“I like hypertrophy training by body part, so I have Shred suggest daily workouts—upper body, lower body, full body, or abs,” Schlinger explains. “If I did upper body yesterday, I can choose a ‘custom’ workout and pick a different body part, and it creates a new session. Each exercise shows full instructions and videos.” “I find it hard to come up with routines myself, so having coached sessions made it easy and comfortable for me to try new things like boxing that I wouldn’t have sought out on my own,” another tester noted. Gym-goers will also appreciate the self-guided option, which lets you move through exercises at your own pace.
Apex Fitness App
All of the workouts can be done from home, and for most of them, you’ll only need one set of dumbbells. The app has loads of on-demand classes you can try, including yoga, Barre, and mobility, as well as different challenges to join to keep you motivated. Once you’ve chosen your program, you check in once a month to keep track of your progress. Some apps are meant for those who are entirely self-sufficient with no community or coach interaction, some offer fully customized coaching from a personal trainer, and many fall somewhere in the middle. The best scores were given to apps that offered a large percentage of their workouts with minimal equipment, or ways to adjust your planned exercises to accommodate different equipment availability. This doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll lift heavier weights or run longer distances—a program with progressive overload can challenge you by way of variation via load, reps, rest time, volume, or range of motion.
Free Workout App Comparison Chart
When not training, testing products, or writing content, Ben spends his time pursuing his other interests which include cooking, hunting, fishing, hiking, DIY projects, and intramural mad muscles review sports, among others. For complete beginners wanting free bodyweight workouts for 1-3 months, yes. The lack of progression and personalization severely limits results beyond the beginner phase. For those ready to take their fitness seriously, consider apps that offer true personalization and progressive programming.

Home Workout #10: The PLP Progression
We love a workout app because there’s very little downside to giving one a try. Most offer a free trial, which lets you explore the workouts, features, and overall vibe before committing. Compared to an in-person gym membership, fitness apps are typically more affordable, far more convenient, and they take the guesswork out of programming our own workouts. Since you can use them anytime, anywhere, they’re also one of our favorite tools for staying consistent (and seeing real results).
Creating a Well-Rounded Home Gym
If you want a plan that’s truly customized to your needs and goals by a human coach, you may want to consider a platform like Future. No, despite being marketed for “home” use, the app requires an internet connection. The developers haven’t fixed it despite reports dating back over a year. Try clearing the app cache or reinstalling, though this defeats the purpose of a structured program.
Best AI Workout App: Fitbod
- The PunchLab app is full of beginner-friendly boxing workouts led by professional coaches, like Arnie Abs and Bobbie Jo Davis.
- They offer different programs, workouts, and features, and getting started may feel like navigating a labyrinth.
- Here are a few other apps that are worth noting, but still didn’t make our top picks.
- Boosting your fitness and getting some movement into your day is important, but there’s no reason it can’t be fun too.
- The best weightlifting apps offer a blend of strength training routines, though some repetition may exist.
- If you’re an iPhone user, pay special attention to any apps that integrate with the built-in Health app on your phone.
She currently lives in Michigan with her husband, daughter, and blind rescue dog. Most apps offer a free trial, so you can give it a road test before committing to a full month or year subscription. Investing in your health is important, but the price and how it affects your monthly budget are also important. Each app offers different features and workouts, so feel free to experiment with several to find one that best meets your preferences and needs.
Best for Personal Training
Although weightlifting is the main goal, many programs offer specific circuits tailored to goals, such as building strength, functional fitness, mobility, powerlifting, or competitive lifting. Designed by Ukrainian Olympian Oleksiy Torokhtiy, Torokhtiy Weightlifting is a series of programs geared for learning and training the Olympic lifts—the snatch and the clean and jerk. While there are programs for bodybuilding and powerlifting, the main focus and specialty is Olympic weightlifting.
Bent-Over Barbell Row vs. Other Row Variations: Which Builds a Stronger Back?
The app learns your patterns and adjusts programming accordingly, providing a surprisingly personalized experience. With over 10 million users and an impressive 4.7-star average rating, Cronometer has earned its reputation as the gold standard for nutrition tracking. The app goes far beyond simple calorie counting, tracking up to 84 different nutrients to provide comprehensive insights into your diet. The app is particularly brilliant for bodybuilding and hypertrophy-focused training, with graphs showing your estimated 10RM and improvements over time. This naturally encourages volume-based training, helping shift your mindset toward muscle building rather than just chasing one-rep maxes. He has over five years experience in fitness tech, including time spent as the Buyer’s Guide Editor and Staff Writer at technology publication MakeUseOf.
Ratings & Reviews
You don’t need to follow a specific training program – the app simply assesses your current strength capabilities and highlights where you stand. This makes it perfect for anyone, regardless of their current training style. The app introduces the concept of “strengthspan” – your overall strength capability for long-term health and longevity. Using 9 carefully selected exercises, Strength Well provides personalized strength scores and targeted recommendations to build functional strength that matters for everyday life, not just the gym. For anyone new to strength training or returning after a long break, Fitbod provides the structure and guidance you need without requiring a personal trainer or extensive fitness knowledge.

Do any workout apps actually work?
Finding a class is easy, as the app allows you to filter by class type, duration, equipment, level (beginner, intermediate, or advanced), intensity, and focus (strength, endurance, or mobility). There are currently over 479 workouts, including trainer-led classes, livestreams, and whiteboard workouts, which are gym-style drills that you can complete at your own pace. Users rave that the instructors keep them motivated and that the variety of workouts prevents boredom. People also mention that the workouts are effective at improving fitness and boosting confidence.
