At $199/month, this is still significantly more affordable than hiring a personal trainer on a monthly basis at your local gym, but it’s going to cost a lot more than most apps on our list. He also docked a couple of points for progressive overload, giving Fitbod 3 out of 5 stars. You can choose your own training goal, but you can’t build your own workouts. Instead, you’ll have https://www.inkl.com/news/best-workout-apps-for-beginners-in-2026 to choose from one of SHRED’s circuit-style workouts, which some may not enjoy.
Fitplan, Inc. is a fitness-focused company based in Los Angeles, California, that operates a mobile app designed to provide personal training services. Launched in 2015, Fitplan offers users access to a wide range of fitness plans, instructional videos, and nutritional advice aimed at helping individuals achieve their health and fitness goals. The app features step-by-step workout routines created by elite trainers, allowing users to work out at home, in the gym, or wherever they choose. Fitplan emphasizes user engagement through motivational content and community support, which is evident in the testimonials from users who have experienced significant transformations. The app is available on various devices, including the Apple Watch, making it convenient for users to track their workouts and progress. Fitplan has built a reputation for its structured approach to fitness, appealing to both beginners and experienced fitness enthusiasts alike.
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Strength training also helps prevent falls, keep bones strong, lower blood sugar levels, and improve balance. You won’t have to worry about coordinating with a personal trainer or dashing out of work to catch your favorite class. With an app, you can complete your workouts any time of day—first thing in the morning or on your lunch break—it’s totally up to you.
Do workout apps really work?
This online portal provides you with hundreds of training programs from top fitness professionals and experts—folks like Dr. Eric Helms, Dr. Swole, or Jim Wendler, creator of the 5/3/1 workout. Compared to the average workout app, Zwift is more affordable, and has a longer trial period. However, you’ll need compatible hardware, and it’s only good for cycling workouts. Another tester, Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC, used Caliber Premium to work with a coach for a customized strength training routine. She reports working with her coach and using the app is easy, and she appreciates the fact that there are demonstration videos for every exercise assigned to your program. You’ll also follow the workouts on your own, so aside from optional workout reminders, you’re not really getting any accountability with Shred.
If you’re looking for a quick, new workout to do, SmartWOD can provide it. If you’re looking for guided workouts, ClassPass can be used in two ways. The first, and more well-known aspect of ClassPass, is that you can search for and participate in local fitness classes—HIIT, boot camp, kettlebell classes, plus salon appointments.
Sweat strength and HIIT app for women
A free trial gives you time to explore an app’s features and functionality before committing to a subscription. To earn at least a 3 out of 5, a weightlifting app should offer a seven-day free trial so users can assess its capabilities. Apps that go beyond this by providing 14-day (or longer) trials, allowing access without requiring card info, or sending clear reminders before charging can earn higher scores. We’ll take a slight detour from traditional phone apps for our last recommendation, the Torokhtiy Weightlifting Program, which offers a free two-week version via a downloadable PDF. Led by Ukrainian Olympic weightlifter Oleksiy Torokhtiy, this introductory program to competition lifts consists of four weekly sessions—two focusing on the snatch and two on clean and jerks. Although other weightlifting apps may not require such a complete setup, Amanda still rates JuggernautAI at 4 out of 5 for equipment demands.
It focuses on strength training workouts, allowing users to build muscle and strength or train for specific activities, such as Olympic weightlifting or powerlifting. It earns 5 out of 5 stars for workout variety, and it’s affordably priced compared to other apps. Impakt is a fitness app company founded in 2020, based in the United States. With a team of 22 employees, the company specializes in providing personalized workout plans and fostering community support to help users achieve their fitness goals. The app offers features such as real-time feedback and performance tracking, appealing primarily to fitness enthusiasts who seek motivation and customized fitness solutions.
Now for the truth about whether Pilates can lead to muscle growth…
Along with follow-along video workouts, the app offers a selection of ‘How To’ demonstrations. These cover techniques to start weightlifting for beginners – like deadlifts, squats, and overhead presses, along with guides on using the equipment in the gym. Here, I also found the largest collection of bodyweight-only moves out of all the apps.
To earn 3 out of 5 stars for value, we feel that what you get for the price is fair, while high scores are given to apps that provide exceptional value for the cost. 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.
With plenty of sophisticated features and workout advice, Dr. Muscle is the ultimate pal for those who want to develop a muscular physique without spending a fortune. It launched in late 2020, but with a catch; you had to own an Apple Watch to use the app. Two years later, Apple removed this restriction, allowing anyone with an iPhone to get involved, so I took out a subscription and gave it a try. I stuck with it because Apple is really good at making everything work together.
Great for causal and serious weight lifters
Whether you want to lose weight, build muscle, run your first 5K, or just feel healthier, there’s a free option waiting for you. Caliber is an app-based program focused on science-backed strength training and habit coaching. It’s highly recommended for beginners and experienced lifters, offering hundreds of free routines, video tutorials, and personalized progress tracking. You’ll need to have some knowledge of the activity to start with and know how to use free weights and gym equipment to safely and effectively use the app. If you’ve already been going to the gym for a few years or are looking to move away from in-person personal training sessions and plan your own workouts, this could be the app for you.
Lose It! (now part of Everyday Health Group)
This isn’t a big deal for those who don’t mind training alone, but if you’re looking for accountability, you’ll need to choose a different option. It’s incredibly efficient, focusing on tracking your strength workouts and personal records without unnecessary features that complicate the user experience. The companies listed originate from key locations such as the United States, India, and Germany. They vary in size from small teams to larger firms, representing a blend of established brands and startups. Some were founded as early as 2005, while others have emerged in recent years.
No Equipment
- StrongLifts 5X5 is a streamlined strength training program and app, celebrated for its simplicity.
- Nobody wants to pay for another monthly subscription if it’s not worth it.
- Plus, Muscle Booster promotes progressive overload effectively by having you master each prescribed exercise prior to moving onto more challenging movements or rep ranges.
- For lifters who want the most variety at zero cost — especially bodyweight training — one app stands alone.
- With Home Gym Club Training, you’ll be able to access over a thousand strength-training programs, including over 100 programs created by certified expert coaches.
- Overall, JEFIT is a useful and comprehensive fitness app that can help users reach their goals and improve their overall health and fitness.
The app offers a range of strength training workouts, as well as cardio and strength exercises, making it a versatile tool for improving overall physical fitness. Additionally, the app provides guidance on the weight to use for each exercise, ensuring that you are using the right amount of resistance to challenge your muscles and see progress. Workout apps can provide you with expert guidance, either through professionally made programs and plans or through connecting you with a certified personal trainer or coach. While what a workout app does varies from product to product, they can help you track progress, keep you motivated, and connect you with like-minded individuals who can support you on your fitness journey.
Best Free Workout App: Nike Training Club
Isometric exercises, such as doing planks and holding leg lifts, are done without movement. Isotonic exercises require you to bear weight throughout a range of motion. Bicep curls, bench presses, and sit-ups are all forms of isotonic exercise. Activities like walking, swimming, dancing, and cycling, if done at sufficient intensity, get you breathing faster and your heart working harder. Aerobic exercises burn fat, improve your mood, reduce inflammation, and lower blood sugar. If you have a chronic condition, or if you’re older than age 40 and you haven’t been active recently, check with your doctor before beginning a strength training or aerobic fitness program.
YOU ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH YOUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS BEFORE UNDERTAKING ANY TRAINING PROGRAM, INCLUDING OURS.
In our experience, the cost of an app doesn’t always reflect the value it provides, so don’t feel like you have to spend more than you’re comfortable with. Some of the higher-cost apps provide fantastic value, but we’ve also found plenty of affordable, or even free apps that we love and recommend. Apps can “gamify” workouts, too, through checking in and earning achievements and badges for breaking milestones. A survey study from determined that apps with achievement-oriented motivations were one of the best ways to keep app users accountable and driven toward progress.