The app offers live classes every day of the week — filmed in a fun neon studio — in addition to its extensive on-demand library of more than 7,000 classes. You’re interested, motivated, and just looking for visuals, expertise, and possibly a virtual community to share fitness with. As well as joining challenges, and downloading a training plan onto your watch, you can use Garmin Connect to drill down into the data of your workouts. If you click on a run, you’ll be able to see your time, distance, and calories, as well as more in-depth data on your pace, speed, timing, heart rate, stamina, and more. Compared to Fitbit and Apple, Garmin Connect gives you a huge amount of data, without asking you to pay an additional monthly fee.
How we test the best workout apps
It’s all about building your confidence from the very first session. Jumping into a new workout app is a big step, so it’s smart to have a few questions. Before you commit, you want to be sure it’s the right move for your fitness. Here are the most common questions we hear, with straight-to-the-point answers.
The good news is that in 2026 you don’t have to rely on willpower alone. To join Apple Fitness Plus, you can try it out for free for up to three months and then have the option to pay month-to-month, $10 or $80 for the year. If you’re on a family plan, you can share access to Apple Fitness Plus with up to five family members.
Footpath Route Planner
Every week you also get a message from your coach, where they give you tips on factors such as technique and mobility. Workout tracking is all done through its sleek interface with built-in rest timers, and a daily readout will show you which of your muscles are growing, and which might be falling behind. After nearly a month of consistent training, your strength has noticeably improved.
HeavySet: Smart Strength Training Tracker
However, for strength workouts, Centr is an excellent option, especially as you can filter classes by the equipment you have at hand. 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. If you’re looking for a top all-rounder, we recommend downloading Centr, the app developed by actor Chris Hemsworth. Or, if you’re looking to keep costs down, Nike Training Club is completely free, while Fiit offers access to all group classes without charge.
selectThis foldable exercise mat doubles as a block or step — here’s how I use it in nearly every workout
The ATG methodology challenges conventional wisdom about joint safety. For decades, people were told never to let knees go past toes during squats or lunges. ATG flips this on its head, teaching you to safely load your joints through full ranges of motion, building bulletproof strength in positions most programs avoid. The app integrates with Apple Health, Cronometer, Oura Ring, and other platforms, creating a comprehensive view of your health and fitness data. Throughout your membership, your coach tracks your progress through proprietary metrics like Strength Score and Strength Balance, identifying imbalances and ensuring comprehensive development. structured fitness routines This data-driven approach prevents the common problem of overtraining certain movements while neglecting others.
🏷 How does Coach.me work?
The NBC Select staff and I also tested over a dozen fitness apps (including some that are free) to share our top picks. The fitness app market is on track to hit USD 10.5 billion by 2026, a massive jump that started when gyms shut down and everyone started tracking their health more closely. You can get the full story on this growth from KBV Research’s market analysis.
Best for Metabolic Health: Nutrisense
Berg Movement represents the gold standard for influencer-led fitness programs. Created by professional handbalancer and movement specialist Sondre Berg, this app brings elite-level coaching directly to your pocket. They also have a premium offering of custom mobility coaching for anyone looking for more support during their mobility and movement training. The app includes a dedicated space where members support each other, share progress, and stay motivated. This sense of belonging to something bigger makes a huge difference in long-term adherence. The in-app messaging allows you to communicate with your coach anytime, receiving responses typically within a few hours.
Not sure which motivation style fits you?
Stacked also lets you pre-set playlists for workouts and control playback from the logging screen. Utilize this step-by-step guide whenever you feel like it’s time for a change and embrace the adaptability offered by popular fitness apps in customizing goals tailored to fit your evolving needs. Are you looking to switch up your fitness routine and set a new goal in your fitness app?
- To help you navigate through the app store, we’ve tested 19 digital platforms, conducted plenty of research, and read through countless customer reviews to land on our favorite fitness apps available today.
- Men’s fitness goals can also include reducing body fat, improving flexibility, and increasing overall health and wellness.
- I do like the included modules for chair yoga and personalized weight loss journeys, but I don’t believe there’s enough content to keep things interesting or engaging for extended periods.
- It is worth noting that the iPhone version of the app has a significantly higher user rating than the Android app.
- If you’re a beginner, you need an app with clear video demos and structured, guided programs that build your confidence and keep you safe.
- It also shows the bar path so that you can address any technical issues.
Strides – Best for Visual Goal Tracking
The paid version of the app will run you $12 per month ($80 per year) for an individual plan, or $13 per month ($150 per year) for a Strava and Runna combo plan. There is a student discount of $40 per year and a family plan for up to 4 accounts at $140 a year. The good news is that Strava offers a free 30-day trial to those who want to try out its upgraded features before committing. “I like hypertrophy training by body part, so I have Shred suggest daily workouts—upper body, lower body, full body, or abs,” Schlinger explains.
Community and Social Support
The best workout app for you covers the exercises you’re interested in doing at a level that’s accessible to you. Ideally, a good fitness app will support multiple levels of expertise so that as you get fitter and more comfortable, you can push yourself to the next level. All of the workouts can be done from home, and for most of them, you’ll only need one set of dumbbells.
The app introduces the concept of “strengthspan” – your overall strength capability for long-term health and longevity. Using 9 carefully selected exercises, Strength Well provides personalized strength scores and targeted recommendations to build functional strength that matters for everyday life, not just the gym. In an era where people post gym sets to social media and drones can capture mountain bike runs, it’s evident that the fitness-oriented lifestyle has become intertwined with gadgetry. But when it comes to using wearables to monitor and motivate you toward your fitness goals, you might not know what device would best suit your needs. In fact, being flexible with your goals can prevent burnout and increase motivation.