Best fitness app 2025: Get fit with just a smartphone

In her free time, Gabrielle can be found coaching CrossFit, reviewing pleasure products, hiking with her border collie, or recording episodes of the podcast she co-hosts called Bad In Bed. From improving biomarkers of health (like resting heart rate and cholesterol levels) to boosting overall mood, exercise has some damn powerful effects on your body, mind, and soul. Research shows that short, regular workouts can be as effective as longer ones. In addition to our personal experience and expertise, here are the main factors we used to evaluate each workout app. If you have an Apple Watch, the app makes it convenient to access it and view your metrics on the smartwatch during your workouts as well. If you own an iPhone, it’s a no-brainer to sign up for a workout app that is already built into your smartphone and allows you to work out anywhere.

• The right fitness app can transform your routine, keeping you motivated and on track.
• Nike Training Club also works well for bodyweight training, offering guided workouts that require minimal or no equipment.
• This data-driven approach prevents the common problem of overtraining certain movements while neglecting others.
• You can also add or skip workouts, so it really feels like an app that works with you, meeting you where you’re at.
• TR[Ai]NER by Element 26 is an AI workout app that delivers highly customizable training programs based on your goals, available equipment, and fitness preferences.
• The choose-your-own-coaching-voice and adjustable plan length handle empowerment.

Best Running App

Instead of overhauling your entire routine overnight, focus on one or two manageable changes. Over time, these small shifts will solidify into habits that support your fitness and nutrition goals. We’ve compiled the best fitness apps on the market for a range of different needs. The best one for you will largely depend on what you’re looking to achieve.

Plus & Peak Subscription

We also prioritized effectiveness, favoring thoughtfully programmed workouts and motivating instructors who provide clear guidance and encourage users to stick with their routines. A seamless, intuitive interface was another key factor, making it easy to navigate classes, track progress, and stay engaged. The platform’s strength lies in its detailed performance analytics, route planning, and social feed. While the free version offers robust tracking, a paid subscription unlocks advanced features like heart rate analysis, training plans, and deeper performance metrics. However, its focus is primarily on cardio and endurance activities.

With over a decade of experience leading high-impact projects in engineering and operations, Saumya has a strong background in developing reliable and scalable systems. Through FitBudd, she is dedicated to addressing the evolving needs of fitness professionals worldwide. Fitbod has emerged as a leader in the 2026 market by perfecting the ai workout generator model through its proprietary engine, making daily planning effortless. The recipe section is exceptional, with new healthy meal ideas added weekly.

Celebrate progress and stay motivated

It’s one of the best apps for tracking exercise goals specifically because it bridges the gap between the calories you burn in the gym and the fuel you consume. For runners, cyclists, and swimmers, Strava is arguably one of the best apps for tracking exercise goals centered on endurance. It transforms solo workouts into community events by mapping your routes via GPS and placing you on leaderboards for specific segments.

Best workout app for strength training

So whether you’re total beginner, wanting to gain muscle, or simply looking to incorporate some low-key exercises into your day, here are the best workout apps worth a download. All of them work whether you have an iPhone or Android and all offer a free trial period so you can test before you buy. Of course, scrolling the app store can feel overwhelming, and not every fitness app delivers high-quality programming. That’s why our exercise professionals in the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition & Fitness Lab tested more than 40 workout apps to find the ones that truly stand out. We evaluated everything from the quality of the workouts and variety of classes to how intuitive the apps felt to use.

I Missed a Week of Workouts, Should I Start Over?

You can check the latest price, as there are often introductory offers for your first month. This makes it significantly cheaper than physical therapy or in-person training while often delivering better long-term results. Founded by Kayla Itsines in 2015, Sweat quickly became the leader for online workout plans for women. The brand is unapologetically designed for women (by women) and comes with an army of loyal customers who swear by the workouts and programs. We selected Muscle Booster as the best workout planner because it does that specific job better than almost anything else we tested. It is not the right tool for experienced lifters who want granular weight tracking, but for anyone who wants a structured, adaptable plan and the accountability to follow it, it delivers.

ExerciseApp

Before committing to a subscription, use this 2026 checklist to ensure the best workout apps for you align with your reality. Jefit has been a staple in the lifting community for over a decade and continues to lead the workout apps market with its massive database. This roundup review highlights the sheer depth of quality when it comes to online fitness programs and apps that are available at the moment. Features and price vary quite dramatically, so you’ll need to think carefully about your personal preferences, budget and fitness goals. The free version provides solid functionality including calorie tracking, basic fasting features, and access to many recipes. This allows you to test the app’s core value before considering the PRO upgrade.

Start Ridiculously Small

If you’re not sure how walk more app to move your body during this regular movement, Wickham suggests mobility exercises. It’s system-agnostic, so you can import your metrics from almost any watch into the app, but it can also estimate its own metrics too. It’s ideal for lapsed runners and newcomers, too, with an audio prompter for helping you pick up the pace, but experienced runners will love the more detailed running metrics offered here, too.

Apple Fitness+

This educational approach helps beginners build confidence while learning correct technique from day one. Elegantly simple yet incredibly effective at crafting customized workouts perfect for those new to strength training. Try our workout quiz to find the right training style for your goals, or use the recovery calculator to see how recovery-based training works before committing to an app. You can follow friends, see their workouts, and give encouragement.

Pvolve’s app lets you filter classes by equipment (or lack thereof). But the majority of classes center around its custom resistance-based equipment, which you need to get the full experience, says Rodriguez. You don’t necessarily have to buy the brand’s gliders, dumbbells, ankle weights and resistance bands — those accessories from any brand will do. However, Pvolve’s P.ball, P.band, P.3 Trainer and Precision Mat aren’t comparable to other equipment on the market, so you’d have to invest in it, which is pricey. The best approach is downloading 2-3 apps and testing them during actual workouts.

Best Workout App for Muscle Gain: SHRED

This app costs $25 a month ($135 a year) but lets you test it for free for seven days if you’re a new member. This is a good way to determine if the workouts on the app are the right fit for you and your goals. The paid version of the app will run you $12 per month ($80 per year) for an individual plan, or $13 per month ($150 per year) for a Strava and Runna combo plan. There is a student discount of $40 per year and a family plan for up to 4 accounts at $140 a year. The good news is that Strava offers a free 30-day trial to those who want to try out its upgraded features before committing. It also connects you to friends on the app who can cheer you on or comment on your posts that get uploaded to your Strava feed after your workout.

The one thing more important than consistency is form (because hello, injury prevention). It’s a great resource to get into the social side of running, with ‘friendly’ competition from friends and other users, and it’s great to use for any outdoor pursuit. Recommended additions to your workout include stretching periods, and Pace Prompter records your speed and tells you to slow down or speed up depending on your pace. It’s definitely worth investigating before your next running event – after all, it’s cheaper than a real running coach. The design and user interface feature lots of handy elements, with AI always one tap away. There’s also a high degree of personalization, and you can use the chatbot to ask questions about lifting, form, nutrition, or anything else you need.