Category: The Best Workout Apps We’ve Tested for 2026

We also evaluate features such as step counting and sleep monitoring, distance calculations, and when applicable, GPS and heart rate accuracy. And, we see how well a manufacturer’s battery life claims hold up in real-world testing. If you’re looking for a European alternative to the Garmin Vivoactive 6, this is a great option. In our testing, the fitness and sleep tracking on the Amazfit Band 7 proved just as reliable as the pricier competition. Better yet, battery life is fantastic, lasting on average a whopping 20 days per charge during the review period. The Vivoactive 6 additionally offers some genuinely useful smart features, including support for NFC payments, onboard storage to download music for offline listening and mirrored smartphone notifications.

Some of the best workout and fitness apps

This also amplified the app’s social element, where you could compete against your friends, or cheer them on. They served as the hip counterpoint to the fitness nerd clunkiness of Garmin or Strava. Training Club still lives up to the hype with just enough personalization to set a goal and beat it.

Set-up To Riding, Simplified.

Pliability (formerly ROMWOD) sits firmly at the top of the mobility app category, offering a comprehensive library of mindful movement app mobility sessions backed by sports physiotherapy principles. Sweat will give you a selection of appropriate alternatives so your workouts are more customized to what you like (which is great for motivation). Popular stretching app with instructor-led classes and fun challenges to help you become more flexible. Research shows that just two strength sessions per week can boost brain function, improve metabolism, reduce aches, regulate stress hormones, and lower chronic inflammation. Strength Well makes achieving these benefits straightforward and measurable.

You can also stream your daily workouts to a nearby TV or monitor for larger viewing needs. We found this especially helpful when tackling new, challenging exercises we hadn’t experienced before. This roundup review highlights the sheer depth of quality when it comes to online fitness programs and apps that are available at the moment. Features and price vary quite dramatically, so you’ll need to think carefully about your personal preferences, budget and fitness goals. If you want to build strength, look at Alpha Progression, Fitbod, or Muscle Booster.

Best for nutrition

Every client gets a certified fitness professional who will prescribe training programs, follow up daily to assess progress, make program adjustments as needed, and offer accountability. Membership ($49.50/month) gets you access to all programs, unlimited coaching, and a library of tutorial content. You can check the latest price, as there are often introductory offers for your first month. This makes it significantly cheaper than physical therapy or in-person training while often delivering better long-term results. The training programs are developed by world-class trainers, ensuring quality programming rather than randomly generated workouts.

You can easily track your progress on BetterMe with data summaries and visual graphs. Featuring informational sources and easy to understand health plans, BetterMe is great for beginners looking to make important fitness changes. “The workout notebook, reinvented.” Plan your training and track your progress in an easy-to-use interface that leaves it up to you as to how detailed you want to be. This app suits those with strong goals and who already know how to get there.

This creates an experience remarkably similar to having a real trainer in the gym. The free version provides access to basic workouts and workout tracking functionality, allowing you to test the platform before subscribing. Shred Premium unlocks full program access, detailed analytics, and advanced AI coaching features. AI-powered virtual trainer providing customized workouts with real-time adaptive coaching and comprehensive progress tracking. “I like hypertrophy training by body part, so I have Shred suggest daily workouts—upper body, lower body, full body, or abs,” Schlinger explains.

Glute and Hamstring Exercises: Best Workouts for Strength

• Caliber adds more guidance and programming structure, which helps users who want to follow a plan.
• Aaptiv’s membership costs $14.99 per month and offers a free seven day trial.
• Most apps worth their salt will have a basic program and notifications to keep you honest.
• 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.
• Some apps try to shame you into working out, or bombard you with notifications, so I liked this approach.
• Budget-conscious users should also watch for seasonal promotions around New Year, summer, and Black Friday.

If you don’t know, perhaps try an app that’s well-curated and great at introducing you to new movements or disciplines. It’s a great resource to get into the social side of running, with ‘friendly’ competition from friends and other users, and it’s great to use for any outdoor pursuit. However, you really need a Fitbit or a Google Pixel Watch to get a lot out of the metrics, and although FItbit is system-agnostic, its purchase by Google means it’s slightly easier to invest in for Android users. Our new top pick for 2025, Zing Coach is an AI-powered app packed with tools and a chatbot that’s ideal for any workout type. There are so many options when it comes to wearables and the mobile experts at The Good Guys are here to help. Visit us in-store or online to find out more about the products in this article.

Daily Yoga App

We also examine how easy it is to navigate the fitness trackers’ menus; you don’t want to have to dig through multiple screens to change your music if you’re out running. The SE doesn’t offer as bright or large a display as the Series 11 and Ultra 3, but unlike previous versions of the watch, it does have an always-on screen option. It’s packed with just about every workout mode you could ever need, and it has built-in GPS.

Unlock exclusive access to our revenue-generating tools, including the world’s largest fitness & wellness marketplace. App makers would love for you to believe that the best discounts for fitness and gym apps happen between November and January, but it’s just not true. This app best suits people with higher body weights, disabilities, or those new to exercise. This app may best suit people who want support in building up and sticking to a fitness routine. The app helps users by offering training for birth and advice on postpartum healing and strengthening. This fitness app aims to meet the needs of pregnant people or those who have recently given birth.

Trainingpeaks

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)? Some apps let you personalize your goals or even connect with a personal trainer to help you meet them. If the device has a touchscreen, we look to see how readable it is, especially in bright sunlight.

Best for Runners: Strava

If an app has a free trial, take it, and cancel the subscription before the trial period ends. Physical activity is important for maintaining a moderate body weight and decreasing the risk of various health conditions. People should always wear comfortable footwear and clothing that provides appropriate support when participating in workouts.

CorePower Yoga

This risk-free approach demonstrates confidence in their content’s effectiveness. The app includes plenty of content for beginners but also features highly specialized routines for elite athletes, Olympic lifters, and those training intensively. This range makes it valuable whether you’re just starting to address tight hips or you’re an athlete seeking marginal gains. While Sweat is designed for women, the actual workout content is top-quality strength and cardio programming that delivers real results. The 34,000 five-star reviews speak volumes about the effectiveness and user satisfaction. The app is easy to use, and allows you to follow along to a structured program, as well as gaining access to a whole host of on-demand workouts.

Plus & Peak Subscription

It offers up to 18 hours of battery life per charge, which Apple claims takes into account regular use, such as checking the time, swiping through apps, and even exercising for 60 minutes while listening to music. 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.

While it lacks the bells and whistles of some other apps, I still really liked this app. If you live a busy life and struggle to squeeze in a workout, Hevy is great for helping you find ways to keep fit. But when paired with a Fitbit device, you get a lot more from the Fitbit app—including much more accurate activity tracking. I was able to pick up a used wearable device on Facebook Marketplace for about $40, though a brand-new one can cost significantly more. If you’re an avid Apple customer, Apple Fitness might be the first fitness tracker you try.

Deliver Personalized Client Experiences

The free version includes 20 HIIT bodyweight workouts, 25 additional exercises, and 20 audio sessions. By upgrading to the premium version, you’ll be able to access one-on-one sessions with a personal trainer. This app offers a library of over 2,500 workouts, including a variety of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercises. You can choose to work on your whole body or target a specific zone such as your abs, arms, glutes, legs, or core.

How to choose the best workout apps

With Shred’s personalized training paths, you’ll learn which exercises will help you reach your goals as well as how to use any necessary equipment. You’ll also be able to see all the weights and reps that you’ve logged over your workouts and visually keep track of your progress. In addition to gym training, Shred offers features for bodyweight and cardio training. You can share routines, download plans, engage in contests, and sync data across various platforms. It’s primarily designed for strength training, emphasizing tracking weight, reps, and more, although it’s versatile for other workouts.

That’s because PUSH uses AI to generate a strength training program for you, based on the science of progressive overload. You can also manually create a program yourself, but the app isn’t intended to record one-off workouts; it’s geared towards moving you through a program of weight-bearing exercises. As someone who’s tried almost every workout under the sun, I wanted to create a best-of list that you can actually trust. For this list, I evaluated over 25 different fitness apps, from running apps to weightlifting logbooks to all-around activity trackers.

Client Experience

Trainerize supports custom-branded apps, allowing businesses to maintain their brand identity while delivering digital coaching services. The app also integrates with various fitness devices and apps to record physical activity, providing a holistic view of one’s health and fitness journey. Users can monitor their fitness journey with tools that track workout completion, dietary adherence, and overall progress. This isn’t just about providing a meal plan it’s about using insights to deliver smarter, more personalized coaching that drives results. Virtuagym offers access to a database of over 9 million food items, a barcode scanner for easy tracking, and science-backed meal templates. The app’s extensive workout library, complete with 3D-animated demonstrations, allows you to craft tailored workout plans.

By leveraging the latest tech, you can deliver cutting-edge services that meet—and exceed—client expectations. They allow you to coach clients remotely, breaking free from the limitations of location. Managing clients without a centralized system can feel like juggling too many balls at once. Think in-app messaging, automated reminders, and even the ability to send voice notes or videos. The more comprehensive the analytics, the better equipped you’ll be to deliver results. StretchIt is dedicated to improving flexibility and mobility through guided stretching routines.

• The app features over 300 exercise technique videos, a supportive community, and weekly Q&A sessions with coaches, providing a comprehensive strength training experience.
• The app is only available on Apple products, but features an array of other exercises, including HIIT, yoga, meditation, and more.
• The app includes world-class instructors and allows you to filter workouts by fitness level or preferred training style.
• Programs adjust based on your goals, athletic ability, and progress over time, so you can always exercise at your own pace and skill level.
• Look for a platform that allows you to create personalized workout plans, complete with modifications, progressions, and even exercise demos.
• And staying fit is hard enough; your fitness app should make it easier, not more complicated.

Strava GPS Cycling and Running App

One cool addition is that you can integrate your music playlists from Google Play Music into your workout session. The app caters to different fitness levels and is entirely free to use, making it accessible for everyone. FitNotes is a straightforward and uncomplicated workout tracker available for free on Android devices. The workout log, accessible through the built-in calendar, allows a quick view of your daily workouts by quickly swiping between them.

Nutrition Tracking and Meal Planning

In this article, we’ve tested and reviewed the best fitness apps of 2026, handpicked with trainers like you in mind. We’ve done the hard work for you, comparing free workout apps alongside premium options to find the best fit. Outdoor mode also offered more of the metrics I would expect from an app called Runkeeper, so if you mostly run outside (or have an Apple Watch), it can work well. So even though the indoor tracking feature needs improvement, Runkeeper can be a solid option. If you’re new to running, the dynamic goal-setting experience is worth a little bit of frustration. Another downside is that the sleep and recovery tracking are pretty mediocre.

Nike Training Club

Overall, Runna is a strong option if you want the benefits of a structured running plan without paying for an in-person coach. But the lackluster wearable connectivity is a significant drawback—especially if you do most of your training outside. I’m not the most competitive person, but I have run the occasional low-stakes 5K, and I do run regularly.

Shred — Best for Gym Workouts

With its intuitive interface and high-quality design, your app becomes a go-to resource for clients, whether they’re booking classes, tracking progress, or checking schedules. That’s great in terms of giving users variety—but when you’re scoping out a new app, it can often feel like you’re comparing apples to oranges. And staying fit is hard enough; your fitness app should make it easier, not more complicated. Discover the certifications, skills, and experience needed to become a gym leader. A complete guide for trainers and fitness pros ready to step into leadership. Since 2021, she has been actively engaged in the fitness technology sector, collaborating with global fitness companies to foster digital growth and scalable operations.

What Are the Qualifications to Be a Gym Leader? The Complete Guide for Fitness Professionals

So instead of flipping through notebooks or scattered spreadsheets, you can access all your client data, workout plans, and schedules in just a few clicks. Scheduling, progress tracking, communication, and program design into one platform. This extra layer of tracking can help you fine-tune programs and keep clients motivated.

Best fitness app for running beginners

As a general fitness tracker, the metrics aren’t super comprehensive; it tracks PRs/PBs and workout length. PUSH isn’t your best choice if you want to track more cardio fitness-type metrics like HR, or if consistent strength training just isn’t a priority for you. 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 bodyweight exercise app great opportunity to shop around, try a little bit of everything, and narrow down your strengths. Turns out Peloton offers more than just their high-tech spin bikes and treads.