Finding your favorite workout app may require a bit of trial and error since you’ll want to see if you’re looking for a personalized experience or are comfortable with a cookie cutter plan. Several of the options on our best workout apps list will log your exercise data. If you’re an iPhone user, pay special attention to any apps that integrate with the built-in Health app on your phone. Compared to some of the other apps on this list, this app is also pretty affordable. You can sign up for a free trial to see whether it’s for you, and after that, there are two different membership options to choose from. The Les Mills+ base membership gives you a stripped-back version of the app and starts from $4.99 per month.
Progressive Overload
- Frequent exercise can help people maintain moderate body weight and decrease the risk of certain diseases, such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
- When I worked as a full-time personal trainer, the gym I worked at charged $70 for 60-minute one-on-one sessions.
- According to GGR Staff Writer Matt Dustin, CSCS, tracking your progress is the key to making long-term improvements.
- You can also stream the videos on demand or download them for sweat sessions on the go.
- Whether you’re into traditional workouts like strength training and cardio, or prefer specialized activities like barre, kickboxing, or MMA, there’s something for everyone.
- The experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition & Fitness Lab have tested more than 40 workout apps, combining hands-on evaluations with real-life feedback from GH staffers and consumer testers.
Working with a doctor can help them pick the most appropriate form of exercise if they have health conditions. People can begin their workouts in a chair if necessary, and the app includes total body, lower body, and upper body workouts, along with weightlifting and cardio routines. BetterMe is suitable for beginners or people looking for a comprehensive fitness app that can support exercise, nutrition, and overall health.
Programs
For beginners or those looking for a free and accessible starting point, FitOn and Nike Training Club provide high-quality guided sessions with minimal barriers to entry. If your goal is to build a consistent routine with clear daily direction, SHRED offers a more structured, coaching-style experience. Meanwhile, Muscle Booster is ideal for users focused specifically on strength training and muscle growth. A workout app is a mobile application designed to help users stay active by providing guided exercises, training plans, and fitness tracking tools. These apps often include video workouts, personalized routines, and progress tracking to support different fitness goals. SHRED doesn’t include nutrition tracking or meal plans, but don’t let that stop you from trying it.
We’ve tested the best workout apps to help you train at home
For each exercise you can swap to alternatives based on what equipment you have available, which makes it genuinely flexible in practice. The interface is clean and intuitive, and the guided workout player walks you through each session with video demonstrations, muscle diagrams, and built-in rest timers. Alpha Progression has earned its place as the best overall fitness app for 2026, and for good reason.
Dance Cardio
Workout routines can also be integrated with your own Spotify playlist, or the app’s instrumental upbeat music (that’s actually not bad, according to our testers!). If you’re brand new to working out or have injuries, Green’s app will meet you where you are, allowing you to work your way up safely and confidently. Peloton classes feature curated music playlists, and each instructor brings their unique style to their classes. If you’re trying to bulk up, you may also want to consider using SHRED in tandem with a supplement—perhaps one found on our list of the best protein powders for muscle gain.
FitOn offers premium workouts and personalized fitness plans without charging you a dime (and no, they’re not secretly selling your data – we checked the privacy policy). We looked at cost, whether content can be downloaded for offline use, and how frequently new classes or programs are added. These factors help ensure that apps remain flexible, up to date, and convenient for users with busy schedules. By combining expert analysis with real-world feedback, we identified platforms that are both enjoyable and effective for achieving fitness goals.
Jane McGuire is Tom’s Guide’s Fitness editor, which means she looks after everything fitness related – from running gear to yoga mats. An avid runner, Jane has tested and reviewed fitness products for the past five years, so knows what to look for when finding a good running watch or a pair of shorts with pockets big enough for your smartphone. When she’s not pounding the pavements, you’ll find Jane striding round the Surrey Hills, taking far too many photos of her puppy. There are also handy features like Strava Beacon, which are designed to keep you safe, by allowing your friends or family members to track your live location on a run. However, if you use a non-Apple fitness tracker, you may be a bit limited for now.
Best Online Fitness Programs and Workout Apps in 2026 (Tried & Tested)
Whether you’re training outdoors or online, your certified Trainer shows up with you and for you, helping you build strength, confidence, and consistency. Fitness First Black Label Double Bay is designed for those who understand that lasting achievement comes from balance, strength supported by recovery, intensity matched with restoration. If you have an Apple Watch, you can pair it to sync your heart rate and calories burned to Fitness Plus, where you can see those stats on the screen in real time.
How to choose a workout app
Discover new classes, special events, challenges and exclusive member experiences designed to keep your training fresh and motivating. Before starting any workout program, it’s unimeal reviews 2026 advised to check with your doctor first. Strava users can join challenges, compete on leaderboards, and connect with clubs, adding a social dimension to fitness. Whether discovering new routes or analyzing performance metrics, Strava ensures your workouts are both competitive and fun.
Comparison Table: Key Features & Pricing
The app doesn’t overwhelm you with complexity but provides enough depth to make meaningful improvements. The Movement Athlete is perfect for home training, requiring minimal equipment (often just a pull-up bar or rings). This makes it ideal for anyone without gym access or those who prefer training outdoors. We selected The Movement Athlete as best for calisthenics because it makes this challenging discipline approachable while maintaining the integrity of proper progression. You can assess your current joint mobility across different areas, revealing limitations you might not have realized.
Fitness Blender is refreshingly different from typical online fitness platforms. Founded in 2010 by trainers Kelli and Daniel, this service prioritizes your health and fitness journey over flashy marketing tactics. BetterMe is our pick for the best workout app overall because it has a great variety of workout modalities, including plenty of strength training.
Workouts on any exercise bike, treadmill, or rower
The free version of Cronometer is surprisingly robust, providing access to the entire verified food database and core tracking features. This makes it accessible for anyone wanting to better understand their nutrition without financial commitment. With over 10 million users and an impressive 4.7-star average rating, Cronometer has earned its reputation as the gold standard for nutrition tracking.
Exercise with YESOUL
For example, Nike Training Club is completely free, offers workout databases, and lets you track your workouts. The Caliber app also offers a free version that can provide basic strength training guidance. Caliber’s free membership also lets you design your own programs (you’ll need to upgrade for personal coaching, however). FitBudd has revolutionized how personal trainers deliver coaching by providing a complete white-label solution for building a professional online fitness business.
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