“This is great if you have an injury or just aren’t feeling a specific exercise that madmuscles scam day,” she says. After taking a quick intro questionnaire, you’ll be provided with a personalized plan. The app boasts plenty of progressive programs and challenges, unique features like health talks, metric and data tracking beyond what’s on the scale, and even cycle-syncing workouts and perimenopause support. If you feel as though pre-recorded workouts and group chats aren’t enough to help you stay motivated, Future may be a good option for you. That’s because it connects you with a real personal training coach, which includes virtual calls and a custom fitness plan.

Are there any workout apps that don’t require a subscription?

Whether you are a beginner looking for one of the best budget fitness trackers or a keen athlete in search of a top-quality running watch, we have a fitness tracker recommendation for you. With 1,400+ exercises, 2,000+ programs, and 15 years of community content, it’s the Wikipedia of workout apps. The philosophy is “give users everything and let them choose.” Cross-platform support (iOS, Android, Web) makes it accessible from any device. The tradeoff is complexity—new users may feel overwhelmed by options.

FitOn — Best Free Version

• We also recommend having dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands on hand for other movements.
• Review privacy settings in any fitness tracker that includes social features.
• That being said, Paige liked that she didn’t feel anything about the app was pressuring or shame-inducing.
• SHRED scored well above average for most categories, though it only earned 3 out of 5 stars for interactive features and accountability.
• Earning an impressive overall score of 4.3 out of 5, Shred does this all for $10 per month, making it a high-value app and training resource.
• Designed by Ukrainian Olympian Oleksiy Torokhtiy, Torokhtiy Weightlifting is a series of programs geared for learning and training the Olympic lifts—the snatch and the clean and jerk.

Typically, the more input you have from an online coach, the more the app can cost. Group classes and videos can vary in price depending on the level of instruction, and then there are free apps that allow you to log workouts or follow basic workout plans. Quality online workout programs typically cost $10-$15/month—less than the price of a single gym day pass in most cities. Avoid programs that charge more than $20/month unless they include personalized coaching or meal planning.

Finally, we test how well a device pairs with its companion app, and evaluate the experience of using the two together. We also look to see what features the device’s app supports, such as coaching and diet tracking, and if it can sync data with third-party apps, such as MyFitnessPal. For each new fitness tracker, we evaluate its hardware design and comfort; you need to be able to wear the device all day, and we’ve found that some larger trackers don’t fit well on smaller wrists. If the device has a touchscreen, we look to see how readable it is, especially in bright sunlight. We also examine how easy it is to navigate the fitness trackers’ menus; you don’t want to have to dig through multiple screens to change your music if you’re out running.

Do fitness trackers accurately count calories?

If you have an Apple Watch, you can pair it to sync your heart rate and calories burned to Fitness Plus, where you can see those stats on the screen in real time. Although Peloton is known for its Peloton bike, it includes a One Peloton subscription to its streaming workout content. Fortunately, Peloton has made it accessible enough that you don’t have to own a Peloton to access its subscription workouts. Fitness Plus lets you try exercises like core, HIIT, strength, yoga, rowing, cycling, treadmill running, Pilates and more.

During a workout, if you’re wearing one of the best Apple Watches, you’ll be able to see stats from your watch on the screen. When it first launched, you had to have a Watch to use Fitness Plus, but Apple removed the restriction in 2022. Why you can trust Tom’s GuideOur writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what’s best for you. Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Not every app will provide ongoing accountability to help you stay motivated, but we consider it a positive when we do see an app offering this feature.

Why We Like Future

Choose the music, level, focus, time, and voice that’s perfect for your practice. Create a unique, personalized experience every time you roll out your mat. Depending on what you want, you can also add nutrition or health coaching, pre- and post-natal guidance, and physical therapy into your program through FlexIt. The app will match you with a trainer who can do whatever you need, or give you the option to book additional sessions. Nasha is a Managing Editor for CNET, overseeing our sleep and wellness verticals.

Progress Tracking

Similar to Garmin’s Body Battery and Fitbit’s Readiness Score, the Active 2 also presents a daily Readiness Score to help you make the most of your energy and day. I’ve been testing the best fitness trackers for years, and in 2026, the Fitbit Charge 6 is my favorite model. Of course, the brand most synonymous with fitness trackers isn’t your only choice. And if you plan on running with your phone anyway, to listen to music or podcasts, it’s a decent stand-in.

The great thing about fitness subscriptions is that you can access them anytime and anywhere. If you’re traveling or stuck at home, and even if your gym is closed, you can pull out your phone and get a great workout done wherever you are. As for the workouts, I found them to be fun and you can make them as challenging as you want. The app will not recommend the amount of weight to use; instead, you decide what feels right or challenging enough for you. There is a quick outline and a short video demonstration for each exercise in case the movement is new to you or you wish to have more guidance on your form.

The Best Fitness Tracking Apps (Free, Mobile & Wearable Compatible)

When not editing, Frieda enjoys reading, most outdoor activities, and long-winded discussions about punctuation. She currently lives in Michigan with her husband, daughter, and blind rescue dog. Of course, too, this isn’t the best app for strength or cardio enthusiasts. Popular with cyclists and runners for a reason, the Strava app can be an excellent tool for taking your running to the next level. With a social network, GPS tracking, and loads of data insights, this app is capable of tracking a wide array of physical activities. The real human element of the app earns FlexIt a 4 out of 5 for accountability from our testers.

We’ve tested the best workout apps to build muscle and boost your wellbeing at home

Since launch, the company has significantly reduced the Helio Ring’s price. It’s also completely revamped the app design, making it a friendlier budget option. As a budget-friendly option for those who only care about basic metrics, it’s one of the best current options on the market. While the hardware is impressive and features offline sync, the experience is currently limited by iOS exclusivity and a few first-gen app bugs—though Android support should arrive soon, the brand says. While parent brand Noise claims up to five days, our testing consistently showed a 4-day lifespan (at best).

Choose Ascend if:

Beachbody is a multi-level marketing business, or MLM, which means its products and services are sold by person-to-person sales (you’ve maybe seen some acquaintances shilling it on Facebook). I’m not evaluating that aspect of Beachbody, only the effectiveness of the app itself, but it’s useful to know before getting into it. When you open the app, if there is currently a live class, it’ll already be playing on the screen, so all you have to do to join it is expand the window. When you do, the instructor will greet you by your name, because classes—at least all the ones I took—actually are live. You can engage with other Ladder users to help spur you on to greater PRs and loftier goals without trying to make awkward small talk at your gym. The advanced search function on the Alo Moves app and webpage is a key feature, allowing users to quickly and easily filter for the style of workout, difficulty, intensity, and duration of class they’re looking for.

Best Workout App for Men: Caliber Strength Training

What’s more, the app offers 72 weeks of meal plans with custom portion recommendations according to your daily calorie needs, plus access to more than 300 recipes to create your own meal plan. Healthline tester Melissa Lee used the app as a tool to learn different types of exercises while gyms were closed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She said this is a useful app for beginners or those trying something new who might want some guidance without paying for a personal trainer. Smart rings typically struggle with tracking workouts, and very few offer advanced health features like ECG or blood pressure monitoring.