Best Workout Apps for Beginners 2026

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. Muscle Booster is our choice for the best beginner-friendly weightlifting app because it puts an emphasis on progressive overload and, according to our tester, is easy to use from a functionality standpoint. A score of 3 shows the app offers a fair amount of content and functionality for its price. Apps that are inexpensive or provide exceptional features relative to the cost earn higher marks.

With this level of expertise behind these apps, you can feel sure of the progress you’ll make from your own workouts. Hevy is our choice for the best free weightlifting app, as it provides not only basic workout tracking with simple features but also an expansive community in the app. You can post and share workouts, as well as like and comment on other users’ training progress.

Whether you’re in the gym or at home, each exercise in your daily workout features a video to demonstrate proper form in case you feel unsure in the heat of the workout. Our tester said she was disappointed that Caliber only syncs with an Apple Watch — she uses a different fitness tracker — but she just had to manually log her workouts after completing them. Not every online workout program is the same, and there are many apps and programs that don’t have certified professionals behind the programming or workouts.

Best Workout Apps FAQs

In terms of cost, there’s the $15 monthly iFIT Train plan and the $39 monthly iFIT Pro plan. The biggest difference here is that the Train tier lets you create your own workouts and is available on equipment touchscreens. Rather, we find it better suited for people who have been training for at least six months because it lacks some of the human coaching and motivational tools that gym novices may want.

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The Bloom Method (also referred to as Studio Bloom) is a wellness and exercise app specifically designed for exercise during pregnancy, prenatal and postnatal, or while trying to conceive. Like many other fitness apps, you’ll find a wide variety of instructor-led HIIT workouts, strength training, boxing, yoga, and barre. The nutrition features complement the training programs, with meal planning tools, macro tracking, and the ability to share recipes.

Crafting a Personalized Mental Health Self-Care Routine

JuggernautAI is the product of Chad Wesley Smith, a wildly accomplished strength athlete who can squat numbers most people never even dream of. Using the JuggernautAI app is like having all of the knowledge and experience of an expert personal trainer for a palatable price of $35 per month (get a discount if you use code GARAGEGYM). Plus, using the app is incredibly easy; I give it a perfect 5 out of 5 in this category. I rated this app a 3 out of 5 for accountability, because there aren’t really many features to hold you accountable to your workout. Other than this, I have no problems with Nike Training Club, and I think it’s a wonderful free option for people who like to do a lot of different types of workouts. However, for $11.99 per month, the app allows you to participate in asynchronous competitions, set and track goals, create training plans, and measure your performance.

Best fitness app for busy people

• As a personal trainer, I really appreciate and value Mind Pump’s dedication to simplicity with MAPS Anabolic.
• We also recommend having dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands on hand for other movements.
• The instructors bring the energy and will even give shout-outs during the live classes.
• BetterMe’s training platform can be excellent for Pilates enthusiasts thanks to its detailed instruction for each programmed workout consisting of both visual and audio guidance.
• The biggest difference here is that the Train tier lets you create your own workouts and is available on equipment touchscreens.
• Apps that offer only machine-based isolation work or cardio circuits are, for this demographic, the wrong tool for the job.

Aaptive is a simple to use app that received high scores in categories like app setup, ease of use, and accountability, but it only received average rankings for interactive features and progressive overload. 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. Aaptiv is a great option for people looking for an alternative to video-based workout programs. This app received high scores in nearly every category, but it’s a little limited in workout variety and interactive features. Because this is a powerlifting program, it may not be a surprise that you’ll need a squat rack, bench, barbell, and weight plates to complete your workouts. It will also be helpful to have access to dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands for a handful of different exercises.

The Caliber Difference

There’s no option to work with a personal coach here, so you’re on your own when it comes to consistency. Personally, I love the filter in the search tab for this app, allowing you to pick and choose your preferred workout modality, available equipment, length, etc. The app is generally easy to use and follow, including easy-to-follow exercise videos for the non-live workouts. Reverse Health is a weight-loss program app that’s specifically designed for people during and after menopause. As far as user experience is concerned, we experienced no bugs or lagging when navigating the app features.

Best Online Workout Program for Running: Runkeeper

When using the app, you can find relevant training plans by goal, such as strength, weight loss or building muscle. Whether you cherry pick workouts based on how you’re feeling that day, or you choose one of the app’s curated exercise routines, you’ll love the variety Alo Moves offers. We’ve tested dozens of workout apps and this one continues to be a top pick for our team. There are thousands of classes to choose from, with a variety of methods available including strength training, cycling, dance, aerobics, HIIT, yoga, and martial arts. If you like having a clear plan to follow and a simple way to track your progress over time, Fitness Online is a great choice. This user-friendly app offers a highly structured approach to training and nutrition, no matter your goals.

Fortunately, I found the classes on Alo Moves are fun and dynamic when you’re looking to add movement into your day and relaxed when you want to slow things down. And to replicate the video’s beautiful scenery, you can download a session and head outdoors. Alo Moves is the perfect alternative, with engaging classes, whether you want an intense flow session focused on strengthening your core or a more mindful restorative class to end the day. And when I was tight on time, I could pick a short 15-minute session instead. I used to practice yoga several times a week at a studio on my road, but since that closed, I’d been looking for a way to get back into it.

Data Not Linked to You

Unfortunately, if you primarily work out indoors, you won’t get much out of the app. And if you’re privacy-conscious or just not all that competitive, a lot of the strongest features are kind of useless. Future is the best choice in this set if the deciding factor is a real human trainer. A human coach can interpret nuance, talk through barriers, and provide accountability that some users simply will not get from software. For longevity training, that can be valuable when you have a complicated training history or need someone to help you modify around travel, equipment, aches, and motivation.

How We Tested and Chose the Best Personal Training Apps

If you’re not hyper-focused on improving your squat, bench, and deadlift game, Boostcamp offers a more robust selection of workout programs at a more affordable price. Furthermore, while accountability may not be an issue for experienced lifters, beginners may need that motivational boost (no structured workout routines pun intended). Unfortunately, Boostcamp is not the best weightlifting app for accountability, as Matt only rates it a 2 out of 5 in this category. So, if you’re a number-crunching, iron-pumping gymgoer who wants to dive deep into stats and charts, be prepared to pay $14.99 per month (or $39.99 per year) for the upgraded version. A fitness app for beginners wouldn’t be worth its weight in gigabytes if it were a nightmare to use.

Best Workout App for Pilates: Reverse Health

If you’re interested in trying TR[Ai]NER by Element 26, the app does give you three free workouts without having to sign up for a subscription or give any credit card information. We like this feature because you won’t have to worry about auto-renewals or accidental charges if you decide you don’t like the program. If you are curious about your technique in a given workout, you can record yourself and send it to your coach for analysis and feedback.

GGR expert product tester Anthony O’Reilly, CPT, CNC tested Shred extensively, awarding it at least a 4 out of 5 in nine categories. This speaks volumes about how well-rounded this platform is, as you get top-notch instruction, a user-friendly interface, and ample workout variety. Plus, we particularly appreciate the flexibility when it comes to equipment.

The interface is straightforward, designed to get you into your workout quickly. While the free version is very functional, the Pro tier unlocks analytics to track your progress over time. What makes Fitbod stand out is its intelligent exercise substitution feature. If a squat rack is taken, you can tap a button to get an alternative exercise that targets the same muscle groups, like a dumbbell goblet squat or leg press. This flexibility removes the frustration of a crowded gym and keeps your workout on track. Turn any patch of floor into a progressively tougher, trainer-guided gym by choosing apps that filter 1,000+ bodyweight workouts to your exact space and auto-scale the intensity as you get stronger—no gear, no excuses.

Best AI Workout App: TR NER by Element 26

However, for iPhone users dedicated to data-driven strength training, Built Workout offers a combination of recovery analysis and adaptive coaching that is difficult to find elsewhere. Community features that keep you accountable—think massive Facebook groups, achievement tracking, and in-app journaling that connects you with thousands of women crushing similar goals [16]. These specialized platforms deliver so much more than workouts—they’re creating empowering spaces where women receive physiologically appropriate training and genuine motivational support from a community that gets it. Look for apps that connect with smart TVs for immersive, larger-than-life workout experiences, or platforms that sync with smart equipment to create truly interactive training sessions [1]. The game-changer for home workouts is offline functionality—the ability to complete entire sessions on your smartwatch and sync later means connectivity hiccups never derail your progress [15].

Maximize Your Fitness: Effective Gym Strength Workouts

When beginning a strength training program, it has to be tailored to your needs. JuggernautAI is our top pick for strength workout app for women because it makes personalized strength training accessible and affordable. Exclusively designed for women, obé Fitness is an incredible app that offers over 10,000 on-demand classes and 22 daily live classes with world-class instructors. Users will find a wide variety of workout types including barre, yoga, pilates, dance, HIIT, boxing, and more. Our testers have praised the instructions featured in this Reverse Health app, rating the digital training tool at 4 out of 5 for the category. While I, personally, don’t fall within the intended older women audience, I do enjoy the level of personalization that comes from the app’s multiple questionnaires.

Best Workout Apps to Hit Your Goals, Tested and Personal Trainer–Approved

Unfortunately, its annual subscription is very expensive when paired with some of its contemporaries, which will make it prohibitive to some. It’s an app that uses AI to automatically generate and modulate your exercise plan, to great effect. In our PUSH review, we called it “a brilliantly designed app with very few flaws”. He has over five years experience in fitness tech, including time spent as the Buyer’s Guide Editor and Staff Writer at technology publication MakeUseOf.

We chose it as the best overall workout app for women because each of our testers gave it perfect or near-perfect ratings on factors like ease of use, accountability, setup, equipment demands, and interactive features. In-person training is often more effective because it’s harder to ignore a real person than it is a notification on your phone. If you’re someone who’s motivated to work out, then an online workout program can help you attain your fitness goals. P90X is an at-home workout that combines weightlifting, bodyweight exercises, HIIT, and cardio all in one.

Cons of using workout apps

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. In May 2026, we added TR[Ai]NER by Element 26 to our list of the best workout apps.

Pliability – Best for Recovery

Prior to 2020, the Nike Training Club app had both free and premium versions, but since the pandemic, Nike has made the entire workout library free to use. The app is also easy to download from the Apple App Store or Google Play, and we found home workout app reviews it easy to set up and get started. While we love Boostcamp, and there’s a free version, it’s pretty limited in terms of scope.

Stronger – Workout Gym Tracker

Popular calisthenics app, focus on bodyweight exercises, follow programs, track progress, engage with community. 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. As you work through exercises, the AI coach provides encouragement, form cues, and adjusts rest times based on your pace. 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.

Accessibility

“You can swap in exercises each day or for an entire block based on what you have handy,” she explains. After completing a quick assessment, Caliber offers access to the three versions of the app. There’s no trial, but the free version allows you to get basic features forever, earning it a 5 out of 5 for the category. This free version can be a great place to begin, too, as Caliber provides a substantial library for each exercise with in-depth directions and videos on how to perform each movement.

Integrating Fitness Technology for Effective Weight Management

Ultimately, the right technology should feel like an empowering tool, not another chore. It should remove friction between you and your workout, seamlessly integrating into your life and providing clear, motivating feedback. Whether you choose a minimalist tracker or an all-in-one content platform, let it be the catalyst that transforms your fitness intentions into consistent, rewarding action. This list is valuable because it distills the overwhelming fitness app market down to a manageable, vetted selection. Each recommendation includes a snapshot of its ideal user, pricing, and platform availability, along with direct links to the app store.

Best for Weight Loss

Finding the best strength training app depends entirely on your specific needs. Self-Guided Trackers (Fitbod, Caliber, Stronger By The Day, StrongLifts 5×5) work like a smart training log. You choose your exercises, log your lifts, and the app tracks your progress. These are ideal if you already feel comfortable in a gym environment, enjoy experimenting with your program, and want maximum flexibility. Psychologically, these appeal to data-driven users who find motivation in seeing numbers go up.

• Although $199 per month still beats the cost of in-person personal training, it’s still an expensive training app.
• Hevy syncs with Apple Health, which means your workout data flows to the Apple ecosystem — but Hevy does not have a native Apple Watch app for standalone logging.
• And, if you’re a beginner, no worries— a variety of levels, intensities, and class lengths are offered.
• We selected Alpha Progression as the best overall app because of the ability to track and log workouts so effortlessly and have reliable recommendations when it comes to reps, sets and workouts based on your goals.
• Stop guessing and start progressing with a free trial of Built Workout today.
• I also like watching a video tutorial a few times (if needed) before I select a weight and begin the exercise.

Consider how the app handles offline access and whether it provides audio cues during workouts to guide transitions between exercises. Some workout apps let you download videos for offline use, while others require a constant internet connection. Live classes or sessions with virtual coaching almost always need a working connection, so it’s important to check how each app handles offline access. If you’re traveling, heading to a location with limited service, or simply want to avoid interruptions, it’s a good idea to download a few favorite workouts in advance.

You can filter workouts by body part, equipment type, duration, and difficulty level. Ultimately, the goal is to find a tool that feels less like a chore and more like an indispensable part of your gym bag. The best workout apps for strength training are the ones that fade into the background, allowing you to focus on the lift while they handle the complex task of tracking and planning. The right technology won’t lift the weights for you, but it will ensure every rep you perform is smarter, safer, and more effective. Your phone can become your ultimate workout partner, offering the capabilities of sophisticated fitness assessment software to guide your strength training journey. These apps solve the core problem of unstructured training by replacing messy notebooks and guesswork with clear, data-driven plans.

A simple, equally-weighted average return of all Zacks Rank stocks is calculated to determine the monthly return. Only Zacks Rank stocks included in Zacks hypothetical portfolios at the beginning of each month are included in the return calculations. Certain Zacks Rank stocks for which no month-end price was available, pricing information was not collected, or for certain other reasons have been excluded from these return calculations. Zacks may license the Zacks Mutual Fund rating provided herein to third parties, including but not limited to the issuer. Our tester rated it a 1 out of 5 in this category, which shouldn’t be a total surprise considering this is an AI-based platform.

I think this app is best for experienced trainers because of how challenging the PWR program is. PWR focuses on muscle growth and body strength through hypertrophy, which is essentially an increase in muscle size that is achieved through progressive weight lifting. The workouts range from 45 to 60 minutes long and are meant to be performed in a gym. If you’re into strength training but don’t have access to a gym, you can opt for the PWR At Home program. This app has an extensive selection of workouts to choose from, and every Monday a new workout is uploaded.

Nike Training Club: Fully Free

What’s more, the app offers 72 weeks of meal plans with custom portion recommendations according to your daily calorie needs, plus access to more than 300 recipes to create your own meal plan. Although training in your own home gym can be rewarding, there are times when training by yourself isn’t as motivating as having a training partner. Many lifting apps provide an online social community of support to help you stay motivated. Other apps will also notify you on new personal records throughout your training, keeping you engaged and inspired for the next workout.

Choosing Your Ultimate Digital Training Partner

That way, you’ll have options ready to go, whether you have internet access or not, keeping your routine consistent no matter where you are. Caliber Strength Training is a fitness coaching program grounded in scientific principles designed to increase strength and improve body composition. The app offers both group and individual training plans which are written and modified by a certified coach based on progress. We review 12 top apps with AI coaching, custom plans, and progress tracking to help you build muscle. Fitbod is an adaptive workout planner that customizes your strength training routines based on your available equipment, fitness level, and previous workouts.

While nothing will quite replace a gym workout with a personal trainer or coach, weight training apps can get close, while coming in much less expensive than a personal training session. Many of the best workout apps focus primarily on strength training—and for good reason. Lifting weights isn’t just about building bigger muscles for better selfies. Research shows resistance training supports improved bone density1, metabolism2, and longevity3.

Our tester explained, “That comes out to $66 for 4 live calls with your trainer. That’s basically unheard of.” Even at this price, she still rated the value of the program a 5 out of 5. If you tend to miss workouts when you don’t have anyone to hold you accountable, consider using an app like Future, which matches you to a personal trainer. We don’t all have time to train like high-performance athletes, unfortunately. Luckily, most at-home workout plans have 60-minute workouts at the most; many have 30- and 45-minute options and some have workouts as short as 15 minutes.

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A popular combination would be using Muscle Booster or Fitbod for training alongside Yazio for food tracking and habit building. Beyond that, one well-chosen app used consistently will outperform several apps used sporadically. If you want to build strength, look at Alpha Progression, Fitbod, or Muscle Booster. Most apps on this list offer a free trial, so it is worth testing two or three before settling on one. Good Pilates programming is genuinely hard to find in an app, and Yoga-Go delivers it well.

GGR training plans based on fitness level product tester Frieda Johnson says the app is easy to navigate and user-friendly. She gives Down Dog a 5-out-of-star rating for ease of use and the setup process. Amanda also appreciates the fact MapMyFitness is affordable at $6 per month, or you can pay $30 for an entire year membership.

How we tested the best workout apps

Like other CrossFit programs, Misfit Athletics provides a daily workout of the day with strength and conditioning prescriptions. There are several Misfit tracks, including a teen, masters, and “anywhere” program. Misfit also offers remote coaching for those who want extra accountability and personalization. Based on our research, the Garage Gym Reviews team thinks Misfit offers great programming, but we can’t recommend it until one of our team members tries it out.

Do I need equipment to use workout apps?

• 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.
• SHRED scored well above average for most categories, though it only earned 3 out of 5 stars for interactive features and accountability.
• The upgraded Runkeeper Go provides additional features like custom training plans and live tracking.
• Ultimately, the right technology should feel like an empowering tool, not another chore.
• I really think the ease with which you can communicate with your trainer and how clean everything operates is what sets this app apart.
• Establishing realistic and achievable goals is going to be most women’s first step.

This clarity avoids the confusion of multiple complicated tiers while still providing clear value progression [22]. Most fitness apps now offer annual subscription discounts of 20-40% over monthly rates, rewarding those devoted enough to commit long-term [21]. This tiered approach works because it honors your growth—free tiers welcome newcomers with basic functionality, while premium features serve committed athletes seeking advanced tools for continued progress [23]. The model succeeds by offering increasingly sophisticated features exactly when you’re ready to embrace them [23]. Beyond basic tracking, advanced apps analyze your performance patterns to predict optimal progression rates. Their algorithms calculate metrics like weight displacement (difference between recommended and actual loads) to model fatigue and determine recovery intervals [11].

Best Workout App for Women for Strength Training: Boostcamp

Basically, we wanted evidence that the programs weren’t just random kitchen-sink workouts, which throw a random assortment of exercises at you each day, with no overarching plan or system in place. Ladder costs a little bit less than the average workout app, while providing a fantastic workout experience. However, it’s one major flaw is the fact that it’s only available on iOS, so Android users can’t use the service.

What should I look for in a strength training app?

Matt Cummings is a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer with years of experience as a fitness instructor and running coach. He combines his passion for writing with his desire to help others lead healthier lives. As a former collegiate athlete, Matt still can’t shake his competitive streak.

Progressive Overload

If you use a home gym with limited equipment, Muscle Booster has you covered, too. Every athlete can have a different experience when it comes to workout apps. The program includes five workouts for the week, with the fifth one being optional. These workouts focus on lower and upper body days, and give you the option to select if you’re doing them in the gym, using bodyweight or if you need an express option.

Zing Coach

If you are in search of a more specific app, we recommend Strava for cardio training and Caliber for strength training. It seems like everyone is in a rush to slap “AI” onto their app’s name and ride the wave of artificial intelligence. That said, TR[Ai]NER by Element 26 actually uses this cutting-edge tech to craft unique workout plans to great effect. Accordingly, it’s one of our favorite AI personal training apps on the market. Two to four days per week is the evidence-based recommendation for most women.

Mesomorph-focused programming brilliantly balances strength training with moderate cardio, typically recommending 8-12 reps at moderate-to-heavy weights [20]. Smart apps increasingly use performance data to automatically adjust future workouts based on recovery needs. Quality apps offer guided meditation sessions and wellness series focused on sleep, nutrition, and self-care alongside workout content to support mental recovery [10]. Workout apps can provide you with expert guidance, either through professionally made programs and plans or through connecting you with a certified personal trainer or coach.

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. Muscle Booster is our choice for the best beginner-friendly weightlifting app because it puts an emphasis on progressive overload and, according to our tester, is easy to use from a functionality standpoint. A score of 3 shows the app offers a fair amount of content and functionality for its price. Apps that are inexpensive or provide exceptional features relative to the cost earn higher marks.

With this level of expertise behind these apps, you can feel sure of the progress you’ll make from your own workouts. Hevy is our choice for the best free weightlifting app, as it provides not only basic workout tracking with simple features but also an expansive community in the app. You can post and share workouts, as well as like and comment on other users’ training progress.

Whether you’re in the gym or at home, each exercise in your daily workout features a video to demonstrate proper form in case you feel unsure in the heat of the workout. Our tester said she was disappointed that Caliber only syncs with an Apple Watch — she uses a different fitness tracker — but she just had to manually log her workouts after completing them. Not every online workout program is the same, and there are many apps and programs that don’t have certified professionals behind the programming or workouts.

Best Workout Apps FAQs

In terms of cost, there’s the $15 monthly iFIT Train plan and the $39 monthly iFIT Pro plan. The biggest difference here is that the Train tier lets you create your own workouts and is available on equipment touchscreens. Rather, we find it better suited for people who have been training for at least six months because it lacks some of the human coaching and motivational tools that gym novices may want.

Analyzing L-Glutamine’s Role in Muscle Recovery and Repair

The Bloom Method (also referred to as Studio Bloom) is a wellness and exercise app specifically designed for exercise during pregnancy, prenatal and postnatal, or while trying to conceive. Like many other fitness apps, you’ll find a wide variety of instructor-led HIIT workouts, strength training, boxing, yoga, and barre. The nutrition features complement the training programs, with meal planning tools, macro tracking, and the ability to share recipes.

Crafting a Personalized Mental Health Self-Care Routine

JuggernautAI is the product of Chad Wesley Smith, a wildly accomplished strength athlete who can squat numbers most people never even dream of. Using the JuggernautAI app is like having all of the knowledge and experience of an expert personal trainer for a palatable price of $35 per month (get a discount if you use code GARAGEGYM). Plus, using the app is incredibly easy; I give it a perfect 5 out of 5 in this category. I rated this app a 3 out of 5 for accountability, because there aren’t really many features to hold you accountable to your workout. Other than this, I have no problems with Nike Training Club, and I think it’s a wonderful free option for people who like to do a lot of different types of workouts. However, for $11.99 per month, the app allows you to participate in asynchronous competitions, set and track goals, create training plans, and measure your performance.

Best fitness app for busy people

• As a personal trainer, I really appreciate and value Mind Pump’s dedication to simplicity with MAPS Anabolic.
• We also recommend having dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands on hand for other movements.
• The instructors bring the energy and will even give shout-outs during the live classes.
• BetterMe’s training platform can be excellent for Pilates enthusiasts thanks to its detailed instruction for each programmed workout consisting of both visual and audio guidance.
• The biggest difference here is that the Train tier lets you create your own workouts and is available on equipment touchscreens.
• Apps that offer only machine-based isolation work or cardio circuits are, for this demographic, the wrong tool for the job.

Aaptive is a simple to use app that received high scores in categories like app setup, ease of use, and accountability, but it only received average rankings for interactive features and progressive overload. 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. Aaptiv is a great option for people looking for an alternative to video-based workout programs. This app received high scores in nearly every category, but it’s a little limited in workout variety and interactive features. Because this is a powerlifting program, it may not be a surprise that you’ll need a squat rack, bench, barbell, and weight plates to complete your workouts. It will also be helpful to have access to dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands for a handful of different exercises.

The Caliber Difference

There’s no option to work with a personal coach here, so you’re on your own when it comes to consistency. Personally, I love the filter in the search tab for this app, allowing you to pick and choose your preferred workout modality, available equipment, length, etc. The app is generally easy to use and follow, including easy-to-follow exercise videos for the non-live workouts. Reverse Health is a weight-loss program app that’s specifically designed for people during and after menopause. As far as user experience is concerned, we experienced no bugs or lagging when navigating the app features.

Best Online Workout Program for Running: Runkeeper

When using the app, you can find relevant training plans by goal, such as strength, weight loss or building muscle. Whether you cherry pick workouts based on how you’re feeling that day, or you choose one of the app’s curated exercise routines, you’ll love the variety Alo Moves offers. We’ve tested dozens of workout apps and this one continues to be a top pick for our team. There are thousands of classes to choose from, with a variety of methods available including strength training, cycling, dance, aerobics, HIIT, yoga, and martial arts. If you like having a clear plan to follow and a simple way to track your progress over time, Fitness Online is a great choice. This user-friendly app offers a highly structured approach to training and nutrition, no matter your goals.

Fortunately, I found the classes on Alo Moves are fun and dynamic when you’re looking to add movement into your day and relaxed when you want to slow things down. And to replicate the video’s beautiful scenery, you can download a session and head outdoors. Alo Moves is the perfect alternative, with engaging classes, whether you want an intense flow session focused on strengthening your core or a more mindful restorative class to end the day. And when I was tight on time, I could pick a short 15-minute session instead. I used to practice yoga several times a week at a studio on my road, but since that closed, I’d been looking for a way to get back into it.

Data Not Linked to You

Unfortunately, if you primarily work out indoors, you won’t get much out of the app. And if you’re privacy-conscious or just not all that competitive, a lot of the strongest features are kind of useless. Future is the best choice in this set if the deciding factor is a real human trainer. A human coach can interpret nuance, talk through barriers, and provide accountability that some users simply will not get from software. For longevity training, that can be valuable when you have a complicated training history or need someone to help you modify around travel, equipment, aches, and motivation.

How We Tested and Chose the Best Personal Training Apps

If you’re not hyper-focused on improving your squat, bench, and deadlift game, Boostcamp offers a more robust selection of workout programs at a more affordable price. Furthermore, while accountability may not be an issue for experienced lifters, beginners may need that motivational boost (no structured workout routines pun intended). Unfortunately, Boostcamp is not the best weightlifting app for accountability, as Matt only rates it a 2 out of 5 in this category. So, if you’re a number-crunching, iron-pumping gymgoer who wants to dive deep into stats and charts, be prepared to pay $14.99 per month (or $39.99 per year) for the upgraded version. A fitness app for beginners wouldn’t be worth its weight in gigabytes if it were a nightmare to use.

Best Workout App for Pilates: Reverse Health

If you’re interested in trying TR[Ai]NER by Element 26, the app does give you three free workouts without having to sign up for a subscription or give any credit card information. We like this feature because you won’t have to worry about auto-renewals or accidental charges if you decide you don’t like the program. If you are curious about your technique in a given workout, you can record yourself and send it to your coach for analysis and feedback.

GGR expert product tester Anthony O’Reilly, CPT, CNC tested Shred extensively, awarding it at least a 4 out of 5 in nine categories. This speaks volumes about how well-rounded this platform is, as you get top-notch instruction, a user-friendly interface, and ample workout variety. Plus, we particularly appreciate the flexibility when it comes to equipment.

The interface is straightforward, designed to get you into your workout quickly. While the free version is very functional, the Pro tier unlocks analytics to track your progress over time. What makes Fitbod stand out is its intelligent exercise substitution feature. If a squat rack is taken, you can tap a button to get an alternative exercise that targets the same muscle groups, like a dumbbell goblet squat or leg press. This flexibility removes the frustration of a crowded gym and keeps your workout on track. Turn any patch of floor into a progressively tougher, trainer-guided gym by choosing apps that filter 1,000+ bodyweight workouts to your exact space and auto-scale the intensity as you get stronger—no gear, no excuses.

Best AI Workout App: TR NER by Element 26

However, for iPhone users dedicated to data-driven strength training, Built Workout offers a combination of recovery analysis and adaptive coaching that is difficult to find elsewhere. Community features that keep you accountable—think massive Facebook groups, achievement tracking, and in-app journaling that connects you with thousands of women crushing similar goals [16]. These specialized platforms deliver so much more than workouts—they’re creating empowering spaces where women receive physiologically appropriate training and genuine motivational support from a community that gets it. Look for apps that connect with smart TVs for immersive, larger-than-life workout experiences, or platforms that sync with smart equipment to create truly interactive training sessions [1]. The game-changer for home workouts is offline functionality—the ability to complete entire sessions on your smartwatch and sync later means connectivity hiccups never derail your progress [15].

Maximize Your Fitness: Effective Gym Strength Workouts

When beginning a strength training program, it has to be tailored to your needs. JuggernautAI is our top pick for strength workout app for women because it makes personalized strength training accessible and affordable. Exclusively designed for women, obé Fitness is an incredible app that offers over 10,000 on-demand classes and 22 daily live classes with world-class instructors. Users will find a wide variety of workout types including barre, yoga, pilates, dance, HIIT, boxing, and more. Our testers have praised the instructions featured in this Reverse Health app, rating the digital training tool at 4 out of 5 for the category. While I, personally, don’t fall within the intended older women audience, I do enjoy the level of personalization that comes from the app’s multiple questionnaires.

Best Workout Apps to Hit Your Goals, Tested and Personal Trainer–Approved

Unfortunately, its annual subscription is very expensive when paired with some of its contemporaries, which will make it prohibitive to some. It’s an app that uses AI to automatically generate and modulate your exercise plan, to great effect. In our PUSH review, we called it “a brilliantly designed app with very few flaws”. He has over five years experience in fitness tech, including time spent as the Buyer’s Guide Editor and Staff Writer at technology publication MakeUseOf.

We chose it as the best overall workout app for women because each of our testers gave it perfect or near-perfect ratings on factors like ease of use, accountability, setup, equipment demands, and interactive features. In-person training is often more effective because it’s harder to ignore a real person than it is a notification on your phone. If you’re someone who’s motivated to work out, then an online workout program can help you attain your fitness goals. P90X is an at-home workout that combines weightlifting, bodyweight exercises, HIIT, and cardio all in one.

Cons of using workout apps

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. In May 2026, we added TR[Ai]NER by Element 26 to our list of the best workout apps.

Pliability – Best for Recovery

Prior to 2020, the Nike Training Club app had both free and premium versions, but since the pandemic, Nike has made the entire workout library free to use. The app is also easy to download from the Apple App Store or Google Play, and we found home workout app reviews it easy to set up and get started. While we love Boostcamp, and there’s a free version, it’s pretty limited in terms of scope.

Stronger – Workout Gym Tracker

Popular calisthenics app, focus on bodyweight exercises, follow programs, track progress, engage with community. 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. As you work through exercises, the AI coach provides encouragement, form cues, and adjusts rest times based on your pace. 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.

Accessibility

“You can swap in exercises each day or for an entire block based on what you have handy,” she explains. After completing a quick assessment, Caliber offers access to the three versions of the app. There’s no trial, but the free version allows you to get basic features forever, earning it a 5 out of 5 for the category. This free version can be a great place to begin, too, as Caliber provides a substantial library for each exercise with in-depth directions and videos on how to perform each movement.

Integrating Fitness Technology for Effective Weight Management

Ultimately, the right technology should feel like an empowering tool, not another chore. It should remove friction between you and your workout, seamlessly integrating into your life and providing clear, motivating feedback. Whether you choose a minimalist tracker or an all-in-one content platform, let it be the catalyst that transforms your fitness intentions into consistent, rewarding action. This list is valuable because it distills the overwhelming fitness app market down to a manageable, vetted selection. Each recommendation includes a snapshot of its ideal user, pricing, and platform availability, along with direct links to the app store.

Best for Weight Loss

Finding the best strength training app depends entirely on your specific needs. Self-Guided Trackers (Fitbod, Caliber, Stronger By The Day, StrongLifts 5×5) work like a smart training log. You choose your exercises, log your lifts, and the app tracks your progress. These are ideal if you already feel comfortable in a gym environment, enjoy experimenting with your program, and want maximum flexibility. Psychologically, these appeal to data-driven users who find motivation in seeing numbers go up.

• Although $199 per month still beats the cost of in-person personal training, it’s still an expensive training app.
• Hevy syncs with Apple Health, which means your workout data flows to the Apple ecosystem — but Hevy does not have a native Apple Watch app for standalone logging.
• And, if you’re a beginner, no worries— a variety of levels, intensities, and class lengths are offered.
• We selected Alpha Progression as the best overall app because of the ability to track and log workouts so effortlessly and have reliable recommendations when it comes to reps, sets and workouts based on your goals.
• Stop guessing and start progressing with a free trial of Built Workout today.
• I also like watching a video tutorial a few times (if needed) before I select a weight and begin the exercise.

Consider how the app handles offline access and whether it provides audio cues during workouts to guide transitions between exercises. Some workout apps let you download videos for offline use, while others require a constant internet connection. Live classes or sessions with virtual coaching almost always need a working connection, so it’s important to check how each app handles offline access. If you’re traveling, heading to a location with limited service, or simply want to avoid interruptions, it’s a good idea to download a few favorite workouts in advance.

You can filter workouts by body part, equipment type, duration, and difficulty level. Ultimately, the goal is to find a tool that feels less like a chore and more like an indispensable part of your gym bag. The best workout apps for strength training are the ones that fade into the background, allowing you to focus on the lift while they handle the complex task of tracking and planning. The right technology won’t lift the weights for you, but it will ensure every rep you perform is smarter, safer, and more effective. Your phone can become your ultimate workout partner, offering the capabilities of sophisticated fitness assessment software to guide your strength training journey. These apps solve the core problem of unstructured training by replacing messy notebooks and guesswork with clear, data-driven plans.

A simple, equally-weighted average return of all Zacks Rank stocks is calculated to determine the monthly return. Only Zacks Rank stocks included in Zacks hypothetical portfolios at the beginning of each month are included in the return calculations. Certain Zacks Rank stocks for which no month-end price was available, pricing information was not collected, or for certain other reasons have been excluded from these return calculations. Zacks may license the Zacks Mutual Fund rating provided herein to third parties, including but not limited to the issuer. Our tester rated it a 1 out of 5 in this category, which shouldn’t be a total surprise considering this is an AI-based platform.

GGR expert product tester Anthony O’Reilly, CPT, CNC tested Shred extensively, awarding it at least a 4 out of 5 in nine categories. This speaks volumes about how well-rounded this platform is, as you get top-notch instruction, a user-friendly interface, and ample workout variety. Plus, we particularly appreciate the flexibility when it comes to equipment.

The interface is straightforward, designed to get you into your workout quickly. While the free version is very functional, the Pro tier unlocks analytics to track your progress over time. What makes Fitbod stand out is its intelligent exercise substitution feature. If a squat rack is taken, you can tap a button to get an alternative exercise that targets the same muscle groups, like a dumbbell goblet squat or leg press. This flexibility removes the frustration of a crowded gym and keeps your workout on track. Turn any patch of floor into a progressively tougher, trainer-guided gym by choosing apps that filter 1,000+ bodyweight workouts to your exact space and auto-scale the intensity as you get stronger—no gear, no excuses.

Best AI Workout App: TR NER by Element 26

However, for iPhone users dedicated to data-driven strength training, Built Workout offers a combination of recovery analysis and adaptive coaching that is difficult to find elsewhere. Community features that keep you accountable—think massive Facebook groups, achievement tracking, and in-app journaling that connects you with thousands of women crushing similar goals [16]. These specialized platforms deliver so much more than workouts—they’re creating empowering spaces where women receive physiologically appropriate training and genuine motivational support from a community that gets it. Look for apps that connect with smart TVs for immersive, larger-than-life workout experiences, or platforms that sync with smart equipment to create truly interactive training sessions [1]. The game-changer for home workouts is offline functionality—the ability to complete entire sessions on your smartwatch and sync later means connectivity hiccups never derail your progress [15].

Maximize Your Fitness: Effective Gym Strength Workouts

When beginning a strength training program, it has to be tailored to your needs. JuggernautAI is our top pick for strength workout app for women because it makes personalized strength training accessible and affordable. Exclusively designed for women, obé Fitness is an incredible app that offers over 10,000 on-demand classes and 22 daily live classes with world-class instructors. Users will find a wide variety of workout types including barre, yoga, pilates, dance, HIIT, boxing, and more. Our testers have praised the instructions featured in this Reverse Health app, rating the digital training tool at 4 out of 5 for the category. While I, personally, don’t fall within the intended older women audience, I do enjoy the level of personalization that comes from the app’s multiple questionnaires.

Best Workout Apps to Hit Your Goals, Tested and Personal Trainer–Approved

Unfortunately, its annual subscription is very expensive when paired with some of its contemporaries, which will make it prohibitive to some. It’s an app that uses AI to automatically generate and modulate your exercise plan, to great effect. In our PUSH review, we called it “a brilliantly designed app with very few flaws”. He has over five years experience in fitness tech, including time spent as the Buyer’s Guide Editor and Staff Writer at technology publication MakeUseOf.

We chose it as the best overall workout app for women because each of our testers gave it perfect or near-perfect ratings on factors like ease of use, accountability, setup, equipment demands, and interactive features. In-person training is often more effective because it’s harder to ignore a real person than it is a notification on your phone. If you’re someone who’s motivated to work out, then an online workout program can help you attain your fitness goals. P90X is an at-home workout that combines weightlifting, bodyweight exercises, HIIT, and cardio all in one.

Cons of using workout apps

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. In May 2026, we added TR[Ai]NER by Element 26 to our list of the best workout apps.

Pliability – Best for Recovery

Prior to 2020, the Nike Training Club app had both free and premium versions, but since the pandemic, Nike has made the entire workout library free to use. The app is also easy to download from the Apple App Store or Google Play, and we found home workout app reviews it easy to set up and get started. While we love Boostcamp, and there’s a free version, it’s pretty limited in terms of scope.

Stronger – Workout Gym Tracker

Popular calisthenics app, focus on bodyweight exercises, follow programs, track progress, engage with community. 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. As you work through exercises, the AI coach provides encouragement, form cues, and adjusts rest times based on your pace. 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.

Accessibility

“You can swap in exercises each day or for an entire block based on what you have handy,” she explains. After completing a quick assessment, Caliber offers access to the three versions of the app. There’s no trial, but the free version allows you to get basic features forever, earning it a 5 out of 5 for the category. This free version can be a great place to begin, too, as Caliber provides a substantial library for each exercise with in-depth directions and videos on how to perform each movement.

Integrating Fitness Technology for Effective Weight Management

Ultimately, the right technology should feel like an empowering tool, not another chore. It should remove friction between you and your workout, seamlessly integrating into your life and providing clear, motivating feedback. Whether you choose a minimalist tracker or an all-in-one content platform, let it be the catalyst that transforms your fitness intentions into consistent, rewarding action. This list is valuable because it distills the overwhelming fitness app market down to a manageable, vetted selection. Each recommendation includes a snapshot of its ideal user, pricing, and platform availability, along with direct links to the app store.

Best for Weight Loss

Finding the best strength training app depends entirely on your specific needs. Self-Guided Trackers (Fitbod, Caliber, Stronger By The Day, StrongLifts 5×5) work like a smart training log. You choose your exercises, log your lifts, and the app tracks your progress. These are ideal if you already feel comfortable in a gym environment, enjoy experimenting with your program, and want maximum flexibility. Psychologically, these appeal to data-driven users who find motivation in seeing numbers go up.

• Although $199 per month still beats the cost of in-person personal training, it’s still an expensive training app.
• Hevy syncs with Apple Health, which means your workout data flows to the Apple ecosystem — but Hevy does not have a native Apple Watch app for standalone logging.
• And, if you’re a beginner, no worries— a variety of levels, intensities, and class lengths are offered.
• We selected Alpha Progression as the best overall app because of the ability to track and log workouts so effortlessly and have reliable recommendations when it comes to reps, sets and workouts based on your goals.
• Stop guessing and start progressing with a free trial of Built Workout today.
• I also like watching a video tutorial a few times (if needed) before I select a weight and begin the exercise.

Consider how the app handles offline access and whether it provides audio cues during workouts to guide transitions between exercises. Some workout apps let you download videos for offline use, while others require a constant internet connection. Live classes or sessions with virtual coaching almost always need a working connection, so it’s important to check how each app handles offline access. If you’re traveling, heading to a location with limited service, or simply want to avoid interruptions, it’s a good idea to download a few favorite workouts in advance.

You can filter workouts by body part, equipment type, duration, and difficulty level. Ultimately, the goal is to find a tool that feels less like a chore and more like an indispensable part of your gym bag. The best workout apps for strength training are the ones that fade into the background, allowing you to focus on the lift while they handle the complex task of tracking and planning. The right technology won’t lift the weights for you, but it will ensure every rep you perform is smarter, safer, and more effective. Your phone can become your ultimate workout partner, offering the capabilities of sophisticated fitness assessment software to guide your strength training journey. These apps solve the core problem of unstructured training by replacing messy notebooks and guesswork with clear, data-driven plans.

A simple, equally-weighted average return of all Zacks Rank stocks is calculated to determine the monthly return. Only Zacks Rank stocks included in Zacks hypothetical portfolios at the beginning of each month are included in the return calculations. Certain Zacks Rank stocks for which no month-end price was available, pricing information was not collected, or for certain other reasons have been excluded from these return calculations. Zacks may license the Zacks Mutual Fund rating provided herein to third parties, including but not limited to the issuer. Our tester rated it a 1 out of 5 in this category, which shouldn’t be a total surprise considering this is an AI-based platform.

I think this app is best for experienced trainers because of how challenging the PWR program is. PWR focuses on muscle growth and body strength through hypertrophy, which is essentially an increase in muscle size that is achieved through progressive weight lifting. The workouts range from 45 to 60 minutes long and are meant to be performed in a gym. If you’re into strength training but don’t have access to a gym, you can opt for the PWR At Home program. This app has an extensive selection of workouts to choose from, and every Monday a new workout is uploaded.

Nike Training Club: Fully Free

What’s more, the app offers 72 weeks of meal plans with custom portion recommendations according to your daily calorie needs, plus access to more than 300 recipes to create your own meal plan. Although training in your own home gym can be rewarding, there are times when training by yourself isn’t as motivating as having a training partner. Many lifting apps provide an online social community of support to help you stay motivated. Other apps will also notify you on new personal records throughout your training, keeping you engaged and inspired for the next workout.

Choosing Your Ultimate Digital Training Partner

That way, you’ll have options ready to go, whether you have internet access or not, keeping your routine consistent no matter where you are. Caliber Strength Training is a fitness coaching program grounded in scientific principles designed to increase strength and improve body composition. The app offers both group and individual training plans which are written and modified by a certified coach based on progress. We review 12 top apps with AI coaching, custom plans, and progress tracking to help you build muscle. Fitbod is an adaptive workout planner that customizes your strength training routines based on your available equipment, fitness level, and previous workouts.

While nothing will quite replace a gym workout with a personal trainer or coach, weight training apps can get close, while coming in much less expensive than a personal training session. Many of the best workout apps focus primarily on strength training—and for good reason. Lifting weights isn’t just about building bigger muscles for better selfies. Research shows resistance training supports improved bone density1, metabolism2, and longevity3.

Our tester explained, “That comes out to $66 for 4 live calls with your trainer. That’s basically unheard of.” Even at this price, she still rated the value of the program a 5 out of 5. If you tend to miss workouts when you don’t have anyone to hold you accountable, consider using an app like Future, which matches you to a personal trainer. We don’t all have time to train like high-performance athletes, unfortunately. Luckily, most at-home workout plans have 60-minute workouts at the most; many have 30- and 45-minute options and some have workouts as short as 15 minutes.

Embrace a Greener Life: Crafting Your Sustainable Vegan Meal Plan

A popular combination would be using Muscle Booster or Fitbod for training alongside Yazio for food tracking and habit building. Beyond that, one well-chosen app used consistently will outperform several apps used sporadically. If you want to build strength, look at Alpha Progression, Fitbod, or Muscle Booster. Most apps on this list offer a free trial, so it is worth testing two or three before settling on one. Good Pilates programming is genuinely hard to find in an app, and Yoga-Go delivers it well.

GGR training plans based on fitness level product tester Frieda Johnson says the app is easy to navigate and user-friendly. She gives Down Dog a 5-out-of-star rating for ease of use and the setup process. Amanda also appreciates the fact MapMyFitness is affordable at $6 per month, or you can pay $30 for an entire year membership.

How we tested the best workout apps

Like other CrossFit programs, Misfit Athletics provides a daily workout of the day with strength and conditioning prescriptions. There are several Misfit tracks, including a teen, masters, and “anywhere” program. Misfit also offers remote coaching for those who want extra accountability and personalization. Based on our research, the Garage Gym Reviews team thinks Misfit offers great programming, but we can’t recommend it until one of our team members tries it out.

Do I need equipment to use workout apps?

• 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.
• SHRED scored well above average for most categories, though it only earned 3 out of 5 stars for interactive features and accountability.
• The upgraded Runkeeper Go provides additional features like custom training plans and live tracking.
• Ultimately, the right technology should feel like an empowering tool, not another chore.
• I really think the ease with which you can communicate with your trainer and how clean everything operates is what sets this app apart.
• Establishing realistic and achievable goals is going to be most women’s first step.

This clarity avoids the confusion of multiple complicated tiers while still providing clear value progression [22]. Most fitness apps now offer annual subscription discounts of 20-40% over monthly rates, rewarding those devoted enough to commit long-term [21]. This tiered approach works because it honors your growth—free tiers welcome newcomers with basic functionality, while premium features serve committed athletes seeking advanced tools for continued progress [23]. The model succeeds by offering increasingly sophisticated features exactly when you’re ready to embrace them [23]. Beyond basic tracking, advanced apps analyze your performance patterns to predict optimal progression rates. Their algorithms calculate metrics like weight displacement (difference between recommended and actual loads) to model fatigue and determine recovery intervals [11].

Best Workout App for Women for Strength Training: Boostcamp

Basically, we wanted evidence that the programs weren’t just random kitchen-sink workouts, which throw a random assortment of exercises at you each day, with no overarching plan or system in place. Ladder costs a little bit less than the average workout app, while providing a fantastic workout experience. However, it’s one major flaw is the fact that it’s only available on iOS, so Android users can’t use the service.

What should I look for in a strength training app?

Matt Cummings is a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer with years of experience as a fitness instructor and running coach. He combines his passion for writing with his desire to help others lead healthier lives. As a former collegiate athlete, Matt still can’t shake his competitive streak.

Progressive Overload

If you use a home gym with limited equipment, Muscle Booster has you covered, too. Every athlete can have a different experience when it comes to workout apps. The program includes five workouts for the week, with the fifth one being optional. These workouts focus on lower and upper body days, and give you the option to select if you’re doing them in the gym, using bodyweight or if you need an express option.

Zing Coach

If you are in search of a more specific app, we recommend Strava for cardio training and Caliber for strength training. It seems like everyone is in a rush to slap “AI” onto their app’s name and ride the wave of artificial intelligence. That said, TR[Ai]NER by Element 26 actually uses this cutting-edge tech to craft unique workout plans to great effect. Accordingly, it’s one of our favorite AI personal training apps on the market. Two to four days per week is the evidence-based recommendation for most women.

Mesomorph-focused programming brilliantly balances strength training with moderate cardio, typically recommending 8-12 reps at moderate-to-heavy weights [20]. Smart apps increasingly use performance data to automatically adjust future workouts based on recovery needs. Quality apps offer guided meditation sessions and wellness series focused on sleep, nutrition, and self-care alongside workout content to support mental recovery [10]. Workout apps can provide you with expert guidance, either through professionally made programs and plans or through connecting you with a certified personal trainer or coach.

I think this app is best for experienced trainers because of how challenging the PWR program is. PWR focuses on muscle growth and body strength through hypertrophy, which is essentially an increase in muscle size that is achieved through progressive weight lifting. The workouts range from 45 to 60 minutes long and are meant to be performed in a gym. If you’re into strength training but don’t have access to a gym, you can opt for the PWR At Home program. This app has an extensive selection of workouts to choose from, and every Monday a new workout is uploaded.

Nike Training Club: Fully Free

What’s more, the app offers 72 weeks of meal plans with custom portion recommendations according to your daily calorie needs, plus access to more than 300 recipes to create your own meal plan. Although training in your own home gym can be rewarding, there are times when training by yourself isn’t as motivating as having a training partner. Many lifting apps provide an online social community of support to help you stay motivated. Other apps will also notify you on new personal records throughout your training, keeping you engaged and inspired for the next workout.

Choosing Your Ultimate Digital Training Partner

That way, you’ll have options ready to go, whether you have internet access or not, keeping your routine consistent no matter where you are. Caliber Strength Training is a fitness coaching program grounded in scientific principles designed to increase strength and improve body composition. The app offers both group and individual training plans which are written and modified by a certified coach based on progress. We review 12 top apps with AI coaching, custom plans, and progress tracking to help you build muscle. Fitbod is an adaptive workout planner that customizes your strength training routines based on your available equipment, fitness level, and previous workouts.

While nothing will quite replace a gym workout with a personal trainer or coach, weight training apps can get close, while coming in much less expensive than a personal training session. Many of the best workout apps focus primarily on strength training—and for good reason. Lifting weights isn’t just about building bigger muscles for better selfies. Research shows resistance training supports improved bone density1, metabolism2, and longevity3.

Our tester explained, “That comes out to $66 for 4 live calls with your trainer. That’s basically unheard of.” Even at this price, she still rated the value of the program a 5 out of 5. If you tend to miss workouts when you don’t have anyone to hold you accountable, consider using an app like Future, which matches you to a personal trainer. We don’t all have time to train like high-performance athletes, unfortunately. Luckily, most at-home workout plans have 60-minute workouts at the most; many have 30- and 45-minute options and some have workouts as short as 15 minutes.

Embrace a Greener Life: Crafting Your Sustainable Vegan Meal Plan

A popular combination would be using Muscle Booster or Fitbod for training alongside Yazio for food tracking and habit building. Beyond that, one well-chosen app used consistently will outperform several apps used sporadically. If you want to build strength, look at Alpha Progression, Fitbod, or Muscle Booster. Most apps on this list offer a free trial, so it is worth testing two or three before settling on one. Good Pilates programming is genuinely hard to find in an app, and Yoga-Go delivers it well.

GGR training plans based on fitness level product tester Frieda Johnson says the app is easy to navigate and user-friendly. She gives Down Dog a 5-out-of-star rating for ease of use and the setup process. Amanda also appreciates the fact MapMyFitness is affordable at $6 per month, or you can pay $30 for an entire year membership.

How we tested the best workout apps

Like other CrossFit programs, Misfit Athletics provides a daily workout of the day with strength and conditioning prescriptions. There are several Misfit tracks, including a teen, masters, and “anywhere” program. Misfit also offers remote coaching for those who want extra accountability and personalization. Based on our research, the Garage Gym Reviews team thinks Misfit offers great programming, but we can’t recommend it until one of our team members tries it out.

Do I need equipment to use workout apps?

• 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.
• SHRED scored well above average for most categories, though it only earned 3 out of 5 stars for interactive features and accountability.
• The upgraded Runkeeper Go provides additional features like custom training plans and live tracking.
• Ultimately, the right technology should feel like an empowering tool, not another chore.
• I really think the ease with which you can communicate with your trainer and how clean everything operates is what sets this app apart.
• Establishing realistic and achievable goals is going to be most women’s first step.

This clarity avoids the confusion of multiple complicated tiers while still providing clear value progression [22]. Most fitness apps now offer annual subscription discounts of 20-40% over monthly rates, rewarding those devoted enough to commit long-term [21]. This tiered approach works because it honors your growth—free tiers welcome newcomers with basic functionality, while premium features serve committed athletes seeking advanced tools for continued progress [23]. The model succeeds by offering increasingly sophisticated features exactly when you’re ready to embrace them [23]. Beyond basic tracking, advanced apps analyze your performance patterns to predict optimal progression rates. Their algorithms calculate metrics like weight displacement (difference between recommended and actual loads) to model fatigue and determine recovery intervals [11].

Best Workout App for Women for Strength Training: Boostcamp

Basically, we wanted evidence that the programs weren’t just random kitchen-sink workouts, which throw a random assortment of exercises at you each day, with no overarching plan or system in place. Ladder costs a little bit less than the average workout app, while providing a fantastic workout experience. However, it’s one major flaw is the fact that it’s only available on iOS, so Android users can’t use the service.

What should I look for in a strength training app?

Matt Cummings is a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer with years of experience as a fitness instructor and running coach. He combines his passion for writing with his desire to help others lead healthier lives. As a former collegiate athlete, Matt still can’t shake his competitive streak.

Progressive Overload

If you use a home gym with limited equipment, Muscle Booster has you covered, too. Every athlete can have a different experience when it comes to workout apps. The program includes five workouts for the week, with the fifth one being optional. These workouts focus on lower and upper body days, and give you the option to select if you’re doing them in the gym, using bodyweight or if you need an express option.

Zing Coach

If you are in search of a more specific app, we recommend Strava for cardio training and Caliber for strength training. It seems like everyone is in a rush to slap “AI” onto their app’s name and ride the wave of artificial intelligence. That said, TR[Ai]NER by Element 26 actually uses this cutting-edge tech to craft unique workout plans to great effect. Accordingly, it’s one of our favorite AI personal training apps on the market. Two to four days per week is the evidence-based recommendation for most women.

Mesomorph-focused programming brilliantly balances strength training with moderate cardio, typically recommending 8-12 reps at moderate-to-heavy weights [20]. Smart apps increasingly use performance data to automatically adjust future workouts based on recovery needs. Quality apps offer guided meditation sessions and wellness series focused on sleep, nutrition, and self-care alongside workout content to support mental recovery [10]. Workout apps can provide you with expert guidance, either through professionally made programs and plans or through connecting you with a certified personal trainer or coach.

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. Muscle Booster is our choice for the best beginner-friendly weightlifting app because it puts an emphasis on progressive overload and, according to our tester, is easy to use from a functionality standpoint. A score of 3 shows the app offers a fair amount of content and functionality for its price. Apps that are inexpensive or provide exceptional features relative to the cost earn higher marks.

With this level of expertise behind these apps, you can feel sure of the progress you’ll make from your own workouts. Hevy is our choice for the best free weightlifting app, as it provides not only basic workout tracking with simple features but also an expansive community in the app. You can post and share workouts, as well as like and comment on other users’ training progress.

Whether you’re in the gym or at home, each exercise in your daily workout features a video to demonstrate proper form in case you feel unsure in the heat of the workout. Our tester said she was disappointed that Caliber only syncs with an Apple Watch — she uses a different fitness tracker — but she just had to manually log her workouts after completing them. Not every online workout program is the same, and there are many apps and programs that don’t have certified professionals behind the programming or workouts.

Best Workout Apps FAQs

In terms of cost, there’s the $15 monthly iFIT Train plan and the $39 monthly iFIT Pro plan. The biggest difference here is that the Train tier lets you create your own workouts and is available on equipment touchscreens. Rather, we find it better suited for people who have been training for at least six months because it lacks some of the human coaching and motivational tools that gym novices may want.

Analyzing L-Glutamine’s Role in Muscle Recovery and Repair

The Bloom Method (also referred to as Studio Bloom) is a wellness and exercise app specifically designed for exercise during pregnancy, prenatal and postnatal, or while trying to conceive. Like many other fitness apps, you’ll find a wide variety of instructor-led HIIT workouts, strength training, boxing, yoga, and barre. The nutrition features complement the training programs, with meal planning tools, macro tracking, and the ability to share recipes.

Crafting a Personalized Mental Health Self-Care Routine

JuggernautAI is the product of Chad Wesley Smith, a wildly accomplished strength athlete who can squat numbers most people never even dream of. Using the JuggernautAI app is like having all of the knowledge and experience of an expert personal trainer for a palatable price of $35 per month (get a discount if you use code GARAGEGYM). Plus, using the app is incredibly easy; I give it a perfect 5 out of 5 in this category. I rated this app a 3 out of 5 for accountability, because there aren’t really many features to hold you accountable to your workout. Other than this, I have no problems with Nike Training Club, and I think it’s a wonderful free option for people who like to do a lot of different types of workouts. However, for $11.99 per month, the app allows you to participate in asynchronous competitions, set and track goals, create training plans, and measure your performance.

Best fitness app for busy people

• As a personal trainer, I really appreciate and value Mind Pump’s dedication to simplicity with MAPS Anabolic.
• We also recommend having dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands on hand for other movements.
• The instructors bring the energy and will even give shout-outs during the live classes.
• BetterMe’s training platform can be excellent for Pilates enthusiasts thanks to its detailed instruction for each programmed workout consisting of both visual and audio guidance.
• The biggest difference here is that the Train tier lets you create your own workouts and is available on equipment touchscreens.
• Apps that offer only machine-based isolation work or cardio circuits are, for this demographic, the wrong tool for the job.

Aaptive is a simple to use app that received high scores in categories like app setup, ease of use, and accountability, but it only received average rankings for interactive features and progressive overload. 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. Aaptiv is a great option for people looking for an alternative to video-based workout programs. This app received high scores in nearly every category, but it’s a little limited in workout variety and interactive features. Because this is a powerlifting program, it may not be a surprise that you’ll need a squat rack, bench, barbell, and weight plates to complete your workouts. It will also be helpful to have access to dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands for a handful of different exercises.

The Caliber Difference

There’s no option to work with a personal coach here, so you’re on your own when it comes to consistency. Personally, I love the filter in the search tab for this app, allowing you to pick and choose your preferred workout modality, available equipment, length, etc. The app is generally easy to use and follow, including easy-to-follow exercise videos for the non-live workouts. Reverse Health is a weight-loss program app that’s specifically designed for people during and after menopause. As far as user experience is concerned, we experienced no bugs or lagging when navigating the app features.

Best Online Workout Program for Running: Runkeeper

When using the app, you can find relevant training plans by goal, such as strength, weight loss or building muscle. Whether you cherry pick workouts based on how you’re feeling that day, or you choose one of the app’s curated exercise routines, you’ll love the variety Alo Moves offers. We’ve tested dozens of workout apps and this one continues to be a top pick for our team. There are thousands of classes to choose from, with a variety of methods available including strength training, cycling, dance, aerobics, HIIT, yoga, and martial arts. If you like having a clear plan to follow and a simple way to track your progress over time, Fitness Online is a great choice. This user-friendly app offers a highly structured approach to training and nutrition, no matter your goals.

Fortunately, I found the classes on Alo Moves are fun and dynamic when you’re looking to add movement into your day and relaxed when you want to slow things down. And to replicate the video’s beautiful scenery, you can download a session and head outdoors. Alo Moves is the perfect alternative, with engaging classes, whether you want an intense flow session focused on strengthening your core or a more mindful restorative class to end the day. And when I was tight on time, I could pick a short 15-minute session instead. I used to practice yoga several times a week at a studio on my road, but since that closed, I’d been looking for a way to get back into it.

Data Not Linked to You

Unfortunately, if you primarily work out indoors, you won’t get much out of the app. And if you’re privacy-conscious or just not all that competitive, a lot of the strongest features are kind of useless. Future is the best choice in this set if the deciding factor is a real human trainer. A human coach can interpret nuance, talk through barriers, and provide accountability that some users simply will not get from software. For longevity training, that can be valuable when you have a complicated training history or need someone to help you modify around travel, equipment, aches, and motivation.

How We Tested and Chose the Best Personal Training Apps

If you’re not hyper-focused on improving your squat, bench, and deadlift game, Boostcamp offers a more robust selection of workout programs at a more affordable price. Furthermore, while accountability may not be an issue for experienced lifters, beginners may need that motivational boost (no structured workout routines pun intended). Unfortunately, Boostcamp is not the best weightlifting app for accountability, as Matt only rates it a 2 out of 5 in this category. So, if you’re a number-crunching, iron-pumping gymgoer who wants to dive deep into stats and charts, be prepared to pay $14.99 per month (or $39.99 per year) for the upgraded version. A fitness app for beginners wouldn’t be worth its weight in gigabytes if it were a nightmare to use.

Best Workout App for Pilates: Reverse Health

If you’re interested in trying TR[Ai]NER by Element 26, the app does give you three free workouts without having to sign up for a subscription or give any credit card information. We like this feature because you won’t have to worry about auto-renewals or accidental charges if you decide you don’t like the program. If you are curious about your technique in a given workout, you can record yourself and send it to your coach for analysis and feedback.

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. Muscle Booster is our choice for the best beginner-friendly weightlifting app because it puts an emphasis on progressive overload and, according to our tester, is easy to use from a functionality standpoint. A score of 3 shows the app offers a fair amount of content and functionality for its price. Apps that are inexpensive or provide exceptional features relative to the cost earn higher marks.

With this level of expertise behind these apps, you can feel sure of the progress you’ll make from your own workouts. Hevy is our choice for the best free weightlifting app, as it provides not only basic workout tracking with simple features but also an expansive community in the app. You can post and share workouts, as well as like and comment on other users’ training progress.

Whether you’re in the gym or at home, each exercise in your daily workout features a video to demonstrate proper form in case you feel unsure in the heat of the workout. Our tester said she was disappointed that Caliber only syncs with an Apple Watch — she uses a different fitness tracker — but she just had to manually log her workouts after completing them. Not every online workout program is the same, and there are many apps and programs that don’t have certified professionals behind the programming or workouts.

Best Workout Apps FAQs

In terms of cost, there’s the $15 monthly iFIT Train plan and the $39 monthly iFIT Pro plan. The biggest difference here is that the Train tier lets you create your own workouts and is available on equipment touchscreens. Rather, we find it better suited for people who have been training for at least six months because it lacks some of the human coaching and motivational tools that gym novices may want.

Analyzing L-Glutamine’s Role in Muscle Recovery and Repair

The Bloom Method (also referred to as Studio Bloom) is a wellness and exercise app specifically designed for exercise during pregnancy, prenatal and postnatal, or while trying to conceive. Like many other fitness apps, you’ll find a wide variety of instructor-led HIIT workouts, strength training, boxing, yoga, and barre. The nutrition features complement the training programs, with meal planning tools, macro tracking, and the ability to share recipes.

Crafting a Personalized Mental Health Self-Care Routine

JuggernautAI is the product of Chad Wesley Smith, a wildly accomplished strength athlete who can squat numbers most people never even dream of. Using the JuggernautAI app is like having all of the knowledge and experience of an expert personal trainer for a palatable price of $35 per month (get a discount if you use code GARAGEGYM). Plus, using the app is incredibly easy; I give it a perfect 5 out of 5 in this category. I rated this app a 3 out of 5 for accountability, because there aren’t really many features to hold you accountable to your workout. Other than this, I have no problems with Nike Training Club, and I think it’s a wonderful free option for people who like to do a lot of different types of workouts. However, for $11.99 per month, the app allows you to participate in asynchronous competitions, set and track goals, create training plans, and measure your performance.

Best fitness app for busy people

• As a personal trainer, I really appreciate and value Mind Pump’s dedication to simplicity with MAPS Anabolic.
• We also recommend having dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands on hand for other movements.
• The instructors bring the energy and will even give shout-outs during the live classes.
• BetterMe’s training platform can be excellent for Pilates enthusiasts thanks to its detailed instruction for each programmed workout consisting of both visual and audio guidance.
• The biggest difference here is that the Train tier lets you create your own workouts and is available on equipment touchscreens.
• Apps that offer only machine-based isolation work or cardio circuits are, for this demographic, the wrong tool for the job.

Aaptive is a simple to use app that received high scores in categories like app setup, ease of use, and accountability, but it only received average rankings for interactive features and progressive overload. 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. Aaptiv is a great option for people looking for an alternative to video-based workout programs. This app received high scores in nearly every category, but it’s a little limited in workout variety and interactive features. Because this is a powerlifting program, it may not be a surprise that you’ll need a squat rack, bench, barbell, and weight plates to complete your workouts. It will also be helpful to have access to dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands for a handful of different exercises.

The Caliber Difference

There’s no option to work with a personal coach here, so you’re on your own when it comes to consistency. Personally, I love the filter in the search tab for this app, allowing you to pick and choose your preferred workout modality, available equipment, length, etc. The app is generally easy to use and follow, including easy-to-follow exercise videos for the non-live workouts. Reverse Health is a weight-loss program app that’s specifically designed for people during and after menopause. As far as user experience is concerned, we experienced no bugs or lagging when navigating the app features.

Best Online Workout Program for Running: Runkeeper

When using the app, you can find relevant training plans by goal, such as strength, weight loss or building muscle. Whether you cherry pick workouts based on how you’re feeling that day, or you choose one of the app’s curated exercise routines, you’ll love the variety Alo Moves offers. We’ve tested dozens of workout apps and this one continues to be a top pick for our team. There are thousands of classes to choose from, with a variety of methods available including strength training, cycling, dance, aerobics, HIIT, yoga, and martial arts. If you like having a clear plan to follow and a simple way to track your progress over time, Fitness Online is a great choice. This user-friendly app offers a highly structured approach to training and nutrition, no matter your goals.

Fortunately, I found the classes on Alo Moves are fun and dynamic when you’re looking to add movement into your day and relaxed when you want to slow things down. And to replicate the video’s beautiful scenery, you can download a session and head outdoors. Alo Moves is the perfect alternative, with engaging classes, whether you want an intense flow session focused on strengthening your core or a more mindful restorative class to end the day. And when I was tight on time, I could pick a short 15-minute session instead. I used to practice yoga several times a week at a studio on my road, but since that closed, I’d been looking for a way to get back into it.

Data Not Linked to You

Unfortunately, if you primarily work out indoors, you won’t get much out of the app. And if you’re privacy-conscious or just not all that competitive, a lot of the strongest features are kind of useless. Future is the best choice in this set if the deciding factor is a real human trainer. A human coach can interpret nuance, talk through barriers, and provide accountability that some users simply will not get from software. For longevity training, that can be valuable when you have a complicated training history or need someone to help you modify around travel, equipment, aches, and motivation.

How We Tested and Chose the Best Personal Training Apps

If you’re not hyper-focused on improving your squat, bench, and deadlift game, Boostcamp offers a more robust selection of workout programs at a more affordable price. Furthermore, while accountability may not be an issue for experienced lifters, beginners may need that motivational boost (no structured workout routines pun intended). Unfortunately, Boostcamp is not the best weightlifting app for accountability, as Matt only rates it a 2 out of 5 in this category. So, if you’re a number-crunching, iron-pumping gymgoer who wants to dive deep into stats and charts, be prepared to pay $14.99 per month (or $39.99 per year) for the upgraded version. A fitness app for beginners wouldn’t be worth its weight in gigabytes if it were a nightmare to use.

Best Workout App for Pilates: Reverse Health

If you’re interested in trying TR[Ai]NER by Element 26, the app does give you three free workouts without having to sign up for a subscription or give any credit card information. We like this feature because you won’t have to worry about auto-renewals or accidental charges if you decide you don’t like the program. If you are curious about your technique in a given workout, you can record yourself and send it to your coach for analysis and feedback.