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Best Workout Apps for 2024 [CNET]
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Giselle Castro-Sloboda Fitness and Nutrition Writer
I’m a Fitness & Nutrition writer for CNET who enjoys reviewing the latest fitness gadgets, testing out activewear and sneakers, as well as debunking wellness myths. On my spare time I enjoy cooking new recipes, going for a scenic run, hitting the weight room, or binge-watching many TV shows at once. I am a former personal trainer and still enjoy learning and brushing up on my training knowledge from time to time. I’ve had my wellness and lifestyle content published in various online publications such as: Women’s Health, Shape, Healthline, Popsugar and more.
Expertise Fitness and Wellness
Think about where you’ll mainly be using the app. Do you work out at home, at the gym, outside or a mix of all three? If you like to run outdoors, for example, you’ll likely want an app that offers location tracking.
You’ll also want to figure out whether the app’s classes require you to have certain pieces of equipment on hand, like dumbbells or a yoga mat. Make sure you either have these items, or you have the budget to purchase them.
Think about what goals you’re trying to achieve when using the app. 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.
There are fitness apps for every budget. Some are completely free or offer a free trial, and some require a monthly subscription. Your choice will ultimately depend on whether you think investing in a paid app will actually help you get closer to your goals and what you’re comfortable spending. Other things to consider are if you prefer live streaming or On Demand workouts.
While gyms are great, they might not be for everyone. Some might find the membership expensive or even useless if they are struggling to actually go to the gym every day. Personally, I’ve always preferred the gym environment, but after the COVID-19 pandemic, I learned to adapt to at-home workouts. I noticed I was the most consistent when I downloaded the Future app, which paired me up with a coach who programmed my workouts around my goals. This was beneficial during my pregnancy and now postpartum as I ease back into a fitness routine. The best workout apps remove the guesswork for you and can help you figure out what to do while working with the equipment you already have on hand. And if you prefer a hybrid approach to your workouts, you can use these programs at the gym as well.
I’m aware that not every workout app is one size fits all, and it’s important to be user inclusive. Conveniently, many of these apps offer free trials first. That way you can give them a fair shake and decide if you plan on committing to them. Use our list of the best workout apps as a guide at home and/or in the gym.
What is the best workout app overall?
The Nike Training Club is our pick for the best overall workout app, because it’s completely free and offers a variety of classes, like HIIT, strength training, mobility and yoga, and you can even follow a program over the course of a month and decide how often you’re looking to work out. Because Nike is such a big name in fitness, a lot of its workouts draw inspiration from famous athletes, like Simone Biles or Serena Williams. If you prefer a workout app that’s more specific to your interests, such as yoga, there are others we recommend, as seen in the list below.
Best workout apps of 2024
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The difference between the all-access membership available to Peloton owners and the app is that the former allows multiple member profiles, access to exclusive classes and better access to the Leadership board (where you can compete against other users). If you opt for the all-access membership, it costs $24 a month and can be used whether you own the bike, treadmill or rower. Peloton also recently updated its search function so it’s easier than ever to find your favorite artist, class title and genre. If you’re not a fully converted Peloton junkie, the Peloton app One is a good stepping stone to see what the hype is about and whether you enjoy the classes.
The price doesn’t hurt either. The first month is usually a free trial and then it’s $13 a month with access to thousands of on-demand and live classes via your smartphone, tablet, TV or web browser.
” page-position linktext linkurl like=”~ Peloton is a trusted and popular brand ~ Trainers are high-energy and motivational ~ First month is free to test out before committing ~ Can be streamed on your smartphone, TV, tablet or computer” dislike=”~ Lacks personalization ~ If you want to appear on a cycling class leaderboard, you have to own a Peloton bike ~ There’s a $32 difference between the all-access and Peloton digital membership if you want to upgrade” can-collapse=”true” can-truncate=”true” truncate-on-page-load=”true” offer techobjectinfo overridecredit=”Screenshot by Mercey Livingston/CNET” overridecaption=”
You don’t have to own a Peloton bike to enjoy the Peloton app fitness classes.
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There’s no doubt that the popularity of the Peloton indoor cycling bike exploded in popularity during the pandemic. The company’s app, which is available to non-Peloton owners, gives you access to Peloton’s library of on-demand workouts, from cycling, running and strength training to yoga, pilates and stretching. My husband and I use this app regularly and love that it has options to do shorter or longer workouts, as well as beginner and advanced classes.
The difference between the all-access membership available to Peloton owners and the app is that the former allows multiple member profiles, access to exclusive classes and better access to the Leadership board (where you can compete against other users). If you opt for the all-access membership, it costs $24 a month and can be used whether you own the bike, treadmill or rower. Peloton also recently updated its search function so it’s easier than ever to find your favorite artist, class title and genre. If you’re not a fully converted Peloton junkie, the Peloton app One is a good stepping stone to see what the hype is about and whether you enjoy the classes.
The price doesn’t hurt either. The first month is usually a free trial and then it’s $13 a month with access to thousands of on-demand and live classes via your smartphone, tablet, TV or web browser.
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 female personal trainers. The app also offers meal plan options if you’re looking for healthy recipe ideas.
This app costs $25 a month but often offers introductory deals. This is a good way to determine if the workouts on the app are the right fit for you and your goals.
” page-position linktext linkurl like=”~ Various workouts to pick from that are women-friendly ~ Online community is active and connects you to women around the world ~ Inexpensive compared to other fitness apps” dislike=”~ Warm-ups are optional, which can be an injury risk ~ Doesn’t correct form or exercise technique ~ Meal plan isn’t customized to your needs ” can-collapse=”true” can-truncate=”true” truncate-on-page-load=”true” offer techobjectinfo overridecredit=”Sweat” overridecaption=”
The Sweat app was designed for women by women.
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The Sweat app was created by women for women.
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The Sweat app was created by women for women.
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This app was co-founded by popular Australian personal trainer Kayla Itsines. It was created with women in mind, and at the time it served as a platform to access Itsines’ HIIT workout plans, but it has since evolved. In 2021, Sweat was acquired by iFit (an interactive global health and fitness technology company), giving the app more exposure via its existing members and internationally.
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 female personal trainers. The app also offers meal plan options if you’re looking for healthy recipe ideas.
This app costs $25 a month but often offers introductory deals. This is a good way to determine if the workouts on the app are the right fit for you and your goals.
This app is available for iOS and Android. Some positive reviews users have shared are that the app finally got them to be more active, while another says it gave them the freedom to get in shape on their own time frame. Overall most users seem to enjoy the variety and length of the workouts. Some complaints users had were with the app interface itself sometimes being glitchy, issues connecting some smart watches and it’s inaccurate step counting.
” page-position linktext linkurl like=”~Free option ~Variety of classes ~Short and long workouts ~Easy to add to your schedule” dislike=”~App is sometimes glitchy ~Doesn’t register step count correctly ~Only a 6-month or yearlong subscription option” can-collapse=”false” can-truncate=”false” truncate-on-page-load=”false” offer techobjectinfo overridecredit=”FitOn” overridecaption=”
” imagegroup=”{“uuid”:”59bd05ff-6760-4b81-9bdd-5ac5ae12635c”,”alt”:”workouts available on FitOn app”,”caption”:null,”credits”:”FitOn”,”imageData”:{“id”:”59bd05ff-6760-4b81-9bdd-5ac5ae12635c”,”filename”:”img-9277.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/8762bcbe767495568c569f3f7aec2f1dff1f49db/hub/2024/08/02/59bd05ff-6760-4b81-9bdd-5ac5ae12635c/img-9277.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2024-08-02 17:52:05.000000″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false},”size”:””,”float”:””,”lightbox”:false,”imageUrl”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/8762bcbe767495568c569f3f7aec2f1dff1f49db/hub/2024/08/02/59bd05ff-6760-4b81-9bdd-5ac5ae12635c/img-9277.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”imageCaption”:null,”imageCredit”:”FitOn”,”imageAltText”:”workouts available on FitOn app”,”imageFilename”:”img-9277.jpg”,”imageWidth”:617,”imageHeight”:1280,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageDateCreated”:”2024-08-02″,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” usepricing=”true” ng-block=”{“id”:”ovcyh9ilb6x99xf”,”type”:”listicle”}” edition=”us” data-key=”cnetlisticle__3f7f89e0-be04-43a5-90f2-aa222bf2477c” index=”8″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”FAQ Markup + BL Precap” tagslugs=”hv180,freelance-update” isbestlistredesign=”true” imagecredit=”FitOn” imagealttext=”workouts available on FitOn app”>
Working out requires being consistent and motivated and sometimes that’s hard to come by. The FitOn app takes away the pressure of having to commit to any type of exercise program by offering a variety of live and on demand classes. This is the ideal workout app if you don’t like working out. It’s free for the basic membership but will cost you $25 a month for six-months or $30 for a year long FitOn Pro subscription. You can take anything ranging from everything from yoga, dance, Pilates, HIIT, Barre and more. Additionally, you can receive nutrition guidance and expert tips and access to your music through Spotify or Apple music with the Pro subscription.
This app is available for iOS and Android. Some positive reviews users have shared are that the app finally got them to be more active, while another says it gave them the freedom to get in shape on their own time frame. Overall most users seem to enjoy the variety and length of the workouts. Some complaints users had were with the app interface itself sometimes being glitchy, issues connecting some smart watches and it’s inaccurate step counting.
Best Workout Apps for 2024
| Workout Apps | Type of workouts | Phone compatibility | Wearable compatibility | Cost | Live streaming and On Demand | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike Training Club | Bodyweight exercises, high-intensity interval training, cross-training, yoga, core exercises | iPhone, Android | Apple Watch | Free | Live streaming and On Demand | |
| Future | Personal training | iPhone, Android | Apple Watch, Google Pixel Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 or 5, Montblanc Summit 3 | $199/month | On Demand personalized program | |
| Peloton App One | On-demand workouts, from cycling, running and strength training to yoga, pilates and stretching. | iPhone, Android | Apple Watch, Android watches | $13/month, $129/year | Live streaming and On Demand | |
| Strava | Running and cycling tracker | iPhone, Android | Apple Watch, Garmin, Whoop, Fitbit and many other GPS watches | Free or $8/month, $60/year | Neither | |
| Sweat | Workout programs for home or in the gym, yoga, strength and pilates | iPhone, Android | Apple Watch | $25/month or $135/year | On Demand | |
| Ladder | Strength training | iPhone | Apple Watch | $30/month or $180/year | On Demand | |
| Alo Moves | Yoga, pilates, barre, meditation and more | iPhone | None | $13/month or $130/year | On Demand | |
| FitOn | Yoga, dance, Pilates, HIIT, Barre and more | iPhone, Android | Apple Watch, Fitbit, Samsung Watch, Whoop, Oura, Garmin, | Free, $25 for 6 month subscription, $30 for 1-year subscription | Live streaming and On Demand | |
| Apple Fitness Plus | Yoga, meditation, HIIT, Time to Walk, Time to Run, Kickboxing, strength training and more | iPhone | Apple Watch | $9.99/month, $79.99/year | Live streaming and On Demand |
In addition to our personal experience and expertise, here are the main factors we used to evaluate each workout app.
- Ease of use: We considered how user-friendly each app was, including whether it had easy-to-follow classes and a straightforward menu.
- Versatility: We looked at the variety of classes offered within the app to keep your exercise routine interesting. We determined whether the app is helpful for a range of workout types or would be best suited to specific fitness goals.
- Price: Workout apps vary in price, but we made sure we selected a mix of cheaper and pricier apps to fit a range of budgets.
- Programs: We looked at the programs to make sure there’s something for beginners, intermediate and more experienced users. We also considered whether the classes are live, on-demand or both and whether there’s any personalization or customization.
- Extra features: Some workout apps offer features like personal coaching, health tracking and smartwatch compatibility. We tested these features and noted which ones stood out or were most unique.
Finding your favorite workout app may require a bit of trial and error since you’ll want to see if you’re looking for a personalized experience or are comfortable with a cookie cutter plan.
Where will you be using the app? Think about where you’ll mainly be using the app. Do you work out at home, at the gym, outside or a mix of all three? If you like to run outdoors, for example, you’d likely want an app that offers location tracking. Similarly, when looking into a specific app, figure out whether its classes require you to have certain equipment on-hand, like dumbbells or a yoga mat.
Your goals: You should also think about your goals for using the app. Do you just want to get moving more often, or are there specific fitness goals (like running a certain speed or lifting a certain weight) that you want to achieve? Some apps allow you to personalize your goals or even connect with a personal trainer to help you meet them.
Budget: Lastly, know that there are workout apps for every budget — including free. Some require a monthly subscription to access, so take advantage of the free trials to determine if it’s worth the cost to you.
What is the best free workout app?
The best free workout app depends on what you’re going to be using it for. Nike Training Club offers a variety of classes, whereas an app like Strava is ideal if you’d like to keep metrics on your outdoor adventures. A good place to start is by searching your App store and seeing what free workout apps it has to offer.
What is the best workout app for iPhones?
iPhones have many fan favorite workout apps to pick from, which include many on this list like Peloton, Nike Training Club and Strava.
How much do fitness and workout apps cost?
Fitness and workout app prices vary. Some are free or offer free trials for a week or month, which lets you test out the app before officially committing to it. Others can cost less than $10, under $50 or as much as $100 a month, depending on how personalized the experience tends to be.
Can you do personal training through workout apps?
Yes, with newer workout apps, such as Future, you can get connected to a personal trainer through an app. It will cost more compared with other apps but will be cheaper than a standard personal training session at the gym.
Do fitness and workout apps really work?
This depends on your goals and how consistent you are with a workout routine. Workout apps make it easier to work out anywhere, with or without equipment, and they take out the guesswork for you.
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