When you download the app, the first thing you’ll do is set your objectives — it could be to lose weight, tone your muscles or build muscle mass. Then you’ll be asked whether you’ll be working out at home or at a gym and the type of workouts you enjoy most, followed by a series of questions about things like height, weight and lifestyle. I personally believe beginners and experienced lifters alike should track their progress by jotting down weight used, reps completed, and number of sets. While adding another monthly subscription fee your list of bills doesn’t sound ideal, in comparison to taking mad muscles legit in-person group classes or hiring a personal trainer it’s actually quite the steal. The iFIT app is an excellent choice for beginners who want to focus on cardio training.
With options like Nike Training Club, Caliber, and FitOn, staying active is easier (and cheaper) than ever. One of the most trusted names in fitness, Nike Training Club offers hundreds of workouts across strength, endurance, mobility, and yoga. Great for novices, its minimalistic approach is a double-edged sword, offering easy entry but limited scope for advanced lifters, those seeking variety, bodybuilding fans. StrongLifts 5X5 is a streamlined strength training program and app, celebrated for its simplicity.
At the beginning of each practice, you’re prompted to set an intention for your workout. The idea behind the method is to work toward a stronger body and build a better relationship with yourself. Alo Wellness Club is a fitness and wellness app from parent company Alo Yoga — yes, the trendy brand responsible for getting us all hooked on the famous Alo Yoga Goddess Leggings.
The principles of progressive overload ensure you progress your training output, but it doesn’t mean you have to lift heavier weights every time you train. The Nike Training Club app is ideal for those who prefer workouts created by professional trainers. The app provides a variety of strength training routines catered to different fitness levels. Although many workout apps have filters to select the type of session you want, they only sometimes cater to your specific needs.
The Nike Run Club offers free coaching and programs to help you build up to certain milestones, such as the 10k program. There are various guided runs, such as speed runs, recovery runs, and long-distance runs, that make getting into running accessible and fun. Our free fitness coach will lead you through your workout step by step, telling you which exercises to do, how to do them, and how long to rest for optimal results. Flex also offers a custom plan builder so you can modify or build your fitness program. This app integrates with Apple Health, Strava, and Fitbit to make tracking progress easier, provides easy-to-follow instructions and video, and incorporates strength, cardio, mobility, and endurance training. On the app, you’ll have access to customized strength plans based on how often you want to work out per week, nutrition guidance, and “A++ quality” videos, says Woerner.
For folks who prefer to sweat in the Great Outdoors, AllTrails provides serious inspo. The app offers more than 100,000 hiking, mountain biking, and trail-running maps alongside reviews and photos crowdsourced from millions of users. Want to get into yoga but feeling intimidated or otherwise overwhelmed? Consider this beginner-friendly app, which is specifically designed for newbies—no crazy flexibility required. Learn basic poses and stretch yourself (both literally and figuratively) with quick and simple yoga workouts. Award-winning novelist Naomi Alderman cocreated this fitness-meets-gaming app that allows users to live out their “very own zombie adventure story” while also completing a run or walk.
Each workout includes video demonstrations and form coaching for every exercise. The free version provides complete programs – you’re not locked out of workouts or forced to upgrade mid-program. Caliber works well if you want someone else to handle program design while you focus on execution. The tradeoff is less customization compared to apps where you build your own routines. Plenty of research1 has shown that following a workout routine can help improve your physical fitness and athletic performance, but getting a personalized training plan can be expensive. Finding time to exercise is a challenge between work, family, and social commitments.
If you own an iPhone, chances are you’ve either tried Apple Fitness Plus or you’ve got a free trial waiting for you. Apple Fitness Plus is chock-full of guided content, from meditation, HIIT, and strength workouts to kickboxing, dance, yoga and more. Usable on an iPad, iPhone, or smart TV, it interfaces with your Apple Watch so you can see your vital stats on the screen as you train. So whatever your goal is in 2025, here are the best fitness apps to help you achieve it. 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.
Your mind is a muscle that deserves just as much (and, TBH, probably more) care as the rest of your body. Give it the TLC it warrants with Shine’s personalized programs that deliver daily messages of affirmation, self-care advice, and a podcast meets meditation that tackles a new wellness topic every day. On top of that, you can also access sleep-inducing bedtime stories, soothing music, gratitude exercises, and more than 500 guided meditations. The Beginners Gym Workout app is perfect for beginner weight trainers or gym goers getting back into the swing of things. This weight-lifting app has an easy but effective four-day workout plan to boost strength. Each day targets one or several areas, from the chest and triceps on day one to the shoulders on day four.
MapMyFitness app screenshot GGR product tester and endurance athlete Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1 says if she didn’t have so much data already stored on Strava, she’d switch to MapMyFitness. Regarding setting up the app and the ease of use, Amanda gives both categories a 5-out-of-5-star rating. Suppose you were to sign up for Caliber Preimum’s customized coaching. In that case, you’ll not only have high-quality videos to refer to, but you can also record videos of yourself performing a certain exercise and send them to your coach. You likely won’t get real-time feedback, but our product tester Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, tested the Premium version and reports coaches to respond ASAP. These apps offer a range of features that can help you plan your program, track your workouts, and get in shape faster.
You’ll need a set of dumbbells to make the most of this app, but modifications can be made if you’re working with your body weight at the moment. Gymshark may be best known for selling the best workout leggings and running shorts but they’ve expanded their offering in recent years to include a strength training app. The Gymshark Training App is our best pick for beginners, as you can truly walk onto your mat, without any equipment, for the first time and take up strength training for the very first time. But if you’re serious about gym gains, we think Dr. Muscle is the app to get. We’ve talked about tracking workouts, exercise variety, and strength training focus. It’s like a coach in your pocket, guiding and adapting to your progress.
