Best Workout Apps 2026

His works have been previously featured by DICK’S Sporting Goods as well as Gear Patrol. In Print Journalism from Penn State University and is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 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 sports, among others.

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When not talking about treadmills, or testing out cold tubs, she loves lifting weights, trying new foods, and finding new music to share with friends. She loves spending time with her husband and kids and deep cleaning anything she can. Lindsay loves competing with friends and has done multiple half marathons, CrossFit competitions, and more.

Do workout apps actually work?

While some apps only have free trials, there are a few free workout apps. For example, Nike Training Club is completely free, offers workout databases, and lets you track your workouts. The Caliber app also offers a free version that can provide basic strength training guidance. Caliber’s free membership also lets you design your own programs (you’ll need to upgrade for personal coaching, however). We give the app 5 out of 5 stars for both ease of use and equipment demands.

Overall Rating: 4.3/5

One downside to TR[Ai]NER by Element 26 is that it doesn’t provide a ton of accountability. Since it is an AI-based app, you don’t get access to a human trainer. You also won’t find any nutrition coaching or features like community leaderboards, forums, or push notifications to remind you to work out. After entering some basic information about your height, weight, fitness history, goals, and training style, the app allows you to select from dozens of programs designed and led by world-class athletes.

Best for Strength Training

Choose a workout app based on your needs and goals, not based on the pricing. Other apps, however, expect you to have access to a barbell, squat rack, and bench, at minimum, or even a fully-equipped commercial gym. Before committing to anything, make sure you have access to all of the equipment required for the app you wish to use. Instead, you follow a series designed to help you gain strength in six weeks, followed by a deload week or two.

Nike Training Club

For anyone who gets bored of their training programs fast, Ladder is the solution you’ve been looking for. New plans are added weekly, by a roster of very impressive and inspirational coaches. Compatible with home or gym use, Ladder workout plans are meant to be utilized wherever you’re getting a sweat in. Whether you’re interested in HIIT or LISS training sessions, are a beginner in the fitness space, or are a seasoned athlete, we recommend the Aaptiv Fitness app.

As one of the few apps that connects you with a real-life coach, Future earns 5 out of 5 stars for accountability. In May 2026, we added TR[Ai]NER by Element 26 to our list of the best workout apps. This AI-powered app earned high scores for its workout variety, easy-to-use interface, and customization options. We also like its extended free trial—you can create up to three workout programs and get several months’ worth of programming for free. Aaptiv specializes in audio-based workouts, meaning you don’t have to keep your eyes or fingers on a screen to exercise.

While we love Boostcamp, and there’s a free version, it’s pretty limited in terms of scope. Some popular programs, as well as advanced analytics, are locked behind the Boostcamp PRO paywall. While there’s plenty to do in the free version, gym goers who love crunching numbers and data will get more stats and charts in the PRO version. If you want a bit of added motivation, without hiring a trainer, it’s hard to think of a better option than joining a virtual race and competing against real users. If you want a more affordable app that’s still personalized best fitness apps for weight loss to your goals and performance, JuggernautAI may be worth a try, especially if you’re focused on strength goals.

Best Workout App for Men: Caliber Strength Training

If you need a good assortment of instructor-led workouts and don’t mind taking your sessions in a “choose your own adventure” aesthetic, this can be an excellent pick. Personally, I love the filter in the search tab for this app, allowing you to pick and choose your preferred workout modality, available equipment, length, etc. The app is generally easy to use and follow, including easy-to-follow exercise videos for the non-live workouts. Using AI to generate a customized workout program continues to grow in popularity, but the results can vary from generic, repetitive workouts to downright bad exercise advice.

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Alo Moves brings the studio to your living room with world-class yoga, meditation, and fitness classes. At Virtual Personal Trainers™, we define it as “The democratization of elite training.” It’s about taking the 1-on-1 experience and scaling it so you don’t have to pay $150/hour. 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. Will Porter is an LA-based freelance writer covering golf, tech, and travel. In addition to Men’s Health, his work has been published in GQ, Gear Patrol, The Strategist, and others.

💰 Understanding Pricing Models: Subscriptions, One-Time Fees, and Hidden Costs

Additionally, some fitness apps offer free trial periods at the start of your subscription to help you get a feel for the workout variety and platform offerings. Apps of this kind, however, often limit your capabilities within the service until you ultimately sign up and pay for the membership. Choosing the right workout app can be the difference between aimlessly drifting through the gym and making measurable, consistent progress toward your fitness goals. The best apps do more than log sets and reps — they prescribe the right exercises, manage progressive overload automatically, and keep you motivated week after week. As a team that builds an AI workout app, we spend a lot of time using and studying other fitness apps.

🏆 15 Best Workout Trainer Apps of 2026: AI vs. Human Coaches

• After entering some basic information about your height, weight, fitness history, goals, and training style, the app allows you to select from dozens of programs designed and led by world-class athletes.
• While some apps only have free trials, there are a few free workout apps.
• We’ve found you the best workout clothes and training shoes, and now through testing we’ve locked in on the best workout apps to put them to good use.
• This alone is an incredible value, and we give the app 5 out of 5 stars for interactive features.
• Workout apps come with various pricing options, from free versions with basic features to premium subscriptions or one-time purchases.
• If Aaptiv has a weakness, it’s the progressive overload, or lack thereof.

We’re obviously biased, but we also genuinely admire what the other apps on this list have built. You can pedal with friends remotely or join paced group rides led by virtual ride leaders. A hunky AI coach can also spit out a workout program after you feed him some basic data. Premade workouts can be as short as five minutes or as long as several hours.

We’re huge fans of JuggernautAI’s programming and progressive-overload-focused approach, but there’s one big drawback. JuggernautAI compiles your information to create a personalized powerlifting and powerbuilding workout experience. Future is an outstanding app in nearly every category, but the only real drawback is the cost, as it’s certainly not cheap.