If you’ve ever done a BodyPump class in your local gym, you’ll have been introduced to the world of Les Mills. It’s a series of tempo-based classes, set to music, designed to get you fitter and stronger. The app is an extension of this, with hundreds of classes to choose from, all set to an infectious beat, with motivating instructors. 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.

Day Upper/Lower/Full Body

Our testers give Caliber a 4-out-of-5-star rating for equipment demands. The early days of any fitness journey often come with uncertainty, discomfort, and even a little embarrassment. Fitness apps can ease this transition by providing structure, guidance, and motivation. But with so many options out there, finding the perfect beginner-friendly workout app can feel overwhelming. In this article, we’ll help you sift through the noise to find the best workout apps for beginners to kickstart your fitness journey with confidence, ease, and motivation.

How to choose the best running apps

Overall, Amanda rates Nike Training Club a 5-out-of-5-star rating for both getting started and ease of use. Nike Training Club is a free fitness app with a robust workout library that includes one-off workouts as well as periodized programs led by certified instructors. We know that a subscription fee of $199 per month is nothing to sneeze at, however, we also know that most personal trainers charge anywhere between $50 to $150 per hour depending on your area.

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• As for accountability and interactive features, there aren’t a lot in this running app.
• It may make you think that there aren’t any truly free workout apps available.
• When it first launched, you had to have a Watch to use Fitness Plus, but Apple removed the restriction in 2022.
• Hit your reps and the app increases the load next session — no spreadsheet required.
• In contrast, Hevy’s free tier is the most complete for social tracking — core features are never locked.
• But manually weighing every food and cross-referencing nutrition labels gets old fast.

If you don’t feel the need for an online support system, there are still ways to stay on top of your workouts. Some apps will add calendar reminders or push notifications to help remind you of your workout schedule for the week. You filter out the workouts by the equipment you have as well as skills. The app is very easy to use, and Amanda rates it a 5 out of 5 in its ease of use. The GPS support seems to work well enough, as Amanda tested its accuracy with other GPS trackers she uses, and madmuscles scam it was comparable to those apps and trackers. She gave it a 3-out-of-5 rating, as it still wasn’t always accurate, getting within about a tenth of a mile for accuracy.

You can even follow a program over the course of a month and decide how often you’re looking to work out. Because Nike is such a big name in fitness, many of its workouts draw inspiration from famous athletes, such as Simone Biles and Serena Williams. If you prefer a workout app that’s more specific to your interests, such as yoga, we recommend others in the list below. Your personal metrics are incredibly easy to track, according to our tester, and the app connects to your personal fitness watch to offer as much accuracy as possible. We also gave the user interface a 5 out of 5, as accessing this data is incredibly simple. Thanks to a wide variety of periodized regimens as well as live and on-demand fitness classes led by certified personal trainers without any cost of entry.

Most apps look similar on the surface — they log sets, show charts, track weight. The differences that actually matter only show up after weeks of use. Few are looking for an app that provides them assistance on a 60-minute long workout while others are more interested in digital instructors who can teach quick workouts of less than 10 minutes. Similarly, some are looking for high-intensity workout training while others just want regular body movement to keep themselves healthy. One might have access to different training equipment while another one would love to have a trainer who can tell about the different workouts with no or least equipment.

Plan workouts, access elite plans, use personalized metrics, and connect with a supportive community

However, with so many options out there, including both free and paid apps, it can be hard to know which will suit your training needs. But the apps that stuck taught form, explained why certain exercises show up repeatedly and made progression feel logical rather than arbitrary. In my testing, these apps were fine for people who wanted an all‑in‑one “healthy lifestyle” portal and didn’t care specifically about structured strength progression. For someone serious about learning to lift, they’re better as a secondary resource. Sweat feels less like a smart spreadsheet and more like a rotating class schedule in your pocket. You pick the trainer, style, and schedule that fits your life, then follow along with structured programs and video‑guided sessions.

Best Personal Training Workout App for Beginners: Future

Like most Garmin watches, the Forerunner 265 has excellent battery life — I averaged about 10 days between charges. The Garmin Connect app is less intuitive than apps from competitors like Fitbit and Apple — give yourself time to get used to it before dismissing it outright. Despite having rarely used Fitbit products in the past, the Charge 6 felt comfortable after only a few minutes of swiping through the watch and app. The food database uses only verified entries, which reduces the risk of tracking errors common in crowdsourced databases.

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When it comes to setting up the app and the ease of use, Amanda gives both categories a 5-out-of-5-star rating. GGR product tester and endurance athlete Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1 says if she didn’t have so much data already stored on Strava, she’d totally switch to MapMyFitness. “I love the healthy recipes with everyday accessible ingredients.” —Jackie C.

Jump Rope Training

If you’re looking for a simple workout tracker with an expansive community feed, look no further than Hevy, our pick for the best free app for community support. FitOn is a great service for people just dipping their toes into the fitness world, mainly because it’s free and gives you access to tons of guided workout videos, still all for free. While the premium option can give you special features like premium music options to spice up your playlist, personalized meal plans, and offline downloads to workouts, the bulk of the app is free.

Running & Cardio

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. 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. It offers personalized workouts that adapt to your equipment and schedule, whether you train at home or in a gym. Hevy is basically a digital notebook for logging your workouts, with a clean interface for sets, reps, and weights. It’s fine if you already know exactly what program you’re running and just want a place to record it.

Customer Experience

That said, if you’re not a competitive runner, don’t let this put you off. Strava has all the running tracking features you’d expect – from running speed and distance travelled, to more in-depth performance analytics and weekly miles. Log your workouts and track your progress on Hevy app while being part of an amazing community of 13+ million gym athletes. A 3-day split can be a bro split, but it can also be a push/pull/legs, full-body program, or even an upper/lower split (on a two-week rotation, as discussed above). There isn’t a big difference; it’s mostly just a tool to organize your training.

However, as you progress through programs like the 30-Day Challenge, the time investment can ramp up to around 30 minutes per workout. We’ve also found that the iPhone app offers more features than Android (such as music connectivity). Our free fitness coach will lead you through your workout step by step, telling you which exercises to do, how to do them, and how long to rest for optimal results.

Ladder Training Plans Structure

That said, despite its reputation as an app for runners and cyclists, you can track a total of 31 different sports. I’m below 300 pounds for the first time in 15 years, and I attribute my success to this gym. It’s the perfect workout for me, and I’m so grateful for everything it has done for me. Fitbit just launched the Fitbit Air, a tiny and affordable tracker that monitors your health 24/7. It doesn’t have a screen, so it stays out of your way while tracking things like your heart rate and sleep.

Google Docs / Google Sheets

From targeted workouts to insightful business guides, TrainHeroic provides the support and knowledge you need to excel in every aspect of your fitness pursuit. You’ll also find cardio workouts on the Les Mills app, which you can do on your own stationary bike or treadmill. Each pre-recorded class is led by a motivational instructor and has options for various lengths and intensities, making this a madmuscles scam great option for beginners and pros alike. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a Peloton bike (although we’d all love one) to make the most of the Peloton app.

• In practice, this meant built‑in improvement plans that gradually increased weights, sets, reps, distance, or intensity over time, rather than random standalone workouts.
• While we enjoy the available instruction and versatility with this app, which also supports HIIT workouts as well as Barre and Pilates sessions, we do rate the accountability at 1 out of 5.
• Requires Google Health Premium subscription (sold separately), Google Health app, and internet connection.
• With up to a week of battery life, Fitbit Air keeps up with your busiest schedule — from work to workout, a night out to a good night’s rest.
• The platform’s strength lies in its massive exercise library and its ability to let users build, track, and analyze highly specific routines.
• Plan, train and lift on the world’s most complete endurance training platform built specifically for the most complete athletes and coaches.

Signature plans & group courses

This is my daily go-to, whether for working out, eating well, or learning something new.” This progressive, three-phase training experience is designed to help you get stronger, build lean muscle, and finish feeling energized inside and out. The app is ideal for lifters who already know what they’re doing and want an efficient way to stay organized. It lets you create custom exercises and categories according to your training style.

Best Online Personal Training Services: 2026 Full Guide

There are HIIT, strength, core, yoga, Pilates, and meditation classes, taught by a range of different trainers. Maximum battery life is approximate and is based on testing conducted in 2025 on pre-production hardware and software, using default settings with a median Fitbit Air user battery usage profile across a mix of features. Battery life depends on features enabled, usage, environment and many other factors. Over time, Fitbit software will manage battery performance to help maintain battery health as your battery ages. 3x your client engagement with the #1 coaching app for personal trainers.No credit card required. If you, too, are overstimulated, we’ve rounded up a list of standout apps that cater to all fitness goals.

How We Picked and Tested the Best Personal Training App

This allows you to follow workouts without your phone, displaying exercises, reps, timers, and haptic alerts for section changes. Metrics such as active heart rate, calories, steps, and distance are tracked, too, and demo videos are also available on the watch, though trainer audio is not. We’ve done the hard work for you by putting these fitness apps to the test, joining strength training sessions, yoga classes, and high-intensity routines over several weeks. If you’re looking to train at home or in the gym, using one of the best workout apps can help you access motivational, qualified personal trainers in just a few taps. According to Statista, the UK health and fitness app market grew by 18% in 2024, reaching £1.4 billion ($1.7 billion).

Best workout app for meal plans

Google Fitbit Air works with most phones running on Android 11 or higher and Apple iOS 16.4 or higher. See fitbit.com/devices, g.co/health/fitbit-air and g.co/fitbit/compatibility. Requires Google Health Premium subscription (sold separately), Google Health app, and internet connection. Features and eligibility requirements subject to change; availability varies.

You can link your calendar and track progress, join leaderboards, and connect with friends for support. Working out with a personal trainer also acts as a built-in cheerleader and problem solver, says Felton. “Having a professional in the field to troubleshoot when you’re not seeing progress goes a long way, and there’s a lot to be said for accountability,” she explains. “If you know no one is checking in, you’re less likely to show up for yourself when motivation fades.” That applies IRL and with personal training apps. The fitness app market in 2026 offers exceptional options for every type of user, from beginners seeking guidance to experienced athletes wanting advanced tracking.

Strava (strava.com)

Gain direct, priority access to more than 10,000 gyms, studios, and health clubs actively seeking certified talent. Take charge of your nutrition with guidance on meal planning, diets, supplements, and more from our dietitians and nutritionists. Grace Walsh is woman&home’s Health Channel Editor, working across the areas of fitness, nutrition, sleep, mental health, relationships, and sex. Our editor, Kerrie Hughes, is a keen gym-goer and regularly works out.

The Best Workout Apps of 2026: For Any Fitness Goals

If Monday’s workout calls for a bench and I don’t have one, I can swap in Tuesday’s instead. The structure keeps me consistent, but it still fits my unpredictable travel schedule. As a digital nomad, I’ve tried to keep a fitness routine while bouncing between Airbnbs, hotels, and co-living spaces––and it’s not easy.

The coach will be accessible from the Today tab of the Google Health app. Google said the cycle tracking, nutrition, and mental well-being features have all been redesigned for the health coach as well. The coach will then use these details to create personalized guidance and insights. Bodybuilding.com Signature NO2 Nitric Oxide is designed for athletes and gym-goers looking to support blood flow, muscle pumps, and overall workout performance. Nitric oxide support formulas work by helping increase circulation, allowing oxygen and nutrients to reach working muscles more efficiently during exercise.

Expert trainers who GET IT

They understand what you need from a fitness program, because they’ve been there, too. Power your progress and take the guesswork out of your next meal with hundreds of recipe ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You’ll get seven days free then your subscription auto-renews unless cancelled. Schedule your week, log your own activity, and make adjustments to fit your routine.