Browser compatibility and recommended browsers

If Coachful isn't loading correctly, a button isn't responding, or your video calls keep dropping, the culprit is often the browser — not your internet connection or your account. Knowing which browsers are fully supported, and how to keep them in good shape, will save you hours of frustration and keep your coaching sessions running without a hitch.

TL;DR — Quick Answer

• Best experience: Google Chrome (latest) or Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based, latest).
• Fully supported: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari (macOS 13+ / iOS 16+).
• Not supported: Internet Explorer (any version), Opera Mini, older Safari (< 15), or any browser more than two major versions behind.
• Mobile: Use the Coachful native app (iOS / Android) or Chrome on Android / Safari on iPhone for the best mobile experience.

Recommended Browsers for Coachful

Coachful is a modern Progressive Web App (PWA) built on cutting-edge web standards — WebRTC for HD video, WebSockets for real-time chat, and Service Workers for offline resilience. These features require a browser that actively tracks web standards. The table below summarizes where every major browser stands.

Google Chrome (Recommended)

Chrome is the reference browser for Coachful development. Every feature — video calls, real-time Stream Chat messaging, drag-and-drop website builder, calendar sync, and the Michelle AI assistant — is tested in Chrome first. Use Chrome 115 or later (auto-updates by default). If you're on Chrome and something still looks off, try clearing your cache before anything else.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium)

Edge, since Microsoft rebuilt it on the Chromium engine in 2020, is essentially Chrome with a different skin. It performs identically across Coachful and is the recommended choice on Windows devices managed by corporate IT policies. Make sure you're running Edge 115 or later. The legacy EdgeHTML version of Edge (pre-2020) is not supported.

Mozilla Firefox

Firefox is fully supported for all core Coachful features. A small number of advanced video layout options may render slightly differently, but coaches and clients can use Firefox for day-to-day work without issues. Keep it at Firefox 115 (ESR) or later. Firefox's strict Enhanced Tracking Protection can occasionally block the Stream Chat websocket — see the Troubleshooting section below for a one-click fix.

Apple Safari

Safari is the only supported browser on iPhones and iPads (Apple's App Store rules restrict third-party browser engines on iOS). Coachful supports Safari 16 or later, which ships with iOS 16 and macOS Ventura. Older Safari versions lack full WebRTC support and will cause video call failures. If a client reports problems on an iPhone, the first question to ask is: "What iOS version are you on?"

Browsers That Are Not Supported

• Internet Explorer (all versions) — IE lacks the WebRTC, CSS Grid, and ES2020 JavaScript features Coachful depends on. It will not work at all.
• Opera Mini — Uses a proxy-rendering engine that strips JavaScript. Incompatible.
• Older Chromium forks (e.g., very old versions of Brave or Vivaldi) — Usually fine if kept updated, but not officially tested.
• In-app browsers (e.g., the browser inside the Instagram or Facebook app) — These are restricted WebViews. Always open Coachful in a full browser tab.

Using Coachful on mobile? Download the native Coachful app from the iOS App Store or Google Play for the smoothest experience — it's built with the same PWA core but wrapped in a native shell via Capacitor, which handles permissions for camera, microphone, and push notifications automatically.

Browser Feature Requirements

Beyond the browser version itself, certain browser-level settings must be enabled for Coachful to work correctly. Here's what the platform depends on:

JavaScript

Coachful is a single-page application. JavaScript must be enabled. If you or your clients use a browser extension that blocks scripts globally (like NoScript), add *.coachful.co to the allowlist.

Cookies and Local Storage

Coachful stores your session token, notification preferences, and UI state in cookies and local storage. If your browser is set to block all cookies or wipes storage on every close, you'll be logged out after every session. Set cookies to "Allow for this site" for coachful.co and your custom subdomain.

Camera and Microphone Permissions

HD video calls and instant calls require camera and microphone access. Your browser will prompt you the first time you join a call. If you accidentally clicked "Block", you'll need to re-enable permissions in your browser settings. See the step-by-step instructions below.

Notifications (Optional but Recommended)

Coachful can send browser push notifications for new chat messages, booking confirmations, and session reminders. These are optional, but coaches who enable them report faster response times and fewer missed sessions.

How to Check Your Browser Version

Not sure what version you're on? Here's how to check in each major browser:

1. Chrome: Click the three-dot menu → Help → About Google Chrome. Chrome will auto-update if a newer version is available.
2. Edge: Click the three-dot menu → Help and feedback → About Microsoft Edge.
3. Firefox: Click the hamburger menu → Help → About Firefox.
4. Safari (macOS): Click Safari → About Safari in the menu bar. To update, go to System Settings → General → Software Update.
5. Safari (iOS): Go to Settings → General → About → iOS Version. Safari's version is tied to the iOS version.

Pro tip for coaches onboarding new clients: Add a line to your intake email reminding clients to use Chrome or Edge on desktop, and to update their browser before the first call. A simple sentence prevents 90% of "I can't join the video call" support tickets before your program even begins. You can automate this message using Coachful's intake call workflows.

Step-by-Step: Re-enabling Camera and Microphone Permissions

If a client (or you) blocked camera/microphone access by accident, here's how to restore it before the next session.

Chrome and Edge

1. Navigate to your Coachful workspace (e.g., yourname.coachful.co).
2. Click the lock icon (or camera icon) in the browser address bar.
3. Find Camera and Microphone in the dropdown.
4. Change both from "Blocked" to "Allow".
5. Refresh the page and rejoin the call.

Firefox

1. Click the shield icon in the address bar to open the Site Information panel.
2. Click Connection Secure → More Information.
3. Go to the Permissions tab.
4. Remove the "Block" override for Camera and Microphone.
5. Reload the page.

Safari (macOS)

1. With your Coachful tab active, click Safari → Settings for This Website in the menu bar.
2. Set Camera and Microphone to "Allow".
3. Reload the page.

Safari (iOS)

1. Open the iPhone Settings app.
2. Scroll down to Safari and tap it.
3. Under "Settings for Websites", tap Camera and Microphone and set both to "Allow".
4. Return to Safari and reload your Coachful session.

Troubleshooting Common Browser Issues

Video call won't start or shows a black screen

This almost always comes down to one of three things: a blocked camera/microphone permission (fix above), an outdated browser that lacks full WebRTC support, or a VPN or firewall blocking UDP traffic. Start by testing on Chrome with no VPN. If the call works there but not in another browser, the browser is the issue. If it fails in Chrome too, check your network — Coachful's video is powered by Stream's global TURN/STUN infrastructure, which requires ports 3478 and 5349 to be reachable. Your IT team can confirm this.

Chat messages not loading or showing a spinner forever

Coachful's real-time chat uses WebSockets. Firefox's Enhanced Tracking Protection can occasionally classify the Stream Chat WebSocket endpoint as a tracker. Click the shield icon in Firefox's address bar and toggle off "Enhanced Tracking Protection" for your Coachful subdomain. Messages should load instantly after a page refresh. Alternatively, switching to Chrome takes five seconds and resolves the issue immediately.

Pages look broken or unstyled

A corrupted browser cache is the most common cause of styling issues — especially after a platform update. In Chrome or Edge, press Ctrl+Shift+R (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+R (macOS) to do a hard reload that bypasses the cache. If that doesn't help, go to Settings → Privacy and security → Clear browsing data, check "Cached images and files", and clear for the past 24 hours.

Coachful keeps logging me out

This usually means your browser is configured to clear cookies on close, or a privacy extension is deleting session storage. Check your browser's cookie settings and add an exception for *.coachful.co. Browsers that also block "third-party cookies" in their strictest mode can affect the Stripe payment flow — if clients are hitting errors at checkout, this is a likely culprit.

The drag-and-drop website builder isn't responding

The Coachful website builder uses the HTML5 Drag-and-Drop API, which behaves differently across browsers. If drag-and-drop feels sluggish or unresponsive, switch to Chrome or Edge. Firefox is generally fine, but certain extensions (ad blockers, script managers) can interfere with drag events. Try the builder in a private/incognito window — if it works there, an extension is the culprit.

Push notifications aren't arriving

Browser push notifications require the browser to be running and for notification permissions to be granted at both the browser and OS level. On macOS, go to System Settings → Notifications → [Your Browser] and make sure notifications are allowed. On Windows, check Settings → System → Notifications. Note that Safari on iOS does not support web push notifications — use the Coachful native app on iPhone for reliable push alerts.

Best Practices for Coaches Running Live Sessions

Technical hiccups during a live coaching session undermine your credibility and break momentum. Here's how to set yourself up for a glitch-free session every time:

• Use a dedicated browser profile for coaching. Create a Chrome profile just for Coachful. This keeps your personal extensions separate and ensures you're never accidentally logged into the wrong account.
• Close unused tabs before a video call. Each tab consumes RAM and CPU. More than 10 tabs open during a call can cause choppy video, especially on older laptops.
• Test your setup 5 minutes early. Coachful's instant call feature lets you open a call link and verify your camera, microphone, and speaker before your client joins.
• Keep your browser updated. Enable auto-updates. Chrome and Edge update silently; Firefox prompts you. Make it a weekly habit to check for updates before your busiest coaching day.
• Hardwire when possible. Browser compatibility aside, a wired Ethernet connection eliminates Wi-Fi variability for video calls. The browser can't compensate for packet loss on a congested Wi-Fi network.

Did you know? Coaches on Coachful who use the native mobile app alongside their desktop browser report significantly fewer session interruptions — the app handles camera and microphone permissions natively, bypassing browser permission quirks entirely. It also supports offline access to program content, so clients can review their tasks even without an internet connection.

Browser Compatibility for Clients

Your clients don't need to know the technical details, but they do need to be on a supported browser to access your programs, join calls, and participate in squad chats. When you onboard a new client, point them to this guide or share the short version: use Chrome or Edge on desktop, Safari or the Coachful app on iPhone.

If a client is having trouble joining your coaching portal, ask them to open whatsmybrowser.org and share a screenshot. That URL shows their exact browser name, version, and OS in one glance — much faster than asking them to navigate browser menus they've never opened.

You can also link clients directly to client access troubleshooting for self-service help before they reach out to you.

Ready to Coach Without the Tech Headaches?

Browser issues are fixable in minutes when you know what to look for. Update to a supported browser, clear your cache, and make sure camera and microphone permissions are set to "Allow" — that resolves the vast majority of compatibility problems coaches and clients encounter on any platform, including Coachful.

If you've checked every step in this guide and something still isn't working, our support team is one click away. And if you're not yet on Coachful, you're one click away from a free trial of the platform built specifically for professional coaches — with HD video, real-time group chat, structured programs, built-in billing, and a website builder, all in one place. Start your free trial at Coachful and spend less time troubleshooting, more time coaching.