We made sure to utilize both iOS and Android smartphones, to compare how these apps performed on those different operating systems. These days the digital world is very much a part of our existence, and for all of the negatives that come with that, there are also potentially useful tools that are available to those in the pursuit of fitness. As the ways we approach exercise have shifted in the face of changing technology, having a digital training partner has become more commonplace. Whether you’re exercising at home, or on the road, the best workout apps have become one of the most versatile fitness tools out there.
The 7 Best Workout Apps You Can Use in the Gym and at Home
According to GGR Senior Staff Writer Matt Dustin, CSCS, tracking your progress is the key to making long-term improvements. While we think this is the best overall workout app, it’s really meant for athletes who want to follow pre-made programs rather than those who simply want an app to track their existing workouts. It’s good, but it’s a little limiting for those who want to make their own training plan.
Do workout apps really work?
These are programs I’ve either personally tested, spent meaningful time exploring, or consistently seen deliver results for a wide range of people. Peloton’s app extends beyond the bike to include strength, yoga, running, and walking classes led by high-energy instructors. The leaderboard and achievement systems are highly motivating for people who thrive on group accountability. If you love outdoor exercise stats like pace and power, a Garmin watch may be the best match. If you want broad exercise and health data, plus all the latest apps, a smartwatch from Apple or Google is a better fit. I believe that everyone can benefit from the data fitness trackers provide if you understand your wants and needs.
JEFIT Workout Plan Gym Tracker
Yazio understands common roadblocks people face, particularly the tendency to set overly ambitious goals that lead to frustration and abandonment. The pricing is reasonable considering the depth of content and Sondre’s expertise. With a free trial available, you can test the app before committing to a subscription.
Best workout app for running
Now, Amanda brings her expertise in fitness to the GGR team by testing equipment and writing authentic, honest reviews on everything you might need to stock your home gym. Client communication is streamlined through in-app messaging, eliminating the need for scattered conversations across multiple platforms. Trainers can share updates, answer questions, review progress, and provide accountability all in one place. The onboarding process is thoughtful, sprinkling helpful tips and realistic expectations throughout.
Training to Failure: Is It Necessary for Muscle Growth & Strength?
There are also handy features like Strava Beacon, which are designed to keep you safe, by allowing your friends or family members to track your live location on a run. There’s free and paid options, but you get plenty of value if you do decide to pay, and you can access a free trial if you’re unconvinced. Whether you enjoy weightlifting, yoga or cardio, the Fiit app has you covered.
If you find yourself doing a lot of exercising at home these days, Zwift can help you change up your surroundings while you shelter in place. And the mobile app even adds a little gamification to your runs as part of the bargain. Once you’re done with your run, you can share your details complete with photos, stats and stickers, and compare your progress with other runners. In addition to the built-in music player, the app also allows you to listen to audio cheers sent by friends, as well as encouragement from Nike’s pro athletes.
Can a food tracking app help you lose weight?
- After several months testing various smart rings — often alongside top Garmin and Fitbit wearables — the Oura Ring 4 consistently delivered the most accurate health metrics and most helpful insights.
- The workouts are fun (huge perk!) and easy to modify to your experience level, and the weekly structure promotes consistency.
- In this particular guide, I also include activity trackers that aren’t wrist wearables, like smart rings and chest straps.
- The programming on a macro-level may not be adequate for intermediate or advanced exercisers, and it only earns 3 out of 5 stars for the category.
- If you’re not into weights or the fast tempo of BodyPump and Body Attack, there’s plenty of other classes to choose from.
- 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.
Overall, Amanda gives Nike Training Club a 3.5-star rating for accountability. Zwift uses game features to make indoor cycling and running more fun, but the app has a history of crashing and isn’t great on small phone screens. Fitbod scored well in most categories, but the free trial is limited to three workouts, and we’d like to see more emphasis on progressive overload. As you train, Fitbod tracks your progress and even shows a heat map of your recent training, allowing you to see which muscles have been trained. Muscle Booster has no shortage of perfect 5-out-of-5 scores from our tester, though its interactive features and overall value leave a little to be desired.
We selected Cronometer as the best calorie tracking app because of its commitment to accuracy and depth. Unlike other apps where anyone can create food entries (leading to errors and inconsistencies), Cronometer verifies all entries to ensure you’re getting reliable nutritional information. The AI Coach is particularly impressive, combining advanced language models with Strength Well’s proprietary data to offer intelligent, on-demand coaching. It learns from your daily journal entries and benchmark data, providing personalized support whenever you need it. For anyone new to strength training or returning after a long break, Fitbod provides the structure and guidance you mad muscle review need without requiring a personal trainer or extensive fitness knowledge.
Garmin Vivoactive 6
The app makes it easier to stick to a structured routine with detailed workout planning and logging tools. You can choose from pre-made workout plans or create your own based on your goals. There’s also a community forum where users can exchange tips and encouragement. However, the UI feels a bit dated, and the app has occasional sync issues. Workout apps come with various pricing options, from free versions with basic features to premium subscriptions or one-time purchases. Assess your budget and compare the value offered by each app, such as workout variety, coaching options, and additional perks like meal planning or community access.
Best workout app if you don’t like to work out
We’re huge fans of JuggernautAI’s programming and progressive-overload-focused approach, but there’s one big drawback. Whether you’re interested in getting stronger, improving your agility, or chilling out with some yoga or Pilates, the Nike Training Club app has you covered. Zwift scored highly in most categories, but as it’s more of a racing app than a platform that provides instruction, we only gave it 2.5 out of 5 stars for accountability and instruction. Bojana found the initial setup to be very easy, rating it 5 out of 5 stars, though you’ll need your own indoor trainer, which may take a little longer to setup if you don’t already own one. Future is an outstanding app in nearly every category, but the only real drawback is the cost, as it’s certainly not cheap. Compared to most other apps, Fitbod is very reasonably priced, though the trial is a little short.
What our tester says:
Reverse Health is a weight-loss program app that’s specifically designed for people during and after menopause. The app also has a ton of built-in training programs to tailor your workouts to what you hope to achieve when you actually take your bike out on the road or mountain. There are gravel-specific plans, plans for crushing a 100-mile mountain bike race, or keeping up with your crew at the local criterium. The strength programs leave something to be desired, so if you want to focus on lifting, we recommend going elsewhere.
With summer fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to exercise outdoors, whether you’re walking, running, hiking, swimming or trying a new-to-you form of exercise. To monitor your progress with any workout — along with your heart rate, steps, calories burned and more — a fitness tracker can do all the work for you so you can focus on the activity at hand. Most of these devices now also track stress, sleep and other lifestyle factors.
Start by identifying your fitness goals, as they will guide your app selection. Whether you’re aiming to lose weight, gain muscle, improve flexibility, or train for a specific event, choose an app that specializes in the type of workouts and progress tracking aligned with your objectives. Clear goals can also help you stay motivated and measure your success over time. Some of the apps we’ve tested are excellent for goal-setting, while others are optimized for community or learning. So even if you don’t have serious goals but just want to find a way to stay more fit and find some encouraging workout friends, there is an app for that. If you need a consistent strength training plan, Strong offers everything you need.
Built tough and loaded with features like training load, recovery advisor and multisport support, the Forerunner 965 gives serious runners the data they need to train smarter and hit their goals. And with up to 23 days of battery life, it’s one of the top running smartwatches. In terms of training with Juggernaut AI, you get a good mix of challenge and progress. The app tailors your prescribed weights, reps, and sets to your responses in your readiness prompt, so there are limited opportunities for overtraining or failing a lift. Athletes wanting a cardio-based workout plan should opt for another service. There’s a group-oriented Pro version for $19 per month, and a Premium version starting at $200 monthly for individualized coaching.