Whether you’re a seasoned lifter looking for more variety or an exercise novice who needs some extra accountability, apps that track your progress can help you meet your fitness goals. The best workout apps provide guidance and tutorials for unfamiliar exercises as well as ways to make the most of your gym or home workout equipment. Some even allow you to schedule classes within the app, which can be a big help for those who struggle with self-motivation. But with so many options out there, which ones are worth your time?
While some of the most effective workout apps require a subscription paywall, most offer free trials to get you started. This can be a good way to determine if you’ll use an app and how much it may cost to keep using after your trial. If you’re looking to save money on an app, consider signing up for a three-month or annual subscription, which can bring the price down significantly.
Most of the top workout apps are focused on strength training, but some are more specialized than others. For instance, Simple Workout Log is perfect for weightlifters who want to spend more time lifting and less time fiddling with an app, while the J&J Official 7 Minute Workout offers a minimalistic approach that helps you stay fit without the need for any expensive equipment or a gym membership.
For those who prefer yoga and other low-impact exercise, Glo is a great option. It has a wide range of on-demand and live classes that fall into three categories: strength, cardio and rebalance. Many of the classes require no equipment at all, including floorwork and yoga sessions, while others are geared toward specific areas such as running or cycling. The app also features meditation sessions to improve focus and stress management.
Strong is another weightlifting-focused app that can be used at the gym or at home, and it includes several features for veterans to get more out of their workouts. These include a set-tracker for tracking your reps, a drop-set calculator, a way to tag sets as warm-up or failure and a customizable rest timer. The app also has an augmented reality feature that shows you how to properly execute a certain exercise and provides an animated image of your progress.
If you’re a fan of HIIT, the Cinch app is designed for at-home workouts with minimal equipment. It includes guided and unguided workouts for the entire body, and it allows you to customize the workout duration based on your preference. Cinch is available for iOS and Android, with a subscription that unlocks all of its premium features.
If you’re looking for an app to help you stay accountable, try scheduling your workouts in advance. This can be a big help for those who have trouble motivating themselves and may forget to go to the gym, Smith says. Some workout apps will also send you reminders to hit your fitness goals, and some can even connect to your wearable device’s accelerometer to measure steps or heart rate during a workout. best workout apps