Fitnessappsmayseemlikeadimeadozen,butourproducttestershereatGarageGymReviewshavetested20differentworkoutappstodeterminewhichonesareworthyourtimeandmoney.
ButwhatmakesusreliableexpertsWe’reagroupofcertifiedpersonaltrainers,gymowners,andOlympic-levelathleteswithtonsofexperienceinfollowingtrainingprograms,designingourownprograms,andcoachingclientsthroughprogramsaswell.
Thebestworkoutappsoffermorethanjuststand-aloneworkouts.Appsshouldofferwell-thought-outprogramsintendedtohelpyouimproveyourstrength,flexibility,speed,orwhateverfitnessgoalyou’reafter.
BestOverall
CaliberStrengthTrainingisafitnesscoachingprogramgroundedinscientificprinciplesdesignedtoincreasestrengthandimprovebodycomposition.Theappoffersbothgroupandindividualtrainingplanswhicharewrittenandmodifiedbyacertifiedcoachbasedonprogress.
TheCaliberappearnsthetopspotonourbestworkoutappsroundupbecauseitofferssomethingforeveryone.Thereisarobustfree-foreverversionandtwopaidoptionsthatgrantyouaccesstoeithergroupcoaching($19permonth)orafullycustomizedone-on-onecoachingprogram(startingat$200permonth).
ThefreeversionoftheCaliberappisad-freeandfeaturesthefullexerciselibraryofover500movements.Eachexercisefeaturesademonstrationvideo,step-by-stepwritteninstructions,andtheabilitytologyourweightsandreps(andaccessyourhistoryatanypoint).Thisaloneisanincrediblevalue(andyoucanevenbuildyourownworkoutsinthisapp).
CaliberPremiumisone-on-onepersonaltraining,whichstartsat$200permonth.Whilethatisnotcheap,whenyoucomparethattoworkingwithanin-personcoach,you’llspendlessandgetmorecommunicationfromyourcoachand24-houraccesstoyourprogramfromtheapp.Coachingincludescustomstrengthandconditioningprograms,plushelpwithnutrition,sleep,hydration,andmobility.
Incomparison,aone-hoursessionwithapersonaltrainercanrunyouanywherefrom$50to$150perhourdependingonwhereyoulive.Forthatreason,Caliberearnsa5-out-of-5-starratingforthevaluecategory.
Withtheone-on-onetrainingoption,acoachwilldevelopacustomizedtrainingprogrambasedonwhatequipmentyouhaveavailableathome(oratyourlocalgym).Caliberisgearedtowardresistancetrainingandthewebsitenotesthatmostsubscribersusetheappatcommercialgyms.
Goodfor:Anyonelookingfortop-tierpersonaltrainingandaccountability
BestforPersonalTraining
Andbecauseyou’llbeworkingwithanactualcoach,you’llhavetheaccountabilityfromahuman,notjustanapp.Forthisreason,Futureearnsa5-out-of-5-starratingforaccountability.
GGRexpertproducttesterLoganBlockreportshiscoach,Layne,ispersonableandenergetic.“Laynedoesagreatjobofcheckinginontrainingandrestdays.Healsotookmyfeedbackintoaccountwhendesigningworkoutsgoingforward,”saysLogan.
KateMeier,GGReditorialteammemberandproducttester,sayshercoachisfantasticaboutdailycheck-insandgatheringfeedback.KatealsolikesthefacttheFutureapppairswithherAppleWatch.“SeeingmyfitnessringsonmyAppleWatchworkedreallywellformeintermsofkeepingmeontrackwithmyworkouts,”saysKate.
Futureearnsa4.5-outof-5-starratingforeaseofuse.“It’suser-friendly,withgoodaudioandvisualcuestokeepyoumovingthroughtheworkoutwithoutmoreeffortonyourpart,”notesLogan.
Katealsoreportsit’seasytomovethroughtheworkoutonyourAppleWatch,too.“I’mabletotapabuttononmywatchinsteadofhavingtogetmyphoneout—thatissuperconvenient,”shesays.
Goodfor:Anyonelookingforanappwithhigh-qualityyogaprogramming
BestforYoga
CENTRFitnessappiseverythingyouneedinoneplace:workoutlibrary,nutritiousrecipes,andmentalhealthresources.Theappisalsoeasy-to-usewellorganizedsoyoucankeeptrackofyourworkoutsandrecipes.It’salsoprettyaffordablewithallthreebillingoptionsunder$30permonth.Youcanpaymonthly,quarterly,orannually.
WhileyourThor-likegoalsmayhavetobeputonpause,CENTRstandsouttoourexpertproducttestersbecauseithasaholisticstyleofcoaching.
“Thisappcanscheduleyourworkouts,helpyouwithmealplans,andgeneratesashoppinglistforyoubasedonyourplannedmeals,”saysBrittanyCombs,GGRsocialmediamanagerandexpertproducttester.“Italsohasalogbookforyoutotrackyourprogress.”
Brittanynotonlyappreciatesthisholisticandpersonalizedapproach,shealsoappreciatesthefactCENTRoffersprogressiveoverloadprinciples,andgivestheappa5-out-of-5-starratinginthiscategory.Shenotestheworkoutsprogramsarethoughtfullydesigned,offeringprogressionseachweekandtheabilitytochoosefromdifferenttracksincludingbeginner,intermediate,andadvancedoptions.
CENTRisfocusedonstrengthtrainingandwillrequiresomeequipment,buttherearebodyweightoptionsaswell.OverallBrittanygivesCENTRa3-out-of-5-starratingforequipmentdemands.
“Theapphasasectionwhereyoucancheckboxesonwhichpiecesofequipmentyouhaveaccesstoandthenfilterworkoutsthatway,”sheexplains.“Therearealsoseveralbodyweightprograms,homegymprograms,andcommercialgymprograms.”
Goodfor:Womenwhowanttogetstrongerwithat-homeworkoutsandeasytrackingcapabilities
BestforWomen
Foranywomenseekingafitnessplatformwithprogressiveprogrammingandagreatdealofvariety,Sweatisacomprehensivefitnessappcompletewitharangeofprograms,nutritionalcomponents,andastrongcommunityfeel.
Goodfor:CyclistsonabudgetwhoalsowantGPStrackingcapabilities
BestforCycling
Zwiftusesgamefeaturestomakeindoorcyclingandrunningmorefun,buttheapphasahistoryofcrashingandisn’tgreatonsmallphonescreens.
Zwiftreleasesamonthlycalendarwithclasses/coursesineachofits11virtualworlds,butyoucanalsoscheduleracesagainstfriendsbyusingtheZwiftcompanionapp(includedinyourmonthlysubscription).ZwiftCompanionalsoletsyousendmessagestoyourfriendsandjoinclubsbasedonyourfitnesslevelandpreferences.
Tobeclear,therearenoinstructorsorliveworkoutclassesintheZwiftapp.
Goodfor:Menwhoarelookingforaneasy-to-useandefficientworkoutapp
BestWorkoutAppforMen
TheShredappisanAI-poweredvirtualtrainerthatcanbeusedtocustomizeworkoutsinyourhomeorcommercialgym.
Whileitcancertainlybeusedbywomen,theSHREDappisourpickforthebestworkoutappformenbecauseitcontainshigh-qualitystrengthtrainingprogramsandactsasavirtualpersonaltraineratafractionofthecost.
Goodfor:Anyonelookingforafreeresourcetogetstartedwithstrengthtraining
BestFreeApp
NikeTrainingClubisafreefitnessappwitharobustworkoutlibrarythatincludesone-offworkoutsaswellasperiodizedprogramsledbycertifiedinstructors.
Nikeoffersafreestrength-basedtrainingappthatreducesthebarrierofentryforweight-basedworkoutsathomeorinacommercialgym.Afreetrainingprogrammayhavethepowertofreeyourmindofanywoesaboutdesigninganeffectiveworkoutforyourselfandworryaboutmorepressingmatters(likewhatyou’regoingtohavefordinner).
Priorto2020,theapphadbothfreeandpremiumversions,butsincethepandemic,Nikemadetheentireworkoutlibraryfreetouse.TheappisalsoeasytodownloadfromtheAppleappstoreorGooglePlay.
However,ifyou’relookingforaccountability,thisfreeappprobablywon’tmakethecut.“Youcandownloaditonyourphone,butnooneisgonnamakeyouuseit,”saysAmanda.However,shedoesnotethattheappcansendyounotificationsifyouenabletheminyoursettingsandyoucanjoinprogramsorchallenges.Overall,AmandagivesNikeTrainingCluba3.5-star-ratingforaccountability.
Ifyou’relimitedonequipmentornewtostrengthtraining,NikeTrainingClubhasyoucoveredwithanumberofbodyweight-onlyworkouts.“However,whenyoucompareittotheentireworkoutlibrary,thebodyweightworkoutsareasmallfragment,”saysAmanda.
AmandagivesNTCa4-out-of-5-starratingforequipmentdemands,notingthatyou’llneedequipmentforthemajorityofworkouts,butyoucanfilterworkoutsbywhattypeofequipmentyouhaveavailable.
Goodfor:AnyoneinterestedinaprogramthatutilizesAIforcoaching
BestAIApp
JuggernautAIcompilesyourinformationtocreateapersonalizedpowerliftingandpowerbuildingworkoutexperience.
JuggernautAIisapowerliftingprogramgeneratedbyartificialintelligence.Youwon’tworkwithacoachorpersonaltrainer,butratherinputinformationaboutyourself(likeyourpreviousworkoutexperience,personalrecords,yourrecoveryhabits,andweakpointstonameafew)intotheappandallowAItocreateapersonalizedpowerliftingprogrambasedonyourstats.
JuggernautAIisnotjustdesignedwithyourstatsinmind,it’sdesignedtohelpyoumovetheneedleonyourstrength.“Whileartificialintelligenceprogramsyourworkouts,it’scompletelybasedontheprinciplesofprogressiveoverload,”explainsAmandaCapritto,GGRproducttester,writer,andcertifiedpersonaltrainerwhousedJuggernautAIforoverayear.
Theprogramiscenteredaroundgettingstrongerandimprovingthebigthreelifts(squat,bench,anddeadlift).Ifyou’renotinterestedinpowerlifting(orpowerbuilding—acombinationofbodybuilding-styletrainingandpowerlifting),thiswillnotbethebestworkoutappforyou.
You’llbechallengedtoliftheavierweights,increaserangeofmotion,completemoresets,andaddmorerepetitions.Intheprogressiveoverloadcategory,thisappearnsa4.5-out-of-5-starrating.
Becausethisisapowerliftingprogram,itmaynotbeasurprisethatyou’llneedasquatrack,bench,barbell,andweightplatestocompleteyourworkouts.Itwillalsobehelpfultohaveaccesstodumbbells,kettlebells,andresistancebands.
Althoughmoreequipmentisneededthanotherappswereviewed,AmandastillgivesJuggernautAIa4-out-of-5-starratingforequipmentdemands.“Youcanswapinexerciseseachdayorforanentireblockbasedonwhatyouhavehandy,”sheexplains.
“Forinstance,Inormallyworkoutinmyhomegym,whereIhavelimiteddumbbellsandkettlebells.ButifIdecidetodoaJuggernautworkoutattheCrossFitgymIgototwiceaweek,IcanswapinadifferentmoveImightnotnormallydobecauseofequipmentrestraints,”saysAmanda.
Goodfor:Beginnerslookingforaccountabilityandastructuredprogram
BestforBeginners
Aaptivisagreatoptionforpeoplelookingforanalternativetovideo-basedworkoutprograms.
WealsopickedAaptivforbeginnersbecausetheprogrammingonamacro-levelwon’tbeadequateforintermediateoradvancedexercisers.However,AaptivisagreatstartingpointandtesterAmandaCapritto,GGRwriterandCPTgivestheappa3-out-of-5-starratingforusingprogressiveoverloadprinciples.
“Therearedecentprogressionsintheprograms,butit’sallprettybasicandyouwon’tseealltheprogressionprinciplesbeingused.Itwillcertainlysufficeforabeginner.Mostprogramsareonlyaboutfourtosixweeks,soit’snotquiteenoughtimetoseebigresults,especiallyifyouhavetrainingexperienceunderyourbelt,”saysAmanda.
Whenitcomestoequipmentdemands,theappearnsa5-out-of-5-starratingfromAmandawithawideselectionofbodyweightandweighttrainingworkouts.Amandaappreciatesthatthereisawaytofilterbyequipmentinordertochooseaworkout.Plus,thereisaselectionofrunningandwalkingworkoutsyoucandooutside.Aaptivhassomethingforeveryoneincludingcardio,HIIT,full-bodystrengthtraining,yoga,pilates,andmobility.
AmandagivesAaptiva4-out-of-5-starratingforaccountability.Shenotesthereisasupportiveonlinecommunity,challengesyoucanjoin,andtheabilitytoaddyourworkoutprogramtoyourcalendar.Whenyouusethecalendaroption,yourworkoutscomeupasappointmentswithcalendarreminders,whichisidealforanyoneestablishingaroutine.
Goodfor:Exercisersseekingpeppy,motivatinginstructorsandliveclasses
BestInstructors
ThePelotonappisapopularoptionforanyonewhoownsacardiomachinefromPeloton,butit’snotnecessarytoownaPelotonbrandmachine—youcanusetheapponitsown,too.Theappfeaturessomeofthemostpeppy,motivating,andupbeatinstructorsyou’llexperienceandthat’swhyourteamagreesPelotonisthebestworkoutappifyou’reseekinghighlevelsofenthusiasmfromfitnessinstructors.
CertifiedCrossFitinstructorandexpertproducttesterCarolineLubinskygivesPelotona4.5-out-of-5-starratingintheinstructioncategory.Notonlyareinstructorsfilmedinhigh-qualitystudioswithsupercrispaudio,buttheinstructorsalsoleadyouthroughtheworkoutandprovidedemonstrationsinrealtime.
Whetheryou’reparticipatinginayogaclass,treadmillbootcamp,orstrengthtrainingsession,instructorsprovideadequaterestandenoughtimetochangeweightsorresistance.Theyencourageyoutostickthroughallthephysicallytoughmoments.
Carolinealsoappreciatesthefactyoucanfilterworkoutsbyinstructors.“AfterafewweeksofusingPeloton,Iknewwhomyfavoriteinstructorswere:RobinArzón,JessSims,andBecsGentry.Eachhastheirownuniquestylethathelpsmepushmyselftoperformbetter.”
“Thefiltersmaketheexperiencemorecustomizable.Plus,it’ssuperuser-friendly,”saysCaroline.Notonlycanyoufilteryourworkoutsbyinstructor,youcanalsosearchworkoutsbasedonworkoutduration,typeofclass,difficultylevel,andmusic.”
Speakingofmusic,theappevenoffersartist-basedworkoutstocurateworkoutplaylistsbasedonyourfavoriteartists.You’llbeabletofindeverythingfromMetallicatoTaylorSwift.
Goodfor:Peoplelookingforexpertguidanceandinstructionsfromhome
BestforHomeWorkouts
Goodfor:Thosenewtoactivitytrackingorthosewhowanttotracktheirnutritionalongwiththeirworkouts
BestforTracking
MyFitnessPalisoneoftheOGcaloriecountingappsonthemarket.Thefreeversionisavailableforlookingupfoodperitemandcreatingrecipes,butdoesnotallowyouaccesstothebarcodescanner.ThePremiumversiongrantsyouaccesstomacronutrientdata,intermittentfasting,foodcomparison,andthebarcodescanner.ThePremiumplanoffersasignificantpricebreakifyousignupfortheannualplanat$79.99peryearcomparedtothemonthlyplan,whichis$19.99permonth.
Ifyoualreadyhaveaworkoutroutinethatyouenjoydoingandwantabetterwaytokeeptrackofcertainmetrics—ortakeyourpaper/pentrainingjournalintothedigitalage—MyFitnessPalmayofferyouasolution.
We’vetested70differentworkoutappsatthetimeofpublicationandweplantotestmore.Hereareafewexamplesofappsthatdidn’tquitemakethecutforthisbestworkoutappsroundup:
Ourproducttestersweretaskedwithtestingmultiplefitnessappsandratingthemonascaleof1to5starsin14differentcategories.Ourin-depthmethodologycoveredcategoriesrangingfromoverallvalueandeaseofusetoworkoutvarietyandequipmentdemands.
Notallcategoriesappliedtoeveryappwetested,butoverallmostappswerejudgedin10differentcategories.Forexample,arunningappwon’toffermuchvarietyorneedequipment.
Allofthefitnessappsweretestedforatleastseveralworkoutsbyourexpertproducttesters,whilemanyappsweretestedforafullmonthorlonger.Thelengthoftestingdependedonhowmuchthetesteractuallyenjoyedtheprogramandhowmuchprogressionwasofferedfromtheprogram.
Belowisasamplingoffivecategoriesandhowweassignedscorestoeachone:
Inourbook,fitnessappswithfreetrialsearnedhigherpointsthanoneswithout.Infact,appswithnotrialperiodsearneda1-starratinginthiscategory.A3-starratingmeanttheappofferedaprettytypicalseven-dayfreetrial.
Toearna4-or5-starrating,thetrialneedstolastforsevendays(someappsoffer14days)andeitherdoesn’trequireyourcreditcardtosignup,orsendsareminderthatyourtrialisabouttoend.
Forgeneralprogramming,appsearneda4-or5-starratingwhenthemonthlymembershipfeelandedunder$15permonth.Foranapptoearna1-starrating,theappcosts$35permonthormore.
Werecognizethisscoringsystemisn’tperfect,becausepersonaltrainingappscomeatahighercost(morelikeseveralhundreddollarspermonth).Forone-on-onecoachingapps,wecomparedpricingtoin-persontrainingsessions,whichcanrunfrom$50to$150perhourdependingonyourarea.
Thisdoesn’tnecessarilymeanyou’llliftheavierweightsorrunlongerdistances—aprogramwithprogressiveoverloadcanchallengeyoubywayofvariationviaload,reps,resttime,volume,orrangeofmotion.Basically,wewantedevidencethatprogramsweren’tjustrandomkitchensinkworkouts.
Becausetheprogramswetestedare100%online,it’simportantthattheplatformiseasytouseanddoesn’ttakeawayfromtheworkoutexperience.Foranapptoearna1-starratingtheinterfaceisconfusing,therearenofiltersforspecificneeds,anditgenerallyfeelschaotic.
IftheappisgenerallyOKafterashortlearningcurve,testerscouldgivetheappamiddle-of-the-road3-starrating.Only5-starratingswerereservedforappswithseamlessuserexperiencewhereworkoutsareeasytofind,see,hear,followalong,andtrackafteryourworkoutisdone.
Ourteamisallabouthomeworkoutsandhomegyms.Ifanapprequiresyoutohaveaccesstoafullgymoronlyhasasmallpercentageofworkoutsthatcanbeperformedwithminimalequipment,thatwascausefora1-or2-starrating.
Thebestscoresweregiventoappsthatofferedalargepercentageoftheirworkoutswithminimalequipmentorwaystochangeacableorbarbellexerciseforasimilarbodyweightordumbbellmovement.
Thiswasagenerallookatthepoliciesandcustomerserviceassociatedwitheachapp.Welookedatwhatinformationwasavailablethroughtheapp(likeanFAQsection),howeasyitwastocontactcustomerservice,aswellastheeaseofcancelingyoursubscription.Wenotedourexperience,aswellasothercustomerswhonotedprosorconsintheircustomerreviews.
Asacertifiedpersonaltrainermyself,Iknowit’snotaseasyasitsoundstohireapersonaltrainerandmakeittoin-personsessionsonaweeklybasis.BelowIoutlinethreetopbenefitsofusingaworkoutappversusin-persontraining(ortryingtoplaneverythingonyourown).
Oneofthebiggestreasonsclientscomethroughthedoorlookingforapersonaltrainerisaccountability.Havingtimeandmoneyonthelineisoneofthemoreeffectivewaystokeepyourselfaccountable.Sohowdoyoustayaccountabletoanapp
Well,ourproducttestersfoundthatsomeofthebestworkoutappseithersentpushnotificationstoyourphoneaboutupcomingworkoutsorallowedyoutoscheduleyourworkoutasanappointmentonyourpersonal(orwork)calendar.Someappsevenhavecoachingcheck-insorcommunityboardsforadditionalaccountability.
WhenIworkedasafull-timepersonaltrainer,thegymIworkedatcharged$70for60-minuteone-on-onesessions.Ifyouweretoworkwithapersonaltraineronceaweek,itwouldcostyou$280permonth,whichaddsupto$3,360peryear.
Whilethereareotherwaystomakein-personsessionslesscostly(likegroupclassesorsplittingthecostofprivatesessionswithafriend),onlinecoachingandworkoutappsaretypicallylessexpensivethanin-persontrainingandallowyoutoaccessyourtrainingresourcesonadailybasis.
Withonlineworkoutapps,youcangetaworkoutanytimeofday.Youwon’thavetoworryaboutcoordinatingwithapersonaltrainerordashingoutofworktocatchyourfavoriteclass.Withanapp,youcancompleteyourworkoutsanytimeofday—firstthinginthemorningoronyourlunchbreak—it’stotallyuptoyou.
Someprogramsaregeneric,andwhiletheymayhelpyouaddresssomeofyourfitnessgoals,theymaynothelpyouwithallofyourgoals.Bycontrast,manyworkoutappsconnectyouwithprofessionals,whocanhelpguideyouthroughandprogramacustomworkoutplanforyouandyourspecificgoals.Thislevelofcustomizationandpersonaltouchhelpsyoustayfocusedonyourgoals,andyoucanrestassuredthateachworkoutyoudohasbeenpersonalizedtogetyouclosertoreachingyourgoalsandneeds.
Afterourteamcollaboratedontestingover20fitnessapps,hereiswhatourproducttesterswantyoutoknowbeforeyousignupforthatmonthlysubscription.
SomeappslikePelotonandiFITofferanon-demandlibraryconsistingofavarietyofworkouts—everythingfromboutiqueyogatoinstructor-ledoutdoorcardiosessions.Typically,theseon-demandclassesdon’toffercustomworkoutsandit’smeanttobecompletedasyoufollowalongwiththevideoinstructions.
Atrainingprogramontheotherhandistypicallyalistofexercisesmethodicallyselectedbyapersonaltrainer(orAIinsomecases)totargetspecificmusclegroups.Typicallyyoucangoatyourownpaceandwon’tneedtofollowaliveclassorworkoutvideo.Thatsaid,thebestworkoutappswillprovideashortvideooranimationtodemonstrateeachmovementproperly.
Iftheappyou’reinterestedinlogsyourworkoutmetricsorrecordspersonalbests,it’sagoodindicatortherewillbesomeamountofprogressiveoverloadandprogressionincludedinthetrainingplan.
NosenseinwastingyourtimeandmoneynavigatingthroughaPilatesandyogaappwhenyoureallywanteddumbbelltrainingandhigh-intensitybodyweightexercises.
Thebestworkoutappforyouwillvary,dependingonyourfitnessgoals,budget,preferredmethodoftraining,andthelevelofcoachingyoudesire.Withthatinmind,ourfavoriteappformostpeopleisCaliber,asthereareavarietyofplansforavarietyofbudgets.Hereareourtoppicksforthebestworkoutapps,afterhavingtestedover70apps:
Workoutappscanprovideyouwithexpertguidance,eitherthroughprofessionallymadeprogramsandplans,orthroughconnectingyouwithacertifiedpersonaltrainerorcoach.Whilewhataworkoutappdoesvariesfromproducttoproduct,theycanhelpyoutrackprogress,keepyoumotivated,andconnectyouwithlike-mindedindividualswhocansupportyouonyourfitnessjourney.