The 9 best fitness apps

The app offers both group and individual training plans which are written and modified by a certified coach based on progress. Yes, many fitness apps sync with smartwatches and trackers, including Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, and Google Fit. Syncing allows real-time monitoring of heart rate, steps, calories burned, and sleep.

Best for building muscle

Workout apps track progress by logging your sets, reps, and weights over time. Jefit generates detailed charts showing your strength gains, personal records, and workout consistency. This data helps you ensure progressive overload—the key to building muscle. From creating personalized workout plans to tracking progress with precision, they take care of the heavy lifting (well, not literally) so you can focus on transforming lives. Look for a platform that allows you to create personalized workout plans, complete with modifications, progressions, and even exercise demos. Ladder is a fitness app that offers guided workout programs led by expert trainers.

Track Your Wellness Journey

You can follow your own route or explore Strava’s massive network of roads and trails, built by millions of athletes worldwide. “The mapping tool makes it easier than ever to plan runs and workouts in advance, especially when following a training plan with specific distances and paces,” one runner noted. We really like EvolveYou and MWH for home workouts, since both offer at-home programs that require little to no equipment. As for the workouts, I found them to be fun and you can make them as challenging as you want. The app will not recommend the amount of weight to use; instead, you decide what feels right or challenging enough for you. There is a quick outline and a short video demonstration for each exercise in case the movement is new to you or you wish to have more guidance on your form.

Hevy – Gym Tracker Workout Log

In the free version, there’s not a lot to hold you accountable for your workouts aside from notifications. “Although the price is comparable to a CrossFit gym membership with access to tons of gym equipment and coaching, I think it’s a really good value for virtual training,” says Kate on the value of the app. For those with a few years of lifting experience under their weightlifting belt, Matt says there’s no shortage of training options. “I focus on training for hypertrophy first, and strength second, but there are tons of programs for all sorts of goals,” he says. He’s a big fan of the Eric Helms’ Intermediate Bodybuilding program, as well as the Reddit Dumbbell-Only PPL split.

Freeletics: HIIT Home Workouts

best fitness apps 2026

If you decide to upgrade, a quiz asks about workout goals, level, and preferences, eating styles, and how much work you want to put into making your meals. Then you have access to a workout plan that might include a mix of tabata, pilates, HIIT, yoga, and more. I didn’t really explore the nutrition section, though on glance, it seems a little disorganized, with recipes and tips listed in no particular order. The Mindset section also seems lacking, with no guided meditations at all, which at least some of the other apps include. Still, this is a fitness training app from a fitness-focused company, and that’s what Nike Training Club does best.

What app should I use to workout?

There are gravel-specific plans, plans for crushing a 100-mile mountain bike race, or keeping up with your crew at the local criterium. According to our tester, the videos are “amazing and super easy to follow,” and fresh workouts are added every day. It’s truly a fantastic resource for anyone looking to elevate their training ecosystem. To get started, choose your desired weekly training days, input your maximum lifts, and indicate if you’re preparing for a competition.

  • It’s also packed with an almost overwhelming number of sports modes and includes SpO2 monitoring.
  • Our testers tried out the premium version to give an all-encompassing review.
  • “My only comment is that the pictures in the beginning while registering were clearly AI generated, and it would’ve been more encouraging to see real photos,” she said.
  • I use a pen and little moleskin book to record my workouts and diet, but recently got a new phone and a smartwatch.
  • I’m stronger and able to lift heavier then I ever have and working out 6 days a week.
  • But it’s a bit of a nuisance, particularly considering that most other fitness trackers get you several days’ worth of use before needing a full charge.

Easily plan and track your progress

best fitness apps 2026

Map My Fitness is a well-established and widely-used fitness tool that allows you to choose from a huge variety of workouts with some really notable features. Whether you’re working out in a gym free apps like fitbod or looking for a route to run, Map My Fitness has got you covered. “Caliber has easy-to-follow instructional videos,” says Lindsay Scheele, expert product tester and the face of Garage Gym Reviews Everything.

Which app is best for beginners?

For reference, it consists of barre, sculpt, HIIT, Pilates, stretching, strength, and walking workouts. There are also mindfulness exercises like guided meditation and breathwork. While you won’t have your coach actually watching you while you complete each exercise, Logan says that the audio and visual cues in the demonstration videos are super helpful. “It’s not the same as having a personal trainer right there along with you, but overall I knew what I needed to do.

How do social features turn lonely workouts into a habit?

It provides useful training features like VO2 max and ‘Recovery Time’ suggestions, all powered by its BioCharge energy metric. The Amazfit Helio Strap is a compelling new entry in the screenless tracker market and a direct challenger to Whoop. It successfully replicates the core function—tracking heart rate, sleep, and training effect—but without requiring a monthly fee.

Affiliate Programs

Our team selected apps with a variety of prices, so there’s something for everyone. Between these prompts and logging your reps, sets, and weight totals, you’re in the app a lot, but our tester noted that the experience wasn’t overwhelming or annoying. Plus, all that logged data makes it easier for the AI platform to curate your recommended training schedule as it learns and progresses with you in the gym. While the workout library isn’t as dense as some other apps, the app is high quality and you can personalize your training programs when creating fitness goals. Best-known for its at-home indoor cycling classes with one of the best exercise bikes in the biz, Peloton is among the most popular home fitness apps right now.

The best thing the Garmin Vívofit 4, a former pick for basic fitness tracking, has going for it is that you don’t need to charge it, since it runs on a watch battery that’s good for a year. Along with the Mi Smart Band 7, we also tested the Garmin Venu Sq 2 and Garmin Vívomove Sport in 2023. Both devices underperformed in our step count tests, but they do have perks, such as accurate heart-rate readouts and integration with the easy-to-use Garmin app. Both Garmins could easily qualify as smartwatches — the Vívomove Sport is designed like a fashion piece — if you seek more style over substance. If you want to step up your fitness tracking beyond the basics, the Whoop has plenty of other features to engage the serious athlete. Combined with manually entered data in Apple’s Health app (such as height, weight, gender, and age), these sensors help Apple estimate metrics like steps, distance, and calories burned.

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