Activity tracking is a tool that allows you to measure the amount of physical activity you get in a day. Activity tracking apps track your steps and calories burned, and they can be used to monitor weight loss or gain. They can also help you find out how much energy you expend during daily tasks like walking or climbing stairs.
Activity tracking apps are available for both Android and iOS devices. The best activity tracking apps combine user-friendly interfaces with accurate data collection methods. These apps also offer valuable insights into your health, such as calorie burn estimates and heart rate readings. Most importantly, these apps make it easy for users to view their exercise progress in real time without having to manually input any data or consult a separate website.
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FITNESS GEAR APPS, CLASSES, AND MEMBERSHIPS
Best Fitness Apps to Download
Exercise anywhere with these great options
By Abby Stassen Updated on December 21, 2021
Reviewed by Heather Black, CPT
Fact checked by Sean Blackburn
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Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.
You might think your smartphone is only for making calls, texting, or scrolling through social media. But this pocket-sized device is also an excellent tool for tracking, managing, and staying on top of your fitness goals. Fitness apps are specialized programs you can download on a phone, tablet, or other electronic devices. Some apps work great with the free version while others require shelling out a few dollars each month to access premium features. But they all aim to provide guidance, motivation, and accountability.
We looked at fitness apps that offer a free version and a paid subscription or in-app purchase option. In general, the best fitness apps have a flexible subscription, come with multiple workout routines, and give you the ability to customize a program specific to your needs. Here are our top picks for the best fitness apps
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: MyFitnessPal
Best Budget App: Daily Workouts Fitness Trainer
Best for Apple Watch: Zones for Training
Best for Monitoring Nutrition: Fooducate
Best for Yoga: Glo
Best for Beginners: Sworkit
Best for Weightlifting: JEFIT Workout Planner Gym Log
Best for Meditation: Headspace
Best Trainer-In-Your-Pocket: PEAR Personal Fitness
Best for Quick Workouts: The 7 Minute Workout
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: MyFitnessPal
Myfitnesspal
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Key Specs
Pricing: Free to download and use; subscription costs about $10 per month
Platforms: iOS and Android
Features: Track calories and fitness activities, connect with friends, log food and exercise, over 350 workouts, connects to 50+ apps and devices
Why We Chose It: MyFitnessPal is our pick for best overall because of its robust food and activity database, easy-to-use logging and tracking tool, a library of workouts, and ability to connect to several apps.
Pros
Includes a database of over 11 million foods
Integrates with other apps and devices
Logs both food intake and physical activity
Offers customization based on health goals
Over 350 workouts provided
Restaurant menu logging is available
Cons
Requires fee-based premium package to get the full range of services
MyFitnessPal has been on the top of the charts for a while: it’s received nods from top publishers for its seemingly endless capabilities.
It’s the fitness app for someone who wants it all: it logs exercise stats and records caloric intake, helps you change your habits to meet personal health goals, and offers unparalleled customization for each of its assets.
It integrates with more than 50 apps and devices to sync all of your workouts, and it has a library of over 350 cardio and strength sessions if you need a jumping-off point.
MyFitnessPal boasts a massive food database of more than 11 million foods, including a restaurant logger that will guarantee no calorie goes uncounted when you go out to eat. It has enough features to fill this entire list, and over one million positive reviews in the iTunes Store—it’s a fitness app legend that’s well worth the cost of the premium package.
Best Budget App: Daily Workouts Fitness Trainer
Daily Workout
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Key Specs
Pricing: Free to download and use
Platforms: iOS and Android
Features: Exercise videos, 5- to 30-minute workouts, routines, full-body, arm, abs, and cardio sessions, and on-screen instructions and timer
Why We Chose It: The Daily Workouts Fitness Trainer gives budget-conscious fitness fans a simple way to access workout routines and hundreds of exercises.
Pros
Developed by a certified trainer
Home-based workouts provided
No cost for basic service
Suitable for beginners
Varied workout lengths available
Cons
No nutrition or calorie tracking
Limited capabilities compared to some other apps
For someone who’s just getting into a daily workout routine, or health nuts on a budget, Daily Workouts Fitness Trainer is a solid—and free—choice. It offers sessions for men and women from five to 30 minutes, all at-home so you don’t have to hit the gym if you can’t afford a membership or feel uncomfortable if people watch you work out. It’s developed by a certified personal trainer who guides you through randomized workouts crafted from more than 95 of the best moves to get your body in gear.
Reviewers love that the workouts strike a balance between being easy enough to keep up with but hard enough to feel the burn, and each session’s easy-to-follow video instructions.
Best for Apple Watch: Zones for Training
Zones for training
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Key Specs
Pricing: Free to download and use; costs about $6 to upgrade to Pro
Platforms: iOS
Features: Heart rate monitoring, heart rate training zones, heart rate tracking for cardio and strength-training
Why We Chose It: Apple Watch fans looking to step-up their heart rate monitoring will appreciate the intricate details and metrics the Zones for Training app provides.
Pros
Appeals to experienced exercisers
Fat-burning feedback provided
Integrates well with Apple watch
Heart rate tracking provided for cardio and strength-training workouts
No fees required for the basic service
Cons
Not well-suited for beginners or those on medications that affect heart rate
Provides data about workouts, but no actual workouts
Upgrade fee is required for customizable features
This app helps you stay in the zone—the heart rate zone, that is—when you’re working out by integrating with Apple Watch to keep an eye on your pulse. Zones for Training carefully monitors your resting and active heart rate, then provides parameters to determine when you’re burning fat and when you’ve reached your peak activity level, so you can stay in the fat-burning phase or push yourself.
It’s a perfect companion for the Apple Watch, which has a first-rate heart rate monitor built in. This app is best for someone who’s more experienced with working out and wants more nitty-gritty details to help them reach their goals, or for someone who wants bonus heart monitoring features and a seamless integration with their Apple Watch.
Best for Monitoring Nutrition: Fooducate
Fooducate
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Key Specs
Pricing: Free to download and use; in-app purchases costs between roughly $2 and $50 for Pro and other add-ons
Platforms: iOS and Android
Features: Food education, food tracker, barcode scanner, community-based support, recipes, and diet tips
Why We Chose It: Fooducate monitors nutrition and provides tips and information about nutrition and losing weight.
Pros
Barcode-scanner makes nutrition data input easy
Community-based support is available
Macronutrient ratios are displayed in simple charts
Offers recipes and diet tips
Provides easy-to-understand food grade system
Cons
Fee-based upgrade is required for specialized diet tracking, support, ad-free service
No workouts provided
Tracks lifestyle factors and physical activity but focus is primarily on food intake
If you need an honest look at what you’re putting in your body and want to track more than calories, Fooducate is the app for you. It’s an oldie but a goodie: first launched in 2010, it’s known for its barcode scanner (each item scanned is given a letter grade to help you determine if it belongs in your cart or back on the shelf when you’re grocery shopping) and its complete nutrition breakdowns.
The app makes sure that the food and drinks you’re consuming give your body what it needs—if you’re missing out on vital protein or need to boost your iron intake, Fooducate’s daily nutrient counts will tell you.
Want to focus on a low-fat or low-carb diet? It’s got your back there too, with pie charts showing you your ratio of good to bad carbs as well as your macronutrient ratios. It’s a great product for people who want all of their food details in an easy-to-use interface, or people who love working with additional data to get a complete picture of their health. There’s also a section for healthy recipes and community support if you need fresh dinner ideas or a confidence boost.
Best for Yoga: Glo
glo
Courtesy of itunes
Key Specs
Pricing: Free to download; costs about $18 per month
Platforms: iOS and Android
Features: Meditation, yoga, Pilates, lectures, and workshops
Why We Chose It: Yogis of all levels will find classes, routines, and tips to improve their yoga practice with the Glo app.
Pros
Appeals to beginners to advanced yogis
Daily classes and updates available
Integrates with Apple watch
Wifi not required
Well-respected base of teachers
Cons
Limited focus on yoga, meditation, pilates
No food or nutrition tracking
Subscription required after free trial
Glo is a great app for newbies trying to nail down the tree pose, or for more advanced students who are ready to turn themselves into a human pretzel. It offers daily curated classes to meet your needs, whether it’s improved sleep, stress reduction, or general strength training. You can follow your favorite yoga instructors for updates on their latest classes—many positive reviews give this app five stars for its library of knowledgeable teachers.
Other reviews applaud Glo for the highly customizable sessions, its ability to download classes and use them off of WiFi while traveling, and the app’s superior customer service. Glo also works with the Apple Watch, so you can collect fitness data during your session and easily watch classes across your Mac devices.
Best for Beginners: Sworkit
Sworkit
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Key Specs
Pricing: Free to download and use; costs about $10 per month for premium subscription
Platforms: iOS and Android
Features: Workouts for strength, yoga, stretching, and cardio
Why We Chose It: Sworkit gives beginners an easy way to find workouts, learn new exercises, set goals, and create a regular fitness routine.
Pros
Cardio, strength, yoga and stretching workouts are customizable
Flexible focus based on personalized goals
Integrates with other apps and devices
No gym or equipment required
Personalized trainers are available for one-on-one coaching
Suitable for beginner-level through advanced users
Cons
No food tracking or nutritional guidance
Requires subscription fee after free trial with fees for full access
Sworkit is a fan favorite on iTunes and Google Play for its flexible offerings: select your goal from strength, cardio, yoga, or stretching categories (or pick from sets of curated classes for monthly challenges, different skill levels, and specific trainers), punch in the amount of time you have to work out, and Sworkit automatically creates a workout for you.
The variety of classes and gradual increases in workload make this a great choice for beginners who want to try different exercises—plus, with no gym membership and no equipment required, you’ll have no excuse for not getting in great shape. You won’t get bored with the diverse workouts, and you can even privately message the app’s trainers with questions or concerns.
Best for Weightlifting: JEFIT Workout Planner Gym Log
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Key Specs
Pricing: Free to download and use; subscription costs about $7 per month
Platforms: iOS and Android
Features: Custom weight-training sessions, workout tracking, support community, exercise library, body stat tracking
Why We Chose It: JEFIT gives you all the weight lifting tips and tools you need along with an active support community.
Pros
Allows you to create a customizable workout
Body stat tracking can be shared among users
Evidence-based library of exercises provided
Peer-support is available through substantial community of subscribers
Post-workout analytics are provided
Cons
Food tracking and nutritional guidance is not provided
Fee is required to get access to all features
Supports primarily strength-training activities with limited focus on other activities
JEFIT is a mobile and web-based app (and a Google Play Editor’s Choice pick) that’s ideal for anyone who struggles to stay on track during their fitness journey. It lets you create custom weight-training sessions and track your workouts with friends—building off the scientifically-backed tenets of progress tracking and peer support to get you moving and keep you motivated.
You can take it to the gym and record your workout step by step, and the app will time your breaks for you (an especially useful feature pausing between sets while weight training). The data automatically travels to the JEFIT server for analytic insights into your workouts—a fun feature for anyone who likes breaking down the nitty-gritty elements of fitness into tangible data. JEFIT’s the perfect fit for anyone with a competitive streak who likes encouraging (or playfully ribbing) their pals during their quest for health.
Best for Meditation: Headspace
headspace
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Key Specs
Pricing: Free to download; costs about $13 per month
Platforms: iOS and Android
Features: Guided meditations, sleep sounds, wind-down exercises, yoga, relaxing playlists
Why We Chose It: We chose Headspace for the guided meditations, expert instruction, and varied programs available for all ages, levels, and needs.
Pros
Beginner guidance for meditation is provided
Can be used to address a range of health and wellness issues
Helps to reduce daily stress
Promotes evidence-based mindfulness practices
Some food, cooking, weight loss guidance available
Cons
No traditional workouts provided other than stretching
No specific nutritional guidance provided
No tracking features are available
Subscription is required after free trial with “plus” pricing for access to all features
If you’re someone who needs to incorporate stress-reduction into your health and fitness plan, or if you need to clear your mind and focus before workouts, you’re going to want to download Headspace. Taking care of your mental health is essential for achieving optimal physical health, and Headspace has become the gold standard for meditation apps.
Instead of just throwing generic sessions at you, the program takes you through a comprehensive “Basics” package to teach you how to meditate—because it’s more than just sitting quietly with focused breathing. After completing the Basics, you’re set loose to pursue other packs, like programs that can help you manage depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and even specialized sets that gear you up for a focused sweat session and help you cool down afterwards.
Headspace has committed to creating the best mindfulness app around, and they use independent, clinically validated research on their own product to make sure their app is an effective, positive force in their users lives.
Best Trainer-In-Your-Pocket: PEAR Personal Fitness Coach
Sign Up Now
Key Specs
Pricing: Free to download; costs about $6 per month for a premium subscription
Platforms: iOS and Android
Features: Virtual coaching, custom workouts, data analytics
Why We Chose It: PEAR is perfect for those days when you need a personal trainer, but don’t have access to one. They offer real-time training and a substantial library of workouts.
Pros
Integrates with a music library
Provides real-time personal training from high-level coaches
Substantial library of on-demand workouts includes wide range of interests (running, cycling, yoga, strength)
Tracking technology allows for workout recommendations
Cons
No food or nutritional tracking provided
Subscription fee is required after free trial
PEAR’s Personal Fitness Coach is more than just a calorie counter and activity tracker. It integrates with other health apps, like My Fitness Coach and collects the data from your smartphone or smartwatch to create a personalized workout based on your benchmark information. It pays attention and adjusts your workouts for maximum efficiency as your data changes, too.
You won’t just be listening to an automated voice from this in-ear system: PEAR’s set of trainers include professional athletes, Olympians, and record holders from around the world. Best of all, the PEAR app integrates with many wireless headphones, so you can enjoy full freedom of movement while you feel the burn.
Best for Quick Workouts: The 7 Minute Workout
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Key Specs
Pricing: Free to download; in-app purchase costs about $4
Platforms: iOS and Android
Features: Video, audio, and text demonstrations of 12 select exercises
Why We Chose It: We like the simple interface and basic workouts you get with the 7 Minute Workout app.
Pros
Beginner-friendly workouts available
Convenient for those with busy schedules
No equipment required
Cons
No food tracking or nutritional guidance
Subscription fee required for full access to workouts
Workouts are limited to 7-minute format
The 7 Minute Workout is the perfect app for busy schedules that don’t allow for gym time, frequent travelers, or for someone just getting started who needs to set smaller goals. The app has a simple interface that offers three workouts on the home screen: a basic workout, seven minutes focused on your abs, or a seven-minute high-intensity sweat session. Fans of the app love the helpful pre-workout demonstrations, the workouts’ manageable time limits, and the sticker price.
Final Verdict
The right fitness app can save you time and money. They also help you stick to a regular routine. Overall, if you’re looking for a fitness app that has a little bit of everything, consider MyFitnessPal. This fan favorite has stood the test of time and continues to get better with age. Plus, it connects to 50 other apps. If you’re in need of a meditation break, check out Headspace. Known for its guided meditations, the Headspace app is affordable and easy to use. Finally, Yogis who want to skip the comprehensive fitness apps can download Glo, which focuses on yoga, meditation, and Pilates.
Frequently Asked Question
What Are Some Pros and Cons of Fitness Apps?
Fitness apps can be a convenient way to do workouts and track your progress, from the details of your reps to your overall weekly miles. Tracking your activity can help you maintain your motivation and encourage you to keep working toward your personal fitness and health goals. Fitness apps also let you view workouts and do them whenever or wherever you want. In addition to convenience and motivational benefits, fitness apps are more affordable than joining a gym or hiring a personal trainer.
Become Your Own Personal Trainer for Better Results
On the other hand, if you use a fitness app as your only way to exercise, you may miss out on the shared experiences, camaraderie, interaction, and personalized feedback you get when working with a personal trainer or taking group fitness classes. People who like exercise to be a break from the digital world may also not appreciate having their phone as such an integral part of their fitness routine.
How Much Do Fitness App Subscriptions Cost?
Some fitness apps are free to download, but the free versions are often limited in terms of access to workouts, advanced tracking tools, communities, and the ability to connect to other devices and apps. In many cases, fitness apps charge a fee for complete access and an ad-free version.
Some fitness apps can be purchased for a one-time download cost, usually in the range of $1–$4. Others are available for a monthly or yearly subscription fee, which can range from approximately $2–$40 per month. The more expensive fitness apps usually offer a wide range of workouts, livestreaming, personalized feedback, or access to advanced tracking features.
How to Start Taking Your Fitness Workouts Online
Can a Fitness App Replace Your Gym Membership?
The quality of a fitness app’s information and workouts often rivals what you’ll get with a gym membership, but it’s available for a fraction of the price. Some people like that they can do workouts without having to go to the gym and relying on their schedule of classes.
If you’re the type of person who likes to work out alone or has a busy schedule that doesn’t sync with gym hours, you may want to invest in a robust fitness app instead of a gym membership.
However, some people may find that they’re not as motivated to work out on their own and need some face-to-face interaction, whether with instructors or other gym members, to keep them going. You’ll also get access to far more equipment at a gym than you’d have at home.
If you prefer to work out with others and like to use a wide variety of fitness equipment, you may want to stick with your gym membership. You could always use a free or inexpensive fitness app as a tool to supplement your training and help you reach your goals.
Are Your Exercise Goals Realistic? Here’s How to Set a Goal You Will Meet.
Methodology
There are hundreds of fitness apps available for Android and Apple users. To narrow our search, we gathered information about free versions, monthly costs, one-time in-app purchases, exercise libraries, and a number of workout routines. Based on what we found, we chose the 10 fitness apps you see in this list. These apps all provide users with valuable fitness and wellness tools. Although each app is unique and may focus on one area like meditation or pre-set workout routines, they all serve a purpose in the fitness community.
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