Expert-Tested: The Best Workout Apps 2026

19 May Expert-Tested: The Best Workout Apps 2026

The Whoop is better suited for fitness-tracking and biohacking veterans who want a longer-lasting device with extensive data insights. While I haven’t tried the Fitbit Air out yet, I appreciate any credible health tracker that emphasizes accessibility and accuracy. I like that the Fitbit Air is finally taking on a cult favorite fitness band — and at a lower price.

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Instead, you follow a series designed to help you gain strength in six weeks, followed by a deload week or two. If Aaptiv has a weakness, it’s the progressive overload, or lack thereof. The programming on a macro-level may not be adequate for intermediate or advanced exercisers, and it only earns 3 out of 5 stars for the category. The program is centered around getting stronger and improving the big three lifts (squat, bench, and deadlift). If you’re not interested in powerlifting (or powerbuilding—a combination of bodybuilding-style training and powerlifting), this likely won’t be the best workout app for you.

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• Read our Caliber App review to learn more about this premium fitness app.
• It’s Android-only, completely free, and hasn’t been updated in years—yet it maintains a loyal following.
• If you’re on a family plan, you can share access to Apple Fitness Plus with up to five family members.
• To be clear, there are no instructors or live workout classes in the Zwift app, but you’ll be able to join virtual races with other users.
• Now you have access to various workout programs that can be done at home or in the gym, such as yoga, strength and Pilates, all taught by different women personal trainers.
• The biggest difference here is that the Train tier lets you create your own workouts and is available on equipment touchscreens.

Where adult watches may be oversized for a younger audience, kids’ fitness trackers are specifically designed for smaller wrists. JuggernautAI is not just designed with your stats in mind—it’s structured to help you move the needle on your strength. If you’re all in on bodyweight training, BetterMe is one of the best options around. Not only is it one of our best workout apps for beginners, but it’s packed with an array of equipment-free training plans that are geared toward just about anyone. It also earns 4 out of 5 stars for ease of use, making it a good option for those new to workout apps.

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You can also connect with your coach via the chat in the app if you ever have questions about your training or want to chat with other members on your team. This app costs $25 a month ($135 a year) but lets you test it for free for seven days if you’re a new member. This is a good way to determine if the workouts on the app are the right fit for you and your goals. It also connects you to friends on the app who can cheer you on or comment on your posts that get uploaded to your Strava feed after your workout. If you prefer to keep your data and running routes private, you can also make those changes through your settings via the app.

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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. But if these aren’t quite right for you either, we’ve rounded up the best workout apps for a range of training styles and budgets to get you started. Fitness Blender has gained significant popularity on the r/homefitness subreddit.

Workout Variety

The app also allows you to listen to your favorite music playlist while following the training plan. If you’re a beginner looking for a structured and guided approach to start running, Couch to 5K app can help you achieve your goals. This app is frequently recommended on the r/running subreddit for its gradual approach to building endurance and completing a 5K race. With Couch to 5K, you’ll be able to slowly increase your running time and distance over a period of 8-9 weeks. Google’s Fitbit Air offers a similar health-tracking experience to other Google products, such as the Pixel Watch.

Our in-depth methodology covered categories ranging from overall value and ease of use to workout variety and equipment demands. If you’re past the beginner stage and want a little more progressive overload in your strength training, we recommend a workout app such as Boostcamp. GGR writer and certified personal trainer Amanda Capritto gives Aaptiv a 4-out-of-5-star rating for accountability.

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JEFIT boasts a comprehensive exercise library with over 1,300 exercises and plenty of routines that cater to all fitness levels and goals. You can customize your workouts based on the muscle groups you want to target and track your progress with ease. If you’re looking to build strength and muscle, StrongLifts 5×5 is a highly recommended home workout app on Reddit, particularly on the r/Fitness subreddit. best fitness app Its popularity stems from its emphasis on strength training and simplicity, making it an excellent choice for beginners and advanced fitness enthusiasts alike. Most of the fitness trackers that we tested were in the $30 to $50 range. Biggerfive’s Fitness Tracker ($30) offers plenty of tools for fitness tracking, including built-in step, distance, calorie, and sleep trackers.

If you don’t own any gym equipment but want to get in shape, check out Freeletics. Redreplicant says they always start their workout with planking and wish that they could get Fitbod to include it instead of having to add it manually every time. It also syncs with Strava, Fitbit, and Apple Health so you have easy access to your performance data. The app will also tell you how much weight to lift, how many reps to complete, and how long to rest between each set to help you maximize your gains. They also like the positive attitude of the coaches and the integration with Roku, which allows them to stream videos on the TV screen in their home gym.

Best workout apps of 2026

It’s flexible, but it also tells you what the priorities should be for each day. While this might sound expensive for a fitness app, Redditors generally agree that the price is worth it. You can also follow your friends on the app to see their activity and send each other encouraging messages.

Progress Tracking

You can post your workout summary on social media and even send your favorite workouts to friends via text or email so they can try them out. The main downside of the app is that the strength training classes aren’t the best. Peloton also has multi-week training programs like “Crush Your Core” and “Mastering the Basics,” which helps you learn how to use your spin bike. Jane McGuire is Tom’s Guide’s Fitness Managing Editor, which means she looks after everything fitness-related – from running gear to yoga mats.

The Best Kids’ Fitness Trackers of 2026

“I think no matter where you are, there will be a workout you can do with the app,” says Lindsay. We’d also be remiss if we didn’t mention that as of May 2026, the app is only available on iOS. The Android version is still in development, but is expected to be released soon.