#1 Free Fitness App, Stop Paying for Home Workouts

StretchIt doesn’t provide the option to log one-off sessions like a run or gym workout. It only allows you to complete the scheduled workout according to your plan. There are also eight individual workout categories, including at-home, travel, dumbbell-only, and bodyweight. Work out anywhere with celebs and world-class trainers who will motivate you to reach your goals.

For busy people who prioritize fitness

EvolveYouIf you’re someone who likes to mix up your workouts, alternating between cardio or weights, Pilates or HIIT, the gym, or workouts in your living room, EvolveYou is a workout app worth considering. Designed for women by personal trainer Krissy Cela, the app has six different trainers on board, all of whom have several different workout plans to choose from. The list includes hiking, canoeing, an e-bike rides, rowing, alpine skiing, swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, and yoga. Of course, it’s important to point out that there are no actual workouts on Strava, so unlike other apps on this list, don’t expect to follow a strength training session — this is an app for tracking your progress. The best workout app depends on your goals, experience, and preferences—someone training for muscle gain might choose a strength‑focused app, while a beginner walker may prefer a simple, walking‑based program. The best option is the one you can use consistently and safely for months, not days.

Free Workout Apps:

My main fitness go-tos these days are YouTube videos, or when weather permits, a run or bike ride outside. But after some time choosing workout videos ad hoc on YouTube and going on self-driven, sometimes-listless jogs, I wanted something with a bit more guidance. This is why this assignment to try out workout apps, many of which offer comprehensive fitness plans, came at just the right time. Yes, there are a number of free workout apps out there, such as Nike Training Club, delivering solid workout plans to help you mix up your training sessions. Additionally, some fitness apps offer free trial periods at the start of your subscription to help you get a feel for the workout variety and platform offerings. Apps of this kind, however, often limit your capabilities within the service until you ultimately sign up and pay for the membership.

Training Shoes

best fitness apps for beginners at home

Designed by the industry’s best to build your chest, arms and back. Master a true blend of strength and dynamic mobility in this 6-week gym-based program. I am pretty athletic and have fairly extensive fitness knowledge, but gym motivation never resonated with me.

  • It costs $19.49 a month and grants users access to all virtual and live classes on iOS, Android, and the web.
  • From there, your Future Coach creates weekly, highly personalized training programs just for you, and adapts them whenever you need.
  • Create and log your workouts with Hevy and track your progress.
  • The first, and more well-known aspect of ClassPass, is that you can search for and participate in local fitness classes—HIIT, boot camp, kettlebell classes, plus salon appointments.
  • If you’re looking for a quick, new workout to do, SmartWOD can provide it.
  • Plus, there are new programs added every month, so you’ll never get bored.

Great workout experience

Often when a yoga instructor says something like “Bring your knee cap to face the sky”, I can’t work out what it means and by the time I do, the exercise is over. If you enjoy the sessions and programs, you’ll find it easier to make them part of your routine and progress towards your targets. For instance, if you like intense, high-energy classes, then the Peloton app might suit you. Not every workout app can be the best, but some can still be great and worth your time.

How we tested the best workout apps

BetterMe’s paid version generates workout programs based on goals, experience, preferred exercise frequency, and other factors. The Nike Training Club app will make your fitness habits stick with quicker options, goal-setting tools, and new content daily. Strengthen your mindset and your muscles with free guidance from your favorite trainers, athletes, and wellness experts. The free app will analyze basic workout stats, but for a deeper dive into statistics, the premium subscription is needed.

What’s the most reliable way to track progressive overload?

They also noted that the instructors were clear and easy to follow along with, and appreciated how upfront they were with equipment requirements prior to the session. After trying the app myself, I’d give the instruction a 4.5 out of 5. The workouts are easy to follow, though you do have to rewind the videos if you miss a move. Now, to track your daily caloric intake, Noom does require you to log each meal. While this level of involvement may not suit mad muscles app review everyone’s needs, our tester said that this process was easy given the simple user interface. We also liked that it increased accountability, giving this category a 3.5 out of 5, as some apps have more involved accountability measures.

best fitness apps for beginners at home

Day Fitness at Home

There are over 900 workout variations and they cover all of your major muscle groups. It comes with tutorial videos to help you with exercises you don’t know and to get the right form on them. MacroFactor costs $11.99 per month, or about $71.99 for a year. I learned a ton from tracking my calorie burn with MacroFactor, and I highly recommend it if you are OK with calorie tracking and are interested in gaining weight, losing weight, or fueling appropriately for exercise.

How We Tested and Chose the Best Workout Apps

Some apps try to shame you into working out, or bombard you with notifications, so I liked this approach. Nike’s app also offers push notification reminders (which you can turn off) to prompt you when it’s time to do a workout. Whether you’re hitting the weights in the gym or at home, a workout app is a great way to guide you toward your fitness goals. But there are a lot of apps to choose from, all of which promise to turn you into your best, most-fit self after a few planks, burpees, and jumping jacks. We do want to note, though, that the Alo Moves platform is primarily centered around individual workouts and programs rather than working toward certain goals or progressive overload. If you prefer a structured regimen that’s planned for weeks, this may not be the best fit.

Find a CrossFit Gym Near You

If you like to decide whether it’s leg day based on how you felt when you rolled out of bed, you probably won’t like this fitness tracker. Unfortunately, if you primarily work out indoors, you won’t get much out of the app. It’s just not great at tracking activities like Pilates or weightlifting.

You think you only have minute daily for your health/exercise? From timing every workout to having videos and a chat with the coaches. 5+ new workouts each week and a variety of training plans to choose from. Weight Watchers has teamed up with the Jennifer Aniston–fronted fitness app Pvolve to offer strength training to its members. This app integrates with Apple Health, Strava, and Fitbit to make tracking progress easier, provides easy-to-follow instructions and video, and incorporates strength, cardio, mobility, and endurance training.