Plenty of research1 has shown that following a workout routine can help improve your physical fitness and athletic performance, but getting a personalized training plan can be expensive. Workouts cover different modalities, from strength training, HIIT, and cardio, to yoga, pilates, and mobility exercises. Equipment is needed for most workouts, but Amanda says you can filter your search for workouts by the type of gym equipment needed.
Best workout app for classes
These prompts gauge how prepared you are for a given workout, along with other inquiries asking if you’re dealing with any soreness, fatigue, or other factors that may influence your training. For those who are training for a race or looking to add running to their high-intensity workout regimen, I think Nike is among the best running apps. After using this app for years myself, I think this one is hard to beat, especially if you have new running goals. Set new running goals or just hit your weekly mileage with the free Nike Run Club app.
Other Free Workout Apps We Researched and Tested
Provided by Under Armour, Map My Fitness is easy to set up and sync with other apps and devices, like Garmin, Apple Health, UA connected footwear, MyFitnessPal, and others. The interface is clean and easy to navigate as well, leading Amanda to rate both the setup and ease of use a 5 out of 5. Rest assured though; Garage Gym Reviews has collaborated with Boostcamp to create Home Gym Club Training. This resource has hundreds of research-backed programs at your fingertips.
Top Picks for Connected Workouts
Some of our favorite free workout apps include Caliber, Nike Training Club, and Map My Fitness. If those don’t do it for you, we have more free workout apps to choose from on our best free workout app roundup. The workout tracker is basic but deep, allowing you to create your own workouts. If there is a workout that you frequent, you can create it as a workout routine to simplify logging it in.
![]()
Free vs. Paid Workout Apps: What’s Worth It?
“Alo Moves is the most versatile fitness app I’ve tried with the easiest user experience,” she says. “For the most part, the trainers do a great job of providing clear guidance and instructions, offering descriptive references that help you visualize proper form. Alo Moves also has pre-built playlists and themed series curated by trainers.
- 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.
- The app offers lots of features like GPS run tracking, audio-guided runs, customized coaching plans for your goals, weekly, monthly, and custom distance challenges, and more.
- When not talking about treadmills, or testing out cold tubs, she loves lifting weights, trying new foods, and finding new music to share with friends.
- Map My Fitness is an app from Under Armour that offers tracking and training tools that can help you to stay motivated with your workout goals.
- Check out our guide on how to save money on entertainment and fitness for more money-saving tips.
- It includes three weekly home workouts that can be done in 15 to 20 minutes with no equipment.
How to Choose the Best Fitness or Workout App for You
The free version includes most core features, including workout tracking, exercise instructions, and rest timers. Meanwhile, the Pro version adds extras like advanced charts and training analytics, but you can do plenty without paying. It provides smartwatch support and connectivity with Garmin Connect, MyFitnessPal, Suunto, and other platforms. Although the app locks advanced stats and training plans behind a paywall, you can still track and review workouts with the free tier. Assess your fitness goals and budget to find the right balance between cost and value. StretchIt caters to specific needs by offering targeted routines for different body parts.
Features at a Glance
Home Gym Club Training is a collaboration between Garage Gym Reviews and Boostcamp and provides over 1,000 workout plans through the Boostcamp app, including two exclusive workouts created by the GGR team. The step-by-step nature of the program makes planning an effective strength training workout effortless. The more you use the app, the more it understands your abilities and the challenges you face. Choose which area of your physique you’d like to target and the app offers a simple yet effective five to 30-minute workout that fits the bill. With hundreds of exercises to choose from, the hardest part may be deciding which to try first.
It prioritizes strength training, but caters to a variety of programs and disciplines, including powerlifting, weightlifting, and bodybuilding. Another tester, Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC, used Caliber Premium to work with a coach for a customized strength training routine. She reports working with her coach and using the app is easy, and she appreciates the fact that there are demonstration videos for every exercise assigned to your program. BetterMe gets a 4 out of 5 in its initial setup, since you begin with a quiz https://gymstogo.com/5-components-of-health-related-fitness-why-is-it-important/ on your fitness goals, mobility issues, sleep schedule, and more. “I like that the quiz will populate a workout plan based on your answers, but the quiz was a bit too long for my taste,” says GGR editorial member Nicole Davis, CPT, PN1-NC, who tested out the fitness app.
What makes the best fitness app?
Trainers include Kayla herself, as well as the likes of Kelsey Wells, Chontel Duncan, Britany Williams, and Stephanie Sanzo. You can switch your program easily and take on-demand classes if you feel like adding the odd barre session to your planner. There’s a structured program for everyone — from the new mom taking her first steps into post-baby fitness, to the girl looking to gain more confidence in the weights room at the gym. However, there isn’t much of an accountability factor, so I’d give this category a 2 out of 5. There’s no option to work with a coach, nor is there a live in-app community. Additionally, the app uses a color-coding system to identify foods based on their calorie count, with green being the lowest calorie-rich options and red serving as the indicator for high-calorie foods.
Jefit’s focus on weight training makes it a top choice for strength enthusiasts. Beginners can start with basic bodyweight exercises, while more advanced users can challenge https://wakeuptaylor.boardhost.com/viewtopic.php?id=3451 themselves with complex pilates routines. Apple Fitness+ offers a wide range of workout videos for the whole family. Aaptiv offers audio-based workouts that free users from screen dependency. Users can select from preset music styles or link their Spotify accounts. The wide variety of premium workouts and challenges makes it a great option for anyone looking to share the app with a friend or partner.
Best Free Workout Apps in 2025
While the shoutouts and engaging instructors are enough to keep us coming back for more, there aren’t regular check-ins with a trainer and you still need to keep yourself accountable. We like that Aaptive is more affordable than the average app while still offering plenty of value, especially for beginners. You’ll be challenged to lift heavier weights, increase range of motion, complete more sets, and add more repetitions. While you can upload photos to send to your trainer, you can only send one at a time, according to Amanda. Our only real callout was the app itself, which had a few technical issues. “I think no matter where you are, there will be a workout you can do with the app,” says Lindsay.
Some apps focus on specific workout types, while others provide a wide range of exercises. Choosing the right app depends on your fitness goals, preferred workout style, and budget. Convenience is the foremost benefit that users leverage with online fitness apps and trainers. Most fitness apps come with classes that assist people in working out at any madmuscles app review time, and anywhere, delivering complete flexibility.
Variety and Customization
The monthly fee is affordable at $19.99 per month, or $199 per year, but you’ll need to purchase additional equipment if you don’t already own a Zwift trainer. You’ll either need the Zwift Kickr Core 2 to use with your existing bike or the standalone Zwift trainer. Neither is exactly cheap, with the Kickr costing $549 at the time of writing. To be clear, there are no instructors or live workout classes in the Zwift app, but you’ll be able to join virtual races with other users. She also notes the app syncs with the Apple Watch but not apps like Garmin, Fitbit, or Strava, and she found it a bit frustrating to manually enter workout data later. Our tester and lead reviewer for Garage Gym Reviews Everything, Lindsay Scheele, CPT, CNC, notes there are bodyweight, dumbbell, and barbell progressions for most movements.