The Sweat app has tons of progressive programs designed for women by women. We’re fans of Stephanie Sanzo’s Strength & Resistance program, which is a full-body weightlifting program. You’ll typically need a gym membership or a pretty well-stocked home gym to complete it — but there are a bunch of at-home programs with less equipment needed to choose from, too. The team at Garage Gym Reviews has developed a testing methodology for each piece of gym equipment we try out. For apps, we test across 14 different categories, although not every category pertains to every app. For example, a workout tracker won’t need a rating for GPS accuracy, and a running app doesn’t need a score for how it adheres to progressive overload.
If you don’t feel the need for an online support system, there are still ways to stay on top of your workouts. Some apps will add calendar reminders or push notifications to help remind you of your workout schedule for the week. The free version of AllTrails gives you access to hundreds of thousands of saved trails worldwide, making this a great tool for those who get the itch to travel. You can also save your favorite trails to an easy-to-access list, as well as create your own routes and trails.
Strength+ costs $10 per month, but it is free for anyone with an existing App+ or All-Access membership. Most people who regularly follow a strength training or running program are looking to make improvements over time, whether that’s hitting new PRs in the gym, building muscle, or shaving time off your next race. Workout plans that lacked a clear path to progression earned low 1-star scores from our team.
Switching apps later means losing context or spending hours manually transferring data. Setgraph’s Pro tier ($4.99/month) falls here, offering excellent value for serious lifters who need unlimited tracking without breaking the bank. Below, I’ll show you a quick overview of our methodology on a handful of categories.
While many fitness apps have diverse options of daily workouts—HIIT, strength training, cardio, and barre—some apps may specialize in only one or two modes of training. If you’re looking for a simple workout tracker with an expansive community feed, look no further than Hevy, our pick for the best free app for community support. There are workout programs available on FitOn, but they’re shorter ones—about 2 to 4 weeks long. That’s not enough time to make much progress.” Also, the community feed is present and available, but basic, earning just a 3 out of 5. Still, the amount of workouts you get with this app may still be worth it.
Whether you’re a beginner or experienced lifter, using the right strength plan can maximize your progress, prevent injury, and keep you motivated with measurable results. When it comes to weightlifting apps, there are all sorts of options available to you. Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 is a simple but effective strength training program that involves doing a full-body resistance training workout three days a week. Each day, you’ll perform a set of five, a set of three, and a set of one for each exercise you do. Day one includes squat and bench press; day two includes deadlift and overhead press; and day three includes squat and bench press again. On each day, after completing your big lifts, you’re supposed to do 50 to 100 total reps of accessory work, splitting the reps between two exercises.
I will say, though, that Zwift does a great job of bringing outdoor rides into your home thanks to its video-game-style design. 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. Muscle Booster has no shortage of perfect 5-out-of-5 scores from our tester, though its interactive features and overall value leave a little to be desired. If you want an app with more accountability features, Future connects you with a coach who will observe you and provide actual feedback.
Although $199 per month still beats the cost of in-person personal training, it’s still an expensive training app. Luckily, you can get your first month free using our GGR-exclusive discount code, which will give you time to assess the platform and craft your own opinion of the service. This is the only trial option for users, which is why Future earned a 3 out of 5 for the trial period. Now, we’re stepping in as your spotter to help you choose the perfect weightlifting app for maximum gains.
For instance, if you like intense, high-energy classes, then the Peloton app might suit you. As a BodyPump fan, I would watch the classes on my TV, and send my heart rate soaring without leaving my living room. These classes do require you to have a decent amount of equipment at home, however. I don’t have an exercise bar, but I used a set of the best adjustable dumbbells and still got a great workout.
Apps that cost less than $10 per month, or offer a one-time purchase option, earn higher scores. We’ll take a slight detour from traditional phone apps for our last recommendation, the Torokhtiy Weightlifting Program, which offers a free two-week version via a downloadable PDF. Led by Ukrainian Olympic weightlifter Oleksiy Torokhtiy, this introductory program to competition lifts consists of four weekly sessions—two focusing on the snatch and two on clean and jerks. Fitbod is our top pick for an AI-based weightlifting app because it delivers the most usable form of day-to-day personalization. The setup process is a breeze, earning a perfect score of 5 out of 5 from our tester, Senior Staff Writer Caine Wilkes,OLY, CNC, USAW-L1. While we love Muscle Booster’s programming philosophy, the app offers little in the way of interactive features.
Once you install the app, however, you realize that the in-app purchase is to unlock full use of the workout app. In the years since, he has become a devoted meditator, experimented with workout styles and exercises, and used various gadgets to monitor his health. In recent times, James has been absorbed by the intersection between mental health, fitness, sustainability, and environmentalism. When not concerning himself with health and technology, James can be found excitedly checking out each week’s New Music Friday releases.
The coaches try to answer as many questions as possible on the social media platforms, but there are some that go unaddressed. Our team has tried and researched dozens of workout programs, but not all of them were able to make our “best of” list. That’s not to say they were bad, and we’re sure a few people out there would enjoy giving them a shot. Also, there is a members-only Facebook group to ask questions and feel like part of a community. We have more details about accountability and app features in our Street Parking review. We will say if you’re someone who’s looking for barbell training, this ain’t it.
You can look at Hevy’s and other user’s workouts for inspiration, if you’re not sure what to daily workouts fitness trainer app do that day. Like many free workout 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. As the name suggests, it retains Itsines’ high-intensity practice, designed to raise your heart rate, improve your cardio fitness, and boost your metabolism. But there are beginner, intermediate, and advanced bodyweight exercises, strength sessions, yoga, barre, and Pilates.
“The instructor, Bianca, was beautiful, the setting amazing, music perfect. I’m absolutely hooked on her workouts,” a tester commented. Some workouts require equipment like a Pilates ball, resistance bands, or hand weights, but bodyweight-only options are easy to find. Many workout apps track your progress over time, allowing you to see whether the plan you’re following is delivering results. According to GGR Staff Writer Matt Dustin, CSCS, tracking your progress is the key to making long-term improvements.
Navigating through workout plans is pretty easy as well, leading Kate to rate the ease of use a 4 out of 5. Unlike most apps on this list, Nike Training Club doesn’t have a free and premium version; it’s just free. Alternatively, Nike Training Club is also a great free workout app, but it mostly focuses on bodyweight exercises that you can do at home and there aren’t any live classes either. Unsurprisingly, a lot of the workouts are based on strength and resistance training, with options for equipment-filled gym sessions and more minimal setups at home. You can even filter sessions by the equipment you have, whether that’s a single dumbbell or several kettlebells. What makes Setgraph distinct is its real-time, set-to-set comparison data.
