THE WEATHER IS getting warmer, and beach season is approaching fast. If you were looking to be in great shape this summer, now is the time to start training for it. Having a plan is essential when it comes to training effectively. If you are needing a little guidance, help is just a download away. We've found you the best workout clothes and training shoes, and now through testing we’ve locked in on the best workout apps to put them to good use.
These days the digital world is very much a part of our existence, and for all of the negatives that come with that, there are also potentially useful tools that are available to those in the pursuit of fitness. As the ways we approach exercise have shifted in the face of changing technology, having a digital training partner has become more commonplace. Whether you're exercising at home, or on the road, the best workout apps have become one of the most versatile fitness tools out there.
Best Workout Apps
While lots of people kick it old school and only use their phones for timers or music streaming via workout headphones, these apps open up a whole word of fitness learning at your fingertips, with programs designed to help you to make the most of your training time. We're talking libraries of workout routines, tips, and more. Some apps are free, some will cost you, but they all have the same basic goal: Helping you have a great time training to become the strongest, fittest version of yourself.
These smartphone apps all serve a distinct purpose. Some act as a digital trainer, guiding you through new, tough workouts. Others help you to track your activity and diet, giving you new insight to your nutrition. All of the apps are free to download (although many require in-app purchases and subscriptions to unlock all their features), so it's worth your time to check them out.
What to Consider
Goals
Start by identifying your fitness goals, as they will guide your app selection. Whether you’re aiming to lose weight, gain muscle, improve flexibility, or train for a specific event, choose an app that specializes in the type of workouts and progress tracking aligned with your objectives. Clear goals can also help you stay motivated and measure your success over time. Some of the apps we've tested are excellent for goal-setting, while others are optimized for community or learning. So even if you don't have serious goals but just want to find a way to stay more fit and find some encouraging workout friends, there is an app for that.
Type of Workout
Consider the workouts you enjoy or want to check out, whether that's yoga, strength training, cardio, or HIIT. Some apps focus on specific activities, while others provide a variety to keep your routine exciting. Matching the app's offerings to your preferences can make sticking to your fitness routine easier, which is really the whole point with finding a training resource.
Budget
Workout apps come with various pricing options, from free versions with basic features to premium subscriptions or one-time purchases. Assess your budget and compare the value offered by each app, such as workout variety, coaching options, and additional perks like meal planning or community access. Apps with personalized, one-on-one coaching will generally cost more, as you're getting something more akin to proper personal training, while apps with AI coaching (or no "coaching" at all) will be the most budget-friendly. Every app we've tested offers a free trial, which you can use to help you decide before committing.
Coaching
If you need guidance or motivation, consider apps that provide coaching features. These may include virtual personal trainers, live classes, or AI-driven feedback to ensure proper form and progress tracking. For those who prefer a more personalized touch, look for apps offering one-on-one coaching sessions or tailored workout plans. A little coaching can go a long way in keeping you dialed into your schedule and on top of your goals, though it makes sense that some folks may not be interested in the extra stress of keeping up with a coach.
How We Selected
Our team of Men’s Health fitness editors, including certified trainers and former athletes, have tried every new app that's entered the market over the past several years. That's on top of our expansive experience with digital fitness since it became a "thing." We also consulted our large network of experts, including our Men's Health Advisory Board, to share their insights.
From there we further tested our top contenders during workouts at our Men's Health gym, our training spaces at home, local performance facilities, and outdoors. We made sure to utilize both iOS and Android smartphones, to compare how these apps performed on those different operating systems. Keep reading to discover the best 12 workout apps to use right now.
Sorry to brag, but our own All / Out Studio app just happens to be one of the best streaming fitness apps available. That's because the programming was created by the world's most elite trainers, as well as our own certified team of fitness experts.
Choose from a whole library of guided workout programs from us led by some of the world's best coaches—like Kettlehell, Superhero Shred, and our fitness director's New Rules of Muscle—along with other programs from our sibling brands Women's Health, Runner's World, and more.
The app is a pretty great deal at just $14.99/month, but if you want the best value, buy a year for just $89.99, which will save you 50% compared to paying month-to-month.
Platforms | iOS, Android, Apple Play, Roku, Amazon Fire TV |
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Free trial | 7 days |
Price | $14.99/month |
Future brings the luxury of working out with a personal trainer to your fingertips, literally. This isn't one of those dime-a-dozen apps that have boring and broad workout programs with zero specialization for your personal needs. This is a true coaching app, with access to elite mindsin fitness.
To get started, browse through dozens of certified trainers to choose one that best fits your goals and need. From there, your Future Coach creates weekly, highly personalized training programs just for you, and adapts them whenever you need. The in-app chat feature allows users to communicate with trainers on the fly.
What we truly value about Future is its integration of essential workout features typical of smartphones—such as timers, video prompts, and exercise logging software—with the advantages of personal training like tailored workout plans and scheduled check-ins, all presented in a cohesive package. Instead of juggling various apps and programs for my timer, form cues, and workout schedule, everything is conveniently consolidated in one location.
Read More: Future Fitness review
Platform | iOS, Android |
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Free trial | None |
Price | $199/month ($99 first month) |
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Best Variety
Nike Nike Training Club App
You likely have some Nike gear that you rock at the gym—so it might feel right to work out with the Swoosh, too. The Nike Training Club app features more than 180 routines from trainers in categories like yoga, strength training, and more.
Train with your bodyweight or a full gym setup, from quick sessions to 45 minute burners. Added bonus: Nike athletes and high-level performers like Cristiano Ronaldo doing some of the workouts, so if you're a soccer fan, you can have him as a digital training partner.
We love this app for beginner strength training workouts—there are a ton of options, the movements are approachable, and you can easily do them at home if you're not ready to hit the weight room at your local Y.
Platforms | iOS, Android |
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Free trial | None |
Price | No cost |
Peloton has made a big splash in the home fitness space with its fancy smart hardware—but now you can take part in the company's streaming group fitness workouts without shelling out a few thousand bucks for its stationary bikes and treadmills.
The app allows you to stream classes in 10 different categories (cycling, running, bootcamp, outdoor, strength, and more) anywhere, with live studio classes uploaded daily to an extant library of over 10,000. We especially love attending the live classes, because you get the actual push from those around you and from Peloton's lineup of fitness-celebrity trainers.
The app really shines, though, if you use a Peloton bike or treadmill, since the classes are centered around that equipment. You can definitely fire up a class on your phone or iPad at the gym, but using Peloton's actual hardware makes things easier.
Platforms | iOS, Android, Amazon App Store, Roku |
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Free trial | 30 days |
Price | $12.99/month |
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In addition to Alo's premium apparel, the West Coast athleisure brand has also made a splash in the at-home workout space. You might think of the brand's platform as yoga-centric, which is true, but the strength class offerings are anything but limited.
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.
If you want more than just workouts, the Alo Moves app has a plethora of mindfulness and wellness classes, from breathwork and meditation to Reiki and nutrition.
Platforms | iOS, Web |
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Free trial | 7 days |
Price | $12.99/month |
Apple’s foray into fitness apps is great for beginners on a fitness journey. There are streaming classes available in 12 different disciplines, from yoga to strength training to cycling—and you no longer need to have an Apple Watch to use it. Apple product owners can access Fitness+ built into the new Fitness app, with the latest iOS update.
The strength programs leave something to be desired, so if you want to focus on lifting, we recommend going elsewhere. But this app is great for beginner cardio and general fitness workouts that will keep you moving forward toward your goals.
Read more: Apple Fitness Plus Review
Platforms | iOS |
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Free trial | Up to 3 months |
Price | $9.99/month |
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Finding the perfect route for your long-distance workout can be even more difficult than completing the workout itself. Strava makes this simple.
The app boasts features for athletes, made by athletes. You can challenge yourself by picking routes that athletes near you have curated, then compete head-to-head with them.
The app's secret sauce is its social component. Sign up and add friends to see what their workouts look like, compete against athletes in your area to capture Local Legend status, and climb the leaderboard of your favorite segment, which can be anything from a quarter-mile sprint back home to the serpentine hillclimb you ride every week with your local bike shop.
Just don't forget to give out plenty of kudos.
Platforms | iOS, Android |
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Free trial | 30 days |
Price | $6.67/month |
For anyone who gets bored of their training programs fast, Ladder is the solution you've been looking for. New plans are added weekly, by a roster of very impressive and inspirational coaches. The experts in their library range from kettlebell experts to pilates instructors to run coaches.
Select from a library of weight training programs and track your routines, then connect with other users through Ladder Teams, the app's social component. Compatible with home or gym use, Ladder workout plans are meant to be utilized wherever you're getting a sweat in.
The best thing about Ladder is the community-building aspect. 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.
Platform | iOS |
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Free trial | 7 days |
Price | $29.99/month |
If you're feeling tight after high-octane workouts like CrossFit, you should check out this app to get a good stretch. The daily guided routines are designed to improve your body's range of motion and then gain better body awareness.
Pliability isn't just an app—you can also stream its content on your computer—but iPhone users can access all of the content natively on their device. The library is impressive, but it's strictly mobility and recovery.
Having a wide range of movement is key to getting the most from your workouts and maintaining proper form, whether you're a runner training for your first 5k or an experienced lifter trying to add depth to your Bulgarian split squats.
Platform | iOS, Android, Google Play, web |
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Free trial | 7 days |
Price | $17.95/month |
Advanced lifters looking for an app made for pushing real weight will love the Juggernaut AI. Its in-depth insights and workout plans are great for maximizing your strength training and reaching new goals.
To get started, choose your desired weekly training days, input your maximum lifts, and indicate if you’re preparing for a competition. Once you do this, Juggernaut’s AI-powered app will generate a personalized program for you.
Log your repetitions and weights from each workout, and Juggernaut AI will have you hammering out new PRs in no time.
Platform | iOS and Android |
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Free Trial | 14 Days |
Price | $35/month |
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You can just head out on a hunt without any training, but if you really want to maximize your time stalking that buck or have an easier time carrying it home once you make the shot, you need to add have adequate strength and endurance.
MTNTOUGH is tailor-made for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to help them get the most from the days they spend in the backcountry. It features a variety of programs spread across seven exciting categories, including Backcountry Hunter Training, Military & LEO Application Training, and Minimal Equipment Training.
According to our tester, the videos are "amazing and super easy to follow," and fresh workouts are added every day. It’s truly a fantastic resource for anyone looking to elevate their training ecosystem.
Platform | iOS, Android, Roku |
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Free Trial | 14 Days |
Price | $30/month |
If you love to ride your bike but don't want to hit the road during the coldest days of winter, Zwift is your solution. The app gamifies your workouts, pitting you against yourself, your friends, and fellow Zwift users in races, group rides, and targeted workouts.
The world of Zwift is a bustling metropolis where things are always happening: You can ride your bike through a futuristic Manhattan, around London, or on World Cup courses, albeit virtually. Compete with your friends, join a group ride, or just do a solo workout; the choice is yours each and every time you fire up the app.
The app also has a ton of built-in training programs to tailor your workouts to what you hope to achieve when you actually take your bike out on the road or mountain. There are gravel-specific plans, plans for crushing a 100-mile mountain bike race, or keeping up with your crew at the local criterium.
Platform | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android |
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Free Trial | 14 Days |
Price | $19.99/month |
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Will Porter
Will Porter is an Associate Editor on Gear Patrol's Growth team. He cut his teeth as GP's first commerce writer, where he developed a knack for tracking down the best deals on the web. He loves putting the latest cycling and running gear through the wringer and is always searching for the next style x outdoors crossover.
Brett Williams, NASM
Brett Williams, NASM-CPT, PES, a senior editor at Men's Health, is a certified trainer and former pro football player and tech reporter. You can find his work elsewhere at Mashable, Thrillist, and other outlets.
Reviewed byCharles Thorp, NASM
Fitness and Commerce Editor
Charles Thorp is the Fitness and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health, where he shares the best product recommendations in gym equipment, recovery tools, supplements, and more. Following an early life in athletics, Charles became a NASM-certified trainer and began writing programs alongside the most respected coaches in the world.
Since entering the world of fitness content, Charles has had the opportunity to learn from and train alongside high performance individuals from the NFL, UFC, NBA, Formula 1, CrossFit, US Olympics, and Navy SEALs. When he’s not writing about training programs or gear, he can be seen at the gym or in the wild, putting them to the test.