Category: 5 fitness apps that can help you build muscle in the gym in 2026

It was comfortable — its heart-rate sensor is flat, which is a nice touch. The Fitbit Luxe has a slim, jewelry-like profile, with optional accessories that feel more like bracelets and less like sporty bands. We had a few hiccups, like when the Luxe blacked out during heart-rate testing and we couldn’t get back to the display.

Benefits of online fitness programs

An easy way to decide if you should get a fitness tracker is by identifying a few key metrics you’d like to measure. We’ve spoken with Michael J. Joyner, M.D., a human-physiology researcher at the Mayo Clinic, to get his opinion on fitness trackers. “If your goal is to finish a 10K, then the distance you can run without stopping is more relevant than your respiration rate,” Dr. Joyner told MH. “You have to ask yourself how collecting more granular data is going to help you achieve your goals.” Most fitness trackers carry a hefty price tag, so if you’re in the market but not looking to sell out on this particular accessory, the Suunto Race S is the best value you’ll find. With a high definition AMOLED touchscreen, over 95 sport modes, and a water rating up to 50m, the specs here are just as good as you’ll find on many high-end fitness trackers.

The best fitness tracker

The Apple Watch SE comes with a rubber band that is comfortable, but it still can pose problems for people with weak hands. In one of our tests, the battery fell about three days short of the advertised 10 days of life, not great but not terrible. Sometimes when flicking through the touchscreen, we pressed too hard, causing the Inspire 3 to activate a mode we didn’t want or bring up another screen that we had to swipe out of. Again, this may be a slight drawback to the tracker’s relatively minimalist design and smaller-than-most screen. For all of the devices, we tested how well they estimated distance traveled by walking a mile on a treadmill. Every app on this list was put through its paces by fitness trainers who know what it takes to run a successful business.

They can also run for a week or more between charges, while you generally need to charge a smartwatch daily. It provides features like workout creation, progress tracking, in-app messaging, and integration with various fitness apps and devices. It offers a variety of training programs, including strength, cardio, and yoga, suitable for all fitness levels.

• Bridging the gap between exercise, diet, and mindfulness, Asana Rebel is like a life coach and yoga instructor rolled into one.
• The app also supports wearables and smart devices, syncing data to give you a complete picture of your client’s habits.
• It’s hard to beat the price, especially since it gets you access to Garmin’s platform.
• “The heads-up display is great for feedback while you’re swimming,” Westchester Masters member Andy Feldman says.
• Fitbit’s free app is very easy to navigate, and peppered with tips and information on specific metrics.
• Men’s fitness apps are stepping up their game with AI technology that delivers personalized strength programming based on your actual performance data.

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Deliver a professional, seamless experience that keeps your clients engaged and your business running smoothly. If you’ve ever wanted your own custom app complete with your branding, Virtuagym delivers a game-changing solution. Zwift and Zwift’s Companion app are most popular for cyclists and triathletes. With virtual rides, races, and courses all over the world users can absorb the benefits of cycling while feeling like they’re in a video game. But, runners can jump in on the fun and explore these race courses, too.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

Beginners will find that the app is a fitness-focused social media account — with group challenges, the ability to add and share with friends, and GPS segment tracking so you can compete against yourself or others. In addition to tracking your training metrics and personal records, Strava is also compatible with heart rate monitors, an assortment of the best fitness trackers, and other apps you may want to track your run with. Testers also loved the energizing, motivating workouts for all levels, as well as the wellness series focused on sleep, nutrition, and self-care.

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When starting, look for videos labeled specifically for beginners and make sure your doctor clears any new exercise routine. Most apps also include video demonstrations for each movement, along with progress tracking and structured plans to help you stay consistent and accountable. The best workout app isn’t the same for everyone, but the ones we love share a few key qualities. Top apps offer a wide variety of original workouts for all fitness levels, led by knowledgeable, motivating instructors who push you to challenge yourself while keeping things fun. Peloton also offers Strength+, a strength-focused app for home or gym equipment.

Activity

If long-term progress is your goal, investing in a paid app might be worth it. Learn calisthenics skills step by step with structured plans that adapt to your progress. Since you’ve made it all the way to the end, download Hevy and log your first workout today. Track the number of total workouts you do, how many times per week you train, and the number of consecutive weeks you stay active.

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Corey Lewis, personal trainer and co-founder of the digital wellness platform 1AND1 Life, wears his Versa for a range of activities, including hiking, yoga, best workout apps for strength training bike riding, and weight lifting. He likes how the Fitbit community — much like Peloton’s, in which users can post achievements and network with other members — motivates him to train harder. Fitbit provides a leaderboard with challenges, awards, and the ability to set personal goals.

Work out with celebrity trainers

Consider the following factors when choosing an app to support your runs. If you’re new to running and curious about the feel-good rush of a runner’s high or that sweet dopamine hit from social validation, Strava may be the running app for you. (3) Popular amongst runners and cyclists (it’s one of the best cycling apps we’ve tested), Strava offers tracking for nearly 50 activities — trail running, golfing, surfing, and rock climbing to name a few. The Garmin watch is popular amongst marathon runners, and with the watch, you have access to Garmin Connect.

While the app is free to join, you’ll reap the most benefit by signing up for one of its subscription tiers. You probably can’t have Chris Hemsworth’s looks or success, but here’s the next best thing. Brought to you by the Aussie hunk and his team of seasoned trainers, Centr features meal plans, mindfulness programs, and workout routines. This isn’t a free app, but you can currently sign up for a complimentary six-week trial. There are five trainers who focus on exercises like low-intensity cardio, HIIT, weight training, bodybuilding, vinyasa yoga, and more.

Best Smart Treadmill for Home Workouts: AI-Powered Running Made Simple

I prefer to write out every set I’ll do, including warm-up sets, because it makes the process of working out even more mindless and automatic. In LES MILLS+ workouts, you’ll find motivating coaches and good pump-up music, just as if you had gone to your local studio. “It brings the feeling of group fitness into the comfort of your own home if you’re not able to get to the gym or if maybe you’re not comfortable in the gym atmosphere,” says Beebe. Ladder also provides a chat and feedback feature, integration with your music, and progress tracking.

For athletes wanting to build muscle, it’s tough to beat the performance we experienced with Juggernaut AI. Upon sign up, you’re immediately given access to a large library of strength-based workouts as well as sessions for yoga, pilates, HIIT workouts, and mobility. Our tester appreciated how each live and on-demand class was led by certified trainers, giving the quality of instruction a 5 out of 5.

If you’re tired of working around injuries instead of fixing them, ATG provides a proven system to rebuild your body from the ground up. Sweat will give you a selection of appropriate alternatives so your workouts are more customized to what you like (which is great for motivation). It seems most people agree with us and the online reviews for StretchIt are very positive on both iOS and Android app stores. Popular stretching app with instructor-led classes and fun challenges to help you become more flexible. Research shows that just two strength sessions per week can boost brain function, improve metabolism, reduce aches, regulate stress hormones, and lower chronic inflammation.

Home Workout – No Equipment (by Leap Fitness)

“You can choose workouts based on your goal, like reducing stress or staying fit,” our tester said, giving the instruction a 4 out of 5. However, it’s clear that the workouts are designed by AI, not a personal trainer. The app features a variety of workouts—hundreds in different formats, from written workouts to perform at your own pace, to on-demand and live fitness classes with excellent instruction that Amanda rates a 4 out of 5. Workouts cover different modalities, from strength training, HIIT, and cardio, to yoga, pilates, and mobility exercises. Equipment is needed for most workouts, but Amanda says you can filter your search for workouts by the type of gym equipment needed. Almost anyone with a smartphone can use a weight loss app and White says there is no certain person that should use weight loss apps.

Daily Butt Workout

It’s also a strong choice for at-home consistency since the experience feels more like a guided class than a self-built program. For users trying to lose weight, 8fit works best when you want a simple daily plan that covers both movement and food choices. It’s especially helpful for beginners who prefer step-by-step guidance instead of piecing together workouts and nutrition on their own. If you’re looking for a strength training workout best strength training apps app, I urge you to pick one with progression in mind. The CENTR app, designed by Marvel actor Chris Hemsworth, allows you to sync with AppleHealth or Google Fit to record and track all your workout metrics. It will automatically track what type of workouts you’ve done (including meditations) and how long you trained each day.

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. While BetterMe is more affordable than the average workout app, it doesn’t have quite as many strength-training plans.

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. The best workout app will be the one that offers you the right tools to achieve your goals and fits your lifestyle. Our best overall pick is EvolveYou, since it has the widest variety of workouts to choose from, allows you track progress and is highly customizable. All workout apps in this article cost between $10 and $20 per month — that’s likely cheaper than most fitness classes in a studio. You also get unlimited access to your workouts in the apps, so you can take as many classes or workouts as you want.

Strava GPS Cycling and Running App

The best workout app for you will vary depending on your fitness goals, budget, preferred training method, and the level of coaching you desire. Before choosing an app, you should think about what you expect to get out of it. If you have no problem motivating yourself, you may do just fine with an app that provides pre-made programs to follow on your own. Once you’re past the beginner stage, you’ll probably need to repeat workouts many times, focusing on progressive overload, to continue to make progress. However, that doesn’t mean workouts should be boring, so we use this category to assess how much variety there is for users, both in terms of training styles (strength, cardio, etc…) and actual workouts. Our product testers were tasked with evaluating multiple fitness apps and rating them on a 1-to-5-star scale across a variety of categories.

Best Real Health Coach

Neither is exactly cheap, with the Kickr costing $549 at the time of writing. Although it costs about $200 a month, Future features a user-friendly interface, customizable programming, and excellent support from your personal coach. You can deviate from the workout plan given by BetterMe, though, as there is an entire workout library. That said, Nicole notes that you may have to dig around to find what you need.

The best overall workout app for women

• According to our tester, you should, at minimum, have a squat rack, weight bench, and barbell, and even some of the best weight plates at the ready to facilitate your training routine.
• By providing insights into eating habits and exercise performance, MyFitnessPal acts as a digital accountability partner, helping users stay consistent, motivated, and in control of their fitness journey.
• If you enjoy the sessions and programs, you’ll find it easier to make them part of your routine and progress towards your targets.
• I also worked for several years on the consumer electronics team, where I edited articles on topics such as cameras, headphones, phones, speakers, and tablets.
• It combines food logging with psychology-based coaching to help users understand eating patterns, build healthier routines, and apply the principle of calories in vs calories out in a sustainable way.
• While testing each weight loss app, we walked through its workout features, looking for clear and safe exercise instructions.

Below, I’ve rounded up the best online workout programs worth your time right now, broken down by category so you can find what fits your goals, lifestyle, and motivation style. JEFIT caters to those who want structured strength training routines, tracking every rep and set, whether at the gym or at home. Nike Training Club (NTC) delivers a premium fitness experience without the price tag, blending expert coaching, a polished interface, and a wide range of workouts to create a gym-like atmosphere in your living room. Consider starting with a free trial to test the app, ensure it matches your fitness level, and look for community features for motivation. Short workouts (10-30 minutes) are great for busy schedules, and checking user reviews can help gauge effectiveness. To help you make the best decision when choosing a workout app, we put them to the sweat test by using them for a number of different workouts.

Which is the best full body workout app?

What distinguishes Berg Movement from generic fitness apps is its laser focus on movement quality, body control, and skill acquisition. Whether you’re working toward your first handstand or refining advanced calisthenics skills, the app provides methodical, effective programming. Popular calisthenics app, focus on bodyweight exercises, follow programs, track progress, engage with community. Membership ($49.50/month) gets you access to all programs, unlimited coaching, and a library of tutorial content. You can check the latest price, as there are often introductory offers for your first month. This makes it significantly cheaper than physical therapy or in-person training while often delivering better long-term results.

Programs

It offers essential customizable workout routines, tracking capabilities, and data logs tailored for weightlifting enthusiasts. The app includes a graph to visualize weekly improvements, a rest timer, and a one-rep max calculator that helps you begin with appropriate weights and systematically increase them each lifting cycle. Moreover, the app provides options to back up, export, and scrutinize your workout data across daily, weekly, monthly, or annual timelines through detailed statistics and graphs. This not only helps in tracking progress but also in overcoming mental blocks related to lifting milestones. The workout tracker is basic but deep, allowing you to create your own workouts.

Tips to Maximize Your Free Workout Program

Ladder costs a little bit less than the average workout app, while providing a fantastic workout experience. However, it’s one major flaw is the fact that it’s only available on iOS, so Android users can’t use the service. There’s a basic community feed that allows you to view others’ workouts, but not much else. It’s a simple, streamlined app that’s very beginner-friendly, but it’s not the best choice if you prefer to have access to more advanced features. Aaptiv is a great option for people looking for an alternative to video-based workout programs. Because this is a powerlifting program, it may not be a surprise that you’ll need a squat rack, bench, barbell, and weight plates to complete your workouts.

Can you do personal training through workout apps?

From the inspiring Robin Arzon to the hilarious Cody Rigsby and feel-good Alex Toussaint, there is an instructor to fit nearly every workout vibe. If you love to ride your bike but don’t want to hit the road during the coldest days of winter, Zwift is your solution. The app gamifies your workouts, pitting you against yourself, your friends, and fellow Zwift users in races, group rides, and targeted workouts.