As we kickstart another year, the best workout apps are a great way to train at home or the gym, with access to motivational, qualified personal trainers in just a few taps. There are free options and paid apps, but it's hard to know which will suit your training needs.
That's why we put these fitness apps to the test, joining strength training sessions, yoga classes, and high-intensity routines over several weeks. If you're looking for a top all-rounder, we recommend downloading Centr, the app developed by actor Chris Hemsworth.
Or, if you're looking to keep costs down, Nike Training Club is completely free, while Fiit offers access to all group classes without charge. But if these aren't quite right for you, we've rounded up the best workout apps for a range of training styles and budgets to get you started.
Quick list
Centr, the workout app designed by actor Chris Hemsworth, combines accessible beginner-friendly strength workouts, advanced training, yoga classes, and meditations for a comprehensive companion for training your body and mind.
The Nike Training Club app is completely free, but still packed with instructor-led classes and whiteboard workouts to help you boost your metabolism, and build muscle and develop mental strength without breaking the bank.
Fiit's group classes are completely free to join, and you only need a membership to tackle standalone sessions. There are plenty of training styles, from yoga and treadmill workouts, to spin classes and strength training routines.
Apple's virtual workout platform is an ideal option for iPhone users and Apple Watch wearers, with real-time stats displayed on the app for you to track your progress. Plus, there are meditations, yoga sessions, and walking workouts too.
Sweat, founded by personal trainer Kayla Itsines, has plenty of structured programs based on your goals and lifestyle, offering workouts and nutrition plans to help you get the most from your training.
If you're after a meal planner that pulls double-duty as a workout app, then Joe Wick's Body Coach app is ideal. Every time you complete a cycle, your meal plan updates, so you don't get bored, plus there are hundreds of different meals to choose from. The workouts are fantastic too.
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Strava is a little different to the others on this list, as it doesn't offer you routines to do, but tracks your runs and other activity, and acts like a social network of enthused runners and cyclists helping motivate and congratulate friends and peers.
The Peloton app is available to everyone, even if you don't have the brand's equipment. There are strength routines, yoga classes, and cardio workouts, but the most important part is the access to Peloton's motivational, upbeat instructors.
The best workout apps available right now
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Best workout app overall
Centr is the best workout app for most people thanks to its impressive library of strength training, HIIT, and cardio sessions. But if you're worried that an app designed by Chris Hemsworth, known for his muscular stature in the Marvel superhero films, would be all about bulking up, that's not the case.
Although there are plenty of sessions that can help you build substantial muscle, we were impressed at the variety available through Centr. There are beginner-friendly workouts, high-intensity cardio sessions, and gym-based weights sessions, but the primary focus is on helping you hit your goals, whatever they are.
So, if you want to add more exercise into your routine, and develop a mindfulness habit, the app can help with that. There are meditations, some led by Hemsworth himself, designed to connect you mind and body, and that can improve your focus and form during the strength training sessions to get the most from your workouts.
We also really liked that you can head into the app's settings to select the equipment you have to hand, then use that list to filter the library, so you only see classes or routines you can do with the weights you have. This saves a lot of time, allowing you more space to do your workout rather than fiddle with the app.
And if you want to use Centr as a holistic base for all your health and fitness needs, there's a meal planner too, and we found that it was really easy to customize the meals, adjust quantities, and add them automatically to an in-app shopping list for when you go to the grocery store.
Although we rate it as the best workout app for most people, it is primarily focused on strength training, with some cardio and yoga on the side. If you want more mobility or yoga workouts, you might be better off with an app like Fiit, which offers access to all group classes for free.
- Read our full Centr review
- Download Centr: Android | iPhone
Best free workout app
In March 2020, Nike made its Nike Training Club app content completely free for 90 days to help people keep fit while they stayed at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the app has been completely free for users, and unlike others on this list, there’s no paid version anymore.
However, with the update, Nike removed some of their training programs, which used to be a popular feature of the app. Instead, you now have the option to filter workouts by muscle group — abs and core, arms and shoulders, or glutes and legs, workout focus — endurance, mobility, strength, and yoga, and by equipment. There is also the option to filter by duration, level, and intensity.
During testing, we found the instructor-led workouts to be engaging and motivating, and also enjoyed the whiteboard workouts, which show you the entire workout so you can follow at your own pace. There’s also the option to connect the workout to your Apple Music. It’s not perfect, but for a free app, there’s plenty to keep you moving here.
- Read our full Nike Training Club review
- Download Nike Training Club: Android | iPhone
Best workout app for beginners
Whether you enjoy weightlifting, yoga or cardio, the Fiit app has you covered. We've tested Fiit with and without equipment or chest strap monitors, and every class we've sweated through gets a huge tick from us.
Intuitive in-app features, clear metric monitoring and world class instructors are just some of the perks of being a Fiit member. From strength training to treadmill-only workouts and spin, you can build strength and improve cardio from the comfort of your own home. Then you get to cool down and go again without swapping apps.
There's free and paid options, but you get plenty of value if you do decide to pay, and you can access a free trial if you're unconvinced. Functional fitness, HIIT, yoga or breathwork. It's all there, and we're big fans.
Best workout app for iPhone
Apple Fitness Plus is the best workout app if you're embedded in the company's ecosystem, especially if you use an Apple Watch. There are HIIT, strength, core, yoga, Pilates, and meditation classes, taught by a range of different trainers.
During testing, we also liked the fact there were two instructors in the background during classes, showing modifications for beginners, or those looking to push themselves harder — this is particularly handy as there’s no option to filter classes by difficulty.
The app can feel a little overwhelming at a first glance, but classes can be filtered by trainer, time, and the music you prefer to work out to. You can also add classes to your library, which lets you select classes you’ve taken before, or plan on taking in the future, at a glance.
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.
- Read our full Apple Fitness Plus review
- Download Apple Fitness+: iPhone
Best workout app for women
The brainchild of Australian personal trainer Kayla Itsines, the Sweat app started as a series of downloadable Bikini Body Guides in 2015 and has now grown into an extensive training app with several different programs and recipes to help you reach your goals.
There's a structured program for everyone — from the new mom taking her first steps into post-baby fitness, to the girl looking to gain more confidence in the weights room at the gym.
Trainers include Kayla herself, as well as the likes of Kelsey Wells, Chontel Duncan, Britany Williams, and Stephanie Sanzo. You can switch your program easily and take on-demand classes if you feel like adding the odd barre session to your planner.
During testing, we loved the range of workouts but found it a little irritating having to bend down and manually skip between exercises, although it wasn’t enough to put us off using the app regularly.
We’d also say this app is definitely aimed at women, but there’s no reason why guys couldn’t follow the training plans. We just love the emphasis on female-led programs!
- Read our full Sweat review
- Download Sweat: Android | iPhone
Best workout app for meal plans
If you're based in the UK, you've probably heard of Joe Wicks, or done one of his PE with Joe workouts in lockdown, but if you're in the US, Wicks is a fantastic trainer and his app has a mix of workouts to get you in shape. Since having my son, I've religiously used Joe's The Body Coach app to rebuild my core postpartum, and I've loved the flexibility and challenge of the Body Coach plan.
All of the workouts can be done from home, and for most of them, you'll only need one set of dumbbells. The app has loads of on-demand classes you can try, including yoga, Barre, and mobility, as well as different challenges to join to keep you motivated. Once you've chosen your program, you check in once a month to keep track of your progress.
Of course, if you really want to make noticeable changes to your body, you'll need to focus on your nutrition. The app has hundreds of recipes to choose from, and I was able to tailor my meal plan to my dietary requirements. The recipes are delicious, and easy to follow, and I appreciated having everything in one place.
The only downside here is the cost — this isn't the cheapest app on the market. I also wish there was the option to see the workout written out, so I could listen to my podcast and do the workout without following the video if I wanted, however following along with Joe is super-motivating, so I wouldn't let this put you off.
Best workout app for runners
Strava is one of the best running apps on the market, with a free and a paid subscription to allow runners, cyclists, and walkers to keep track of their progress. That said, despite its reputation as an app for runners and cyclists, you can track a total of 31 different sports.
The list includes hiking, canoeing, an e-bike rides, rowing, alpine skiing, swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, and yoga. Of course, it’s important to point out that there are no actual workouts on Strava, so unlike other apps on this list, don’t expect to follow a strength training session — this is an app for tracking your progress.
While the free version of the app is brilliant, the paid version gives you the option to use the Routes tool, which gives you suggestions based on where other runners in your area have clocked their miles, as well as segments, advanced performance metrics, and training plans.
Strava supports a variety of running trackers in addition to Wear OS devices and Apple Watch. (Just make sure you opt out of the location tracking features if you happen to be around restricted areas.)
There are also handy features like Strava Beacon, which are designed to keep you safe, by allowing your friends or family members to track your live location on a run.
- Read our full Strava review
- Download Strava: Android | iPhone
Best workout app for classes
Peloton is most famous for making some of the best exercise bikes, but its classes have always set it apart from other equipment. For a long while, the only way to get to these was through the bike and treadmill displays, but now you also have the option of the Peloton App.
Confusingly, this single app has two names depending on the type of subscription you take out. The Peloton App One is the cheaper option ($13/month) and gives you access to the brand's strength, HIIT, and yoga routines, and three exercise bike, treadmill or rower classes each month.
Then there's the Peloton App+ that'll set you back $24 each month. This has the same features, plus full access to all the equipment-based classes, real-time cycling metrics with a cadence monitor and metrics from compatible third-party treadmills and rowing machines.
Whichever package you choose, it's still the same app, just with different levels of access. But with both options, you get our favorite part of the Peloton experience — the instructors. Whether joining a strength routine with weights, yoga session, or cardio class, the instructors are upbeat, motivational and, well, fun.
It's the biggest reason to go with Peloton over all the other workout apps. If you like the class or community environment, coupled with a encouraging instructor that makes workouts enjoyable and supportive, it's a great option. The only downside is that your phone's screen is a lot smaller than the machine displays these routines were designed for, so it's not always easy to see precise movements at a glance.
Confusingly, this edition of the Peloton app is completely separate to what you need if you want to stream live classes on the built-in display on the company's equipment. That'll be the Peloton All Access membership, which costs $44 per month, and allows everyone in your house to have a separate profile.
- Read our full Peloton App review
- Download Peloton: Android | iPhone
Also tested
Not every workout app can be the best, but some can still be great and worth your time. These are the apps we've tested that didn't quite make the cut, but are still worth a download if you're after more options.
How to choose the best workout app
The best workout app for you covers the exercises you're interested in doing at a level that's accessible to you. Ideally, a good fitness app will support multiple levels of expertise so that as you get fitter and more comfortable, you can push yourself to the next level.
While a handful of apps are free, many of these workout apps require a subscription. Take advantage of any trial period and then try a monthly subscription to see if the app meets your needs. If you like what you see, you can always switch to an annual subscription, which usually lowers your monthly cost.
If you're someone who likes to mix up your workout routines regularly, it might be a good idea to look for a well-rounded workout app that has a good mix of workouts to suit your mood and prevent you from regretting your monthly subscription.
Several of the options on our best workout apps list will log your exercise data. If you're an iPhone user, pay special attention to any apps that integrate with the built-in Health app on your phone.
How we test the best workout apps
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. 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.
We also looked at the little extras that make using the app more enjoyable — for example, the option to sync the app with third-party music platforms to allow you to listen to your own playlists as you work out, or the option to download workouts to do without phone reception or wifi.
Finally, we'll look at the cost of the workout app to download or subscribe to, and what you get for your money.
FAQs
Do workout apps really work?
Training at home using an app can be a great way to hit your fitness goals, but it's important to find the best workout app for your specific needs and the way you like to exercise.
If you enjoy the sessions and programs, you'll find it easier to make them part of your routine and progress towards your targets. For instance, if you like intense, high-energy classes, then the Peloton app might suit you.
However, for strength workouts, Centr is an excellent option, especially as you can filter classes by the equipment you have at hand. It's also important that the workouts themselves are effective.
That's why we put each app to the test before including it in our guide. We've tried these apps ourselves to see if they're easy to use, fun, and worth the money you need to pay in subscription fees.
Does Netflix have free workouts?
In late 2022, Netflix added a range of Nike Training Club workouts to its library. You could access these for free (so long as you have a Netflix subscription) and do the 10 or 20-minute sessions wherever you are.
However, the partnership didn't last and the workouts were removed from Netflix in March 2024, according to What's on Netflix. The Netflix and Nike deal was meant to see if Netflix could compete with Peloton for streaming workouts, but it seems the company didn't want to progress any further.
Fortunately, many of these sessions are now available for free in the Nike Training Club app. But that's not to say Netflix will never offer free workouts again.
Around the same time as the streamer partnered with Netflix, it also developed a short series with meditation app Headspace, and the Headspace Guide to Meditation is currently still available on Netflix.
Of course, meditating alone won't boost your fitness, but it can be a stepping stone to low-impact activities like mindful walks, so it's another potential starting point if you're hoping to get into exercise for the first time in a while.
