A runner is going to want something totally different from someone primarily looking for an app that will help them strength train. Some workouts may also require equipment in order to follow tutorials in select apps. 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. To help you make the best decision when choosing a workout app, we put them to the sweat test by using them for a number of different workouts. For each of the apps, we tried multiple workouts and looked at how easy the workouts were to follow, the range of workouts on offer, and how often new workouts were added to the app.
Best for Calisthenics – The Movement Athlete
For anyone inspired by Sondre Berg’s movement on social media or simply wanting expert calisthenics coaching, this app delivers professional-quality programming at a fraction of the cost of in-person training. What distinguishes Berg Movement from generic fitness apps is its laser focus on movement quality, body control, and skill acquisition. Whether you’re working toward your first handstand or refining advanced calisthenics skills, the app provides methodical, effective programming.
Rogue Resistance Bands Review ( : Tested by a Certified Personal Trainer
She currently lives in Michigan with her husband, daughter, and blind rescue dog. Unfortunately, you’ll need to hold yourself accountable, as there are no community features or digital coaches to help you maintain your motivation and keep your training schedule. Accordingly, we rate TR[Ai]NER by Element 26 at 1 out of 5 for accountability. We really like EvolveYou and MWH for home workouts, since both offer at-home programs that require little to no equipment. The great thing about fitness subscriptions is that you can access them anytime and anywhere.
Apple Fitness+ App
- According to our tester, the videos are “amazing and super easy to follow,” and fresh workouts are added every day.
- Featuring AI-powered coaching programs, detailed exercise tutorials, and a well-designed interface, Shred earns the nod as our best overall weightlifting app.
- You can access Alive’s 100-plus daily workouts, over 10 programs, and multi-day challenges.
- “The app has videos and detailed instructions of each exercise, but it won’t be at the level of having a coach or group trainer leading a class,” Matt explains.
- Whether you cherry pick workouts based on how you’re feeling that day, or you choose one of the app’s curated exercise routines, you’ll love the variety Alo Moves offers.
- We had no issues in our testing, however, and more recent reviews seem generally more positive.
Now, to track your daily caloric intake, Noom does require you to log each meal. While this level of involvement may not suit 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. “My coach had me weigh in and take progress photos weekly, which I didn’t love,” our tester said. This may not be appropriate for athletes but that being said, it may be helpful for some. We did give the accountability a 3 out of 5, though, as our tester wasn’t able to really find a defined community in the app.
Best Online Workout Program Overall: Future
The quiz asks you about your fitness experience, goals, and your height and weight before recommending a training and diet regimen. In full honesty, the training suggestions are spit out by an algorithm and while they’re effective (you will get results with this app) they’re nothing that special and, in our mind, not worth the money. Our team has tried and researched dozens of workout programs, but not all of them were able to make our “best of” list.
Best Live Workout App for Women: Peloton
And when it comes to actually using the app, we think ease of use is important if you’re an expectant parent (or new parent). Nicole gives Bloom Method a 4-out-of-5-star rating for our ease of use category. But, there is a ton available on this app (from workout classes to lectures), which can be a little overwhelming,” Nicole admits.
What is the best workout app?
Every app we’ve tested offers a free trial, which you can use to help you decide before committing. To determine our top picks, we focused on apps with a wide variety of content, from strength and cardio to yoga and Pilates, ensuring users of all fitness levels can find something that suits their goals. We also prioritized effectiveness, favoring thoughtfully programmed workouts and motivating instructors who provide clear guidance and encourage users to stick with their routines. A seamless, intuitive interface was another key factor, making it easy to navigate classes, track progress, and stay engaged.
Best Workout App for Women: Aaptiv
Free versions of workout apps offer many features; if you find an app you enjoy and wish it offered more advanced features, consider upgrading to its premium version. Keep in mind that these apps are tools designed to make your fitness journey simpler and more enjoyable. By setting clear goals, maintaining consistency, and taking advantage of various features offered by these apps, you can take significant steps toward leading a healthier life. It’s like having a personal trainer in your pocket, with detailed video guides and customizable workout plans.
Best for Garmin Users
This isn’t one of those dime-a-dozen apps that have boring and broad workout programs with zero specialization for your personal needs. Regular exercise has been linked to benefits such as improved cardiovascular health1, better sleep2, and even reduced depressive symptoms3. Generally speaking, the only downside of workout apps for women is they require a lot of self-motivation.
How We Tested and Chose the Best Workout Apps
It’s worth noting that if you stream the app on your phone, you won’t have access to the leaderboard during fitness apps with healthy habit tracking workouts. That feature is reserved for all-access members who are using the Peloton app on a Peloton cardio machine. “I feel pushed to work harder but appreciate the fact the trainers provide enough rest time to recover and catch your breath,” she says. Freida notes that all of these prompts tee you up for an enjoyable yoga experience.
Pen and Paper offers nearly 40 different strength-focused training programs, some generalized and some specialized for a goal, activity, or muscle group. You can filter plans by training frequency, upper or lower body, limited equipment, or fitness level. Another functional fitness program, Misfit is geared toward aspiring competitive CrossFit athletes.
Some of the other fitness apps I recommend also have livestream classes, but Peloton’s are the most frequent and plentiful. It also posts its livestream schedule ahead of time so you can see which classes align with your calendar. Some programs are audio-only, so you can take them while running or walking indoors or on the treadmill. You can connect a heart rate monitor to the app, which displays your metrics on the screen as you exercise.