17 Best Online Fitness Programs and Workout Apps in 2026 Tried & Tested

The app breaks it down into progressive components, teaching you to master each element before combining them into the full movement. We selected Mobility Manual as the best fitness app for improving athletic performance because addressing limited mobility and flexibility are two areas that can instantly unlock better movement. For decades, people were told never to let knees go past toes during squats or lunges. ATG flips this on its head, teaching you to safely load your joints through full ranges of motion, building bulletproof strength in positions most programs avoid. ATG (Athletic Truth Group), created by Ben Patrick (aka “Knees Over Toes Guy”), training and wellness services has revolutionized how we think about joint health, mobility, and injury prevention.

Best Free Workout App for Community: Hevy

However, it’s one major flaw is the fact that it’s only available on iOS, so Android users can’t use the service. There’s a basic community feed that allows you to view others’ workouts, but not much else. It’s a simple, streamlined app that’s very beginner-friendly, but it’s not the best choice if you prefer to have access to more advanced features.

Our 8-Week Healthy Habits Plan Is Here

Apps of this kind, however, often limit your capabilities within the service until you ultimately sign up and pay for the membership. Just like the instructor at your local gym, you can get personalized training and instructions from digital trainers. The best free workout apps gather your basic information like weight, age, height, fitness level, training level, etc. to craft a fitness plan that best meets your needs. So, one doesn’t need to copy the workout schedule of another person when the body demands different. Inaccurate posture or training might pose a lot of risk to your health and body.

Peloton

You can also add classes to your library, which lets you select classes you’ve taken before, or plan on taking in the future, at a glance. 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.

How we chose the best workout subscription apps

Each exercise features a demonstration video, step-by-step written instructions, and the ability to log your weights and reps (and access your history at any point). If you’re looking for an app with more human coaching that can also help you with dietary changes, consider Caliber. You’ll pay much more per month, but you’ll receive more hands-on guidance from personal trainers and nutrition coaches.

Best workout app for classes

These workouts include warm-ups, video demonstrations, and explanations of the prescribed exercises. One of the features I like on this app is that it also allows you to substitute exercises if you don’t have access to a specific piece of equipment or if you have limitations. It also includes a conditioning workout option that you can include at the end of your workout if you have the time. Our CNET fitness experts have put together this list of the best workout apps for women based on how well each app supports sustainable movement, mental health and motivation.

Progress Tracking

From classically-trained pilates instructor, Lia Bartha, B The Method is a low-impact, full-body method. The workouts can be done with no equipment, or with a pilates ball and light weights. And if you’re tracking progress long-term, don’t miss this helpful guide on how to track your fitness progress. AllTrailsIt’s not formally a workout app, but if walking is your preferred form of exercise, AllTrails is the perfect companion.

Best Workout App for Live Classes: iFIT

• The person who has been exercising for years might not need every minute instruction while the other person touching the dumbbells for the first time needs to be monitored every single second.
• While many fitness apps lock their best features behind a paywall, there are still plenty of great options on Android that offer solid tracking, valuable insights, and goal-setting tools.
• Cronometer also allows users to set goals and track their progress over time.
• Some of the apps we chose may have more advanced tracking features available, but each should be quick to set up if you’re simply looking to record your food intake.
• If the app is generally OK after a short learning curve, testers could give the app a middle-of-the-road 3-star rating.
• There are programs that help set you up for success with your fitness goals and range from six to 13 weeks long.

“You can input and track just about any metric and goal in a progress tab,” adds Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1, who rates the tracking a 4 out of 5. Or, use a spreadsheet to lay out your long-term workout plans, then a specific running or strength app to put those plans into action. I used that method to plan my months-long marathon training (see above), paired with my Garmin watch, and it was highly effective. We’ve tested a lot of yoga apps, but Alo Moves continues to come out on top. You can search for classes based on style, difficulty level, duration, and more—and the app keeps track of every class you take, making it easy to note your progress and save favorite playlists or flows. Compared to some of the other apps on this list, this app is also pretty affordable.

All-in-one platform empowering fitness professionals to build, manage, and scale their online training business with custom-branded apps. For anyone looking to improve their relationship with food, build healthier eating patterns, lose weight sustainably, or simply gain awareness of their nutrition, Yazio provides friendly, effective guidance. We selected Yazio as the best healthy habit tracker because it strikes the perfect balance between comprehensive features and user-friendliness.

Created by professional handbalancer and movement specialist Sondre Berg, this app brings elite-level coaching directly to your pocket. We found the programs were very effective at helping to improve our mobility with carefully curated exercises and stretches for every part of the body. Unlike a lot of other mobility apps, Mobility Manual feels like everything you do is helping you achieve better performance in the gym or within sports. For anyone wanting intelligent workout tracking that goes beyond simple logging, Shred provides AI-powered coaching, expert programming, and comprehensive analytics at a fraction of personal training costs. Shred integrates seamlessly with Apple Watch, displaying sets, reps, and rest timers on your wrist while automatically logging workouts. As you work through exercises, the AI coach provides encouragement, form cues, and adjusts rest times based on your pace.

The other plus is that all memberships give you access to free on-demand digital workouts, so if you can’t make it to a studio, you can at least work out at home. Client communication is streamlined through in-app messaging, eliminating the need for scattered conversations across multiple platforms. Trainers can share updates, answer questions, review progress, and provide accountability all in one place. Yazio also includes motivational elements like daily tips, progress celebrations, and encouragement to maintain streaks.

Best boutique workout app

Finding your favorite workout app may require a bit of trial and error since you’ll want to see if you’re looking for a personalized experience or are comfortable with a cookie cutter plan. The paid version of the app will run you $12 per month ($80 per year) for an individual plan, or $13 per month ($150 per year) for a Strava and Runna combo plan. There is a student discount of $40 per year and a family plan for up to 4 accounts at $140 a year. The good news is that Strava offers a free 30-day trial to those who want to try out its upgraded features before committing. The app’s creators believe that connection is the best way to stick to your goals. There are plenty of coaches on this app with numerous years of experience in their respective fields.

Tracking your progress, such as logging your weightlifting levels or noting your running times, can also help keep you motivated to improve your personal records. For instance, if you decide to join a gym, you can participate in a variety of classes like yoga, Pilates, and HIIT, or you can train by yourself in the gym. Eating the right foods can also help boost your energy levels to maximize your workouts and provide nutrients that support muscle recovery and growth.

What is the best free workout app?

It’s also water-resistant to 50 meters and can provide insight into swimming workouts. When you want an affordable fitness watch that offers more than the average pedometer at an incredible price, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is hard to beat. Plus, if you wear the watch at night, it gives you a Sleep Score to better understand the quality of rest you’re getting. For strength exercises, aim to work all your major muscle groups twice to three times each week, leaving 48 hours between each workout for recovery. If you choose to split your workouts to target a specific muscle group (for example, “leg day”), that will require more frequent workouts. Just make sure you’re leaving 48 hours of rest before you rework a major muscle.