Finding time to stay active can be challenging, especially with busy schedules and limited access to gyms. That’s why workout apps have become a popular solution for people who want to exercise anytime, anywhere. From guided sessions to fully personalized plans, modern fitness apps offer everything you need to stay consistent and motivated. Whether you’re searching for the best work out app for home training, a beginner-friendly option, or a more advanced training tool, there’s something for every goal and fitness level. Many apps now include features like AI coaching, progress tracking, and on-demand classes to enhance your experience. But with so many choices available, finding the right one can feel overwhelming.

The key lies in these apps’ ability to adapt to your fitness level, progression, and personal goals. With premium apps typically ranging from $10–$30 per month, they offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional gym memberships or personal trainers. For newcomers, many platforms provide free versions or trials to help you find the right fit.

Build strength with workouts that feel good

Customer support seems exceptionally responsive based on user feedback, with members praising how quickly the team answers questions and makes you “feel like a person, not just a ‘trouble ticket'”. The developers consistently update the app based on user feedback, showing they’re invested in continuously improving the experience. This kind of responsive development is surprisingly rare in fitness apps, and it’s refreshing to see a company that actually listens to its users. Shred also offers full-length studio classes in yoga, boxing, HIIT, and more. “It creates running workouts with interval variations based on the time I want to exercise—great for mixing up my routine.” Another staffer said it’s the first platform that’s helped her exercise consistently in years, thanks to a knowledgeable, encouraging trainer.

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However, if you’re training for a specific sport, you may find the programming somewhat problematic. Caine, an Olympian who competed at the Tokyo Games, found the programming wasn’t useful for Olympic lifting. IFIT offers fitness lovers versatility with machine-based classes and classes that do not require anything more than a towel or mat. Anyone looking for a home-exercise program will be hard pressed to find a more technology forward, expansive and inclusive platform than iFIT. BetterMe gets a 4 out of 5 in its initial setup, since you begin with a quiz on your fitness goals, mobility issues, sleep schedule, and more. “I like that the quiz will populate a workout plan based on your answers, but the quiz was a bit too long for my taste,” says GGR editorial member Nicole Davis, CPT, PN1-NC, who tested out the fitness app.

Health

We also prioritized effectiveness, favoring thoughtfully programmed workouts and motivating instructors who provide clear guidance and encourage users to stick with their routines. A seamless, intuitive interface was another key factor, making it easy to navigate classes, track progress, and stay engaged. Of course, scrolling the app store can feel overwhelming, and not every fitness app delivers high-quality programming. 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.

New to The Alaska Club

To earn 3 out of 5 stars, we want to see both visual and audio cues, though there may not be much guidance about how hard to push yourself or when to increase the weight you’re using. The Nike Training Club app received high scores for most categories, though it earned average rankings in a few select areas like equipment demands and progressive overload. However, she does note that the app can send you notifications if you enable them in your settings, and you can join programs or challenges. Overall, Amanda gives Nike Training Club a 3.5-star rating for accountability. Prior to 2020, the Nike Training Club app had both free and premium versions, but since the pandemic, Nike has made the entire workout library free to use.

• However, they cannot fully replace the individualized attention and expertise of a personal trainer in a one-on-one session.
• This can be a little subjective, but this score is based on whether we feel the cost justifies what you’re getting.
• When users can’t even get help with show-stopping bugs, that’s a pretty big warning sign about the level of support you can expect.
• This could be a dealbreaker for those who want a more personalized experience or need a program that evolves with their progress.
• You are in charge of your fitness, so find what motivates you at Retro Fitness.
• With FITPASS, you can choose from the best gyms and studios in your local area and work out at multiple convenient locations.

While the platform is ideal for advanced athletes, beginners also benefit by learning foundational movements and mastering strength basics. “You pick a coach based on your goals and preferences, and each day’s workout—including rest—is programmed for you. My sessions are about 45 minutes, and at 45, I feel and look stronger than ever.” Whether you cherry pick workouts based on how you’re feeling that day, or you choose one of the app’s curated exercise routines, you’ll love the variety Alo Moves offers. We’ve tested dozens of workout apps and this one continues to be a top pick for our team. There are thousands of classes to choose from, with a variety of methods available including strength training, cycling, dance, aerobics, HIIT, yoga, and martial arts.

Is it safe to use fitness apps?

You’ll also receive wellness advice and recipes to support your fitness journey. The goal of the app is to help “center” your life through your workouts, meals and more. The workouts are self-guided so you can use them in the gym or you can follow trainer-led workouts that you can easily do at home. And most people are pleasantly surprised when they discover that online fitness programs are generally much more affordable than traditional gym memberships or personal training. With online programs, you can access a wide range of workouts for a low monthly fee. Some platforms even offer free workouts, so you don’t have to spend much money to get fit.

Factors to consider when choosing a workout app

Accountability features were a major factor, since different people need different levels of encouragement. Muscle Booster is our pick for the best workout app for beginners because it removes much of the guesswork that can make starting a fitness routine intimidating. SHRED is our pick for the best workout app for muscle gain because, through well-developed exercise programming and adaptive AI, it keeps pushing you just enough to grow. If you’re looking for the best app for workouts overall, Lasta stands out as one of the most complete solutions currently available. Unlike many apps that focus only on workouts, it combines personalized training plans, structured programs, and habit-building tools to support long-term progress.

Which Online Fitness Program is Right for You?

The app also has a ton of built-in training programs to tailor your workouts to what you hope to achieve when you actually take your bike out on the road or mountain. There are gravel-specific plans, plans for crushing a 100-mile mountain bike race, or keeping up with your crew at the local criterium. From there we further tested our top contenders during workouts at our Men’s Health gym, our training spaces at home, local performance facilities, and outdoors. We made sure to utilize both iOS and Android smartphones, to compare how these apps performed on those different operating systems. BetterMe, SHRED, and Simple use AI for personalized plans, which users find more motivating and effective (The Sun, 2025). A rising star in 2025, SHRED uses AI to adapt workouts for strength, cardio, or mobility.

In the end, the best work out app is the one you’ll actually use consistently. Whether you prefer flexibility, structured plans, or expert-led sessions, each of these apps offers valuable tools to help you stay active and achieve your fitness goals anytime, anywhere. Founded in 2018 by entertainment industry veterans Ashley Mills and Mark Mullett, Obé Fitness aims to transform your relationship with movement by offering a refreshing alternative to traditional fitness culture.

Transform is a fitness and nutrition app created by Chris Powell, who you might recognize as the host of “Extreme Weight Loss” on ABC. The app offers programs for fitness and training, nutrition and wellness, a journal to document your transformation, and community challenges. Transformation offers new users a 7-day free trial and costs $14.99/month after that.

HIT YOUR TRAINING GOALS

This app costs $25 a month ($135 a year) but lets you test it for free for seven days if you’re a new member. This is a good way to determine if the workouts on the app are the right fit for you and your goals. To help you make the best decision when choosing a workout app, we put them to what is unimeal the sweat test by using them for a number of different workouts. For each of the apps, we tried multiple workouts and looked at how easy the workouts were to follow, the range of workouts on offer, and how often new workouts were added to the app.

Are there any downsides to workout apps?

This is the only trial option for users, which we only gave this 3 out of 5 stars for the trial period. He also docked a couple of points for progressive overload, giving Fitbod 3 out of 5 stars. It’s not always easy for newcomers to embark upon a fitness plan, but Muscle Booster offers a streamlined process that learns your goals and crafts an easy-to-follow workout regimen to help you achieve them.