Although the library of exercises is expansive, just be aware that the functionality is limited in the free version. Kate explains, “I entered all the movements for a weightlifting workout, but the app ordered them alphabetically instead of in the order I wanted. To move them, I would have had to upgrade to the Elite plan.” She also found it easier to navigate through the desktop version for workout plans, and then locate them on the app afterwards.
Best Health App for Running and Walking: Strava
Fitness shouldn’t come with a monthly fee, fitness apps for muscle gain especially when your goals are straightforward. The apps on this list will help you track workouts, monitor running progress, and stay motivated without paying for a membership. You can explore a few options and find the best option that suits your lifestyle.
The app also broadcasts “interactive” live classes every day and has a nutrition section with recipe videos, as well as workouts you can do with kids. I liked that 8fit takes a holistic approach to overall health as opposed to straight-up weight loss. I also enjoyed the workouts I tried, which were explained and demonstrated clearly, though occasionally repetitive. I also didn’t find them particularly challenging based on what I had entered into my quiz, and in my own searching, I found the app offers far more beginner videos than intermediate and advanced ones. But that’s what makes 8fit a great option for newbies, especially those who want a simple way to integrate new exercise and eating habits into their routine.
The 12 Best Workout Apps Of 2025, To Conquer Every Fitness Goal
While the app itself is pretty basic, it does offer access to a running-centric community and a huge amount of sophisticated coaching technology. PUSH is an AI-powered muscle and strength app designed to do just one thing, help you build muscle as quickly as possible. It features a gorgeous layout and interface, intuitive plan building, and great workout tracking. There’s also a Body Scan tool that can calculate your lean mass and body fat, data it uses to personalize your fitness plan.
BetterMe Wellness App
I didn’t mind this, mainly because the workouts Aaptiv directed me to were well-suited for me and easy for me to follow along. Its entry quiz is more detailed than others, and it set me up with the right workout program for my goals and ability. That said, I wouldn’t recommend Aaptiv to total workout newbies or visual learners because it’s hard to find your place if you happen to zone out for a few seconds and miss the audio cue. Free workout apps have great value, providing basic instructions with libraries of exercises and workouts at no cost to you.
- Aside from the obvious nightly stats about sleep quality or heart health, Oura tries to analyze long-term trends and provide more context on your body’s ability to handle stress.
- You can also get a membership to just the virtual on-demand and livestream classes, which is $19.99 a month.
- Our qualitative data highlight the need for mobile apps and fitness trackers to adapt quickly to the changing circumstances of human lives, especially in health crises like COVID-19.
- That said, both are capable of tracking the basics, like fitness and sleep.
- The two devices are priced similarly and share a similar design format, too.
- All of the best smart rings are reasonably lightweight and easy-wearing, though some are a tad heavier and thicker than others.
Tired of Strava? These are the fitness apps runners, cyclists and hikers should try now
If you want to lose weight, you can track calories and macros, plus actual weigh-ins and how many pounds are left to meet your goal. To come up with this list of the best health apps, we personally tested each app over a period of several weeks. We went through the entire process, from downloading and setting up the app to entering our personal information then actually using the app in our day-to-day lives. The app is free to download, but you can upgrade to a paid subscription or make in-app purchases for a more premium experience, which includes sound reminders to drink instead of just push notifications.
Add a social twist to runs, rides, and hikes
It’s completely free to set up an account and start tracking your diet, but you will need to upgrade if you’re looking to unlock extra features, such as custom goals and habit tracking. While setting up your profile, you’ll be prompted to answer a variety of lifestyle questions, including if you’ve tried to lose weight in the past and what motivates you to reach your goals. The basic version of Lifesum—which includes a barcode scanning feature—is free to use, but you will need to pay a small monthly subscription to access all of its features. Lifesum’s interface is colorful and quirky, making it a hit with fitness influencers and popular with a modern audience.
Frequently asked questions about fitness apps
The app’s database contains more than 6 million foods, so you can log just about everything you put in your body, from fast food to homemade vegan lasagna, thanks to a nifty recipe calculator. Tracking your lifts can be the perfect encouragement to keep on keepin’ on. It gives you everything you need, with over 17,000 on-demand classes, over 24 class types, over 70 training programs, and nothing you don’t (cough, diet culture, cough). It’s for anyone looking to get a killer workout in without any of the toxic fitness language, according to the creators. App, Nick Gartmann brought with him a support network of exercise and tech experts who were eager to come on board.
Level of Support
The discussion boards create a virtual community, which you don’t always get through fitness apps. 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. No matter what your frustrations with Fitbit, there’s an alternative fitness tracker out there that is a better fit for your lifestyle and fashion sense. Hopefully, one of these Fitbit alternatives will offer you better overall experience, and will help keep you on the path to improving fitness and a happier and healthier lifestyle.
Best for building fitness habits: Nike Training Club
A person should only follow fitness advice from licensed, credible instructors and check manufacturer instructions when using new fitness equipment. People interested in using an app to help them work out should consider the features most important to them. For example, some apps may also allow a person to track their diet and keep a food journal. Some may measure multiple types of physical activity, whereas others may focus on one activity. Frequent exercise can help people maintain moderate body weight and decrease the risk of certain diseases, such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. It can also strengthen the heart, improve lung function, and improve mental health.
Best Health Apps for Any of Your Wellness and Fitness Goals
Dan Bracaglia is the Tom’s Guide editorial lead for all things smartwatches, fitness trackers and outdoor gear. With 15 years of experience as a consumer technology journalist testing everything from Oura Rings to instant cameras, Dan is deeply passionate about helping readers save money and make informed purchasing decisions. In the past year alone, Dan has assessed major product releases from the likes of Apple, Garmin, Google, Samsung, Polar and many others. However, the Versa 4 isn’t the most full-featured smartwatch out there.
In 2020, Under Armour sold MyFitnessPal to private equity firm Francisco Partners for $345 million. Since then, the app has leaned harder into monetization than into the fundamentals. A controversial UI overhaul in late 2025 stripped out core features. And in March 2026, MFP acquired Cal AI, the photo-based calorie tracker with over 15 million downloads and $40 million in annual revenue. That deal followed the acquisition of meal planning app Intent and an integration with ChatGPT Health earlier in the year.