The app also broadcasts “interactive” live classes every day and has a nutrition section with recipe videos, as well as workouts you can do with kids. The instructors described the exercises well in the workouts I tried, but I needed to look at the screen pretty much the whole time. So it’s probably not the best option if you are planning on using your fitness app at the gym, unless you stick with the audio-only workouts. In fact, I’d say that the videos are best watched on a tablet, laptop screen, or TV because the bigger screen allows you to pick up the moves better. We built WeGLOW from the ground up as one of the best strength training apps for women who want results that last, not a quick six week fix.
How to Choose the Right Fitness App for You (Step-by-Step)
Hevy, Strava, and Zwift have great social and community features, including the options to follow and compete with others. Hevy, Strava, and Nike Training Club have great free versions, so consider starting with them based on your workout style and primary goals. You can always get a premium subscription or look for another app to satisfy a specific need. The focus is on functional bodyweight training, such as push-ups, crunches, bird dog, and glute bridges.
Hevy Coach
I have a fondness for group fitness classes, though I’ve also dabbled in heavy-duty at-home workout equipment. My main fitness go-tos these days are YouTube videos, or when weather permits, madmuscles alternatives a run or bike ride outside. But after some time choosing workout videos ad hoc on YouTube and going on self-driven, sometimes-listless jogs, I wanted something with a bit more guidance.
The Best Workout Apps of 2026
It’s so supportive and you’ll find a ton of great running coaches that I follow as well providing helpful tips. If running for weight loss is one of your goals, then tracking your food is often just as important as putting in the miles. A notebook absolutely works, and many strong lifters still use one. A good app simply makes it easier to track trends, adjust plans on the fly, and store everything in one place, especially if you switch between gym and home training. If you ever want to go deeper on specific movements, LoadMuscle’s Exercise Library lets you browse exercises by muscle group and equipment with visual demos and key coaching points.
What’s the most reliable way to track progressive overload?
When it comes to free running apps, I wonder if new runners realize just how lucky they are and what’s available to make your running life easier. If you want a starting point, we built a set of structured routines you can browse on Free Workout Plans, and you can combine them with the Free Workout Planner without paying a cent. When you understand the why, you are more likely to stick to the plan.
WeGLOW As One Of The Best Strength Training Apps For Women
All the classes are easy to sort through, but I found myself drawn to Obé’s live classes more than I was with other apps. There’s a lot to like about Obé, the pastel-hued fitness app that you may have seen on your Instagram feed. Obé offers at least 10 live classes each day and more than 10,000 classes in total—most are 28 minutes long, though there are options from 5 to 60 minutes. When you download the app, you take a quiz that asks your body stats, fitness level, goals, and eating preferences (“regular,” vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, and so on). It gives you a workout to do every day—most are about 30 minutes, though some days it told me to do two different ones in the same day—and an eating plan to follow. Daily Burn has a vast catalog of almost every kind of workout you can think of—strength training, HIIT, barre, pilates, yoga, outdoor and treadmill running, and more.
Top Free Workout Apps (Tested and Ranked)
Strength+ costs $10 per month, but it is free for anyone with an existing App+ or All-Access membership. BetterMe’s paid version generates workout programs based on goals, experience, preferred exercise frequency, and other factors. To give you a clear picture, here is an example of how you might use the app over one week, whether you love gym training or prefer training at home.
Included in Free Version
👉If you’re just starting out and not ready to invest in a GPS watch, this is PERFECTION. It’s going to help you track everything that you need to get in to the habit and do your training. In 2002, I grabbed my trusty digital Timex to time the length of my new running habit, strapped a big yellow radio to my arm and headed out without a specific route. Once home, I listened to the beep of my dial up as I logged in to MapMyRun to plot out the path I’d just taken and figure out my distance.
- I didn’t mind this—it meant I could take my time and work on my form—but someone who likes a more straightforward video format and doesn’t want to keep tapping their phone during the workout might have an issue with it.
- I think almost all of them provide a way to adopt a healthier lifestyle if you’re willing to commit to them, so there’s really no way to go “wrong”—but some have features that make them better suited for most people.
- While I am not the runner who loves a coach in my ear or needs the planned workouts, I did super enjoy those Headspace sessions which help you figure out a lot of the mental side of running.
- Our cycle syncing feature suggests sessions based on your hormonal phase, guiding you towards more demanding sessions when energy is high, and more restorative or low impact options when your body needs gentler work.
- Below, we break down how to choose a workout app for women that actually works, why WeGLOW is one of the best strength training apps for sustainable results, and how to build a realistic workout routine you can stick to.
- Some apps try to shame you into working out, or bombard you with notifications, so I liked this approach.
What are the benefits of workout apps?
In contrast, those that try to excel in everything tend to lack essential features and feel cluttered. So, we recommend using separate apps for cardio and strength – for instance, Hevy with Strava. If you’re looking for more basic workout tracking, such as mainly tracking your consistency, a number of apps will get the job done. StretchIt doesn’t provide the option to log one-off sessions like a run or gym workout. It only allows you to complete the scheduled workout according to your plan.
What is the difference between a “workout app” and an “AI workout planner”?
The app also offers meal plans, recipes, and a place to log workouts and meals. I’m Sara Hendricks, the former health and fitness editor at Reviewed. I’m a pretty active person, and I like switching things around with my workout routine.