43 Best Workout Apps 2021 That Will Make You Want to Exercise

Jefit is a comprehensive workout tracker designed specifically for strength training and weightlifting. The app offers a vast library of exercises with detailed instructions and video demonstrations. You can create your own workout routines or choose from pre-built plans. Jefit tracks your sets, reps, and weight, allowing you to monitor your progress and gradually increase your strength. While the interface may seem a bit daunting at first, Jefit is a powerful tool for beginners who are serious about building muscle. For example, Nike Training Club offers an entirely free experience but lacks personalized plans for long-term progress.

iFIT Workouts

I have a fondness for group fitness classes, though I’ve also dabbled in heavy-duty at-home workout equipment. My main fitness go-tos these days are YouTube videos, or when weather permits, a run or bike ride outside. But after some time choosing workout videos ad hoc on YouTube and going on self-driven, sometimes-listless jogs, I wanted something with a bit more guidance. This is why this assignment to try out workout apps, many of which offer comprehensive fitness plans, came at just the right time. Beachbody On Demand has a wide variety of proprietary workout programs—such as P90X, PiYo, and 80 Day Obsession—which encompass HIIT, weightlifting, pilates, yoga, barre, and more.

Who It’s For

The Apple AirPods Pro 3 earbuds feature sensors that can track your heart rate and motion, including during workouts, and send the data to a paired iPhone. Max Paquette, a professor at the University of Memphis who also consults athletes on optimizing performance, warned that trackers ​​often make people less in tune with their bodies. “They’re so reliant on data, and they forget to feel what they’re doing. Fitness trackers, once seen as cutting-edge devices, now pack in more and more tech with each release. The devices we recommend are equipped with features like automatic exercise detection, personalized workout programming, and the advertised ability to monitor stress and sleep quality. Fitness apps are generally safe, but it is always best to consult a healthcare professional before starting an exercise program.

With over 300 transformative workouts on-demand and over 200 nutritious recipes, it’s the wellness app you need for 2026. If you love to ride your bike but don’t want to hit the road during the coldest days of winter, Zwift is your solution. The app gamifies your workouts, pitting you against yourself, your friends, and fellow Zwift users in races, group rides, and targeted workouts. If you want more than just workouts, the Alo Moves app has a plethora of mindfulness and wellness classes, from breathwork and meditation to Reiki and nutrition. Many offer free trials, so don’t hesitate to experiment with several before committing to a subscription.

Pricing guide for monthly subscription

As she began testing some of the app’s other classes, she realized how much she enjoyed the range of class types and lengths available. Peloton classes feature curated music playlists, and each instructor brings their unique style to their classes. Workout tracking is all done through its sleek interface with built-in rest timers, and a daily readout will show you which of your muscles are growing, and which might be falling behind. If you own an iPhone, chances are you’ve either tried Apple Fitness Plus or you’ve got a free trial waiting for you. Apple Fitness Plus is chock-full of guided content, from meditation, HIIT, and strength workouts to kickboxing, dance, yoga and more.

Trainerize: Remote Training

Future’s coaching potential is also worthwhile given that your fitness preferences aren’t limited to one discipline or another. Your personal coach can tailor your workouts to suit your cardio workouts or resistance training goals. If you are in search of a more specific app, we recommend Strava for cardio training and Caliber for strength training. Our tester states that setup earns a 5-out-of-5 rating for getting you established in the app. “You run through a quick assessment to outline your goals and available equipment, and the algorithm gets churning to deliver a detailed plan filled with different workouts,” they add.

Best Workout Apps of 2026

By setting clear goals, maintaining consistency, and taking advantage of various features offered by these apps, you can take significant steps toward leading a healthier life. Starting a new workout routine can be intimidating, especially for beginners. You may worry about what to expect, whether you’ll get hurt, and how sore you’ll be after your first session. Many of these programs offer beginner-friendly workouts and even provide tutorials on how to perform each exercise. This can help remove some of the anxiety from starting a new workout routine and help you feel more comfortable as you improve your strength and flexibility.

Our tester, a certified nutrition coach, scores both the setup and ease of use at 5 out of 5 thanks to its intuitive interface and toggleable settings. Down Dog offers fully-customized yoga workouts with over 60,000 possible configurations. Choose the music, level, focus, time, and voice that’s perfect for your practice.

How we picked the best online workout programs

Healthline tester Melissa Lee used the app as a tool to learn different types of exercises while gyms were closed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She said this is a useful app for beginners or those trying something new who might want some guidance without paying for a personal trainer. From more advanced sleep tracking to workouts and mindfulness exercises, Fitbit Premium offers a little of everything.

• These terms include how data from your Fitbit is collected and stored by Google and what data from your Fitbit that Google shares with third parties.
• If you’re an avid Apple customer, Apple Fitness might be the first fitness tracker you try.
• It provides excellent programs that help you build muscles, in a 5X5 loading strategy (five sets in five repetitions) of lifts.
• The Nike Training Club app isn’t perfect, but it’s 100% free and offers a low-stakes starting point if you’re new to exercise.
• But where it stands out is that the app features integrated video tutorials for each exercise.
• Depending on what you want, you can also add nutrition or health coaching, pre- and post-natal guidance, and physical therapy into your program through FlexIt.

Best for Expert-Guided Programs

The classes are some of the most fun workouts I do every week because they’re so engaging and upbeat. I’m always shocked by how much I sweat during and how sore I am afterward. There’s also traditional strength classes that involve heavier weights available on the app. The Sculpt Society categorizes workouts by level, so you can easily find what’s right for you and advance over time.

Strong Workout Tracker Gym Log

The apps on this list represent the ones that fast-tracked strength and performance gains, were user-friendly, and really delivered on the user experience, and kept us returning to our workout plan. Consider these picks the ones we will never delete (even if we are running low on storage!). There are apps for every kind of exerciser, whether you’re the generalist looking for a good workout library, the obsessive fitness tracker, or the runner prepping for a race.

Comparing the best fitness and workout apps

The app tailors walking plans based on individual fitness levels and goals, whether that’s weight loss, daily step targets, or improving stamina. Testers also loved the energizing, motivating workouts for all https://gymfluencers.com/8-best-gym-workout-apps-in-2026-ranked-by-features-and-practical-use/ levels, as well as the wellness series focused on sleep, nutrition, and self-care. Many classes are filmed in stunning locations and led by instructors like Emily Sferra, Anabella Landa, and Bianca Wise, who keep sessions interesting and never boring. “The instructor, Bianca, was beautiful, the setting amazing, music perfect. I’m absolutely hooked on her workouts,” a tester commented.

But there are so many options that trying to pick one can seem just a little bit daunting. Lauren Mazzo is a freelance writer and editor specializing in health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness content. She’s also an ACE-certified personal trainer and fitness nutrition specialist and is passionate about helping people live a holistically healthy lifestyle, focused on feeling good above all. Read her work on Self, Shape, Peloton, and Popsugar, where she was most recently the senior fitness editor.