It features a variety of programs spread across seven exciting categories, including Backcountry Hunter Training, Military & LEO Application Training, and Minimal Equipment Training. The app really shines, though, if you use a Peloton bike or treadmill, since the classes are centered around that equipment. You can definitely fire up a class on your phone or iPad at the gym, but using Peloton’s actual hardware makes things easier.
Overall Rating: 4.1/5
If you’re going to be training in your garage gym, you’ll want to carefully consider what sort of home gym equipment may be required for the app you’re considering. Many apps have minimal requirements, and are designed to work with only your bodyweight and some light dumbbells. Matt Dustin, CSCS, PN1-NC, says that personalized workout programs can be very beneficial, especially once you’re past the beginner stage. For this category, we aren’t just looking at the plan itself, but how much instruction the app provides.
🏋️ ♀️ Strength Training at Home: Adapting to Digital Coaching Without Weights
Some may find the text to be difficult to read, however, which we attribute to the black and blue color scheme. If you can look past this aesthetic, though, we think you’re in for a refreshing new take on bulking up. During trials, our tester enjoyed how much interaction you have with the app through readiness prompts each day before training. These prompts gauge how prepared you are for a given workout, along with other inquiries asking if you’re dealing with any soreness, fatigue, or other factors that may influence your training.
Best for Personal Training
This can be a little subjective, but this score is based on whether we feel the cost justifies what you’re getting. To earn 3 out of 5 stars for value, we feel that what you get for the price is fair, while high scores are given to apps that provide exceptional value for the cost. For general programming, apps earned a 4- or 5-star rating when the monthly membership fee was under $15. For an app to earn a 1-star rating, the app costs $35 per month or more. Our expert product testers tested all of the fitness apps for at least several workouts, while many were tested for a whole month or even longer, especially the apps we really loved using.
How Much Do the Best Workout Apps Cost?
She reports working with her coach and using the app is easy, and she appreciates the fact that there are demonstration videos for every exercise assigned to your program. She’s been a journalist for the last 14 years and a CPT/group fitness instructor for the last 11 years. She grew up playing tennis, became an avid runner in college, competed in a bikini competition in her mid-twenties, and even completed a triathlon.
- Interested in Pilates as a go-to fitness discipline for your home workouts?
- For more tips, check out our story on Everything You Need for Your Yoga Practice.
- Dr. Muscle implements Maximum Adaptive Volume (MAV) and related hypertrophy science principles to build periodized training blocks designed to maximize muscle growth.
- Before committing to anything, make sure you have access to all of the equipment required for the app you wish to use.
- These prompts gauge how prepared you are for a given workout, along with other inquiries asking if you’re dealing with any soreness, fatigue, or other factors that may influence your training.
- “I think no matter where you are, there will be a workout you can do with the app,” says Lindsay.
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
If you’re looking for an app that takes the guesswork out of your training, best strength training apps TR[Ai]NER by Element 26 is worth considering. This AI-powered workout app offers programs you can customize based on your preferences, equipment access, and personal goals. Available modules include a four-week dumbbell muscle build program, a four-week metcon/HIIT program, and a six-week full gym strength gain program, among others.
Health Coach
If Apple Watch integration is your priority, Gymaholic is the clear winner. Jefit has one of the largest community-contributed workout databases available, with thousands of user-created routines across every training style. The free tier is generous and the core logging functionality is solid.
Best for iPhone Users
For one, we thought the instruction was easy-to-follow and customizable. “You can choose workouts based on your goal, like reducing stress or staying fit,” our tester said, giving the instruction a 4 out of 5. However, it’s clear that the workouts are designed by AI, not a personal trainer. With so many apps to choose from, however, it can be difficult to determine which platform is the best fit for your home screen. Do you want an app that’s specific to your training interests, or one that caters to a variety of disciplines?
Live Group Class & Community-Driven Apps
With over 450 million training sessions completed, their algorithm is scary good. In the early 20s, “digital fitness” meant a stack of Beachbody DVDs and a clipboard. Fast forward today, and we have Artificial Intelligence (AI) analyzing your squat depth in real-time via your webcam.
Apple iPads
He also docked a couple of points for progressive overload, giving Fitbod 3 out of 5 stars. While our tester enjoyed the ease with which Muscle Booster crafts a workout plan for beginners, the app didn’t hit every bullseye. While BetterMe is more affordable than the average workout app, it doesn’t have quite as many strength-training plans.
If you’re not a powerlifter looking to boost your big three lifts, you may want to consider an app service like Shred, which offers workouts for a variety of fitness goals. Because this is a powerlifting program, it may not be a surprise that you’ll need a squat rack, bench, barbell, and weight plates to complete your workouts. It will also be helpful to have access to dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands for a handful of different exercises. The Nike Training Club app received high scores for most categories, though it earned average rankings in a few select areas like equipment demands and progressive overload. The app works well, but doesn’t offer any sort of interaction, such as live classes or interaction with instructors. Amanda gives NTC a 4-out-of-5-star rating for equipment demands, noting that you’ll need equipment for the majority of workouts, but you can filter workouts by what type of equipment you have available.
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