13 Best Fitness and Workout Apps for 2026, Tested & Reviewed

You can look at Hevy’s and other user’s workouts for inspiration, if you’re not sure what to do that day. “I think the social network-esque aspect of it is what really differentiates it from other free cycling GPS apps,” our tester and long-time Strava user Amanda Capritto says. “You can follow people on Strava just like on Instagram or Twitter.” Along with that, Strava encourages group challenges and interaction  with other athletes through clubs.

Work Up a Sweat at Home With These 7 Expert-Approved Workout Apps

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. Since you’ve made it all the way to the end, download Hevy and log your first workout today. Similarly, Zwift and Strava track and record relevant cardio metrics to help reliably improve your endurance performance.

top fitness apps for beginners step by step

What is the best free workout app?

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. 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. It’s not perfect, but for a free app, there’s plenty to keep you moving here.

Teen Workout & Meal Plan

CNET experts tested some of the most popular workout apps to see which ones actually offer great workouts. These are the apps that stood out for their usability, personalization and ability to help you stay consistent and reach your fitness goals in 2026. Several of the options on our best workout apps list will log your exercise data.

StretchIt: Best Flexibility & Mobility Training App

However, if you want a social-driven experience with an active feed, options to follow and interact with others, compete, and compare, Hevy is a fantastic gym option. Strava and Zwift are great options for running and cycling with a community aspect. Do you want a private logger with a good UI, no distractions, and no social pressure?

  • Make sure you either have these items, or you have the budget to purchase them.
  • You’ll usually trade off personalization, coaching, or advanced tracking at the free level, but free options can still work well.
  • 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.
  • Premade workouts can be as short as five minutes or as long as several hours.
  • The best option is the one you can use consistently and safely for months, not days.
  • Pairing a structured workout app with creatine and pre‑workout can make your training more effective, but only if you use them intentionally and safely.

Splits Training, Do the Splits

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.

Best workout app for yoga

It doesn’t matter if you’ve never worked out, you’re making a comeback after a long break, or you’ve tried and given up in the past. Here are the questions all beginners should be asking before hitting ‘download’ in the app store. There are plenty of online yoga instructors to try if neither personality quite gels with you.

Best Free Workout App for Community: Hevy

Your choice will ultimately depend on whether you think investing in a paid app will actually help you get closer to your goals and what you’re comfortable spending. Other things to consider are if you prefer live streaming or On demand workouts. However, with the update, Nike removed some of their training programs, which used to be a popular feature of the app.

The Best Workout Apps of 2026: For Any Fitness Goals

The app sends push notifications as reminders to track food or complete workouts. Additionally, the program was incredibly customizable in Paige’s experience, making it easy to apply Reverse Health to her daily lifestyle. When you’re starting your fitness journey, you need expert advice and a great support team. That’s exactly what Chris Hemsworth was looking for when he started training like a superhero. After working with a team of health and fitness professionals, he was determined to make all of this know-how available to people around the globe in the Centr app. Not every workout app can be the best, but some can still be great and worth your time.

top fitness apps for beginners step by step

Our Thoughts on Muscle Booster

Ladder offers a free seven-day trial, and afterward you can pick from a Pro plan for $30 a month or the Pro Plan-Annual, which is an up-front fee of $180 for the year and offers unlimited access to the app. You cycle through a sci-fi universe that feels like you’re suspended in space, while riding on a track akin to a revolving strand of DNA or a natural world that’s a compelling virtual facsimile of Europe or the Southwest. You can pedal with friends remotely or join paced group rides led by virtual ride leaders. A hunky AI coach can also spit out a workout program after you feed him some basic data. Premade workouts can be as short as five minutes or as long as several hours. The https://www.reddit.com/r/fitbod/comments/1bauygp/alternatives/ app is free, but you can pay for the Abel Runner’s Club version to access all eight seasons and features.

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