Category: 10 Best Workout Apps for Beginners in 2026

Used together, Strava and Runna offer both accountability and direction. One helps you follow a smart plan, and the other helps you stay on track and connected with the running community. I used both when training for my last marathon, and I was particularly impressed with how personalized Runna’s training plans are. While there are some advanced strength classes with heavy weight options, the classes are primarily done with minimal or no equipment. I always come to this platform when I want something low-impact that still feels like a deep workout. There’s also a full library of specialized programs such as the Sexual Health Program, Gut Reset Program, and the is centr app worth it Stress Less, Sleep More program.

The Best Home Gym Equipment for 2026

A 5.0 Navigator Band ($80) is made with a “quick drying” polyamide-elastane blend. A 100% silicone 5.0 SportFlex Band ($50), which is technically waterproof and can be wiped fully dry, is also available. In one of our tests, the battery fell about three days short of the advertised 10 days of life, not great but not terrible.

Seconds Pro Interval Timer

Research has demonstrated that there is a relationship between using commercial physical activity apps and increased engagement in exercise. Peloton is best known for its cycling classes, but with the Peloton digital app, you can also access other types of workouts. You’ll find everything from strength training and HIIT to outdoor running and yoga.

Risks of data breaches and cyber attacks

Most of the prices in this article are list prices, and that’s not necessarily what you will pay. A good rate is between $10 and $15 per month, though it depends on what you get. Automated tracking and full workout videos are features you should look out for. Starting with chair exercises and working up to advanced moves, Green offers a wide range of on-demand cardio and strength workouts. 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.

U.S. fitness & health clubs

Plus, there’s new live classes every week, collections of classes for those recovering from injuries and numerous pre- and post-natal classes. Users can access over 1,500 workouts, including wall pilates, calisthenics, and dumbell-based strength training. Your coach then builds a personalized workout plan based on your goals, schedule, available equipment, and current fitness level.

Heart Rate Monitors

• It is important to consult with healthcare professionals for overall health assessments and to address any underlying medical conditions.
• While Daily Burn offers a variety of workouts — yoga, Pilates, and pregnancy and postnatal, to name a few — MacPherson recommends it for HIIT and steady-state cardio.
• I’m also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade.
• Another 2019 systematic review noted that fitness apps led to modest improvements in daily step counts and weight control, particularly in short-term interventions lasting three months or less.
• For instance, users can challenge each other to run or ride a certain distance.
• This generation features a harder screen for improved scratch resistance, in case you accidentally knock into it while lifting weights.

The main drawback of fitness apps is that you don’t get the one-on-one attention you do while working with a trainer in-person. There’s no one there to correct your form, clarify movements or serve as a spotter, which means there’s more room for error, says Thomas. “The responsibility falls on you to do the work and research how to do exercises safely so you avoid getting hurt,” says Davis.

Plus, there are new programs added every month, so you’ll never get bored. Unlike many other apps, each course contains anywhere from four to 64 videos, giving you more control over how much time you’d like to invest. WH executive editor Abby Cuffey and executive health and fitness director Jacqueline Andriakos have been using Ladder for years for the kettlebell workouts in the Body and Bell program (created by Kanski) in the app.

Best For Running: Nike Run Club

If you need a consistent strength training plan, Strong offers everything you need. It’s a template-based app, meaning you can choose (or create) a plan for your workout and then save it for future use. I found the template creation interface easy to navigate, and the exercise library was helpful to broaden my exercise horizons. I also particularly liked the analytics that the paid subscription unlocks, like best set tracking. The workout tracking feature also offers lots of options (including, e.g., Pilates and tennis)—though for many workouts, calorie count defaults to the equivalent of a brisk walk. For runs, it marks both mile splits and lets you mark laps manually, as well as tracking heart rate and pace.

It helps me stay consistent and it really fuels my desire to cycle through different types of workouts (which, by the way, might just be the key to living longer). When it comes to yoga though, Alo Wellness Club offers classes for a range of styles, skill levels, and goals. From slow, restorative flows to more challenging strength-based practices, the depth of content makes it easy to build a consistent yoga routine. In terms of training with Juggernaut AI, you get a good mix of challenge and progress. The app tailors your prescribed weights, reps, and sets to your responses in your readiness prompt, so there are limited opportunities for overtraining or failing a lift. Unfortunately, though, this app is solely focused on strength training.

The Rise of Home Fitness: Are Workout Apps Effective?

That app has had its claws in my generation for far too long and a few months ago, I finally broke free when I switched over to Lifesum. Among our ZQ intelligence panel, Fitbit had the highest user base of all of the apps tracked during the period — at one point they had a 162.48% higher engaged user base than the closest competitor, MyFitnessPal. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Premium members have access to other time-saving tools that allow you to scan a barcode or individual foods with your phone’s camera to instantly identify the best match.

Weight loss and body composition changes

The advanced search function on the Alo Moves app and webpage is a key feature, allowing users to quickly and easily filter for the style of workout, difficulty, intensity, and duration of class they’re looking for. The app really shines, though, if you use a Peloton bike or treadmill, since the classes are centered around that equipment. You can definitely fire up a class on your phone or iPad at the gym, but using Peloton’s actual hardware makes things easier. ” alert often encourages extra activity, but the motivational effect can wear off over time. Fortunately, many of these sessions are now available for free in the Nike Training Club app.

Best Health App for Exercise

They work best when combined with clear goals, personalized feedback, and social support or competition. Privacy is also a concern for many users as fitness trackers collect a lot of personal health data. Some companies may share or sell this information, so read the privacy policy before buying and check your device settings to limit data sharing.

You can even hop on your own (non-Peloton) bike or treadmill and be guided by their instructors. If you want to take your workout outdoors, you can take your phone or tablet with you. Plus, it offers guided running workouts, and you can preview the moves for most others to get yourself mentally prepared. The app can track your mileage, pace, and your splits so you can gauge how you are doing.

Comparing the best fitness and workout apps

As the world’s foremost athletic brand, it’s safe to say Nike knows a thing or two about fitness. Proving as much is Nike Training Club, which respectively straddles yoga, bodybuilding, and a slew of additional categories by way of various routines. Certain sections of the workout app feature big-name cameos from athletes such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Serena Williams.

You can also stream the videos on demand or download them for sweat sessions on the go. What’s more, the app offers 72 weeks of meal plans with custom portion recommendations according to your daily calorie needs, plus access to more than 300 recipes to create your own meal plan. The app offers live classes every day of the week — filmed in a fun neon studio — in addition to its extensive on-demand library of more than 7,000 classes. This app brings the feel of a boutique group fitness class to your living room.

Benefits of online fitness programs

We’d also say this app is aimed at women, but there’s no reason why guys couldn’t follow the training plans. It’s like having a personal trainer in your pocket, with detailed video guides and customizable workout plans. The progress tracker is a gem, providing real-time feedback that’s both informative and motivating. If you like the idea of getting real-time feedback from a trainer, you’ll like Beach Body. In addition to on-demand recorded classes, Beach Body offers live, interactive classes led by personal trainers who get to know you and your goals. The online Openfit community is a bonus, too, where you can share your experiences and motivate each other.

Best workout app for strength training

It also includes pre-designed programs that run from one to six weeks, helping you build strength and endurance over time. The Reverse Health app is free to download on both iOS and Android devices, but the available training plans do feature subscription fees ranging by service plan and billing cycle. For example, the Wall Pilates course starts at $15 monthly with other weight loss programs costing more or less depending on your payment rate (monthly, weekly, or semi-annual).

Keelo — Free With Premium Subscription Options

You can create a custom plan or follow structured programs ranging from 4-12 weeks. We selected Caliber as best for personal coaching because it successfully replicates the personalized training experience at a fraction of in-person training costs ($200/month versus $100+ per session). At $49.99 per year, it’s excellent value for serious nutrition tracking. You don’t need to follow a specific training program – the app simply assesses your current strength capabilities and highlights where you stand. This makes it perfect for anyone, regardless of their current training style.

Best For Group Fitness Lovers: LES MILLS+

That’s basically unheard of.” Even at this price, she still rated the value of the program a 5 out of 5. If you’ve tried asking AI to generate a workout program, you’ve probably noticed how basic and repetitive the workouts can be. The theory is a good one — personalizing workouts based on your goals, experience, and preferences — but the execution usually falls flat. You don’t need to spend the big bucks to get a high quality fitness app. There are plenty of high quality fitness apps with free versions or low cost memberships. This app has more than 45 different exercises and 5 workout programs to get your kettlebell on.

• What users particularly appreciate is the intermittent fasting integration.
• Mirror offers more than 20 genres of workouts with classes ranging from 15 to 60 minutes and beginner to expert levels.
• If you have experience exercising, this might not be an issue, but people beginning their fitness journey may find following classes and routines difficult if they don’t know how to do the moves correctly.
• Additionally, you can learn at your own pace while still getting access to personal trainers (often without paying those pricey trainer fees).
• I detailed important information about each option, including the types of exercise they offer and in what modalities, as well as their overall cost and how long their free trials are.
• It’s not just about workouts; it’s about nurturing a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

Best for experienced trainers

Free members can do a simple food search from their app’s home screen. Premium members have access to other time-saving tools that allow you to scan a barcode or individual foods with your phone’s camera to instantly identify the best match. If you want to know how many calories are in the foods you eat, or how many calories you eat each day, the MyFitnessPal app makes it easy. The first Premium subscription charge on your credit card will be after the trial. Once the trial ends, your subscription will auto-renew unless you cancel. If you purchased a monthly subscription, you will be charged every month.

Ready to Set Goals That Actually Matter?

Therefore, you can learn how to perform each move beforehand to avoid getting hurt. The daily Pilates session is just five minutes in length and consists of kayla itsines app review five Pilates moves. Making exercise a regular part of your day can feel intimidating, so if you feel nervous about starting, it’s best to choose something quick, simple, and to the point. Pilates is the activity you’re looking for, and 5 Minute Pilates is the free exercise app that’s painless to use and will teach you the basics. The table below compares each of the workout apps in this article.

Health professionals particularly appreciate Cronometer, with Cronometer Pro offering specialized features for dietitians and nutritionists to work with clients directly through the app. With over 10 million users and an impressive 4.7-star average rating, Cronometer has earned its reputation as the gold standard for nutrition tracking. The app goes far beyond simple calorie counting, tracking up to 84 different nutrients to provide comprehensive insights into your diet.

For runs, it marks both mile splits and lets you mark laps manually, as well as tracking heart rate and pace. Apple Fitness isn’t amazing at tracking strength training metrics like reps or sets, but if you have a lot of variety in your fitness routine, it can handle a little bit of everything. Whatever your running goals, take ’em to the next level with Nike Run Club. If you’re curious about coaching and in-app trainers, Freeletics is the perfect app to check out without having to put your credit card down.

You never have to guess what to do next, which makes it much easier to stay consistent from day one. The app integrates with Apple Health, Google Fit, and various fitness trackers (with PRO), automatically syncing steps, workouts, and weight data for a complete health picture. Daily mobility routines, access 1500+ workouts, expert coaches, track progress, effective programming. We found the programs were very effective at helping to improve our mobility with carefully curated exercises and stretches for every part of the body. Unlike a lot of other mobility apps, Mobility Manual feels like everything you do is helping you achieve better performance in the gym or within sports. You can submit videos of your exercises and receive feedback from certified ATG coaches within 24 hours.

Six seated exercises to keep you limber at your desk

Pricing is by session rather than by month, so you only pay when you use the service. Pricing starts at $29 per session — though some trainers cost more than $100 per session — so this is a pricier option than typical online workout programs. If you want a combination of virtual and in-person training, Find Your Trainer is great.

Best Workout App for Women: Obé

You can also pick from entry-level, beginner, intermediate, or advanced levels for each. But with, like, a billion apps to choose from, finding the right one can be harder than an actual workout. Instructions and details about the moves are available for easy execution. To motivate you further, the app allows you to gamify your workouts.