He was previously Fitness Editor, covering strength training workouts, cardio exercise, and accessible ways to improve your health and wellbeing. The Garmin Lily 2 Active doesn’t offer nearly as many trackable sports profiles as most of the other devices in our guide nor do you get Garmin’s higher-end training tools, like Garmin Coach. But, it’s perfectly suitable for keeping tabs on popular exercises like runs, walks, gym workouts, yoga, pilates and, of course, pickleball. The answer to this depends on what features you are looking for and if you own one of the best running watches or not. If you run without a watch, then Strava is a reliable app for tracking your running speed, distance, heart rate, and more. From free classics to premium features, we’ve tested the top 10 fitness apps that will take your training to the next level.
Best Personal Training App Overall: Caliber
- “I’m confident that most athletes can find a suitable program for their interests, and I appreciate that the app updates its library of available modules each week.
- The audio coaching provides real-time guidance during workouts, eliminating the need to check your phone constantly.
- For more tips, check out our story on Everything You Need for Your Yoga Practice.
- Peloton’s instructors excel at making beginners feel included and motivated, with frequent form cues and encouragement for those just starting out.
- It offers a tiered membership based on what you can afford, and all of its methods are science-backed.
- I liked that 8fit takes a holistic approach to overall health as opposed to straight-up weight loss.
That means that even the best, most highly-rated app won’t lead to success if you don’t use it. When shopping around for the best workout app for your needs, be sure the style of exercise you want is available, and the monthly membership fees are in your budget. Consider the following two points about the type of instruction and tracking progress. Once you’re set up with the app, our product testers note that demonstration workout videos and overall instruction are high-quality, which is important for beginner exercisers.
Best running app for beginners
Jumping rope is also an effective way to burn calories, and it’s a great beginner exercise that fits into your workout routine. While deciding which fitness app to sign up for, experts recommend thinking through the following factors, all of which I took into consideration while creating our list of favorites. Instead of using step counts as the primary stat, the Mio Slice claims to measure all-around activity with a proprietary “personal activity intelligence” based on heart-rate monitoring. The Apple Watch SE comes with a rubber band that is comfortable, but it still can pose problems for people with weak hands. While the Charge 6 has built-in GPS and the Inspire 3 doesn’t, the GPS could still use some improvement. We had some connection problems we didn’t encounter when testing GPS running watches.
Like Apple Fitness, it has badges for achievements, which I loved since I don’t want to compete against anyone except myself. It also offers daily readiness scores if you use it with a Fitbit wearable. Much like Caliber’s Premium coaching option, with Future, you can send your coach a video of yourself lifting directly through the app for each specific movement so your coach can check your form. We know that a subscription fee of $199 per month is nothing to sneeze at. We also know that most personal trainers charge between $50 and $150 per hour, depending on your area.
Best Workout App for Beginners: Muscle Booster
Now you have access to various workout programs that can be done at home or in the gym, such as yoga, strength and Pilates, all taught by different women personal trainers. The app also offers meal plan options if you’re looking for healthy recipe ideas. Founded by the actor Chris Hemsworth, Centr offers specialized training programs and more than 1,400 HIIT, strength, Pilates, and yoga workouts — many of which you can do at home. Tell the app your goal and it will recommend programs developed by Hemsworth’s own personal trainers. The newest offering is Centr Begin, a three-week low-impact program designed for total fitness newbies.
Best Workout App for Pilates: Reverse Health
But if you’re confident in your audio-learning skills, and want an app that allows you to sweat without having to stare at a screen the whole time, it’s a great option. In 2021, Aaptiv bought Pear, an app that offered heart-rate based workouts—we haven’t tested this, but can only imagine it strengthens Aaptiv’s already-great training programs. Strava is a versatile fitness app that combines activity tracking, social networking, and performance analysis. It is widely used by personal trainers, fitness enthusiasts, and athletes to track, share, and improve their outdoor activities while fostering a sense of community and healthy competition. Strava provides in-depth activity analysis tools, including performance metrics, training load, and heart rate analysis.
Best Personal Training App for Weightlifting: Juggernaut AI
You might start with 10- or 15-pound weights at home, for example, but eventually, you’ll need heavier weights to continue progressing. Gyms supply members with a wide range of weights, but if you’re working out at home, you might need to continue buying heavier weights over time. You can also get a membership to just the virtual on-demand and livestream classes, which is $19.99 a month.
Fitness Apps for Women
For people focused on weight loss and overall health, this means more personalized, helpful tools right at your fingertips. AI won’t replace real trainers or doctors, but it will continue to be a powerful support system in reaching your fitness goals. Good fitness apps will store your data securely and won’t sell it to third parties. It might not be the most exciting part of your fitness journey, but protecting your personal info helps keep your experience safe and stress-free. Apple fitness+ boasts a series titled Time to Walk, which features various guided walks by celebrities.
Best Free Fitness Apps
Create a unique, personalized experience every time you roll out your mat. Centr, the fitness app created by Thor actor Chris Hemsworth, combines workout, mental health, and nutrition programming for a truly holistic experience. If you’re looking for guidance on both your training sessions and nutrition, Centr could be a solid bet. 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.
How to Choose the Best Workout App for You
Most workouts don’t require any equipment, though some do use weights. Although two paid membership upgrades are available, they aren’t necessary. Created by Jacqui Kingswell and Tash Oakley, TPC offers over 300 Pilates workouts across 15 different categories like reformer, mat, barre, stretch, strength, and pre and post-natal. Plus, you’ll get monthly and weekly challenges, fresh classes each week and access to a range of delicious recipes. If you want to get fit but are working to a serious budget in 2026, the Nike Training Club App is for you. You can choose from a wide range of free programs and workouts that last anywhere from five to 50 minutes.
If you feel as though pre-recorded workouts and group chats aren’t enough to help you stay motivated, Future may be a good option for you. That’s because it connects you with a real best fitness app personal training coach, which includes virtual calls and a custom fitness plan. For each workout, the app presents you with an exercise overview, complete with instructional videos for how to perform each move. Turns out Peloton offers more than just their high-tech spin bikes and treads.
The Best Fitness Apps in 2025: Our Top 10 Recommendations
Gone are the days of generic workout plans and one-size-fits-all approaches. Today’s AI fitness apps offer personalized, intelligent coaching that adapts to your unique body, fitness level, and goals. Whether you’re a beginner or a fitness enthusiast, these cutting-edge apps are about to change how you approach health and wellness.
