We’ve tested the best workout apps to build muscle and boost your wellbeing at home

To help increase motivation, some fitness apps offer programs that pair you with a virtual accountability buddy either through the app itself or via an exclusive group on social media, says Davis. As accountability buddies, you encourage each other to workout, cheer each other on and have frequent check-ins to ensure you’re both on track. “There’s no pressure to “perform” the way you might feel in an in person class,” says Thomas. Caliber also offers a robust free version allowing unlimited workout creation and tracking with access to 600+ exercises.

The best scores were given to apps that offered a large percentage of their workouts with minimal equipment, or ways to adjust your planned exercises to accommodate different equipment availability. Workout plans that lacked a clear path to progression earned low 1-star scores from our team. For an app to earn higher, 4- or 5-star ratings, the workout program needed to clearly follow the principles of progressive overload. Our expert product testers tested all of the fitness apps for at least several workouts, while many were tested for a whole month or even longer, especially the apps we really loved using.

She is a nutrition, mental health, fitness and sleep science enthusiast. Throughout her career, she’s covered various topics including financial services, technology, travel and wellness. Exercise apps are abundant, and narrowing down the list can seem daunting. When selecting the best one for you, consider if it offers the necessary tools to help you reach your goals, such as weight loss, building muscle or simply becoming more active.

How we test the best workout apps

Users can access over 1,500 workouts, including wall pilates, calisthenics, and dumbell-based strength training. The Whoop MG does not resemble any other fitness tracker on the market — but that is what makes it so special. This peculiar-looking wearable lacks a giant touchscreen or bulky buttons; instead, it comes with a discrete “sensor suite” and a woven, elasticated strap. What you get, however, is continuous monitoring of health metrics including heart rate, skin temperature and heart rate variability, as well as in-depth sleep tracking. This data is then combined and analysed to produce three easy-to-understand daily scores; strain, sleep and recovery.

Some of the best workout and fitness apps

Some are free or offer free trials for a week or month, which lets you test out the app before officially committing to it. Others can cost less than $10, under $50 or as much as $100 a month, depending on how personalized the experience tends to be. Do you just want to get moving more often, or are there specific fitness milestones you want to hit (like running a certain speed or lifting a certain amount of weight)?

Best workout app for personal training

Charles Thorp is the Fitness and Reviews Editor at Men’s Health, where he shares the best product recommendations in gym equipment, recovery tools, supplements, and more. Following an early life in athletics, Charles became a NASM-certified trainer and began writing programs alongside the most respected coaches in the world. When he’s not writing about training programs or gear, he can be seen at the gym or in the wild, putting them to the test. Some act as a digital trainer, guiding you through new, tough workouts.

Best overall workout app

Matt is a writer and fitness coach who’s been working in the fitness industry for 13 years. Caine is an Olympian, placing 9th in weightlifting at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Having all-in-one fitness platforms competed in Olympic weightlifting for over two decades, Caine has amassed several national and international titles over the years, including being a three-time Pan American Champion. A former gym owner, he also has more than 15 years of experience coaching other athletes in weightlifting, CrossFit, and functional fitness. Carlee’s training at Western Illinois University and an internship at the Memphis VA Hospital lead her to a career in outpatient counseling and bariatric nutrition therapy. In these positions, Carlee realized many of the disease states (upwards of 80%!) her patients experienced were actually preventable.

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Some applications allow free trials, but you’ll eventually hit a paywall. Do your due diligence and find a plan that works best for you and your budget. If you love Prevention’s at-home workouts, you’ll get a never-ending supply of our moves plus popular programs from our friends at Women’s Health, Men’s Health, and Runner’s World with the All Out Studio app. Download it, and you’ll have access to hundreds of workouts at every skill level, targeting every muscle in your body, from top certified trainers. If you don’t yet know your favorite type of workout, this is a great opportunity to shop around, try a little bit of everything, and narrow down your strengths. Workout apps can be especially appealing for beginners because they provide both convenience and guidance.

Comparing the best fitness and workout apps

• For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
• Nike Run Club also integrates with your music, tracks stats and progress, and has its in-app challenges.
• The free version does have one major limitation if you’re trying to get off the beaten path, though.
• Beyond the famous skills, the app includes comprehensive strength programs, mobility work, and conditioning routines.
• The third-generation Apple Watch SE continues this watch line’s history of accurate and reliable distance tracking, heart-rate readings, and GPS, with the addition of an always-on display option.
• As someone who has been working out consistently over the past 16 years, I saw the transition from workout tapes to DVDs to apps.

If you’re new to the gym or simply need some extra inspiration when it comes to your fitness routine, you may be wondering if fitness apps are a good idea. While there are still benefits to a traditional gym, one of the benefits of using a fitness app is that you can stay fit in the comfort of your home with convenient home workouts and the proper equipment. With so many options, it’s tricky to settle on one fitness app that caters to all, especially as “fitness app” is such a broad church term.

Create your own routine

The app supports freestyling your workout too, which is a nice touch; I was able to start a blank workout and add exercise types and reps/sets as I went. Hevy also worked nicely with my Apple Watch, which meant I didn’t have to hold—or keep checking—my phone the whole time. Overall, Runna is a strong option if you want the benefits of a structured running plan without paying for an in-person coach.

Equipment Demands

If you want to try Peloton classes, the subscription offers a 30-day free trial. IPhones have many fan favorite workout apps to pick from, which include many on this list like Peloton, Nike Training Club and Strava. In addition to our personal experience and expertise, here are the main factors we used to evaluate each workout app.

Health Coach

SpO2 (blood oxygenation) readings can be more problematic, because we find most wearables can throw out highly suspect results at times. You will often get better results on a second or third attempt, but we frequently see readings that suggest we should head straight to the hospital from high-end trackers. It is sleek, stylish and highly customizable, and its exceptionally large, vibrant AMOLED display is very easy to read. This smartwatch is also exceptionally durable — it is crafted with sturdy stainless steel and comes with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass. We must have dropped or bumped our Xiaomi Watch 5 at least a dozen times, but it has not sustained any visible damage. The Suunto Vertical 2 boasts various battery life lengths depending on the mode you have it in, all of which seem accurate and are quite impressive.