 2003 in the US as MINDVALLEY INC., with a 15 days money-back period. |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | ISSA | Mindvalley |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $868 | $299 |
| Money-back period | 7 days | 15 days |
Availability and regulation
| Country | ISSA | Mindvalley |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
How they place
| Ranking | ISSA | Mindvalley |
|---|---|---|
| Online course platforms | 57 of 349 | 61 of 349 |
| Online professional certificates | 21 of 95 | 23 of 95 |
| Fitness, IT and coaching certifications | 10 of 54 | 12 of 54 |
A third option
The TEFL Institute has price from at $40, against $868 for ISSA and $299 for Mindvalley.
The TEFL Institute reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | ISSA | Mindvalley |
|---|---|---|
| Accreditation | Ncca | Icf |
| Delivery | Online | Online |
| Legal entity | ISSA, LLC | MINDVALLEY INC. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1988Lower | 2003 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Email, Help centre |
Online courses
| Fact | ISSA | Mindvalley |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | $89 | Not confirmed |
| Price per year | Not confirmed | $499 |
| Free tier | No | YesHas it |
| Platform type | Curated | Subscription |
| Subjects | Business | Business |
| Certificate types | Completion, ProfessionalCovers more | Professional |
| Number of courses | 25 | 110Higher |
| Course languages | English, Spanish | Not confirmed |
| Access period | 6 to 8 months | Not confirmed |
| Graded assessments | Yes | Yes |
| Team plan | Yes | Yes |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ISSA | Mindvalley | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $868highest quarter | $299above the median | $79 |
| Typical completion time (weeks) | 12above the median | 16above the median | 6 |
| Recertification period | 2 yearsat the median | Not confirmed | 2 years |
| Money-back period | 7 daysbelow the median | 15 daysabove the median | 14 days |
Median across 52 listed providers.
Pros and cons
ISSA
Pros
- The Certified Personal Trainer plan folds tutor support, job support and the exam fee into one payment, so the headline price covers the test and the help around it.
- Assessments are part of the program and the certificate comes as completion and professional, so a completion route and a professional route sit side by side.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so help is available by phone and email as well as through the help centre and the community.
Cons
- There is no free tier, so the only way to see the material is to pay $868 for the Certified Personal Trainer plan up front.
- The practicum is not part of the program, so anyone needing supervised placement hours has to source that elsewhere.
- The entry fee ranks 69 of 87 brands by price from, and the money-back period of 7 days is shorter than the 14-day median across the site.
Mindvalley
Pros
- Assessments sit inside the membership rather than as a paid add-on, which matters for anyone who needs evidence of completed study.
- Job support comes with the certificate side, so the coaching credential is aimed at working life rather than course completion on its own.
- A free tier is included, so you can open the platform and look around before you pay anything.
Cons
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so help arrives in writing or through a help centre rather than live.
- The platform type is subscription, so leaving means the $499 year comes round again, while a standalone certificate at DRCertifications starts at $19.99.
- Entry price of $299 ranks at position 176 among 220 brands, higher than $19.99 or $0 elsewhere.
Who each suits
ISSA
Who it suits
- Adults fitting study around work, since delivery is online and access to the material runs 6 to 8 months.
- Learners who want the test cost handled up front, because the exam fee is included in the Certified Personal Trainer plan.
- Spanish speaking candidates, since course material runs in English and Spanish and the company is ISSA, LLC in the United States.
Who should look elsewhere
- IT candidates: CrackCerts and Testprep Training cover it and it certifications, while ISSA is fitness.
- Coaching candidates: Marisa Peer awards coaching qualifications, a different track from the ISSA Certified Personal Trainer plan.
- Learners who need supervised placement hours, because the practicum is not part of the ISSA program.
Mindvalley
Who it suits
- People who want a year of business courses in a single payment rather than picking titles separately.
- Coaches working towards a professional certificate, since the track adds a practicum and tutor support.
- Learners who prefer a written support trail, since support runs on email and help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers chasing the lowest entry price, since Hotmart starts at $0 and DRCertifications at $19.99.
- Anyone wanting a health or fitness qualification rather than a business or coaching one, where Academy for Health and Fitness starts at £25.
- Learners who only need a marketplace for a single low-cost title, since Hotmart opens at $0 while a Mindvalley course costs $299.
Questions about each
ISSA
How much does the ISSA Certified Personal Trainer plan cost to start?+
Entry is $868 for the Certified Personal Trainer plan, which places it at 69 of 87 brands by starting price, so this is a premium tier fee rather than a budget one. The monthly option is $89, and access to the material runs 6 to 8 months.
Do I have to pay again later to keep the certificate?+
The exam fee is included in the Certified Personal Trainer plan, so the assessment stage carries no separate charge. The credential itself is renewed every 2 years, which is the point to plan for later in a career. Buying the plan does not lock in a lifelong certificate.
Mindvalley
How much does Mindvalley cost?+
It depends which way you buy. A course bought on its own starts at $299 and is paid for once. The membership plan is the recurring one, priced at $499 for a year, and that figure comes round again at each renewal rather than being quoted month by month.
Is there a free tier, and what does it cover?+
Yes, Mindvalley has a free tier, so you can open the platform and look around before paying anything. The paid membership is what the year of access is based on, and the certificates sit alongside it as their own route. A money-back period of 15 days applies once you subscribe.