9 best workout apps, tried and tested in 2025

These rarely interfere with actual workout logging, but they’re present. Some provide genuine value, while others are essentially demos for premium subscriptions. Beginners benefit from guided workouts rather than blank templates. Nike Training Club and Home Workout provide structure when you’re not sure what to do. The video demonstrations prevent form mistakes that could lead to injury.

FitOn is a madmuscles review standout app because of its library of high-quality workouts led by celebrity trainers—all for free. The app covers a wide range of workout styles, from cardio and strength training to yoga and mindfulness practices. It’s perfect for those who want professional guidance without spending a dime.

The 10 Best Fitness and Exercise Apps

It’s particularly useful for beginners who need direction or experienced lifters wanting to try a new split. A recent study from Estrada-Marcén et al., concluded that 72% of users benefited from the use of an exercise app to support their daily fitness goals. Research like this demonstrates that the value these apps and online programs offer is certainly nothing to dismiss.

Beyond the WiFi issue, offline functionality affects battery life. Apps that constantly try to maintain a connection drain your battery faster. When you’re at the gym for 90 minutes, battery drain matters. A person should consider talking with a qualified fitness professional about exercising safely. There are 200 different missions, and a person can create their own. The first four missions are free, but a person will have to pay a subscription fee for further missions.

• We found FitOn to be the best app to keep you on track if you struggle to work out regularly.
• And while you can track up to 30 different workout types, Miller praises the display for the easy-to-digest layout outside of workout mode.
• Structured reminders prevent the all-too-common excuse of “forgetting” or “not having time,” offering you a chance to prepare and prioritize your workouts.
• However, core tracking functionality—logging sets, reps, and weight—remains free in quality apps.
• Apple product owners can access Fitness+ built into the new Fitness app, with the latest iOS update.
• If your entire life runs through Google Calendar, fighting that system is a losing battle.

Best App for Strength Training and Progressive Overload

For example, you can automatically store your workouts in a spreadsheet or database, use AI to summarize trends or highlight milestones, and share relevant training recommendations. In testing, I also found the wearable connectivity unimpressive; while accurate, it showed only basic metrics (pace and heart rate) during my run. It didn’t note any laps or splits, and there wasn’t an option to mark those manually. If you pay for the premium subscription, you can see those metrics in the mobile app afterwards—but they weren’t visible on my Apple Watch during the activity. It shows you exactly what to do and adjusts your plan to your lifestyle. Plus, it helps you keep your workout goal and push yourself.

Admit It, Your Screen Time Is Out of Control. My Top 4 Digital Detox Tips Can Help

People may also benefit from working out with a personal trainer or joining an in-person class led by a qualified instructor. A personal trainer or class instructor can help a person exercise safely. However, some may require a subscription cost or have in-app purchases. This app best suits people with higher body weights, disabilities, or those new to exercise. The app helps users by offering training for birth and advice on postpartum healing and strengthening.

Activity

Finch is interesting — it frames exercise and self-care around taking care of a virtual pet bird, with a self-compassion philosophy built in. The gamification works for some people; others find it infantilizing. Worth trying if traditional fitness apps have made you feel bad about yourself. For the past eight years, our fitness and gear editors have been testing all the top fitness trackers as they release. We also paid close attention to comfort, ease of use, syncing with our favorite apps, and their ability to meet our standards for any activity. Sleep tracking is having a moment and the Suunto Race S can track your sleep duration, timing, deep sleep, light sleep, heart rate, REM and HRV from sleep.

Strong

If you don’t mind a bit of a sub-par charging experience, you can’t get more premium than the Garmin Fēnix 8. For us, if the main downside is that it’s a bit chunky on the wrist, we’ll take it—the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is truly the full package for all iPhone users. Syncing with devices like Apple Watch, Fitbit, or Garmin enhances tracking accuracy.

Hevy – Best for Social Motivation

But if you choose the right workout tracker app, it can make your fitness journey a lot easier and more pleasant. Reminder apps bring a revolutionary change in the way we approach fitness. They make fitness more accessible and manageable by breaking down our big fitness goals into smaller, achievable tasks.

Best fitness app for busy people

Strava is often called “the best fitness app for running” in user reviews. Besides running, it accommodates various workouts, supported by GPS technology that efficiently tracks performance. You can link it to heart rate monitors or popular GPS devices like Apple Watch, Garmin, or Fitbit. Reminder apps play a pivotal role in organizing and structuring our fitness routines. These apps help in setting goals, tracking progress, and maintaining consistency.

Teachers worldwide create programs for beginner, intermediate, and advanced practices. However, a 2017 study found that fitness apps do not score well compared to the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines. The authors state that many lack a comprehensive approach to fitness. Frequent exercise can help people maintain moderate body weight and decrease the risk of certain diseases, such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. It can also strengthen the heart, improve lung function, and improve mental health. There are 16 styles of classes to choose from, all of which are taught by experienced and credentialed instructors.

Fitness Trackers

This app works well with seasoned fitness buffs, and yet it is also user-friendly to accommodate beginners. There are almost 300 poses that you can try, all with detailed instructions and expert tips. You can also create customized yoga classes that suit your fitness needs.

Best fitness app for strength training beginners

We found this app to be the best for building a community and encouraging others. We found FitOn to be the best app to keep you on track if you struggle to work out regularly. Pacer’s simplicity and user-friendly design make it a great choice for anyone looking to stay active.

AI reminders that actually reach you — email, SMS, WhatsApp, web push, webhook. See how YouGot stacks up against the defaults most people start with. I’m not the most competitive person, but I have run the occasional low-stakes 5K, and I do run regularly. Having tried all the go-to running apps before, I was really excited to test Runna because it’s a relatively new addition to the running app scene. Sara is a self-taught blogger & photographer and brings 9+ years of experience to her craft. Her work has been featured in numerous esteemed publications, spanning building, travel, and fashion.

C25K is the ultimate app for anyone who has ever said, “I’m not a runner.” It’s designed to help complete beginners build up the stamina to run a 5K (3.1 miles) over an 8-week period. The app’s structured and gradual approach makes running feel achievable, no matter your starting point. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a Peloton bike (although we’d all love one) to make the most of the Peloton app.