Fitness trackers support your physical and mental well-being by helping you stay on track with fitness goals, says McKenzie. By tracking progress, offering prompts to move, and providing motivation, they can encourage more movement. Best for Apple ecosystem users who value versatility and comprehensive smartwatch capabilities beyond fitness tracking and also want a fully integrated experience. If you want to track your sleep patterns to improve your rest and recovery, we recommend Amazfit’s Bip 6 Smartwatch. During testing, we found the smartwatch comfortable to wear to bed and appreciated the comprehensive sleep data it tracked. The compatible, user-friendly app allowed us to track our sleep duration, stages, heart rate, and breathing, helping us identify ways to improve our sleep quality.
FitNotes: Simple and Easy to Use Gym Logging App
Whether fitness apps “work” is a subjective question, as your results with each platform rely heavily on how dedicated you are to using the services. Fitness apps can provide helpful instruction, engaging workouts, and even personalized coaching, but you need to have some willpower to use the assistance in your personal fitness journey. It’s best to madmuscles wikitia think of fitness apps as tools — they can make the job easier, but you need to do the actual work. There’s a group-oriented Pro version for $19 per month, and a Premium version starting at $200 monthly for individualized coaching.
For Powerlifters and Strength Athletes
A training program, on the other hand, is typically a list of exercises methodically selected by a personal trainer (or AI, in some cases) to target specific muscle groups. Typically, you can go at your own pace and won’t need to follow a live class or workout video. That said, the best workout apps will provide a short video or animation to demonstrate each movement properly.
The best fitness app is the one that works for you
Our expert product testers tested all of the fitness apps for at least several workouts, while many were tested for a whole month or even longer, especially the apps we really loved using. Our product testers were tasked with evaluating multiple fitness apps and rating them on a 1-to-5-star scale across a variety of categories. Our in-depth methodology covered categories ranging from overall value and ease of use to workout variety and equipment demands. Boostcamp offers better features than the average workout app in nearly every category, which is why we consider it to be the best app for strength training.
Consider the workouts you enjoy or want to check out, whether that’s yoga, strength training, cardio, or HIIT. Some apps focus on specific activities, while others provide a variety to keep your routine exciting. Matching the app’s offerings to your preferences can make sticking to your fitness routine easier, which is really the whole point with finding a training resource. For example, while Strava can track your gym workouts through Apple’s Fitness app, it’ll struggle to give you useful information, as it won’t record any data points beyond heart rate and calories burned. On the other hand, it’s brilliant for running and cycling tracking, even in its free version. One of the more recent apps, FitOn, offers free workout and fitness plans.
- The interface feels dated compared to newer apps, and navigation can be clunky during workouts.
- You can engage with other Ladder users to help spur you on to greater PRs and loftier goals without trying to make awkward small talk at your gym.
- The app offers a diverse array of workout videos catering to different needs, from quick yoga sessions for relaxation to engaging 15-minute activities for both kids and adults.
- The Workout Pass ($3.99/month or $39.99/year) unlocks the Workout Calendar, challenges, and programs.
- The impressive battery life of up to eight days also makes it convenient for continuous wear.
- If you’re interested in more than just apps, such as at-home workout equipment that includes on-demand classes, check out our ultimate fitness tech guide.
We’ve found you the best workout clothes and training shoes, and now through testing we’ve locked in on the best workout apps to put them to good use. Some act as a digital trainer, guiding you through new, tough workouts. Others help you to track your activity and diet, giving you new insight to your nutrition. All of the apps are free to download (although many require in-app purchases and subscriptions to unlock all their features), so it’s worth your time to check them out. When testing the best fitness apps, our reviewers use them over a period of multiple weeks, and we try the most common features the average user is likely to get to grips with.
Best for Building Muscle
Do you just want to get moving more often, or are there specific fitness milestones you want to hit (like running a certain speed or lifting a certain amount of weight)? Some apps let you personalize your goals or even connect with a personal trainer to help you meet them. Reddit’s r/xxfitness loves Fitbod’s intuitive design, with one user saying, “It’s perfect for weightlifting beginners.” For those seeking structured plans, Fitbod doubles as a coach and tracker. From minimalist loggers like FitNotes to smart AI-driven apps like Fitbod and WHOOP, there’s something for every fitness level and training style. Explore the options above to find the fitness log app that fits your needs best. The key is consistency find an app you enjoy using and stick with it to reach your fitness goals faster and smarter.
The right exercise. In the right amount. On the right day.
If you’re interested in more than just apps, such as at-home workout equipment that includes on-demand classes, check out our ultimate fitness tech guide. Just keep in mind that smart exercise equipment often costs a lot up front and requires an additional subscription fee for classes, which can also be steep. For example, the top-rated Tonal 2 will cost several thousand dollars. Don’t let your assumptions about stretching mislead you—StretchIt (available on Android, iOS, and the web) includes some tough sessions that work your full body and might even leave you sweating. What we like most about this app is that it offers multiple series for you to sign up for and complete, such as the Middle Splits Challenge. When you open the app each day, you know exactly what you’re supposed to do.
Despite its simplicity, the app offers customizable options for setting up workout routines. Users can specify rep ranges, select weights based on intensity levels, and create personalized supersets. However, HeavySet lacks certain features found in more comprehensive apps, such as a plate calculator and a broader range of exercises, and it also lacks an Android version. Yes, there are a number of free workout apps out there, such as Nike Training Club, delivering solid workout plans to help you mix up your training sessions.
Best for iPhone Users
Nobody wants to pay for something they may not like, so fitness apps with free trials earn higher points than those without. In fact, apps with no trial periods earned a 1-star rating in this category. A 3-star rating meant the app offered a typical seven-day free trial.
Bench Press Dumbbell: The Complete Guide to Building a Stronger Chest
To find the best fitness trackers for women, the engineers and product analysts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Media & Tech Lab considered the performance of 26 trackers in our tests in recent years. Our pros continuously test new models and iterations of fitness watches as they’re released to ensure our recommendations are up to date and well-informed. In our tests, we evaluated the performance, durability, ease of use, app intuitiveness, and battery life of each fitness watch.
Best Workout Log Apps to Track Your Fitness
GPS tracking, route mapping, segments, and social features all work without subscription. Summit adds nice-to-have features, but the free tier is genuinely useful. The routine templates work beautifully for people following structured splits. Progress charts are more detailed, and the exercise library is more extensive. The free version’s exercise limit is frustrating, but Strong Pro is reasonably priced. What sets Hevy apart is how it makes training social without being intrusive.
Blogilates (available on Android, iOS, and the web) is one of the best free workout apps. We appreciate that you can access the workouts without needing to create an account, which is beneficial for your privacy. Blogilates features video workouts led by the ever-peppy Cassey Ho, who sweats and suffers alongside you through her challenging routines. The workouts lean toward Pilates moves and calisthenics, although you can also find exercises that incorporate weights and some cardio. You can sign up for challenges and try to complete a series of workouts over several days, find healthy recipes, and more, all for free. Some apps even connect you with other users and lend a sense of community to your workouts.
Equipment Requirements
You can definitely fire up a class on your phone or iPad at the gym, but using Peloton’s actual hardware makes things easier. Many of the apps on this list play nicely together, too, with the likes of Fitbod and Fitbit Premium able to pull data from Google and Apple. It’s a great resource to get into the social side of running, with ‘friendly’ competition from friends and other users, and it’s great to use for any outdoor pursuit.
If you’re more advanced, you may prefer Superhero Series, a four-week program created by the celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak. Or, explore iconic global destinations like Machu Picchu and the French Riviera with the “Alo in the Wild” series. Fitness trackers come in all shapes and sizes, and you’ll want to choose one that feels comfortable and best meets your needs. These are the types we recommend, and the most common ones you’ll come across while shopping. Best for outdoor enthusiasts looking for a durable, full-featured GPS watch with excellent battery life.
