The Best Workout Apps for 2026
The right workout app can motivate you to get up and move. But finding the one that works best for you can be a struggle, given the overwhelming number of options on the app stores. Don't get discouraged! We've tested and collected our favorite fitness apps below, based primarily on quality and value. Nike Fitness Club is our current favorite of the bunch, but all of our other picks are worth a download, too. Read on past the list for more guidance on choosing the best workout service for your long-term health.
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Best Overall
Best Overall
Score: None
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Nike Training Club (available on Android and iOS) is free and offers a wide variety of workout videos. Think exercises for late pregnancy, family-friendly activities, hour-long strength training sessions, and short yoga classes. Nike Training Club is completely free, too.
Who It's For
Everyone:Nike Training Club is one of the most inclusive workout apps, with exercises for adults, kids, people who are pregnant or post-partum, and so forth. The fact that it's free makes it even more inclusive.
People who get bored with workouts: The Nike Training Club has plenty of varied content, keeping your workout routine from getting stale. Whether you want to work out alone or with your family, the app gives you plenty of options.
Best Value
Best Value
Score: None
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Apple Fitness+ is one of the best values among workout apps. Some of the workouts are free with no strings attached, and a membership for all access costs $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year. That's a great price. You can share your membership with up to five family members at no extra cost using Apple's Family Sharing. Even better: It offers a free one-month trial. The service includes HIIT cardio, kickboxing, video-based dance, meditation, and yoga. You can create custom plans based on class duration, music preferences, preferred workout days, trainers, and more.
Who It's For
iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch owners:You need an Apple device to get Apple Fitness+, so Android and Windows fans are out of luck.
Apple One Premier subscribers:Apple Fitness+ is included with Apple One Premier , which also gets you 2TB of iCloud+ storage, Arcade, Music , News+, and TV .
Best for Personalized Training
Best for Personalized Training
Score: None
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Future Pro connects you to a personal trainer who creates a training plan for you. You get an introductory video call with your coach, and sometimes a check-in call, but not a live video call session for the workouts themselves. Your coach uploads a custom training plan each week, and your connected Apple Watch or other supported fitness device collects data from your workout and sends it to them for review. A fitness watch isn't strictly necessary, but it's highly recommended. From the watch data, your trainer knows whether you did the workout when you were supposed to and your heart rate during the session. You and your trainer can send messages through the app, so you can ask to change your plan or replace any exercises you can't do. Membership costs $199 per month. As of this writing, new users can get their first month for $50.
Who It's For
Anyone looking for accountability:Future Pro gives you two things that you don't get from most other apps: a sense of accountability and personalized training plans. If you don't do your workouts, your trainer will know.
People with equipment:To get the most out of Future Pro, you really need a compatible fitness tracker and access to a good range of equipment, whether at home or in a gym.
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Best for Equipment
Best for Equipment
Score: None
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
If you own an exercise bike, treadmill, or rower, the Peloton app can help you make the most of it. To get workout classes for this equipment, you need a Peloton App+ subscription ($28.99 per month). That's not cheap, but it's less than the cost of even two in-person classes. At this subscription level, you get not only unlimited bike, treadmill, and rower classes, but also non-equipment classes for HIIT, outdoor running, strength training, yoga, and more.
Who It's For
Dedicated exercisers:Peloton App+ isn't cheap, so you should make sure it's something you will actually use before signing up. A 30-day trial is available, and you can always downgrade to the App One tier if you don't plan to frequently use the bike, rower, and treadmill.
Indoor equipment users:Any treadmill, bike, or rower you have works with Peloton App+, whether it's Peloton-branded or not. You can do these workouts at home or in a gym, as long as you have headphones.
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Best for Screenless Workouts
Best for Screenless Workouts
Score: None
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Aaptiv specializes in audio-based workouts, meaning you don't have to keep your eyes or fingers on a screen to exercise. A trainer tells you what to do with music in the background. You can choose from the app's music styles or connect to your Spotify account. The app suggests workouts based on your preferred type of exercise (indoor cycling, outdoor running, stair climbing, strength training, stretching, yoga, and others), as well as your music preferences. Membership costs a reasonable $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year.
Who It's For
Anyone who is sick of screens:Don't we all get enough screen time? Your workout doesn't have to be in front of one, and Aaptiv makes that possible.
Music lovers: If you like working out to music, Aaptiv offers plenty of options. It even helps you avoid mismatches between your exercise routine and what's playing.
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Best for Pilates
Best for Pilates
Score: None
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Blogilates (available on Android, iOS, and the web) is one of the best free workout apps. Even better, you don't have to create an account to use it, which is ideal for privacy. The ever-peppy Cassey Ho leads the calisthenics and pilates-focused app, sweating and suffering alongside you through her challenging routines. Most workouts don't require any equipment, though some do use weights. Although two paid membership upgrades are available, they aren't necessary. All the stuff you'd want is free.
Who It's For
Pilates lovers on a budget:In-person pilates classes are expensive ! Blogiltates gives you a lot for free. Paid plans, which unlock more challenges and monthly workout calendars, are priced reasonably if you decide to upgrade.
No-equipment exercisers:The majority of the workouts require nothing more than a carpeted floor, a mat, or a towel.
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Best for Runners and Cyclists
Best for Runners and Cyclists
Score: None
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Strava (available on Android, iOS, and the web) is the go-to app for tracking your outdoor cycling and running activities. You use the app to compete against yourself or others who have run or biked the same segments. A leaderboard lets you see who has the fastest time. It works with other sports, too, including rock climbing, snowboarding, and swimming. If you use Strava, be sure to thoroughly explore all the privacy and personal information settings. The free version offers a lot, and a paid membership that unlocks all features costs $11.99 per month or $79.99 per year.
Who It's For
Multi-sport enthusiasts: If you cycle, hike, run, and swim, Strava is your go-to app. It syncs with your fitness monitor to track your workouts.
Competitive types: A big part of Strava is its optional gamification. Whenever you run or bike along routes where other Strava members have tracked their activities, you can compete for the fastest time.
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Best for Stretching
Best for Stretching
Score: None
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Deep stretching is not for the faint of heart. Many of the sessions in StretchIt (available for Android, iOS, and the web) are downright tough and will leave you sweating. Stretching isn't just about achieving flexibility. If your workouts include heavy lifting, running, cycling, and other activities that are hard on your muscles, stretching can improve your everyday mobility, posture, and comfort—and prevent injuries. StretchIt costs $24.99 per month or $179.99 per year. Take advantage of the seven-day free trial before you commit.
Who It's For
Athletes:For athletes, stretching is just as important for mobility and injury prevention as other forms of training.
Goal-oriented stretchers:If you want to actively deepen your flexibility with a goal in mind (such as being able to do a middle split), this app has programs that help you get there.
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Best for Strength Training
Best for Strength Training
Score: None
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Shred creates workouts that use basic equipment you might have at home or in a gym. It bases workouts on your goals, such as whether you want to build muscle, lose weight, or just stay healthy by adding some cardio to your routine. Whatever the case, Shred sets you up with a complete program so that you know what to do and which days to do it. You can also generate a workout that targets a specific part of your body, the equipment you have, and the time you have available. Sometimes you get full videos of a trainer working out alongside you, and other times you get sample videos of each exercise, with the ability to record your rep counts. You can try a few workouts for free and receive a complimentary seven-day trial, but after that, the rate is $19.99 per month or $119.99 per year.
Who It's For
First-time lifters:Beginners need not feel intimidated by Shred, as it offers decent instructions. If you aim to lift heavily, however, you might want a personal trainer at least at first to help you train safely.
Strength builders:The app focused more on lifting and strength training than on cardio or other workouts.
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Best for Variety
Best for Variety
Score: None
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
FitOn has free, on-demand, video-based workouts led by trainers. You can find exercise routines based on how much time you have, the level of intensity you want, or the type of workout you prefer. If you wear a connected heart rate monitor while working out, you can see your BPMs on the screen as you move. There's also a leaderboard for competing with other members or a group of friends. If you want more from FitOn, such as personalized meal plans and the ability to connect to Fitbit or Garmin devices, you can pay for a Pro account ($129.99 per year, but keep an eye out for regularly recurring steep discounts).
Who It's For
Exercisers at all levels:FitOn lets you dial in your preferred intensity, so it's a great fit no matter your current workout experience. Support for heart rate monitors helps ensure you don't push yourself too much or too little.
The budget-conscious:You don't have to spend anything to access most of FitOn's content, which is ideal if you are trying to stick to a budget. The premium features are nice to have, but not vital to the experience.
A person working out in their home, doing some kind of exercise move on hands and feet while tapping a mobile phone that's on the floor - Credit: Gorodenkoff/iStock via Getty Images Plus
How Much Should You Pay for a Workout App?
Most of the prices in this article are list prices, and that's not necessarily what you will pay. $25 per month is too high for a workout app. A good rate is between $10 and $15 per month, though it depends on what you get. Automated tracking and full workout videos are features you should look out for.
If an app has a free trial, take it, and cancel the subscription before the trial period ends. Doing that can sometimes trigger a discounted rate.
App makers would love for you to believe that the best discounts for fitness and gym apps happen between November and January, but it's just not true. Deals crop up all year round, and some sales never seem to end.
Are Monthly or Annual Subscriptions Better?
As with many online subscriptions, you can almost always get a better rate if you pay for a year up front—but you shouldn't necessarily do that with workout apps.
Sometimes, app makers put all the best content up front and fill the back half of the workout catalog with a lot of duds. Also, after a few months, you might get tired of the style or switch from indoor to outdoor workouts. Having a month-to-month membership gives you flexibility.
Should You Buy Smart Gym Equipment?
If you're interested in more than just apps, such as at-home workout equipment that includes on-demand classes, check out our top-rated smart exercise equipment . Just be aware that these machines often cost a lot up front and require an additional subscription fee for classes, which can be steep.
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