43 Best Workout Apps 2021 That Will Make You Want to Exercise

Aaptiv workouts can be done anywhere — at home, at the gym, outside on a ridiculously sunny day — because all you need is your phone and some headphones. With a membership you get access to more than 2,500 guided workouts, with more than 40 new classes added each week. For example, while Strava can track your gym workouts through Apple’s Fitness app, it’ll struggle to give you useful information, as it won’t record any data points beyond heart rate and calories burned.

TRX All-in-ONE Suspension Training System

What makes The Movement Athlete special is its structured approach to complex movements. The app breaks it down into progressive components, teaching you to master each element before combining them into the full movement. The app’s intuitive design makes logging workouts simple and effective, with gamification elements that keep fitness apps for beginners motivation high.

Best Workout Apps for People Who Have Never Exercised Before

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There are a few mobility plans in there, but nearly all of the programs are focused on strength training, using your body weight, dumbbells, garage gym, full gym, or any other type of equipment you have access to. When choosing a plan, you can easily filter the programs based on your training goals, experience level, desired number of days per week, and equipment access. If you’re looking for an app that takes the guesswork out of your training, TR[Ai]NER by Element 26 is worth considering. This AI-powered workout app offers programs you can customize based on your preferences, equipment access, and personal goals. Available modules include a four-week dumbbell muscle build program, a four-week metcon/HIIT program, and a six-week full gym strength gain program, among others. The best online workout programs of 2025 deliver diverse, expert-led training for every goal and budget—with AI personalization, fresh content, and real results.

• We’ll make a special note about programs that require these extra purchases outside of a membership.
• Aaptive is a simple to use app that received high scores in categories like app setup, ease of use, and accountability, but it only received average rankings for interactive features and progressive overload.
• Ladder is also heavily focused on progressive overload, which is the key to building strength and continuing to make progress once you’re no longer a beginner.
• Lifters, old and new, may not appreciate BetterMe as the majority of the workouts are bodyweight with several dumbbells-only workouts.
• If those don’t do it for you, we have more free workout apps to choose from on our best free workout app roundup.
• We only recommend the apps that have genuinely enhanced our running experience, in the hope that we can help many other runners benefit from them too.

What to Look for in a Beginner Streaming Service

He also docked a couple of points for progressive overload, giving Fitbod 3 out of 5 stars. The questionnaire that helps program for you asks questions about your experience level, equipment available, and the type of training you are focusing on. Another key feature of the app is the “Follow Trainer” function that automatically adjusts your machine’s speed, incline, and decline based on the trainer leading your class. So, if you’re performing an iFIT workout on a NordicTrack treadmill, your machine will react to the coach’s lead, providing an ever-changing cardio session to keep things fresh. In terms of cost, there’s the $15 monthly iFIT Train plan and the $39 monthly iFIT Pro plan. The biggest difference here is that the Train tier lets you create your own workouts and is available on equipment touchscreens.

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Zwift uses game features to make indoor cycling and running more fun, but the app has a history of crashing and isn’t great on small phone screens. Future is an outstanding app in nearly every category, but the only real drawback is the cost, as it’s certainly not cheap. As you train, Fitbod tracks your progress and even shows a heat map of your recent training, allowing you to see which muscles have been trained. The app will not reward progress until you have logged your previous sessions, which allows for both accountability and progressive overload. If you want an app with more accountability features, Future connects you with a coach who will observe you and provide actual feedback.

The Best Fitness Tracker for You (Yes, You)

While the app itself is pretty basic, it does offer access to a running-centric community and a huge amount of sophisticated coaching technology. In 2025, there are so many fitness apps out there that knowing where to start can be really daunting. That’s why we test fitness apps and collate our picks to help you make the right decision.

The best running apps for Android and iOS

There are notifications for accountability, but they’re all focused on the social media aspect, getting likes or follows. Because there’s no real way to remind you to workout, I scored the accountability a 1 out of 5. If you’re able to stay on task, there is a deep social network behind this simple workout tracker. When I think of an app for a beginner, I would want value, ease of use, and good instruction. Megan Capritto, sister of GGR senior staff writer Amanda Capritto and our tester for FitOn, found the interface for the app very easy to use and intuitive, giving it 5 stars out of 5. There is also solid instruction for each of the trainer-led workout videos.

Best for iOS users

The combination of a structured starting program plus a daily live anchor is well suited to building a routine from zero. This makes the R50 Aura a smart rowing machine option for users who enjoy guided workouts, structured workout programming, and connected training experiences. Enjoy 7 days of unlimited access to all workouts, live classes, and programs. To cancel simply navigate to your account settings before the trial period ends. This is highly personal, but Daily Burn’s beginner-track trainers (including Anja Garcia and Keaira LaShae) are widely regarded for clear cueing and warm coaching style. The best move is to try classes with three different instructors in your first week and stick with whichever style resonates.

Do the Apps Offer Nutrition Tracking Features?

The exercises chosen are accessible for all fitness levels and focus on movements that translate directly to better daily function. Daily Burn’s True Beginner program is purpose-built for people who have never exercised or are returning after a long break. It introduces foundational movements at a gentle pace, scaling intensity over weeks so you build strength and confidence without being thrown into an advanced class.