To earn 3 out of 5 stars, we want to see both visual and audio cues, though there may not be much guidance about how hard to push yourself or when to increase the weight you’re using. Ladder scored well in nearly every category, though it’s priced right around the average workout app, earning 3 out of 5 stars for its pricing. Instead, you follow a series designed to help you gain strength in six weeks, followed by a deload week or two.
Look at how quickly you can find a workout, whether the difficulty feels right, and whether the plan tells you what to do next. A paid app is easier to justify when it replaces a gym class, personal training session, or mulle disconnected tools for tracking, programming, and recovery. For users focused on measurable strength gains, Strong, Caliber, and Jefit are better fits than class-based platforms. Strong is the simplest and most efficient workout log for experienced lifters. Caliber adds more guidance and programming structure, which helps users who want to follow a plan.
Running-focused apps can help with distance tracking, pacing, interval workouts, race plans, and recovery guidance. Strava is especially useful for tracking routes and community motivation, while apps such as Nike Run Club and Runna are better suited to guided runs and structured plans. If you are training for a 5K, 10K, half marathon, or marathon, choose an app with a plan that adapts to your current mileage and schedule.
To compile our list of the best free workout apps, we used the same methodology, except for the caveat that the app had to have a free version. Like many free workout muscle building app reviews apps, there are limited interactive features and accountability—none, to be exact, earning a 1 out of 5 in both of these aspects. Still, if you’re looking for a fun way to get a quick workout in, SmartWOD provides countless workouts that can be catered to your skillset and equipment available. However, ClassPass also has a database of workout videos that are completely free to users; you don’t even need to be on a subscription plan. Just like their local class options, these trainer-led workout videos vary from strength training to high-intensity workouts and everything in between. Unlike most apps on this list, Nike Training Club doesn’t have a free and premium version; it’s just free.
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. To get started, choose your desired weekly training days, input your maximum lifts, and indicate if you’re preparing for a competition.
Yet poor mobility is one of the leading causes of stalled progress and injury in male trainees. An advanced fitness app for men should include regular movement assessments, mobility drills, and dynamic warm-ups that prepare joints for heavy lifting or explosive movements. Ignoring this dimension can lead to long-term dysfunctions, especially in the shoulders, hips, and knees. Forward-thinking apps now weave mobility routines into the fabric of strength cycles, preventing injuries before they start and supporting sustainable performance gains. At home, the app can offer bodyweight routines, band-based resistance circuits, or mobility flows tailored to limited space.
While our tester didn’t find it too detrimental to the overall experience, she did specifically mention that the app might not be great for people who need an extra nudge to stay on track. BetterMe creates a plan for you based on your goals, so the daily workouts are populated. They have a workout library, too, so you can go off plan if you want to. You can deviate from the workout plan given by BetterMe, though, as there is an entire workout library.
The lack of a coach-led workout might deter some people from using this app, Amanda suggests. Subscriptions start at $7.50 per month and can go as high as $29.99, which is still cheaper than most commercial gym memberships. You’re also getting recipe ideas and a workout tracker, so it provides much more value than simply helping you workout. It also contains workouts for people who want to do pilates, yoga, HIIT, functional training, and even meditation. IFIT offers fitness lovers versatility with machine-based classes and classes that do not require anything more than a towel or mat.
Of course, scrolling the app store can feel overwhelming, and not every fitness app delivers high-quality programming. That’s why our exercise professionals in the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition & Fitness Lab tested more than 40 workout apps to find the ones that truly stand out. We evaluated everything from the quality of the workouts and variety of classes to how intuitive the apps felt to use.
The Fitbit premium membership offers a few more exclusive features like insights into stress and sleep, workouts, recipes, and mindfulness. The Fitbit Charge 6 is an excellent fitness tracker for anyone looking for built-in GPS. You’ll have a ton of workout tracking features, with 30 different workout and activity profiles to choose from including strength training, which is why this earns 4.5 out 5 stars for activity tracking. With a budget price tag, rest assured you won’t be short on tech capabilities. Nicole says you can track all of your important health metrics like heart rate (resting, while working out, and heart rate variability), blood oxygen, breathing rate, stress levels, and steps. The best Fitbit devices (including this one) also have automatic workout tracking features.
Jefit sits between the two, offering a large exercise library and flexible routine building for commercial gym training. Pricing was reviewed as of the current testing period and may change, so we compared both advertised subscription costs and the practical value of each tier. If an app offered a trial, we checked whether the trial was easy to start, what features were included, and how clearly the app explained renewal terms. Yes, with newer workout apps, such as Future, you can get connected to a personal trainer through an app. It will cost more compared with other apps but will be cheaper than a standard personal training session at the gym.
First, it should offer personalized programming based on the user’s fitness level, goals, and available equipment. Whether a man is training at home with resistance bands or has access to a full gym, the app must deliver relevant and effective routines that respect his current limitations while encouraging progression. If your main goal is fat loss and improved cardiovascular fitness with some muscle tone, then HIIT is the best option for you. HIIT will likely be one of the weight loss exercises you’ll find on the best workout apps for men that require no equipment. Its AI-driven personal trainer creates fully customized HIIT and strength programs that adjust based on your time, location and feedback. s predict that by 2029, more than 1.1 billion individuals will incorporate fitness trackers into their exercise routines.
Instruction can be simple, with a how-to video on performing exercises, or it can be a coach leading a streamed workout with cues throughout the video. Furthermore, you can use an app to connect with your own personal coach, who can keep you accountable and help you stay on track. As I said before, there aren’t too many apps that are gender-specific for men. With that said, marketing for men and male-identifying people is on the rise, and just because a fitness app’s logo has camo and chains doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right workout app for you. Here are some factors to consider when browsing the app store for a fitness app ideal for you.
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. There’s free and paid options, but you get plenty of value if you do decide to pay, and you can access a free trial if you’re unconvinced. If you’re looking for a top all-rounder, we recommend downloading Centr, the app developed by actor Chris Hemsworth. Or, if you’re looking to keep costs down, Nike Training Club is completely free, while Fiit offers access to all group classes without charge. 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. Popular with cyclists and runners for a reason, the Strava app can be an excellent tool for taking your running to the next level.
