That said, Nicole notes that you may have to dig around to find what you need. “Once you get used to it, it’s easy enough; things are clearly labeled,” she adds. While the pricing varies, the highest tier of Caliber starts at $200 per month, which is significantly more expensive than the average app. However, it offsets this with affordable group coaching and a free forever plan. It doesn’t get better than this, except for being with an in-person trainer. And to be honest, this style of personal training kind of forces you to be held even more accountable because the trainer can really see what you’re doing all the time and check in with you regularly.
Best free workout app
However, with the update, Nike removed some of their training programs, which used to be a popular feature of the app. Instead, you now have the option to filter workouts by muscle group — abs and core, arms and shoulders, or glutes and legs, workout focus — endurance, mobility, strength, and yoga, and by equipment. Paid workout apps often offer superior programming, support, and customization. But evaluate additional features against the total yearly cost to determine worth.
Rest Timer
If you work out at least 15 times throughout the month, for example, you’ll get a gold medal. You’ll even be able to find more specialized classes like tabata training and boot camp workouts. Jane McGuire is Tom's Guide's Fitness editor, which means she looks after everything fitness related – from running gear to yoga mats.
Start training in under a minute
If you've spent any time browsing fitness subreddits, you know that Redditors don't hold back. They'll call out bloated apps with unnecessary features, praise simple solutions that just work, and share brutally honest reviews based on months of actual gym use. They have training plans to help you achieve your goals even if you don’t have access to much exercise equipment. Not every workout app can be the best, but some can still be great and worth your time. These are the apps we've tested that didn't quite make the cut, but are still worth a download if you're after more options. So, if you want to add more exercise into your routine, and develop a mindfulness habit, the app can help with that.
“Seeing my fitness rings on my Apple Watch worked really well for me in terms of keeping me on track with my workouts,” says Kate, who gave Future 4 out of 5 stars for interactive features. The questionnaire that helps program for you asks questions about your experience level, equipment available, and the type of training you are focusing on. While our tester enjoyed the ease with which Muscle Booster crafts a workout plan for beginners, the app didn’t hit every bullseye. For anyone in the market for a Peloton app alternative, iFIT should scratch the itch. This platform, which ranges from $15 to $39 per month, offers a library of 10,000-plus workouts streamed right to your phone/tablet or integrated cardio machine. The massive workout selection is led by more than 180 trainers, helping you find the right fit for your training style.
The app will not reward progress until you have logged your previous sessions, which allows for both accountability and progressive overload. If you want an app with more accountability features, Future connects you with a coach who will observe you and provide actual feedback. While our tester didn’t find it too detrimental to the overall experience, she did specifically mention that the app might not be great for people who need an extra nudge to stay on track. The Shred app is an AI-powered virtual trainer that can be used to customize workouts in your home or commercial gym.
- If you’re not a powerlifter looking to boost your big three lifts, you may want to consider an app service like Shred, which offers workouts for a variety of fitness goals.
- If you are on the hunt for a free workout tracker, Hevy enables users to create routines, monitor progress with exercise charts and personal records, make exercise-specific notes, and connect with other users.
- 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.
- Minor limitations mentioned by Redditors include the lack of suggested pose variations.
- Once you install the app, however, you realize that the in-app purchase is to unlock full use of the workout app.
- While our tester didn’t find it too detrimental to the overall experience, she did specifically mention that the app might not be great for people who need an extra nudge to stay on track.
Best Free Workout App for Beginners: FitOn
Because there’s no real way to remind you to workout, I scored the accountability a 1 out of 5. If you’re able to stay on task, there is a deep social network behind this simple workout tracker. “I think the social network-esque aspect of it is what really differentiates it from other free cycling GPS apps,” our tester and long-time Strava user Amanda Capritto says. “You can follow people on Strava just like on Instagram or Twitter.” Along with that, Strava encourages group challenges and interaction with other athletes through clubs. Caine is an Olympian, placing 9th in weightlifting at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Having 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 couple of our favorite free apps for tracking strength training is Jefit. It allows you to track your own strength training workouts with their library of exercises, each with written and visual instructions. Another good workout tracker is Hevy, which has a robust community of support where you can share your workouts and view, like and comment on others’ workouts.
Not Testing the Free Version First
Setgraph appears in discussions where users prioritize workout speed and flexibility. Reddit users mention it as a solid choice for lifters who don't want to pre-plan every workout or deal with rigid templates. The platform's upvote system naturally filters out promotional content and highlights genuine user experiences. Fitness apps can add some much-needed variety to your workout routine and motivate you to keep improving. Truenorth195 also appreciates the voiceovers because they give helpful tips on form.
How We Picked and Tested the Best Workout Apps
The Nike Training Club app has garnered over 100 million users and has been featured in several publications, including Shape and Self Magazine. It offers personalized workouts tailored to your fitness goals and preferences, with the option to choose workouts as short as 5 minutes or as long as an hour. With the app’s integration features, it becomes easier to monitor your progress and personal records. If you’re looking for an app that can generate endless workouts for a variety of goals tailored to your preferences and equipment, Fitbod is a great choice.
What is a popular home workout app for bodyweight exercises?
You can also add classes to your library, which lets you select classes you’ve taken before, or plan on taking in the future, at a glance. During testing, we found the instructor-led workouts to be engaging and motivating, and also enjoyed the whiteboard workouts, which show you the entire workout so you can follow at your own pace. It’s not perfect, but for a free app, there’s plenty to keep you moving here. However, with so many options out there, including both free and paid apps, it can be hard to know which will suit your training needs. For runners and cyclists seeking improved performance, Strava offers unparalleled metrics tracking and analysis.
If you've ever done a BodyPump class in your local gym, you'll have been introduced to the world of Les Mills. It's a series of tempo-based classes, set to music, designed to get you fitter and stronger. The app is an extension of this, with hundreds of classes to choose from, all set to an infectious beat, with motivating instructors. Since having my son, I've religiously used Joe's The Body Coach app to rebuild my core postpartum, and I've loved the flexibility and challenge of the Body Coach plan. The app can feel a little overwhelming at a first glance, but classes can be filtered by trainer, time, and the music you prefer to work out to.
Built-in Workout Programs
The app uses AI to generate personalized training plans, adjusting intensity and volume based on your feedback and progress. In this guide, we’ll dive into 5 of Reddit‘s top-rated workout apps across categories like strength training, yoga, and cycling. For each app, I’ll highlight standout features Redditors love and provide my insight as a tech specialist. Strava consistently receives strong Reddit endorsements across r/running and r/cycling.
Progress Tracking
Its social features ("segments," Kudos, activity feeds) are credited with keeping users accountable in ways that purely solo apps cannot. The GPS accuracy, route planning features, and post-run analysis are praised, though the 2020 paywall for most analysis features divided the community. The free tier is considered adequate for casual users; serious athletes find the premium subscription ($11.99/month) producthunt worth it for the power-to-weight analysis, training load, and live segments. Free workout apps have great value, providing basic instructions with libraries of exercises and workouts at no cost to you.
There’s a basic community feed that allows you to view others’ workouts, but not much else. It’s a simple, streamlined app that’s very beginner-friendly, but it’s not the best choice if you prefer to have access to more advanced features. The Aaptiv fitness app is a great pick for women (or anyone, really) because it offers a variety of quality workouts, multiple methods of accountability, and a reasonable monthly subscription fee of $14.99.