Red circular icon with a white crescent wrench and gear symbol.
Rebecca Wetten, Co-Founder & Head Coach at Catch

How to choose the best swim coach app (& why Catch is rated #1)

How do you choose the best swim coach app? We break down what actually matters - from technique learning integrated into training to real event preparation - & explain why Catch is rated #1. Including how Catch Gold swimmers get 15% faster in just 8 weeks.

Progress
February 16, 2026

If you’re searching for the best swim coach app, you’ve probably realised something:

They’re not all built the same way.

There are only a handful of credible swim training apps worth considering. On the surface, they all promise plans, workouts, tracking & maybe some videos.

But there’s a big difference between a workout tool & a coaching system.

The best swim coach app should:

- Tell you what to do next

- Integrate technique learning into your training

- Build you towards real goals or events

- Adapt as you improve

- Reduce guesswork, not increase it

That’s where Catch is fundamentally different - & where it beats an app like MySwimPro.

Coaching vs configuration

MySwimPro is a flexible training tool. You can edit workouts, tweak sets, adjust distances & shape sessions. That’s great - if you already have a deep understanding of swimming training & what you need to do to improve.

Catch is intentionally coach-led.

It behaves like a real coach:

- It learns about you first

- It builds your training around your ability, goals & schedule

- It gives you clear weekly direction

- It evolves as you improve

If you want maximum control, MySwimPro can work well.

If you want a true virtual coach, that gives you clarity & direction in your training & learning, Catch wins.

Technique learning integrated into training

Many apps include drill videos.

That’s not the same as structured skill development.

Catch integrates technique learning directly into your training plan:

- Catch Gold - weekly technique lesson tied to your sessions

- Catch Free - monthly technique lesson tied to your sessions

You learn one focused front crawl skill. Then you practise it deliberately inside your sessions that week.

That connection between learning & training is what drives measurable improvement.

Real event preparation

If you’re training for an open water swim, triathlon or would like to hit a distance milestone, your plan needs to do more than generate workouts.

It needs to:

- Progress you properly

- Adjust if life gets in the way

- Build towards your event date

- Taper you at the right time

- Handle multiple events in a season

In side-by-side testing, entering a 24km open water event into MySwimPro returned a 5km plan that ended before race month. That’s not real event preparation.

Catch Gold supports any distance, any event date & multiple events across the year. Your plan adapts instantly if you move or edit your goal. This is why Catch has been called the "Runna for swimming". It's truly personalised coaching, not template training plans.

Open water support that actually works

Open water is not just pool training outdoors.

Catch Gold allows you to toggle sessions between pool & open water. Sessions are recalculated so the training effect stays consistent.

That means sessions designed for lakes, rivers or sea - not just repurposed pool sets.

For triathletes & open water swimmers, that distinction matters.

Catch Free vs Catch Gold

This is where Catch really separates itself.

Most apps give you very little for free.

Catch Free is deliberately powerful.

Catch Free includes:

- 2 structured, varied sessions every week

- 1 monthly technique lesson linked to those sessions

- Adjustable session distance & intensity

- Garmin & Apple Watch integration

- Full progress tracking

- Complete Library & Community access

For many swimmers, that’s already more structured guidance than paid apps provide.

Catch Free is arguably the strongest free swim coach app available.

Catch Gold includes everything in Free, plus:

- A fully personalised goal-based training plan

- Weekly technique lessons linked directly to sessions

- Proper event progression & tapering

- Open water toggle

- Calendar sync

- Unlimited 1:1 chat with Catch’s Head Coach, Rebecca

Gold is premium because it includes real personalisation & human coach support.

You’re not just paying for software. You’re paying for structured progression & access to the coach who built the system.

Measurable results

Catch Gold swimmers improve by an average of 15% in their first 8 weeks.

That’s based on every Gold swimmer who had completed at least 8 weeks of training by the end of January 2026.

We’re yet to see another swim coach app publish measurable improvement data like this.

What about FORM Goggles?

FORM is a hardware-first solution. You’ll invest around £180-£250 for the goggles, then pay £8.25 per month for guided features & advanced training tools.

Some swimmers really rate the real-time metrics & in-swim feedback.

But not everyone wants to invest in specialist goggles when a watch they already own can already track the core training data, & - combined with Catch - it can guide you through a session that’s been personalised to you.

If you love wearable tech & real-time numbers, FORM may be worth the investment.

If you want a coach in your pocket - without extra kit or expense - Catch is built for that.

The bottom line

If you enjoy editing workouts & designing your own training, MySwimPro can suit you.

If you want:

- Clear direction

- Integrated technique learning

- Proper event preparation

- A genuinely strong Free option

- & human coach support when you need it

Catch is the better choice.

That’s why it’s the highest-rated swim coach app globally.

Start free here to find your swimmer’s high: https://web.catchswim.com/

Progress
February 16, 2026

If you’re searching for the best swim coach app, you’ve probably realised something:

They’re not all built the same way.

There are only a handful of credible swim training apps worth considering. On the surface, they all promise plans, workouts, tracking & maybe some videos.

But there’s a big difference between a workout tool & a coaching system.

The best swim coach app should:

- Tell you what to do next

- Integrate technique learning into your training

- Build you towards real goals or events

- Adapt as you improve

- Reduce guesswork, not increase it

That’s where Catch is fundamentally different - & where it beats an app like MySwimPro.

Coaching vs configuration

MySwimPro is a flexible training tool. You can edit workouts, tweak sets, adjust distances & shape sessions. That’s great - if you already have a deep understanding of swimming training & what you need to do to improve.

Catch is intentionally coach-led.

It behaves like a real coach:

- It learns about you first

- It builds your training around your ability, goals & schedule

- It gives you clear weekly direction

- It evolves as you improve

If you want maximum control, MySwimPro can work well.

If you want a true virtual coach, that gives you clarity & direction in your training & learning, Catch wins.

Technique learning integrated into training

Many apps include drill videos.

That’s not the same as structured skill development.

Catch integrates technique learning directly into your training plan:

- Catch Gold - weekly technique lesson tied to your sessions

- Catch Free - monthly technique lesson tied to your sessions

You learn one focused front crawl skill. Then you practise it deliberately inside your sessions that week.

That connection between learning & training is what drives measurable improvement.

Real event preparation

If you’re training for an open water swim, triathlon or would like to hit a distance milestone, your plan needs to do more than generate workouts.

It needs to:

- Progress you properly

- Adjust if life gets in the way

- Build towards your event date

- Taper you at the right time

- Handle multiple events in a season

In side-by-side testing, entering a 24km open water event into MySwimPro returned a 5km plan that ended before race month. That’s not real event preparation.

Catch Gold supports any distance, any event date & multiple events across the year. Your plan adapts instantly if you move or edit your goal. This is why Catch has been called the "Runna for swimming". It's truly personalised coaching, not template training plans.

Open water support that actually works

Open water is not just pool training outdoors.

Catch Gold allows you to toggle sessions between pool & open water. Sessions are recalculated so the training effect stays consistent.

That means sessions designed for lakes, rivers or sea - not just repurposed pool sets.

For triathletes & open water swimmers, that distinction matters.

Catch Free vs Catch Gold

This is where Catch really separates itself.

Most apps give you very little for free.

Catch Free is deliberately powerful.

Catch Free includes:

- 2 structured, varied sessions every week

- 1 monthly technique lesson linked to those sessions

- Adjustable session distance & intensity

- Garmin & Apple Watch integration

- Full progress tracking

- Complete Library & Community access

For many swimmers, that’s already more structured guidance than paid apps provide.

Catch Free is arguably the strongest free swim coach app available.

Catch Gold includes everything in Free, plus:

- A fully personalised goal-based training plan

- Weekly technique lessons linked directly to sessions

- Proper event progression & tapering

- Open water toggle

- Calendar sync

- Unlimited 1:1 chat with Catch’s Head Coach, Rebecca

Gold is premium because it includes real personalisation & human coach support.

You’re not just paying for software. You’re paying for structured progression & access to the coach who built the system.

Measurable results

Catch Gold swimmers improve by an average of 15% in their first 8 weeks.

That’s based on every Gold swimmer who had completed at least 8 weeks of training by the end of January 2026.

We’re yet to see another swim coach app publish measurable improvement data like this.

What about FORM Goggles?

FORM is a hardware-first solution. You’ll invest around £180-£250 for the goggles, then pay £8.25 per month for guided features & advanced training tools.

Some swimmers really rate the real-time metrics & in-swim feedback.

But not everyone wants to invest in specialist goggles when a watch they already own can already track the core training data, & - combined with Catch - it can guide you through a session that’s been personalised to you.

If you love wearable tech & real-time numbers, FORM may be worth the investment.

If you want a coach in your pocket - without extra kit or expense - Catch is built for that.

The bottom line

If you enjoy editing workouts & designing your own training, MySwimPro can suit you.

If you want:

- Clear direction

- Integrated technique learning

- Proper event preparation

- A genuinely strong Free option

- & human coach support when you need it

Catch is the better choice.

That’s why it’s the highest-rated swim coach app globally.

Start free here to find your swimmer’s high: https://web.catchswim.com/

Red circular icon with a white crescent wrench and gear symbol.
Rebecca Wetten

➡️ Long Distance Swim Guide

How to Prepare for a Long Distance Swim: Expert Tips for Open Water Racing

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