The Best Workouts Apps for iOS and Android Smartphones in 2025

Learn calisthenics skills step by step with structured plans that adapt to your progress. Your trusted resource for holistic wellness, offering evidence-based guidance for self-care, fitness, and mental wellbeing. By offering these flexible options, we aim to ensure that managing your subscription is as user-friendly and convenient as possible. Fortunately, many of these sessions is madmuscles tai chi legit are now available for free in the Nike Training Club app. That’s why we put each app to the test before including it in our guide. We’ve tried these apps ourselves to see if they’re easy to use, fun, and worth the money you need to pay in subscription fees.

Best Online Workout Program for Personalized Coaching: Future

If you like to decide whether it’s leg day based on how you felt when you rolled out of bed, you probably won’t like this fitness tracker. However—and this is a big however—to make the most of the app, you do need an Apple Watch, which comes with a hefty price tag. The mobile app can still track your daily steps and exercise calories without an Apple Watch, though it’ll be less accurate (especially if you set your phone down a lot). Unfortunately, if you primarily work out indoors, you won’t get much out of the app.

Access Workouts Designed by Professional Trainers

We explore how to use technology to improve your health, all in handy bite-size pieces of advice. Brett Williams, NASM-CPT, PES, a senior editor at Men’s Health, is a certified trainer and former pro football player and tech reporter. You can find his work elsewhere at Mashable, Thrillist, and other outlets.

Best Online Workout Program for Live Classes: Peloton

Apple Fitness Plus is the best workout app if you’re embedded in the company’s ecosystem, especially if you use an Apple Watch. There are HIIT, strength, core, yoga, Pilates, and meditation classes, taught by a range of different trainers. Metric VBT is so unique that it made its way into the WH 2025 Fitness Awards, so naturally, it deserves a shout-out here, too. It also shows the bar path so that you can address any technical issues. Don’t forget that behind every goal-crushing workout schedule, there’s a killer recovery routine. So make sure you’re giving your body time to rebuild and repair, and not pushing yourself to burnout.

Pairing a structured workout app with creatine and pre‑workout can make your training more effective, but only if you use them intentionally and safely. Depending on the app style, testers prioritized options that provide safe, easy-to-follow exercise instructions, including clear videos and verbal cues. Extra visuals like timers, rep counters, pacing guidance, and alternative angles or modifications were rated highly because they help with form and confidence, especially for beginners. Our team underwent hands-on testing of each app’s setup, usability, workout quality, and overall value, with a special focus on how well they support consistency over time. We looked for apps that are not only effective, but realistic to stick with for different lifestyles and fitness levels. “There are also push notifications that remind you to keep accountable,” she added.

Best Online Workout Program for Cardio: iFIT

It’s just not great at tracking activities like Pilates or weightlifting. And if you’re privacy-conscious or just not all that competitive, a lot of the strongest features are kind of useless. My husband, who’s an avid cyclist, mentioned that Strava also connects directly with bike computers and indoor road bike trainers like Zwift. Because I don’t bike enough to have that fancy schmancy equipment, I didn’t test either of these features—though I can see why they would be a huge plus for cyclists. We liked the integrated community feature and hope to see even more development on that front.

What’s the Best App for Building Muscle? A 2026 Guide

If your fitness goals are centered around weightlifting as your go-to discipline, Caliber can be an excellent tool to have in your pocket. This service pairs you with an online personal trainer to help outline and guide your in-gym progress through weekly consults and in-depth programming advice. These online workout programs can help you achieve your fitness goals anywhere, any time.

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At $149.99/year, it’s easily the most expensive app I tested—twice the price of Strava. I can totally see the price being worth it, though, especially if you have a home gym or a cheap gym membership. Gymverse basically takes the place of a personal trainer—so if you need a lot of guidance, it could be well worth the price.

How to choose the best workout app

compare workout apps for muscle gain

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Calisthenics training, developed by sports scientists and optimized by smart algorithms – for your best workout.

compare workout apps for muscle gain

Sorry to brag, but our own All / Out Studio app just happens to be one of the best streaming fitness apps available. That’s because the programming was created by the world’s most elite trainers, as well as our own certified team of fitness experts. Some act as a digital trainer, guiding you through new, tough workouts. Others help you to track your activity and diet, giving you new insight to your nutrition. All of the apps are free to download (although many require in-app purchases and subscriptions to unlock all their features), so it’s worth your time to check them out.

Celebrate your progress

  • Charles Thorp is the Fitness and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health, where he shares the best product recommendations in gym equipment, recovery tools, supplements, and more.
  • StrongLifts 5×5 is a well-suited option for individuals seeking a straightforward and effective strength training program focused on compound exercises.
  • The more you log your data, the more your algorithm learns in an effort to keep you progressing through PRs.
  • StrengthLab360 integrates the latest research into its recommendations, allowing users to modify exercises, intensity, or volume for optimal muscle stimulation.
  • The app has hundreds of recipes to choose from, and I was able to tailor my meal plan to my dietary requirements.
  • Sweat, founded by personal trainer Kayla Itsines, has plenty of structured programs based on your goals and lifestyle, offering workouts and nutrition plans to help you get the most from your training.

Since there’s no customization here, you can’t really personalize anything, unfortunately. We had to give NTC a 1 out of 5 for progressive overload, as you can’t track your weight lifted, reps, RPE scale for strength training, etc. So, athletes looking for help progressing in their strength or endurance may prefer a more tailored workout program. However, we do love that Nike is constantly dropping new workouts, so you’re not stuck repeating the same programs over and over. Workout apps come with various pricing options, from free versions with basic features to premium subscriptions or one-time purchases. Assess your budget and compare the value offered by each app, such as workout variety, coaching options, and additional perks like meal planning or community access.

There are meditations, some led by Hemsworth himself, designed to connect you mind and body, and that can improve your focus and form during the strength training sessions to get the most from your workouts. Sweat, founded by personal trainer Kayla Itsines, has plenty of structured programs based on your goals and lifestyle, offering workouts and nutrition plans to help you get the most from your training. Apple’s virtual workout platform is an ideal option for iPhone users and Apple Watch wearers, with real-time stats displayed on the app for you to track your progress. Plus, there are meditations, yoga sessions, and walking workouts too.

For example, when users log their workouts, the app can suggest modifications to optimize routines, ensuring better results and a more enjoyable training experience. Whether you’re a seasoned lifter or just starting your fitness journey, these apps promise to enhance your training by breaking through plateaus, optimizing your performance, and keeping you engaged. From AI-driven coaching to real-time feedback, each app brings unique features to the table. However, with the update, Nike removed some of their training programs, which used to be a popular feature of the app.

Whether you’re a powerlifting enthusiast or a dedicated gym-goer, today’s apps make it easier than ever to set precise fitness goals and create customized workouts. By integrating advanced technology, these apps not only help you maximize results but also reduce injury risk, offering a comprehensive and safer experience for serious athletes. Alpha Progression positions itself as a smart strength training app aimed at muscle hypertrophy enthusiasts. Its emphasis on analytics and visual progress charts is a notable strength, allowing users to monitor their performance over time.