We’ve tested the best workout apps to build muscle and boost your wellbeing at home

For anyone who gets bored of their training programs fast, Ladder is the solution you’ve been looking for. New plans are added weekly, by a roster of very impressive and inspirational coaches. Compatible with home or gym use, Ladder workout plans are meant to be utilized wherever you’re getting a sweat in. Different workout apps will provide different levels of tracking for workouts. Most free ones allow you to record loads and times for daily workouts, but you might also be able to track basic metrics, like weight, water, and inches.

Are there any workout apps that don’t require a subscription?

The app stands out for its high-quality content and completely free access to most features. While it doesn’t offer the same level of personalization as some paid apps, it compensates with a rich library of workouts and expert guidance. It’s an excellent choice for those who want a reliable, no-cost fitness solution. The Home Workout app is a free fitness app that helps you reach your fitness goals at home. The app has workouts for your abs, arms, chest, legs, shoulder, and back, as well as multi-week programs for full body, upper body, lower body, and immune system.

Jillian Michaels Fitness App

The convenience and guidance offered by these apps make them an excellent companion for home workouts. Muscle Booster is a powerful fitness app designed specifically for men looking to build muscle, improve strength, and stay consistent with their workout routine. The app customizes workout plans based on user goals, fitness level, and available equipment—making it accessible whether you train at home or in the gym. The app offers over 500 daily workout routines by muscle group, personalized plans for your goals, and a fitness tracker that will automatically record your progress. While suitable for all fitness levels, workouts cater to beginners as they only take a few minutes. 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.

Overall, the app is really well designed, easy to follow, and has managed to keep me motivated for the last five years! I liked that 8fit takes a holistic approach to overall health as opposed to straight-up weight loss. I also enjoyed the workouts I tried, which were explained and demonstrated clearly, though occasionally repetitive.

How to Choose the Best Free Workout App

The Bloom Method (also referred to as Studio Bloom) is a wellness and exercise app specifically designed for exercise during pregnancy, prenatal and postnatal, or while trying to conceive. Like many other fitness apps, you’ll find a wide variety of instructor-led HIIT workouts, strength training, boxing, yoga, and barre. Nike Training Club has certified personal trainers and instructors leading live workouts and on-demand classes. “The instruction is better than most download-and-stream fitness apps,” says Amanda Capritto, GGR product tester and certified personal trainer. Despite this, the program formatting is a good place to begin if you’re familiar with strength training but are looking for guidance on how to follow a proper strength program.

Try Our Top-Rated Free Workout App

If those don’t do it for you, we have more free workout apps to choose from on our best free workout app roundup. Like many free workout apps, there are limited interactive features and accountability—none, mad muscle review to be exact, earning a 1 out of 5 in both of these aspects. Still, if you’re looking for a fun way to get a quick workout in, SmartWOD provides countless workouts that can be catered to your skillset and equipment available. Workout apps can be very effective when you use them consistently and choose plans that match your fitness level and goals. They provide structure, reminders, and progression, but results still depend on your effort, recovery, and nutrition outside the app.

The app’s standout feature lets you toggle between gym and home settings, automatically adjusting exercises based on your available equipment. You receive AI-powered recommendations for weights and alternative movements when you don’t like a suggested exercise. Shred recently added full-length studio classes led by expert trainers in yoga, boxing, and HIIT, expanding beyond the core strength focus. Ladder focuses on strength training across multiple modalities including kettlebells, Pilates, yoga strength, push-pull training, HIIT, bodybuilding, and explosive power.

Do I need equipment to use workout apps?

Gym-goers will also appreciate the self-guided option, which lets you move through exercises at your own pace. Ladder offers a free seven-day trial, and afterward you can pick from a Pro plan for $30 a month or the Pro Plan-Annual, which is an up-front fee of $180 for the year and offers unlimited access to the app. If you opt for the all-access membership, it costs $50 a month and can be used whether you own the bike, treadmill or rower. Peloton also recently updated its search function, so it’s easier than ever to find your favorite artist, class title and genre. If you’re not a fully converted Peloton junkie, the Peloton app One is a good stepping stone to see what the hype is about and whether you enjoy the classes. The app’s creators believe that connection is the best way to stick to your goals.

FitOn – the Best AI Workout App

Finishing a workout is hard enough without the temptation to check the latest pandemic update every 30 seconds. Banish your smartphone screen’s seductive powers and take a break from depressing news with Aaptiv’s audio workouts. With or without a wearable, it’ll keep a tally of your daily pacing and activity data, while social challenges mean you can compete with confined pals from afar.

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• You can challenge yourself by picking routes that athletes near you have curated, then compete head-to-head with them.
• That said, I found some of the strength and cardio video classes a little hard to follow.
• Since having my son, I’ve religiously used Joe’s The Body Coach app to rebuild my core postpartum, and I’ve loved the flexibility and challenge of the Body Coach plan.
• Fitify took all the myriad workout categories and made an app for each of them.
• If you’re looking for another great app that also offers personalized coaching from a certified fitness professional, you may want to consider Future.
• For anyone who gets bored of their training programs fast, Ladder is the solution you’ve been looking for.

The app also sends helpful and motivating reminders to keep you on track. Jefit is a workout planner and tracker with over 1,400 exercises in its library and an intuitive rep and rest experience that gives you the info you need without being a distraction. If that weren’t enough, you can customize your workouts based on your preferences and save them in an easy-to-find personal library. When you’re showered and done for the day, see how far you’ve come and monitor your muscle recovery as you rest to rep another day.

Best workout app for meal plans

Choose based on your goals — strength, cardio, yoga, or overall wellness. You can choose between on-demand sessions or join live classes, where your heart rate and reps are tracked in real-time. Peloton’s energetic trainers bring the personal trainer experience to every session, offering modifications for different fitness levels and helping you build muscle groups effectively. If your goal is to lose weight, 8fit Workouts is the best workout app on our list. And it’s the only app on our list that combines personalized workouts with meal plans tailored to your dietary preferences.

Daily Workouts – Home Trainer

ATG flips this on its head, teaching you to safely load your joints through full ranges of motion, building bulletproof strength in positions most programs avoid. The app includes a dedicated space where members support each other, share progress, and stay motivated. This sense of belonging to something bigger makes a huge difference in long-term adherence. Users consistently praise the quality of coaching, noting coaches are knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely invested in their success. Many report achieving better results than with previous in-person trainers.