Free vs Paid Training Plan

Are you referring to plans on this site?? If so, the difference is mainly that getting one of the paid memberships gives you access to a bigger choice of plans. Most of the free plans (though not all) are beginner level. Most of the intermediate and advanced plans come with paid memberships. I have used both the beginner and intermediate HIM plans on this site; the former is free and the latter with a paid membership (I think silver). Both were fine and I would say of similar quality. Haven't done full IM but it looks like there is a free beginner plan there. It's just a matter of what suits your needs better.

I think the bigger difference is between a "canned" plan on a website or in a book and a truly customized plan created for you by a coach, not between free and paid plans on a website.

Yes, I was referring specifically to this site, but as well to other sites. Thanks for the feedback...it's about what I expected. Short of a coach, managing a beginner plan up to one's level doesn't seem too hard.