9 best workout apps, tried and tested in 2025

Whether you want to build muscle or do strength training, this app has you covered. It also provides specific home workouts for men to help get six pack abs quickly. Whether you’re a beginner at exercise or just a newbie at home workouts, you’ll want to consider how you’ll be led through an exercise routine. If you have experience with group fitness classes, you may naturally gravitate toward live and on-demand workouts with instructors guiding you through every movement in real time.

Audio cues during your run that encourage you and remind you to focus on form and breath work. One of our testers, CPT Amanda Capritto, is a seasoned runner who found the audio cues annoying. Our other tester, GGR head of content and CPT Nicole Davis, liked them and found them helpful. Man of Many provides content of a general nature that is designed for informational purposes only.

FAQ – Best Workout Apps Without Subscription

But as you need a subscription for most, you don’t want to join loads and spend hundreds of dollars each month. So I try the different training styles, exercise classes, and wellbeing sessions to see if you can get everything in a single app. However, if you’re after an app that does a bit of everything, you might be better off with Apple Fitness+, as Alo Moves is primarily a yoga app, with a bit of cardio and strength training on the side. But this does make it the perfect option for yogis looking to practice at home. Fiit recreates the group class experience, and you can even invite your friends for free.

Tailored Mobility Programs for Athletes: Enhancing Flexibility and Performance with Pliability

Each class lasts for 25 or 40 minutes and, paired with a compatible fitness tracker or the official Fiit device (£45), you’ll see heart rate, calorie burn and rep data on screen throughout. The option to connect to your TV means you can get the full home gym experience, too. Aaptiv workouts can be done anywhere — at home, at the gym, outside on a ridiculously sunny day — because all you need is your phone and some headphones. With a membership you get access to more than 2,500 guided workouts, with more than 40 new classes added each week. There are more than 10,000 on-demand classes and more than 70 weekly live classes.

Portable Fitness

No equipment is required, either, but one of the best thick yoga mats is recommended to support your body as you work out. This app prompts you through an 8-week program with three workouts per week, starting with 30 minutes of walking and running. And once you complete the 5K program, you can move on to the 10K and half-marathon training plans (these do cost money). You can also choose a fitness plan that will customize workouts based on your goals.

Key Philosophy I: Fluid Progress, Like Water

Even when you finish a program, there are so many other options to explore that it’s doubtful you’ll ever get bored with a routine. And like any other well-designed fitness app, Sweat strives to provide you with a personal trainer 24/7 right in the palm of your hand, along with a nutrition plan to help you reach your goals. After having a baby last year, I finally embraced the convenience of workout apps myself. So whether you’re total beginner, wanting to gain muscle, or simply looking to incorporate some low-key exercises into your day, here are the best workout apps worth a download.

Best For Running & Hiking

One of the most frustrating things about browsing an app store on your Android device or iPhone is that almost every workout app says they’re free, but with in-app purchases. Once you install the app, however, you realize that the in-app purchase is to unlock full use of the workout app. Matt is a writer and fitness coach who’s been working in the fitness industry for 13 years. Since so many great apps offer those “premium” services for free, there’s no real need to invest in the premium version of Lose It! It’s available on iOS and Android, and it’s free, with an option for in-app purchases. You can use the iPhone app and the Apple Watch app simultaneously, and both update in real time.

Fitness and Wellness Ecosystem

I love how it’s completely personalised, despite being AI-led, and the interface is so easy to use. If you’re an owner of any Apple device, whether that be an iPhone, iPad, or laptop, you can take advantage of everything Apple Fitness+ has to offer – and there’s so much. Out of all the workout apps we tried, this was the one that ticked all the boxes as it was versatile, easy to use, had a huge range of workouts, and was relatively budget-friendly with everything considered. On sign-up, the app will ask you a series of questions – from what type of gym you exercise in and the equipment available to how often you intend to exercise – to determine the best training plan for you.

• Our top picks range in modes of training and fitness levels, so you’ll want to read on for our selection of the best free workout apps.
• Erin has experience writing and editing workout-based, human interest, product reviews, and advertorial stories within the fitness industry.
• With the rising popularity of digital fitness solutions, the best free workout apps empower you to stay fit effortlessly without expensive gym memberships or bulky equipment.
• True to its name, Fitbod will help you both build and maintain a muscular figure.
• We looked at what information was available through the app (like an FAQ section), how easy it was to contact customer service, as well as the ease of canceling your subscription.
• You can use the iPhone app and the Apple Watch app simultaneously, and both update in real time.

She’s been covering all things shopping and tech, including shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, for Mashable since 2019. She also explores trends in the shopping sphere, such as dupes and viral TikTok moments. Accessories like handles, a bench, and bar are sold separately, and the bundle of six items costs $495 in addition to the steep base price. You don’t have to get the accessories bundle to still get a satisfying workout, but Tonal is definitely a product for those who have a little extra spending room. A set of dumbbells is required to take advantage of Beach Body’s programs. Tester Kristin Currin was initially turned off  by the intake questionnaire on desktop but later found it’s not the same as the intake on the mobile app.

Best Workout App for Personalized Coaching: Caliber

Many users seek to purchase fitness-related products, such as equipment, supplements, and apparel. Incorporating an e-commerce platform within your workout app allows users to shop for products directly. This can be an additional revenue stream and enhances the user experience by providing convenience. A workout planner with a bank of more than 1300 weight training exercises, Jefit lets you fine tune and track your lifting efforts. There are video instructions too, so you won’t be left confounded by the cable and pulley.

A personal trainer said that the best form of exercise is the one you enjoy doing. That means that even the best, most highly-rated app won’t lead to success if you don’t use it. When shopping around for the best workout app for your needs, be sure the style of exercise you want is available, and the monthly membership fees are in your budget.

Conclusion: Best Free Workout Apps for GYM

Certified personal trainer and expert product tester Anthony O’Reilly gives SHRED a 5-out-of-5-star rating in the ease of use category. Its cardio, strength, and yoga and meditation classes—both best apps for workouts live and on-demand—include Obé’s signature 28-minute workouts and 10-minute express sessions. Some workout apps let you download videos for offline use, while others require a constant internet connection. Live classes or sessions with virtual coaching almost always need a working connection, so it’s important to check how each app handles offline access. If you’re traveling, heading to a location with limited service, or simply want to avoid interruptions, it’s a good idea to download a few favorite workouts in advance. That way, you’ll have options ready to go, whether you have internet access or not, keeping your routine consistent no matter where you are.

It’s been featured by popular media outlets like the AMC Network, the New York Times, and Men’s Fitness. The app helps beginners to get from the couch to running 5k in 8 weeks. There are also additional features available, like in-app challenges, exercise rewards, and virtual running groups.

The convenience and guidance offered by these apps make them an excellent companion for home workouts. A Fitify app offers over 900 exercises that can be performed with minimal equipment, making it a great app for those who like to change things up. The Fitify app provides instructions to help you lose weight, burn fat, build muscle, and build muscle. You can workout using your own body weight without equipment through videos. This workout app is the only app that offers workouts and plans along with fitness tools.

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Not only is the GPS tracking pretty accurate, but there is a social element that separates it from most other free cycling apps. One callout that Amanda has is that Caliber lacks integration with common fitness trackers. “I wish the app integrated with Garmin or other fitness trackers instead of only Apple Watch. I have to manually input my walks and  runs into the app after I’ve already logged them on my watch.” The rest of the app works well enough, so Amanda rated the ease of use a 4 out of 5.