Best Fitness Apps That Work With Apple Watch in 2026

The paid FitOn PRO subscription, which varies in price, unlocks additional features. User ratings are generally positive, around 4.5/5 stars, with a strong user base that appreciates the quality of the free content. The experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition & Fitness Lab have tested more than 40 workout apps, combining hands-on evaluations with real-life feedback from GH staffers and consumer testers.

Best running app for treadmill runners

Strava is a popular workout tracker app built primarily for runners, cyclists, and endurance athletes. It combines GPS tracking, social networking, and performance analytics to help users track outdoor activities with precision. However, if you want a social-driven experience with an active feed, options to follow and interact with others, compete, and compare, Hevy is a fantastic gym option. Strava and Zwift are great options for running and cycling with a community aspect.

• The app helps users to control stress, achieve mental clarity, and keep their bodies healthy.
• The platform offers fewer social connections compared to other running apps, focusing instead on individual progress and performance tracking.
• Some sessions use a Pilates ball, light hand weights, a resistance band or a Pilates block, but these are typically optional rather than required.
• If you want something with a greater focus on traditional strength training, you may want to consider something like Boostcamp instead.
• The best workout app for you will vary depending on your fitness goals, budget, preferred training method, and the level of coaching you desire.
• However, that doesn’t mean workouts should be boring, so we use this category to assess how much variety there is for users, both in terms of training styles (strength, cardio, etc…) and actual workouts.

That said, pricing for personal training apps is typically more cost effective than training in-person, especially when you factor in more than one session per week. As the phrase “personal training” suggests, a personal training app will provide you with individualized support. Though most of our top suggestions do include this function, not all of them do. That’s because individualized support doesn’t have to mean 100% one-on-one coaching. That’s the fastest way to reach your goals, sure, but apps like Aaptiv, Peloton, and iFIT are also great options with elements of customization.

Which workout apps require no or minimal equipment?

During the sign-up process, you’ll answer a quick quiz that includes questions about your goals, activity level, equipment access, and more. Once you sign up for a paid subscription, you get access to personalized fitness plans to meet those goals. Paid plans are around $14.99 per month, but don’t be surprised if you get a discount as a first-time user. While we think this is the best overall workout app, it’s really meant for athletes who want to follow pre-made programs rather than those who simply want an app to track their existing workouts.

Best running app for tracking your training

BetterMe, SHRED, and Simple use AI for personalized plans, which users find more motivating and effective (The Sun, 2025). A rising star in 2025, SHRED uses AI to adapt workouts for strength, cardio, or mobility. Understanding the most reputable online fitness programs helps you choose safe, effective options that fit your lifestyle. In this guide, you’ll discover what makes each program unique, the latest pricing, real reviews, and expert recommendations.

Best for Activity Tracking: Apple Fitness+

Some positive reviews people have shared are that the app finally got them to be more active, while another says it gave them the freedom to get in shape on their own time frame. When I tried out this app, I signed up for a kettlebell class called Body & Bell, and what’s great is you get video demonstrations for the different exercises you’ll be doing. The videos also tell you the type of weight you should be using (light, medium, heavy) and the length of time of the exercise.

Visually, it looks simple, but once you open up your training plan for any given day, it’s very immersive,” he told me. If you’re not doing a trainer-led video, there are exercise tutorials that also come with step-by-step breakdowns on how to do a certain exercise. The Shred app is an AI-powered virtual trainer that can be used to customize workouts in your home or commercial gym. If you have Apple devices, Fitness+ integrates with your Apple Watch and offers cycling, HIIT, yoga, dance, and more—plus personalized recommendations. Andi Breitowich is a freelance writer who covers health, fitness, relationships, beauty, and smart living. She is a graduate of Emory University and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Fitbod Workout & Fitness Plans

Taken together, these apps show that the best free calorie counting app doesn’t need to rely on trials or constant upgrades to be useful. Each option takes a different approach, whether through accuracy, simplicity, flexibility, or structure, but all support consistent calorie tracking without added pressure. The key is choosing the one that aligns with how you prefer to log, review, and stay aware of your daily intake. While it does require an account to save progress, the free plan remains fully usable long term, which qualifies it as a free calorie counting app with no subscription for core tracking needs. For users who want a free calorie counting app with no subscription that prioritizes quality data and long-term wellness, Cronometer is a strong choice, including as a free calorie counting app for iPhone. If variety and energy are what keep you motivated, Obé Fitness is hard to beat.

Apple Fitness+ — Personalised Tracking

The app automatically records your runs in your activity history if you also use the Nike Run Club app. Choosing the right fitness app depends on your training goals, but combining Apple Watch tracking with structured workout programs can significantly improve consistency and long-term fitness progress. Devices like the Apple Watch allow users to monitor heart rate, calories burned, activity levels, and workout intensity in real time, providing valuable insights that help improve training efficiency.

A polished strength training tracker with offline support

We also appreciate apps that combine live and on-demand classes, with fresh content added regularly to keep your routine interesting. In the end, the «best» app comes down to what excites you, whether it’s a favorite instructor, a style of class you can’t get enough of, or a program that fits seamlessly into your schedule. Daily Burn True Beginner is a 30-day guided fitness program designed exclusively for people who have never exercised regularly before.

Real-Time Heart Rate Monitoring

Leading platforms like Daily Burn and SHRED demonstrate 50% higher retention rates compared to static programming through real-time adaptive coaching. The home fitness app market has transformed from a niche solution to mainstream necessity, accelerated by pandemic-driven changes and sustained by consumer preference for flexibility. Recent data shows that 74% of Americans use at least one fitness app, while 60% have completely replaced gym memberships with app-based workouts.

Best for Metabolic Health: Nutrisense

WithU offers immersive audio guidance for running, cycling, and strength training, making workouts feel personalised. “There’s no pressure to “perform” the way you might feel in an in person class,” says Thomas. That said, it touches on women’s health topics in many of its curated programs, like syncing workouts to your menstrual cycle and aging. If you’re someone who is new to exercising or has a specific goal in mind, you can take Obé’s quiz, and based on your answers, the app creates a personalized fitness plan for you that refreshes as you go. Furo.fit adds a social layer to fitness tracking, letting users join group challenges, compete with friends, and share progress in teams.

Progress visualization through app dashboards and wearable analytics maintains motivation during plateaus and celebrates incremental improvements that might otherwise go unnoticed. Weekly progress photos, strength benchmarks, and flexibility assessments provide qualitative measures that complement quantitative data. The fitness app landscape of 2025 offers unprecedented value workout apps for beginners at home and accessibility for every budget and goal.