Best Expert-Tested Workout Apps and Services for 2025

Or perhaps you’ve tried free versions or free apps that fall short of expectations. When you can’t make it into Equinox’s luxe gyms, the high-end fitness brand’s app brings the sweat sessions to you. If you’re an American Express cardholder, you’ll also save $300 per year when you charge it to your Platinum card. Athletes, personal trainers, and gym veterans don’t expect beginners to understand the complexities of strength training or any other form of progressive exercise. And trust me, you can nerd out about fitness; it’s a highly complex topic. We’re a group of fitness industry professionals, including certified personal trainers, nutrition coaches, CrossFit Level 1 Trainers, USAW L-1 Coaches, and Olympic-level athletes.

The Best Exercise Bikes of 2025: Cycle Smarter With Our Expert-Approved Picks

Aaptiv offers a seven-day free trial through its web app, though credit card details are required. It caters to a broad audience, encompassing individuals seeking muscle building, powerlifting, and general fitness goals. For those seeking the pinnacle of AI-driven fitness, we truly believe that our very own Dr. Muscle emerges as the unrivaled champion, especially for users prioritizing muscle and strength gains. As a member you get unlimited access to over 10,000 on-demand classes, so if you can’t make a live class from the weekly schedule work, you will not have to go without. While some of the classes include various pieces of workout equipment, there are many that do not, so you will not be limited and can do the classes even when traveling. For a workout app to actually work, you’ll have to utilize it with frequency.

FAQs About the Best Workout Apps

• The workouts provided have something for everyone really, as you can sort through workouts by experience level, the amount of equipment required, or the type of training you’re looking for.
• Luckily, most at-home workout plans have 60-minute workouts at the most; many have 30- and 45-minute options and some have workouts as short as 15 minutes.
• Created by accomplished powerlifter and coach Chad Wesley Smith, this app uses an algorithm to create a personalized program for you and your strength goals.
• Another tester worked with two trainers, including one who went on maternity leave, and had a great experience with both of them as well.
• Users may want to disable features that publicize running routes or other location information.
• An example of this is HWPO, which is CrossFit Games champion Mat Fraser’s programming.

“If you want more of the at-home gym experience, I recommend the All-Access option,” they said, giving this category a 3 out of 5. As an All-Access member, https://us.humankinetics.com/blogs/excerpt/what-is-physical-fitness?srsltid=ARcRdnpaDGPtbJaoCfiveduISQ3QTBr4EQgbfQZPPH3_soTG2So8KB0k you can encourage other users in your classes and follow the in-class leaderboard. Unfortunately, we weren’t too thrilled with the user interface, rating it a 3 out of 5. “There’s not much here that I couldn’t already see in my Apple Health app,” our tester said. Finally, this psychological approach to weight loss can be tough, especially since there’s less rigidity surrounding which foods you can and shouldn’t eat.

Best for Building Muscle

In addition to gym training, Shred offers features for bodyweight and cardio training. Users can access specialized training plans, including HIIT, pilates, and strength training routines. You can share routines, download plans, engage in contests, and sync data across various platforms. It’s primarily designed for strength training, emphasizing tracking weight, reps, and more, although it’s versatile for other workouts. The app allows customization, enabling users to design workout plans targeting specific muscle groups.

Apple Fitness+ App

Whether you’re tracking routes with Strava, joining Peloton’s live classes, or building strength with Centr, there’s an app tailored to every fitness style and goal. With options ranging from free to premium, the right app can transform your routine and help you reach new heights. Research consistently shows that users of workout apps achieve better consistency and greater success in meeting fitness goals compared to those who rely solely on traditional methods. The key lies in these apps’ ability to adapt to your fitness level, progression, and personal goals. WalkFit is a beginner-friendly walking app designed to help users stay active and burn calories through structured walking programs. The app tailors walking plans based on individual fitness levels and goals, whether that’s weight loss, daily step targets, or improving stamina.

Smart Gym Equipment Apps

You’ll have a 15-day trial for the premium features, and the free version includes GPS tracking for runs, https://mail.topendsports.com/fitness/products/apps/mad-muscles.htm walks, road cycling, and mountain biking. When it comes to instruction, Erin Chancer, GGR senior editor and expert product tester gives iFIT a 4.5-out-of-5-star rating. Erin is experienced with iFIT and recently completed a 100-workout milestone on her NordicTrack S22i. She favors ride-along workouts with the instructor on camera with you at every turn. The app releases a monthly calendar with the races/courses available in the 11 worlds, or you can compete against friends or yourself.

What are the best workout plans for women?

The apps on this list represent the ones that fast-tracked strength and performance gains, were user-friendly, and really delivered on the user experience, and kept us returning to our workout plan. Consider these picks the ones we will never delete (even if we are running low on storage!). We’ve included a variety of workout apps at differing price points above, with a majority of options coming in at under $100 monthly. In the end, though, it’s always wise to go with the app service that fits your budget and fitness desires best.

Best fitness app for those who like a little competition

If you’ve been in the fitness game for a while, you’ll know that Peloton bikes and treadmills changed the game for at-home workouts. For those who invest in Peloton’s home equipment, the company brings live classes to your living room. However, buying this equipment isn’t available to everyone, but that’s where the Peloton home workout app comes in. It’s not exclusive to their equipment, although some statistics are specific to these devices. You likely won’t get real-time feedback, but our product tester Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, tested the Premium version and reports coaches respond ASAP. For her experience, she rated the instruction a 5-out-of-5-star rating for this additional video feedback feature.

After an in-depth assessment, the app will create a training program based on your answers—weight, training load, personal records, training schedule, and fitness goals. The app will make adjustments on a short-term basis as well, since it asks about your current level of soreness and fatigue prior to each workout. Users can also try on-demand cardio, dance, yoga, HIIT, and pilates workouts. If you opt for the premium subscription, you can access hundreds of recipes and personalized meal plans. Apple Watch users should consider this next app for tracking workouts. Since Apple created this fitness app, it has integrated with hardware seamlessly to track various health metrics.

What is the most accurate fitness tracking app?

Some of the other fitness apps I recommend also have livestream classes, but Peloton’s are the most frequent and plentiful. It also posts its livestream schedule ahead of time so you can see which classes align with your calendar. Some programs are audio-only, so you can take them while running mad muscle review or walking indoors or on the treadmill. You can connect a heart rate monitor to the app, which displays your metrics on the screen as you exercise. Thanks to a wide variety of periodized regimens as well as live and on-demand fitness classes led by certified personal trainers without any cost of entry.

What makes the best fitness app?

And for those who like to keep a close eye on their stats and progress, this is our top pick. Personally, I love the filter in the search tab for this app, allowing you to pick and choose your preferred workout modality, available equipment, length, etc. The app is generally easy to use and follow, including easy-to-follow exercise videos for the non-live workouts. Advanced lifters looking for an app made for pushing real weight will love the Juggernaut AI. Its in-depth insights and workout plans are great for maximizing your strength training and reaching new goals. You likely have some Nike gear that you rock at the gym—so it might feel right to work out with the Swoosh, too.