BACKGROUND: Physical activity interventions tailored to individual characteristics and delivered via print produce greater increases in activity compared with nontailored interventions and controls. Using the internet to deliver a tailored physical activity intervention offers an alternative to print that might be available to larger populations at a lower cost. METHODS: Participants (N = 249 adults; mean (SD) age 44.5 (9.3) years; and mean (SD) body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) 29.4 (6.1)) were randomized to 1 of 3 physical activity interventions: (1) motivationally tailored internet (tailored internet, n = 81), (2) motivationally tailored print (tailored print, n = 86); and (3) 6 researcher-selected web sites available to the public (standard internet, n = 82). Participants in the tailored internet and tailored print arms received the same tailored intervention content. Participants were assessed at baseline and at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: At 6 months, participants in the tailored print arm reported a median of 112.5 minutes of physical activity per week, those in the tailored internet arm reported 120.0 minutes, and those in the standard internet arm reported 90.0 minutes (p = 0.15). At 12 months, the physical activity minutes per week were 90.0, 90.0, and 80.0 for those in the tailored print, tailored internet, and standard internet arms, respectively (p = 0.74). Results indicated no significant differences between the 3 arms. CONCLUSIONS: The use of tailored internet, tailored print, and standard internet as part of a behavior change program increased physical activity behavior similarly. Because the use of the internet was not different from the print-based intervention, this may be an opportunity to reach more sedentary adults in a more cost-effective way.

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