10 Best Workout Apps of 2026, Tested by Personal Trainers

You never have to guess what to do next, which makes it much easier to stay consistent from day one. We selected Berg Movement as the best influencer program because Sondre’s expertise and teaching ability shine through every aspect of the app. His background as a professional performer and coach means the programming is both practical and effective. The app’s intuitive design makes logging workouts simple and effective, with gamification elements that keep motivation high.

That’s why our exercise professionals in the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition & Fitness Lab tested more than 40 workout apps to find the ones that truly stand out. We evaluated everything from the quality of the workouts and variety of classes to how intuitive the apps felt to use. We also brought in real-life testers to share their experiences, including how challenging the workouts were, how engaging the classes felt, and whether the apps helped them stay motivated. Ahead, we’re sharing the best workout apps to elevate your fitness routine, no matter your goal or experience level. The Nike Training Club is our pick for the best overall workout app because it’s free and offers a variety of classes, like HIIT, strength training, mobility and yoga. You can even follow a program over the course of a month and decide how often you’re looking to work out.

Best for Circuit Training – Shred

FitBudd handles payment processing, making it easy for trainers to offer various pricing models including one-time payments, monthly subscriptions, and tiered packages. Berg Movement represents the gold standard for influencer-led fitness programs. Created by professional handbalancer and movement specialist Sondre Berg, this app brings elite-level coaching directly to your pocket. Founded by Kayla Itsines in 2015, Sweat quickly became the leader for online workout plans for women. The brand is unapologetically designed for women (by women) and comes with an army of loyal customers who swear by the workouts and programs.

Best Online Fitness Programs and Workout Apps in 2026 (Tried & Tested)

As the world’s foremost athletic brand, it’s safe to say Nike knows a thing or two about fitness. Proving as much is Nike Training Club, which respectively straddles yoga, bodybuilding, and a slew of additional categories by way of various routines. Certain sections of the workout app feature big-name cameos from athletes such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Serena Williams. The app allows you to stream classes in 10 different categories (cycling, running, bootcamp, outdoor, strength, and more) anywhere, with live studio classes uploaded daily to an extant library of over 10,000.

Best for Calorie Tracking – Cronometer

You might discover, for example, that limited hip mobility is contributing to your lower back pain, or that shoulder restrictions are affecting your bench press. ATG is perfect for athletes looking to maximize performance, anyone dealing with chronic joint pain, post-surgery recovery, or simply those who want to bulletproof their body for long-term athletic pursuits. We selected ATG as best for athletes and injury prevention because the results speak for themselves. Users report dramatic reductions in chronic knee pain, improved athletic performance, and the ability to return to sports they thought they’d never play again.

Strava is one of the best running apps on the market, with a free and a paid subscription to allow runners, cyclists, and walkers to keep track of their progress. That said, despite its reputation as an app for runners and cyclists, you can track a total of 31 different sports. Of course, if you really want to make noticeable changes to your body, you’ll need to focus on your nutrition. The app has hundreds of recipes to choose from, and I was able to tailor my meal plan to my dietary requirements. The recipes are delicious, and easy to follow, and I appreciated having everything in one place. Whether you enjoy weightlifting, yoga or cardio, the Fiit app has you covered.

Apple product owners can access Fitness+ built into the new Fitness app, with the latest iOS update. Future brings the luxury of working out with a personal trainer to your fingertips, literally. This isn’t one of those dime-a-dozen apps that have boring and broad workout programs with zero specialization for your personal needs.

Best for Screenless Workouts

This allows you to follow workouts without your phone, displaying exercises, reps, timers, and haptic alerts for section changes. Metrics such as active heart rate, calories, steps, and distance are tracked, too, and demo videos are also available on the watch, though trainer audio is not. The app includes programs for all levels and preferences, from high-intensity HIIT to low-impact strength training, barre, yoga, and specialized programs for pregnancy and postnatal recovery.

Who It’s For

top workout apps for healthy living

The app is an extension of this, with hundreds of classes to choose from, all set to an infectious beat, with motivating instructors. This saves a lot of time, allowing you more space to do your workout rather than fiddle with the app. But if these aren’t quite right for you either, we’ve rounded up the best workout apps for a range of training styles and budgets to get you started. If you’re looking for a top all-rounder, we recommend downloading Centr, the app developed by actor Chris Hemsworth.

Plus & Peak Subscription

Cronometer Gold unlocks advanced features like AI photo logging, future meal planning, detailed nutrient breakdowns, the Nutrient Oracle (which suggests foods to fill nutritional gaps), and an ad-free experience. Here at Fitness Drum, we believe in editorial integrity and providing genuine value to our readers. For all the coaches and personal trainers out there, Playbook allows you to create your own content, generate a following, and even make a living. This might very well be the future of fitness so get in before everyone else does.

top workout apps for healthy living

Specifications

Behind that catchy name is one of the best workout apps for those on a time crunch. Accommodating all fitness levels, the routines range from 5 minutes all the way up to a full hour. Bridging the gap between exercise, diet, and mindfulness, Asana Rebel is like a life coach and yoga instructor rolled into one. While the app is free to join, you’ll reap the most benefit by signing up for one of its subscription tiers. Nike Training Club offers a variety of classes, whereas an app like Strava is ideal if you’d like to keep metrics on your outdoor adventures. A good place to start is by searching your App Store and seeing what free workout apps it has to offer.

  • If your workouts include heavy lifting, running, cycling, and other activities that are hard on your muscles, stretching can improve your everyday mobility, posture, and comfort—and prevent injuries.
  • We selected Shred as the best for circuit training because it balances sophisticated AI adaptation with practical usability.
  • Completely customized plan for extra support, as well as various programs and general membership.
  • It features a variety of programs spread across seven exciting categories, including Backcountry Hunter Training, Military & LEO Application Training, and Minimal Equipment Training.
  • Although there are plenty of sessions that can help you build substantial muscle, we were impressed at the variety available through Centr.
  • FitBudd handles payment processing, making it easy for trainers to offer various pricing models including one-time payments, monthly subscriptions, and tiered packages.

Best for Beginners – Fitbod

That means intuitive navigation and filters that let you quickly find the perfect class based on workout type, duration, or even music. Many apps also include a community component, which can be a helpful way to stay motivated, share progress, and hold yourself accountable. You can follow your own route or explore Strava’s massive network of roads and trails, built by millions of athletes worldwide. “The mapping tool makes it easier than ever to plan runs and workouts in advance, especially when following a training plan with specific distances and paces,” one runner noted. As with many online subscriptions, you can almost always get a better rate if you pay for a year up front—but you shouldn’t necessarily do that with workout apps.

What is the best fitness app for beginners?

Pliability (formerly fitbit vs madmuscles ROMWOD) sits firmly at the top of the mobility app category, offering a comprehensive library of mobility sessions backed by sports physiotherapy principles. Founded by British Olympian Sonny Webster, Mobility Manual offers a great range of products designed to improve your mobility and overall movement. Completely customized plan for extra support, as well as various programs and general membership. For decades, people were told never to let knees go past toes during squats or lunges. 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.

13 Best Walking Apps for 2025 Free Apps to Track Steps

If you’ve been feeling on edge or struggling to sleep, Calm is like a gentle nudge to slow down and take care of yourself—even if it’s just for a few quiet minutes. Life gets busy and messy, and it’s easy to forget to take care of your mind and body. Discover the life technology created to fit and improve your wellness needs. If an app has a free trial, take it, and cancel the subscription before the trial period ends. Learning a language is one of the most powerful forms of brain training.

best fitness apps for lifestyle improvement

Fitbit Personal Health Coach

Metrics such as active heart rate, calories, steps, and distance are tracked, too, and demo videos are also available on the watch, though trainer audio is not. Some workout apps let you download videos for offline use, while others require a constant internet connection. chris hemsworth fitness app 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.

Best fitness app for stress relief

best fitness apps for lifestyle improvement

Just keep in mind that although the instructors provide modifications, true beginners may find most of these workouts too challenging. Learn about Active People, Healthy NationSM, CDC’s national initiative to help people be more physically active. Everyday activities include climbing stairs, grocery shopping, or cleaning the house. Being unable to perform everyday activities is called functional limitation. Physically active middle-aged or older adults have a lower risk of functional limitations than people who are inactive. Journaling is a proven way to completely change your life, especially when you stick with it over time.

Best Fitness Apps for Cardio Workouts

Down Dog is one of those apps that makes doing yoga at home feel way less awkward. Aaptiv is like having a personal trainer or fitness class instructor in your ear wherever you go. If you’re looking for a way to feel more informed and a little less alone during a big life change, Balance is like having a supportive guide right in your pocket. It also offers practical tools like breathing exercises and gratitude journaling.

These are our 12 favorite fitness, health, and nutrition apps we recommend for crushing your 2026 resolutions

  • Intuitive in-app features, clear metric monitoring and world class instructors are just some of the perks of being a Fiit member.
  • Setup was quick and easy with the Zepp app, and the interface proved intuitive and robust without overwhelming users with complexity.
  • It’s full of short, easy-to-follow guided meditations—some just five minutes—so you can squeeze in a moment of calm no matter how packed your day is.
  • My IBD Care supports you through the journey starting from diagnosis, guiding you through relapse, and helping you stay in remission as long as possible.
  • If you’re an outdoors person, especially runs and rides, Strava is the perfect app for you.
  • Our team of Men’s Health fitness editors, including certified trainers and former athletes, have tried every new app that’s entered the market over the past several years.

Toggl Track is one of the most loved time management apps for freelancers, remote workers, and entrepreneurs. It’s clean, fast, and works across every device — desktop, browser, and mobile — with seamless syncing. You plant a virtual tree when you want to focus — and if you leave the app to scroll social media, your tree dies. The key is choosing apps that target the specific areas you want to improve — and actually using them consistently. Once I found the right ones, my mornings felt intentional, my focus improved, and I actually started following through on goals that had been sitting untouched for months.

Strava

It is easier for us to lose motivation when we are working out alone. The ideal fitness app allows you to connect socially with friends, family, and people who have the same health goals as you do. They can encourage you to keep going, you can challenge them to reach fitness targets, and it increases your personal accountability for your good health. Trying to actively diet and lose weight can seem like math when you try to break down macros, parse ingredients, or seemingly calculate every calorie.

Workout Trainer by Skimble

Throw on some quality headphones to fully immerse yourself in the workout experience. You can pedal with friends remotely or join paced group rides led by virtual ride leaders. A hunky AI coach can also spit out a workout program after you feed him some basic data. Premade workouts can be as short as five minutes or as long as several hours. Remente is one of those wellness apps that tries to help you see the bigger picture of your life without making it overwhelming. Aloe Bud is one of those wellness apps that feels like a gentle, caring friend.

Can I use workout apps offline?

For anyone drowning in meetings and reactive days, Reclaim.ai is one of the most genuinely life-changing apps available right now. It has a steeper learning curve than simpler productivity apps, but once it clicks, it becomes irreplaceable. Notion is hands-down one of the best lifestyle apps for people who want a single hub for their entire life. Habitify is one of the most cross-platform habit tracker apps available in 2026 — working seamlessly across iPhone, Android, Mac, Apple Watch, and web.

I’ve gone through all phases, and can tell you that while most will promise transformation, only a few will actually deliver. Between gamified streaks and trainers shouting motivational quotes through my earbuds, I’ve deleted more workout apps than I’ve kept. The app supports you in learning how to reprogram your subconscious mind through guided meditations, sleep stories, and breathing exercises.

How we tested the best workout apps

Since then, I’ve recommended them to countless nutrition clients and seen firsthand how the right app can make healthy changes feel more manageable and sustainable. Yes, with newer workout apps, such as Future, you can get connected to a personal trainer through an app. It will cost more compared with other apps but will be cheaper than a standard personal training session at the gym. The workouts are easy to follow because there are video demonstrations of each exercise, along with the allotted time you should spend on each one. This prevents you from losing track during your workout and mentally prepares you for the next exercise.

BetterMe Wellness App

Others can cost less than $10, under $50 or as much as $100 a month, depending on how personalized the experience tends to be. If you like to run outdoors, for example, you’d likely want an app that offers location tracking. Similarly, when looking into a specific app, figure out whether its classes require you to have certain equipment on-hand, like dumbbells or a yoga mat. The app’s creators believe that connection is the best way to stick to your goals.