Apps are revolutionizing the way we live, work and keep our bodies healthy. Health and fitness apps allow us to access information whenever we need it, and on any device, while social networks connect us with a supportive global community. Selecting the best apps from the large array available is difficult if you don’t know which ones to start with. That’s where I come in — Fitness for the pros help you zero in on the very best apps for your health and fitness goals, based upon research and personal experience.
Table of Contents
Best Apps For Health And Fitness
Map My Run
BEST FITNESS APP FOR RUNNING
Live classes?
No
Heart rate monitoring?
Yes
Cost
Free for basic, MVP for $5.99 a month or $29.99 a year
Why We Picked It:Map My Run is one of the original fitness apps for runners. It continues to rank highly, thanks to its expansive features and dedicated community base.
The app’s bank of more than 70 million running routes ensures you always have a new course to try, and it accurately records your distance, pace, elevation, calories burned and more as you move. You can enjoy real-time audio coaching on your GPS-tracked runs, too.
MVP memberships provide advanced data, such as cadence and heart rate tracking, for $5.99 a month or $29.99 a year.
Details: The visual maps provided by Map My Run are some of the best available. You can create a route map ahead of time using the simple online interface, and you can review every detail about your run within the map itself after you’ve logged your workout. The MVP membership also includes live GPS tracking, which allows you to share your location with friends and family in real-time for additional safety.
Pros:
Most-used features are free
Can track 600+ activities in addition to running
Tracks shoe mileage so you know when it’s time to replace them
Expert-led training programs available with MVP membership
Cons:
Can drain your phone battery on longer runs
No longer supports music integration
Users report problems with the Apple Watch integration
4.5
Strava
BEST FITNESS APP FOR SOCIAL
Live classes?
No
Heart rate monitoring?
Yes
Cost
Free for basic, Summit for $7.99 a month or $60 a year
Why We Picked It: If your favorite thing about fitness is the sense of community and social connection it provides, Strava could be for you. The app is designed for exercisers who enjoy a little friendly competition as they run, bike and swim their way to peak fitness. With Strava, you can join workout challenges with other app users, share photos from your sweat sessions and even follow your friends’ fitness activities. Meanwhile, it covers the important basics like tracking your workout distance, speed and endurance.
Strava Summit, the subscription version of the app, houses many of the features users love most. For $7.99 a month or $60 a year, you can set your specific fitness or race training goals within the app, and it will equip you with customizable training plans and live feedback to make your workouts even more efficient.
Details: You can also compete on segments with friends, compare your past efforts, and review advanced performance metrics to better analyze your training patterns and performance.
Pros:
Easy to map, record, track and analyze workouts
Great race training assistance
Free monthly fitness challenges keep you motivated
Described by user as “social media for people who want to be active”
Cons:
Lacks music integration
Most features require a paid subscription
4.5
JEFIT
BEST FITNESS APP FOR STRENGTH TRAINING
Live classes?
No
Heart rate monitoring?
No
Cost
Free for basic, Elite for $6.99 a month or $39.99 a year
Why We Picked It: Successful strength training requires smart program planning, and that’s where JEFIT shines. The free version of the app has a database of more than 1,300 exercises to help you plan the specifics of your weightlifting sessions and track total reps and weights used in the training log tracker. The log helps you keep tabs on your body composition changes as well as you track your weight, body fat percentage and more independently. You can even connect with fellow lifters. The app also comes equipped with set training programs appropriate for all training levels for those who want to follow an expert rather than be one.
For $6.99 a month or $39.99 a year, the elite membership removes ads and gives you access to advanced training reports, featured workout sets and more.
Details: JEFIT is both a mobile app and a web-based app, and many users find it easier to plan workouts on their computers and then execute them with the help of their smartphones. While working out, the app also times your rest breaks between sets to help keep your strength training work on track. Users describe the interface as simple, intuitive and easy to use, and many are active in the support community space.
Pros:
Smart strength training workout tracking
Expert-led exercise demonstrations promote proper form and safety
Offers customized workout options for when you don’t want to build your own
Connect easily with other JEFIT members for tips, feedback and support
Cons:
Smart strength training workout tracking
Expert-led exercise demonstrations promote proper form and safety
Offers customized workout options for when you don’t want to build your own
Connect easily with other JEFIT members for tips, feedback and support
4.0
Openfit
BEST FITNESS APP FOR BEGINNERS
Live classes?
Yes
Heart rate monitoring?
Yes
Cost
$38.99 for three months, $59.99 for six months or $95.99 a year
Why We Picked It: When you’re building a fitness habit, it’s hard to beat the benefits of live workout classes. With its 200+ live classes a week, Openfit provides clear and safe instruction from certified trainers, a sense of accountability to keep you on track, and genuine motivation that makes fitness fun. It’s also loaded with hundreds of on-demand classes to keep you going no matter your schedule.
Unlimited access to all classes and app features is $38.99 for three months, $59.99 for six months or $95.99 a year.
Details: Openfit is a newcomer to the fitness app scene (it launched in early 2019), but it’s growing rapidly, adding more trainers, classes and programs each week. Beyond the workouts, which range from 15 to 40 minutes, Openfit also provides personalized nutrition programs, meal plans and tracking, monthly exercise challenges and an active virtual fitness community.
Pros:
On-camera option allows trainer to give you personalized feedback
Workout style variety suits many interests and needs
An active community and encouraging trainers are motivating
100% money-back guarantee within first 14 days of all plans
Cons:
Live classes can fill up days in advance
On-demand classes don’t provide individual attention or as much motivation as the live classes
4.0
Seven
BEST FITNESS APP FOR QUICK WORKOUTS
Live classes?
No
Heart rate monitoring?
Yes
Cost
Free for basic, 7 Club for $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year
Why We Picked It: Seven’s workouts are based on research first published by the American College of Sports Medicine’s Health and Fitness Journal suggesting you can get an effective aerobic workout in just seven minutes a day. How? By consecutively performing a handful of compound movements that activate larger muscle groups. The app is far from flashy, but it provides clear video demonstrations and audio cues for every workout, which is all you need to make those minutes count.
The 7 Club, the app’s subscription option, gives you personal workout plans that cater to your specific fitness level, access to 200+ workouts and support and guidance from a personal trainer for $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year.
Details : Users receive achievement badges for various workout milestones, which many people enjoy sharing with their friends.
Pros:
All workouts are bodyweight-based (no hand weights needed)
Shorter workouts are easier to achieve and sustain over the long term
Can compete with and encourage fellow app users
Cons:
Can’t pause mid-workout to, say, gain clarification on an exercise
Most features require a paid subscription
4.0
Peloton
BEST FITNESS APP FOR A STUDIO-LIKE EXPERIENCE
Live classes?
Yes
Heart rate monitoring?
Yes
Cost
$12.99 a month
Why We Picked It: For those who crave the boutique fitness studio experience from the comfort of their own space, it’s tough to beat Peloton’s at-home fitness app. Don’t worry—you don’t have to own a bike or treadmill from the popular fitness brand to access and enjoy all the accompanying app has to offer.
For $12.99 a month, you can access all of Peloton’s live studio and on-demand classes, from boot camp and strength training to cycling and treadmill running. It even features audio-only programs for folks who want to take their workouts outdoors.
Details: Users rave about the wide variety of class options, as well as how connected they feel to other exercisers when they join the live classes. You can encourage others with digital high fives, follow friends to view their progress, join monthly challenges to stay motivated and more. Peloton also provides guided programs for people with specific goals in mind, such as training for their first marathon.
Pros:
Two-month free trial with unlimited access for non-Peloton members
Tracks your mileage, pace and splits during running workouts
Thousands of live studio and on-demand classes led by world-class instructors
Compatible with smartphones, tablets, Apple TV and Android TVs
Cons:
App functions better on tablets and TVs than phones
Lacks a mobile calendar integration for live workouts
Can only select one filter at a time when searching for classes
4.0
8fit
BEST FITNESS APP FOR WEIGHT LOSS
Live classes?
No
Heart rate monitoring?
Yes
Cost
Basic for free, Pro for $25 a month, $60 for six months or $80 a year
Why We Picked It: When dropping pounds is your primary goal, it’s important to pursue it with the one-two punch of effective exercise and smart nutrition. 8fit clearly delivers in both areas. It offers custom workout and food plans, encouraging lifestyle change over unsustainable diets.
The workout programming uses mostly bodyweight-based training so you can exercise no matter where you are, and each workout only takes 5 to 20 minutes, catering to the busiest among us. Meanwhile, the app provides tailored meal plans to encourage proper nutrition and support your weight loss efforts successfully in the kitchen.
The Pro version of the app unlocks all workouts, meal plan customizations and food shopping lists for $25 a month, $60 for six months or $80 a year.
Details: 8fit can also assist people looking to get fit or gain muscle, as it adjusts your fitness protocols and dietary needs to those specific goals.
Pros:
A robust balance of fitness and diet assistance
350+ exercises for beginners up to experienced athletes
Professional guidance, reminders and suggestions to keep you accountable
Cons:
Need subscription to access most of the app’s features
More expensive than some apps with similar features
Best workout apps
- Apple Fitness Plus
Best workout app for iPhone and Apple Watch wearers
SPECIFICATIONS
Price: $9.99 per month
REASONS TO BUY
+Connects seamlessly with Apple Watch
+Content updated regularly
+Wide range of classes
REASONS TO AVOID
-Can’t sort classes by difficulty
-Only available to Apple Watch wearers
Apple Fitness Plus is one of the best workout apps for Apple Watch wearers. With HIIT, strength, core, yoga, Pilates, and meditation classes amongst others, there’s a huge variety of workouts to choose from, taught by a range of different trainers. During testing, we also liked the fact there were two instructors in the background during classes, showing modifications for beginners, or those looking to push themselves harder — this is particularly handy as there’s no option to filter classes by difficulty.
The app can feel a little overwhelming at a first glance, but classes can be filtered by trainer, time, and the music you prefer to work out to. You can also add classes to your library, which lets you select classes you’ve taken before, or plan on taking in the future, at a glance.
During a workout, you’ll be able to see stats from your Apple Watch on the screen. You can also do group workouts with other Apple Watch wearers using SharePlay. It’s a great experience, but it is limited to Apple Watch wearers, so if that’s not you, you’ll probably want to keep scrolling (or check out our best Apple Watch guide here).
Read our full Apple Fitness Plus review.
A screenshot from the Peloton workout app
(Image credit: Future)
- Peloton
Best workout app for exercise bike and treadmill users
SPECIFICATIONS
Price: $13 per month
REASONS TO BUY
- A wide range of motivational classes
- Easy to stack and save classes for later
- Live classes to join with friends
REASONS TO AVOID
-If you don’t have access to an exercise bike or treadmill, you won’t get the most out of this platform
If you can’t afford a Peloton exercise bike or Tread to stay in shape, the Peloton workout app is the next best thing. There are thousands of interactive classes to take that’ll help you strengthen, sculpt, and get that post-Peloton buzz. The instructors stand out from the crowd in terms of their enthusiasm, and there’s also the option to join live classes, and compete with friends.
From strength to yoga, to HIIT cardio, when testing this app, we found it difficult to get bored. The option to stack classes is great, and lets you add multiple classes together so you can seamlessly add a cool-down or stretch to your workout. The classes are easy to follow on a phone or tablet, but to get a real Peloton experience, we’d recommend streaming the workouts on the TV.
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The Peloton programs give you a longer schedule of classes to help you reach your goal, whether that be to get stronger, or to “crush your core” in four weeks. There are also different collections of workouts, which make it easier to find a range of workouts by type, for example, strength for runners, resistance band training, or Pilates classes.
Of course, to get the most out of Peloton, it’s worth having access to one of the best exercise bikes, or the best treadmills to take the bike and tread classes, but even without, this is a great workout app with some of the most motivating instructors around. Newbies can get 30-days free to see whether the app is for them.
Download Peloton now: Android, iOS
Read our full Peloton app review.
a screenshot from Sweat, one of the best workout apps
(Image credit: Sweat )
- Sweat
Best workout app for women
SPECIFICATIONS
Price: $19.99 monthly/ $119.94 yearly
REASONS TO BUY
+A number of different trainers and training plans
+Easy to follow
+Nutrition plans are also available
+Apple Watch compatible
REASONS TO AVOID
-Need to manually tap the screen during workouts
The brainchild of Australian personal trainer Kayla Itsines, Sweat started as a series of downloadable “Bikini Body Guides” in 2015 and has now grown into an extensive training app with a number of different programs and recipes to help you reach your goals. There’s a structured program for every woman — from the new mom taking her first steps into post-baby fitness, to the girl looking to gain more confidence in the weights room at the gym.
Trainers include Kayla herself, as well as the likes of Kelsey Wells, Chontel Duncan, Britany Williams, and Stephanie Sanzo. You can switch your program easily and take on-demand classes if you feel like adding the odd barre session to your planner. The workouts are also compatible with Apple Watch. There’s no free version of the app, although newbies can sign up for a 7-day free trial.
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During testing, we loved the range of workouts but found it a little irritating having to bend down and manually skip between exercises, although it wasn’t enough to put us off using the app regularly. We’d also say this app is definitely aimed at women, but there’s no reason why guys couldn’t follow the training plans.
Read our full Sweat review here.
Download Sweat: Android, iOS
A photo from the Nike Training workout app
(Image credit: Future)
- Nike Training Club
Best workout app for free workouts
SPECIFICATIONS
Price : Free
REASONS TO BUY
+Content completely free
+Classes labeled by intensity
+Home workouts
+Apple Watch app
REASONS TO AVOID
-Nike removed training programs from app
In March 2020, Nike made its Nike Training Club app content completely free for 90 days, to help people keep fit while they stayed at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the app has been completely free for users, and unlike others on this list, there’s no paid version anymore.
However, with the update, Nike removed some of their training programs, which used to be a popular feature of the app. Instead, you now have the option to filter workouts by muscle group — abs and core, arms and shoulders, or glutes and legs, workout focus — endurance, mobility, strength, and yoga, and by equipment. There is also the option to filter by duration, level, and intensity.
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During testing, we found the instructor-led workouts to be engaging and motivating, and also enjoyed the whiteboard workouts, which show you the entire workout so you can follow at your own pace. There’s also the option to connect the workout to your Apple Music. It’s not perfect, but for a free app, there’s plenty to keep you moving here.
Conclusion
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