The best fitness and exercise apps benefits of fitness go on and on, but you need consistency and discipline to stick with a routine long enough to reap those benefits. That’s where technology can help.
The right app can act as a virtual personal trainer or training partner to keep you motivated and accountable.
Healthline looked high and low for the best fitness apps to help you out, and we chose the year’s winners for their quality, user reviews, and overall reliability.
Keep reading for our picks of the best fitness and exercise apps.
A quick look at the fitness and exercise apps
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- Best free fitness app: Nike Training Club
- Best app for group fitness lovers: obé Fitness
- Best tried-and-true fitness app: Peloton
- Best fitness app for women: Fit Body
- Best fitness app for men: Centr
- Best personal trainer-led fitness app: Le Sweat TV
- Best low impact strength training app: TRX Training Club
- Best prenatal and postpartum fitness app: Studio Bloom
- Best size-inclusive fitness app: Big Fit Girl
- Best strength training app: Jefit Workout Planner Gym Log
- Best yoga app: Glo
- Best app for runners and cyclists: Strava
How to choose the best fitness and exercise apps
With so many fitness apps on the market, how do you know which one to choose? Here are some factors to consider before downloading:
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- Credible instructors. For safety purposes and best results, we recommend choosing an app with workouts that are created or led by certified fitness experts.
- Fitness goals. Do you want to build strength or run faster? Or maybe you’re interested in losing weight or becoming more flexible. Whatever your motivation is, be sure to select an app that caters to your exercise needs.
- Budget. While some are totally free, most apps require a monthly subscription cost. Luckily, all the apps on our list offer a free trial period, so you can try a few classes before going all in.
- Equipment needed. Most apps offer classes that require some equipment, such as yoga blocks, dumbbells, or kettlebells. Unless you’re willing to purchase new gym equipment, look for an app with classes that are compatible with your current home gym setup.
- User reviews. While you should definitely take reviews with a grain of salt, reading what other users think can be valuable intel as you decide whether a workout app will be the right fit for you.
There’s nothing wrong with trying out a few fitness apps before settling on one — the most important thing is that it helps you reach your goals safely and effectively.
How we chose the best fitness and exercise apps
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- Quality. We considered not just the quality of the workouts but also the expertise and credibility of the instructors leading them.
- Ease of use. We looked for apps that are easy to navigate and offer filters to quickly find your perfect workout.
- Reliability. We read through countless reviews to weed out apps that frequently crash or have streaming issues.
- Workout types. We included apps to suit a variety of workout needs and preferences.
- Recommendations. All the apps below are ones we’ve personally used or that were highly recommended by people we know. We also made sure to pick apps with mostly positive customer reviews.
- Vetting. All the apps below have been vetted to ensure that they meet Healthline’s medical and business standards.
Best free fitness and exercise apps
Best free fitness app
Nike Training Club
- Price: free
- iPhone rating: 4.9
- Android rating: 4.6
Work out with Nike trainers live or on demand with the Nike Training Club app. After downloading the app, you’ll get customized workout suggestions based on the results of a quick quiz.
The app offers a range of exercise styles, including high intensity interval training (HIIT), yoga, core, cardio, and strength training workouts. You can also search by muscle group, workout focus, and equipment to find your perfect class.
As a bonus, in 2020, Nike made its premium content free for all users.
Pros
- free to use
- wide selection of workouts
- multiple filters, including muscle group, equipment available, and duration
- warmups and cooldowns included
Cons
- takes up a decent amount of storage space on your phone
- can’t play your own music while streaming classes
- quick transitions and fast-paced moves may be difficult for beginners
Best app for group fitness lovers
obé Fitness
- Price: $26.99 per month, free 7-day trial
- iPhone rating: 4.8
- Android rating: 2.5
obé Fitness brings the feel of a boutique group fitness class to your living room with more than 15 types of classes, including HIIT, dance cardio, sculpt, and more.
The app offers 20 live classes each day — filmed in a fun neon studio — in addition to its extensive on-demand library of more than 7,000 classes.
Workouts range from 10 minutes to an hour long. The top-notch instructors bring the energy and will even shout you out during the live classes.
It’s also a favorite of Healthline Nutrition and Fitness Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, who appreciates that the large selection of 20-minute classes makes it easy (and fun) to squeeze a sweat session into her day.
Pros
- live classes
- specialized offerings, including targeted training programs and prenatal classes
- class options for all ages
- high energy classes and instructors
- particularly great for HIIT, cardio kickboxing, and dance cardio
Cons
- short trial period
- strength training may not be challenging enough for more serious weightlifters
- some reports of Android app crashing
Best tried-and-true fitness app
Peloton
- Price: $12.99 per month, 30-day free trial
- iPhone rating: 4.9
- Android rating: 4.5
Peloton is best known for its cycling classes, but with the Peloton digital app you can access workouts from strength training and HIIT to outdoor running and yoga.
You can work out in real time with expert instructors and other members from around the world or take one of the app’s on-demand classes.
Peloton classes feature curated music playlists, and each instructor brings their unique style to their classes.
Just keep in mind that although the instructors provide modifications, true beginners may find most of these workouts too challenging.
Several Healthline editors have commented that the Peloton app is the key to their at-home fitness success, and the app was featured as one of the best fitness gifts in a recent Healthline roundup.
Pros
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- fan favorite with a 4.9 out of 5 rating from nearly 600,000 reviews on the Apple App Store alone
- curated music playlists
- classes ranging from 5–75 minutes long
- modifications provided during workouts
- cycling and treadmill classes included
Cons
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- Peloton lingo for cycling and treadmill workouts may not match the resistance levels on non-Peloton cardio machines
- time elapsed isn’t displayed during classes
- some classes may be too challenging for true beginners
Best fitness app for women
Fit Body
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- Price: $19.99 per month, 7-day free trial
- iPhone rating: 4.9
- Android rating: 4.8
A community created for women by women, Fit Body features 12 programs led by 4 expert trainers to help you reach your fitness goals.
The classes are designed to be 30 minutes or shorter, but if you have extra time, we recommend taking advantage of the stretching and foam rolling videos as well.
What’s more, the app offers 72 weeks of meals plans with custom portions according to your daily calorie needs, plus access to 300+ recipes to create your own meal plan.
There’s also a community function within the app, allowing you to connect with others on your wellness journey.
Pros
- offers nutrition tips and meal plans
- tracks workouts and mental/emotional wellness
- includes alternative move suggestions during workouts
Cons
- may not be challenging enough for some
Best fitness app for men
Centr
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- Price: $19.99 per month, 7-day free trial
- iPhone rating: 4.7
- Android rating: 4.6
Known for his muscular physique, actor Chris Hemsworth decided to share his methods by creating the Centr app.
Touted as “your PT, dietician, chef, and wellness coach all in one,” Centr offers daily workouts, meal plans, and recipes, plus a mindfulness component, all via a convenient weekly planner.
With big-name trainers like Luke Zocchi — Hemsworth’s personal trainer — and Gunnar Peterson guiding you through workouts, you’ll be pushed to your limits.
However, some reviewers find the workouts a bit too challenging for beginners.
Pros
- weekly planner for meals and workouts
- warmups and cooldowns included in workouts
- diverse range of training methods and styles
Cons
- not the most beginner-friendly
- suggested recipes and ingredients are expensive
- limited progress tracking options
Best personal trainer-led fitness app
Le Sweat TV
- Price: $16.99 per month, 7-day free trial
- iPhone rating: 5
- Android rating: 5
Created by Charlee Atkins, CPT, Le Sweat TV essentially gives you a personal trainer at your fingertips.
During the workout, Atkins is right there with you, providing helpful cues and modifications for all fitness levels.
You can browse the 250+ workouts by body part, equipment needed, or desired class length (5–30 minutes) to get started. You can also stream the videos on demand or download them for sweat sessions on the go.
Pros
- genuine and relatable trainer
- classes feel like one-on-one training sessions
- doesn’t require a lot of equipment
Cons
- workout library not as robust as others on this list
- limited workout styles
- lacks longer classes
Best low impact strength training app
TRX Training Club
- Price: $5.99 per month for On Demand or $19.99 per month for All Access, free 30-day trial
- iPhone rating: 4.6
- Android rating: 2.8
If you’ve ever used a TRX suspension trainer at the gym, you know how great of a workout it is. TRX straps use gravity and your body weight for a full-body workout.
TRX Training Club helps you execute suspension training workouts with live daily classes or by using a fun replay option where you can add your own music.
There’s also a full library of on-demand classes, which you can access with either an On Demand or All Access membership.
Pros
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- includes 500+ workouts across 15 programs
- option to use your own music
- can provide a good workout even for more advanced athletes
Cons
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- requires TRX suspension straps
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- doesn’t offer a wide range of workout styles
- Android users complain that the app is difficult to navigate
Best prenatal and postpartum fitness app
Studio Bloom
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- Price: $29.99 per month, 7-day free trial
- iPhone rating: 4.9
- Android rating: 4.8
Designed by prenatal and postnatal exercise specialist Brooke Cate and taught by other experts, Studio Bloom classes help expecting and new parents perform workouts safely during and after pregnancy.
The app offers more than 300 classes, including strength training, injury rehab, meditation, yoga, cardio, HIIT, boxing, and cycling.
While some workouts require dumbbells or resistance bands, there are plenty of bodyweight options to choose from as well.
Unique to Studio Bloom, the app teaches diaphragmatic breathing as the foundation of every exercise. It also offers free consults with in-house pelvic floor therapists after both vaginal and cesarean births.
Pros
- classes for prenatal and postpartum stages
- evidence-based methods
- modifications explained during classes
- access to pelvic floor therapists
Cons
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- may not be challenging enough for advanced exercisers
- some users complain about a lack of diversity in teachers and models
Best size-inclusive fitness app
Big Fit Girl
- Price: $11.99 per month, 7-day free trial
- iPhone rating: 4.9
- Android rating: 4.7
Created by Louise Green — author of “Big Fit Girl” and “Fitness for Everyone” and president of the Size-Inclusive Training Academy — the Big Fit Girl app makes fitness accessible, no matter your size, age, or fitness level.
Starting with chair exercises and working up to more advanced moves, Green offers a wide range of on-demand cardio and strength workouts.
If you’re brand-new to working out or have injuries, Green’s app will meet you where you are, allowing you to work your way up safely and confidently.
Pros
- emphasizes size and ability representation
- workouts progress slowly with a focus on safety
- includes expert interviews, modification series, and daily mantras
Cons
- may not be challenging enough for advanced exercisers
Best strength training app
Jefit Workout Planner Gym Log
- Price: free version, otherwise $6.99 per month with 4-week free trial
- iPhone rating: 4.8
- Android rating: 4.5
Designed with serious weightlifters in mind, the Jefit app allows you to create custom weight training sessions, record each rep and set of your workout, and even time rest breaks.
The app also offers more than 1,400 workouts, post-workout analytics, and community features.
While the app does require a subscription to get the best data and share your results with friends, these additions might be worth the cost for those who love number crunching or just enjoy ribbing their friends.
Pros
- can create customized workouts
- can share stats among users
- post-workout analytics (requires subscription)
- 1,400 exercises available, even with the free version
Cons
- limited focus on non-strength-training activities
- subscription required for more advanced features
Best yoga app
Glo
- Price: $24 per month, 7-day free trial
- iPhone rating: 4.9
- Android rating: 2.5
Whether yoga is part of your regular routine or you’re new to the practice, there’s something for you on the Glo app.
The app includes 4,000+ on-demand classes, as well as daily live classes for when your schedule allows. You can even download classes to take with you while you’re traveling.
There are 16 styles of classes to choose from, all of which are taught by experienced and credentialed instructors.
Pros
- classes suitable for all skill levels
- integrates with the Apple watch
- Wi-Fi not required
- users rave about the instructors
Cons
- limited variety of workout styles, with emphasis on yoga, meditation, and Pilates
- Android users report issues with the app freezing
Best app for runners and cyclists
Strava
- Price: free option, otherwise $7.99 per month with 30-day free trial
- iPhone rating: 4.8
- Android rating: 4.5
If you love to run and cycle outside, Strava is a must-have app. In addition to mapping your routes, the app tracks your progress, offers challenges, and even shares your location with friends for safety.
The free version of Strava is pretty basic, allowing you to record your activity and share your location with three designated safety contacts.
However, for $7.99 per month, the app allows you to participate in competitions, set and track goals, create training plans, and measure your performance.
Pros
- free option and 30-day free trial
- strong community feel
- extensive tracking and performance metric features
Cons
- monthly subscription required to use most data analytics features
- lacks strength training and studio-style classes
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