The app is designed to make it easier to track your progress at the gym — rather than tracking your weights and workouts in an old notebook. Any functional fitness lover will appreciate the variety of CrossFit exercises available on SmartWOD. This app is a WOD generator as well as a WOD creator, so you can search for workouts or make your own custom workout using the app’s integrated timer and marking off reps and rounds.
Best For Group Fitness Lovers: LES MILLS+
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. Workout apps can provide you with guidance, either through professionally made programs and plans or through connecting you with a certified personal trainer or coach. While what a workout app does varies from product to product, they can help you track progress, keep you motivated, and connect you with like-minded individuals who can support you on your fitness journey.
You can read about our hands-on experience in our in-depth Caliber app review. There are also a few red flags to watch for when you’re evaluating options. If you’re trying to bulk up, you may also want to consider using SHRED in tandem with a supplement—perhaps one found on our list of the best protein powders for muscle gain. This article was medically reviewed by Samantha Cassetty, MS, RD, a nutrition and wellness with a private practice based in New York City. We like that Aaptive is more affordable than the average app while still offering plenty of value, especially for beginners.
MyFitnessPal is one of the most effective fitness apps for weight loss because it builds calorie awareness, which is essential for fat loss. With a food database of more than 14 million items, it makes daily logging fast and realistic, even for beginners. The app provides vital biometric data, and your coach will be in constant contact with you to help ensure you’re hitting those fitness goals. But keep in mind that the Future app is a workout-focused means of weight loss, so nutrition, weight-loss supplementation, and eating habits will still be on the user to manage. Whether fitness apps “work” is a subjective question, as your results with each platform rely heavily on how dedicated you are to using the services.
What is the best fitness app out there?
This may not be a problem for some people, but others may require a little more push to get into the weight room. Caliber earns a 5-out-of-5-star rating for the value category for two reasons. In this roundup of best workout apps for women, our team considered some of the unique wants and needs women may look for in an online workout program.
MyFitnessPal: Free Weight Loss Apps No Subscription
According to Zero, it is one of the world’s most popular fasting apps, with the brand claiming that it not only helps people lose weight and keep it off but also helps people create healthy long lasting habits. This option provides access to more recipes, macros planning and cycling, planning and tracking up to 51 nutrients, and more. Support your weight loss goals with these top digital platforms for food monitoring, activity tracking, and more. 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. We selected FitBudd as the best platform for personal trainers because it removes the technical barriers of building an online training business.
For a workout app to actually work, you’ll have to utilize it with frequency. The best workout app is the one you want to use and enjoy using on a regular basis. While there is nothing wrong with pink dumbbells or dainty logos, speaking as a personal trainer, I can assure you that folks of all genders can train using the same exercises. I believe most folks (regardless of gender) should know how to squat, hinge, push, and pull.
What to Consider When Choosing a Weight Loss App?
As a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer, she uses her ise and exercise science knowledge to create informed fitness content for the Good Housekeeping Institute. Stefani uses health apps several times a week to squeeze in workouts while her infant daughter naps, stay hydrated and optimize her sleep, so she understands the value and convenience of an effective health app. Runna (acquired by Strava in 2025) is focused entirely on structured run training. After you input your goals, experience level, and available training days, the app builds a personalized plan (whether you’re training for a 5K, half marathon, or marathon). Workouts are clearly outlined, and adapt over time as your fitness improves.
For such services, we suggest opting for an app like WeightWatchers or Future. You’ll need an app that focuses on net carbohydrates — the amount of carbohydrates the body can actually digest from a food source. Carb Manager serves as a traditional calorie tracking app, but the emphasis is on net carb counts each day, making it a beneficial tool for keto-following athletes.
Best Online Fitness Programs and Workout Apps in 2026 (Tried & Tested)
Erin enjoys cycling, yoga, and spending her free time outdoors with her family and Goldendoodle, Nimbus. The most accurate way to track weight loss is by using a reliable digital scale. Weigh yourself under consistent conditions, such as in the morning, after using the restroom, and wearing minimal clothing. Track your weight loss progress over time and focus on the overall trend rather than day-to-day fluctuations. Additionally, consider measuring other markers fitness coaching app reviews of progress, such as body measurements or how your clothes fit.
Best for fitness: MyFitnessPal
Here’s our honest breakdown of ten workout apps we think are worth your attention — including our own — evaluated on ease of use, programming quality, video content, pricing, and real-world effectiveness. An effective weight loss app should include features to easily track your calorie intake and monitor your activity levels. The app should help you set daily calorie goals, log meals and snacks, and provide insights into your overall calorie balance. Activity tracking allows you to monitor the number of steps taken, distance covered, and calories burned during workouts, helping you stay accountable and motivated. BetterMe is our pick for the best workout app overall because it has a great variety of workout modalities, including plenty of strength training. We also love that the app offers an onboarding quiz, guided plans, and daily checklists remove decision fatigue, making it easier for beginners and busy users to stay consistent with their strength programs.
- Consider an app that provides evidence-based workout routines that’ll help you achieve your goals.
- Members can also connect to offer advice and encouragement, while also earning a variety of tangible rewards — such as water bottles and wireless earbuds — just for leading a healthy lifestyle.
- You also track your activities throughout the day — exercise burns calories, after all — and Noom is capable of pairing with the best fitness trackers to monitor your weight and daily step count.
- Now, to track your daily caloric intake, Noom does require you to log each meal.
- However, it also reports that only 1 in 4 adults get the physical activity they need to reduce their risk of chronic diseases.
- 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.
What is the best fitness app for beginners?
There’s no human coaching or community element, which might be a dealbreaker for some people. Coop, however, still rates the AI coach a 3 out of 5 when it comes to accountability. While the $20 per month subscription cost isn’t exorbitant, you have to pay for additional features.
Ready for a Better Workout Experience?
Yes, with newer workout apps, such as Future, you can get connected to a personal trainer through an app. It will cost more compared with other apps but will be cheaper than a standard personal training session at the gym. Some apps even have coaching check-ins or community boards for additional accountability. Consider TR[Ai]NER by Element 26, which offers customized training routines based on your equipment access, fitness goals, capabilities, and more.
Muscle Booster is beginner-friendly because it pays close attention to the user. During the sign-up process, you’ll answer a quick quiz that includes questions about your goals, activity level, equipment access, and more. Once you sign up for a paid subscription, you get access to personalized fitness plans to meet those goals. Paid plans are around $14.99 per month, but don’t be surprised if you get a discount as a first-time user. We’re a group of certified personal trainers, gym owners, and Olympic-level athletes with years of experience following, designing, and coaching clients through training programs. Nike Training Club and FitOn are among the best free fitness apps for weight loss because they offer full workout libraries without a subscription.
Accessibility
If you want to track nutrition and build healthy habits, Yazio is the strongest option, with a database of over 4 million foods and a built-in intermittent fasting tracker. If you prefer structured workouts to drive weight loss, Sweat and Muscle Booster both offer progressive programmes that will help you build the consistency needed to see results. The nutrition features complement the training programs, with meal planning tools, macro tracking, and the ability to share recipes. This holistic approach enables trainers to provide complete lifestyle coaching rather than just workout programming. Calorie counting and food tracking are often a big part of a weight loss plan.