It can do quite a lot without installing a single third-party app, but should you choose to, you’ll take your Apple Watch to the next level. The Peloton Apple Watch app will keep track of your pace, distance, heart rate, and progress while you tackle Peloton’s myriad array of workouts. Whether you’re training indoors or outdoors, for strength or endurance, the Peloton Apple Watch app helps you track all of your stats and progress. While it’s more limited than some workout apps, the Peloton Watch app is essential for owners of its Peloton Tread or Peloton Bike.

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Nicolette is a writer with over a decade of high-level experience working as a health and fitness professional. A quadruple certified, master fitness instructor, Nicolette has had the pleasure of working with some of the top studios, brands, and sites in the business throughout her career. She specializes in tech pertaining to the active lifestyle, and loves being the first to check out and review new industry trends, apps, equipment, and gadgets. A modern Renaissance woman, Nicolette also enjoys covering all things audio, home-tech, Apple, and VR. If she’s not working, you can find her sipping a glass of wine, traveling, spending time with her family, or a combination of all three. Because of the great set of features and ease of compatibility for people already in the Apple world, Apple Watch Series 9 was our pick as our favorite smartwatch.

It’s worth checking how well the Apple Watch app will work independently of your iPhone before you pay for an app. The Activity and Workout apps have been on the Apple Watch since the very beginning, and whilst Activity hasn’t really changed much, Workout has only grown over the years. They’re both incredibly useful apps; Activity for keeping you motivated, and Workout for tracking your exercise. The Driving Focus blocks out all communications by default, and it activates automatically when driving is detected, when your iPhone connects to your car’s Bluetooth, or when CarPlay is activated. It can also be set up to turn on manually, and it can be configured to allow notifications from specific people, but not from apps. All Focus modes can be set to activate automatically, so that once you configure them, you don’t need to manually turn them on and off.

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The latest-gen Whoop tracks more data points for boosted accuracy. In testing, the only metrics I found to be slightly off were the steps and calorie counts. So it’s a good option for monitoring how much physical and mental stress is placed on the body from your workouts and daily life. Its 24-hour battery life doesn’t come close to competitors like Garmin, but it doesn’t take long to get into the habit of daily charging, while fast charging support means it tops up quickly.

At home, it might make sense to allow all of your notifications to come through except for people from work. Apple has some pre-made Focus options, but you can create custom modes by tapping on the «+» button in the upper right corner. Custom Focus modes are a blank slate, so you can choose your own name, icon, and capabilities. We’d be remiss if we failed to mention that Apple recently upgraded Apple Maps to include a good chunk of Footpath’s functionality at no additional cost. As of iOS 18 (and WatchOS 11) you can easily create offline, custom hiking routes, or really any on-land or water-based routes supported by Apple Maps.

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Strong Workout Tracker Gym Log

It’s an app that offers trail maps curated by seasoned walkers and casual strollers. It’s likely not surprising to read that one of the best apps for the Apple Watch comes from Apple itself with Fitness+, which is perfectly suited for the wearable. There are few activities that can’t be tracked on Apple Fitness+. The instructions on the phone app are good, but it’s even better to have them beamed to your smartwatch, which displays what you’re meant to be doing and buzzes when you need to switch up your exercise.

Special Focus Modes

In fact Apple has recently expanded the number of apps available. WorkOutDoors also integrates well with Apple Watch as well as Strava and many others. Even-though the Apple Watch itself is an awesome fitness device, one is best to leverage all that the Apple watch has to offer. One of Apple Watches best attributes is the plethora of Apple Watch Apps available on the market today.

Use the Apple Watch app to get quick glances at your daily limits, budgets, and recent transactions. Cardiogram uses the heart rate data that your Apple Watch collects, and offers insights as to how your heart reacts to certain foods, exercises and more. If that’s no problem for you, Gymaholic offers easy and effective workout tracking that allows you to see progress over time and keep track of how much weight you lift.

Best Fitness Apps For Your Apple Watch In 2023

If you’re the sort of person who would prefer to have a widget sitting on your home screen that gives you a quick breathing session with a single tap, this app is for you. Notably, Gentler Streak tracks other things not typically counted as physical activity by competing apps, like your daily walk with the dog or an hour spent cleaning. It includes live workout intensity measurements, personalized workout plans, and expert advice based on your needs and goals. Importantly, it goes to great lengths to avoid shaming you if you miss a workout. Rather than axing your streak, it encourages you with friendly messages so you don’t feel demotivated come the next workout. Some of us just want low-stakes, low-stress physical activity without feeling guilty for failing to log reps and protein intake.

What to Look for When Buying Fitness Apple Watch Apps

  • There are various cardio workouts a person can do at home with no or minimal equipment, such as marching or jogging in place, dancing to music, and burpees.
  • We curated this list of the best Apple Watch apps based on hours of experimenting with dozens of different programs available in the wearable App Store.
  • Once you’re done, just put on your headphones and start touching, sliding, or slapping on the screen to enjoy.
  • It features quick-hit sessions for emergencies or when you have a spare five minutes, as well as guided courses, including a 365-day plan.
  • Sometimes you simply need to take a few moments to focus on your breathing or take a short mindfulness walk to reset the nervous system.
  • Whether you’ve got the best Apple Watch on the market, an older all-rounder, or a cheap Apple Watch SE 2, one of the joys of using an Apple Watch is discovering and downloading new apps.

You can track 50 different workout types and while that’s not as comprehensive as others like Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8, all the usual options are available, from running to pilates. A contender for our Best yuka reviews Value fitness tracker, this is a great option for beginner runners, cyclists and triathletes. It combines impressive 41-hour GPS battery life, reliable tracking accuracy and simple styling with a surprisingly comprehensive suite of training tools that punch well above the price tag.

The best Apple Watch apps for general activity

If you’re looking to take your tennis game to the next level, you might want to know about SwingVision. Using the data gathered by your observations, GoPoop will keep track of the last time you went, as well as offer actionable advice based on your recordings. The app adheres to the Bristol Stool Scale, a widely-followed research tool used to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments for gut and bowel conditions, too. Runners and cyclists who use Strava will love the Apple Watch version of the app.

Fortunately, Apple allows app developers to make use of all that helpful health telemetry. Think apps for extreme sports, for meditation, for a detailed look at your sleep, and for really just about any niche fitness thing you can think of. Seriously — we’ve covered apps for morning walks, as one example. To make things simple, we’ve narrowed things down to the most popular options on the App Store for Apple Watch, according to user reviews. Under Armour’s MyFitnessPal is one of the best nutrition and calorie tracking apps on the market, letting you scan food barcodes and track all of your meals in one place.

Garmin Connect and Garmin Connect App

Much like walking into a record store, entering a gym for the first time can be a daunting task. Sometimes it’s nice to have an ally there to show you the ropes. Download Motion free and discover why this is the fitness app you’ll actually keep using. While other apps focus on making you faster or stronger, Motion focuses on keeping you moving consistently. The Motmot pet creates an emotional connection that data never could. Better Battery LifeAll-day tracking with Motion or Strava no longer kills your battery by dinner.

The best fitness trackers of 2026

The air jump rope requires a person to “swing” an imaginary jump rope in the air. The exercise provides an alternative to jogging in place and is suitable as part of a warm-up routine. A person should perform this exercise while lying down, which works the abdominal muscles, chest, and shoulders. A person can perform arm circles while sitting or standing, making them ideal for all skill levels. To increase difficulty, a person can lift their leg higher off the floor or jump from one leg to the other more quickly. To increase the intensity, a person can increase the speed they march or raise the knees higher.

From strength training to treadmill-only workouts and spin, you can build strength and improve cardio from the comfort of your own home. Your best fitness app depends on whether you prioritize guided workouts, habit tracking, or community support — these 11 reviews cover the full spectrum. If you enjoy testing apps, explore earning money reviewing apps as a rewarding next step. IFIT stands apart in exercise app evaluations because it’s designed primarily for connected equipment users — NordicTrack and ProForm machine owners especially. Reviews consistently note its immersive studio and global workout content, but also flag the higher cost as a barrier.

More online workout programs we like for 2026

Fitness studios have emerged as the stylish alternative to a traditional gym. The ClassPass app is your ticket to one of the largest digital workout varieties and some of the most hype on-screen trainers. It’s especially handy if your area doesn’t offer the uniqueness and specificity that ClassPass does, from aqua cycling to the famous spin classes. Whether you don’t have time, find gyms to be intimidating, simply don’t like going to a physical gym, or something else is preventing you from going, you can still exercise. Workout apps allow you to meet your fitness goals at home, and they may actually be the motivation you need to get moving.

Best cycling apps for indoor training

Strava has all the running tracking features you’d expect – from running speed and distance travelled, to more in-depth performance analytics and weekly miles. It’s tough to beat thanks to offline mode, turn-by-turn navigation, elevation profiles, and cue sheets. What it lacks in social features (i.e. Strava), RidewithGPS makes up for in high-quality planning tools. Before starting your search for a fitness program, it’s essential to take time to reflect on what you want in a program to ensure it’s the right fit.

  • There are plenty of workout options, from structured programs (like 5K or marathon training) to simple quickstart-style runs where you can pre-set a distance, time, or speed goal.
  • Beyond the famous skills, the app includes comprehensive strength programs, mobility work, and conditioning routines.
  • Throughout your membership, your coach tracks your progress through proprietary metrics like Strength Score and Strength Balance, identifying imbalances and ensuring comprehensive development.
  • All rides uploaded to Strava deliver automatic rankings of your times over popular stretches of road and trail – known as ‘segments’ in Strava-speak – along with a GPS map of where you rode.
  • If you’re into routines that keep you consistent, this is the program for you.
  • The interface is a bit clunky but, because it’s browser-based, it works acceptably on desktop or mobile.

You can create a custom plan or follow structured programs ranging from 4-12 weeks. Founded by Kayla Itsines in 2015, Sweat quickly became the leader for online workout plans for women. The brand is unapologetically designed for women (by women) and comes with an army of loyal customers who swear by the workouts and programs. Fitbod uses an exercise algorithm to adapt your workout plan based on your ability, past performance, and available equipment. For someone just starting their fitness journey, this seamless experience means you’ll never feel lost in the gym. Each workout feels perfectly created for exactly where you are right now.

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Unfortunately, we weren’t too thrilled with the user interface, rating it a 3 out of 5. “There’s not much here that I couldn’t already see in my Apple Health app,” our noom app review tester said. Considering the sheer variety of well-designed workouts, our testers gave their overall experience a 5 out of 5. Having a personal trainer at your disposal can be great for staying diligent in your training, nutrition, and wellness journeys. That said, hiring an individual for these needs can have hourly rates ranging from $25 to over $100.

Best for Yoga – Yoga-Go

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The best postpartum apps take a science-backed, gradual approach to rebuilding strength. Becoming a new mum is one of the most joyful, exhausting, and life-changing experiences there is. In the middle of all of that, finding time and energy to look after your own body can feel like a low priority. We have a great beginner calisthenics workout plan for women and a beginner calisthenics workout plan for men.

Best workout app for runners

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This makes it perfect for anyone, regardless of their current training style. Fitbod also integrates seamlessly with Apple Health, allowing you to track your workouts alongside other health metrics. The subscription is reasonably priced, and free trial gives you enough time to test whether the app suits your needs. Fitbod’s recovery tracking system is particularly valuable for beginners who don’t yet understand the importance of balancing muscle groups and allowing adequate recovery. The visual muscle map shows which areas are fresh versus fatigued, helping prevent overtraining specific body parts. What I like about how Muscle Booster handles progression is that it requires you to complete your current workouts before unlocking new ones.

Best Mix Of Fitness, Wellness, And Beauty

If you wear a fitness tracker, your coach can also use data like heart rate, recovery, and strain to inform programming over time. AI fitness apps can actually tell if the posture or movement is not correct during the exercise. User ratings are positive, on average 4.5/5 within the strength training community. The app is entirely free with no subscription fees to unlock content, though it may contain advertisements.

I love curating my own playlists while running and Nike took that into consideration. Fitness apps can also be great for creating a studio-like training experience right in your own home. In our opinion, iFIT’s library of over 17,000 on-demand fitness classes is prime for these needs. The service is compatible with a variety of the best cardio machines from NordicTrack, ProForm, Freemotion, and Matrix, so there’s ample opportunity to get your daily fix.

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The focus is on traditional cardio training (such as running, swimming, and biking), but you can pick from a variety of sports. For the best workout app overall, our testers chose BetterMe due to its diversity of training regimens and simple, user-friendly interface. Nike Training Club offers free guided workout videos from professional trainers. Downloading a fitness app can be an excellent way to get the ball rolling on your training regimen, but there are a few factors to think about before opting for one service or the next. Below are some considerations worth thinking through before hopping into the app store and deciding on a plan for your needs.

The community features add motivational value, with leaderboards, challenges, and the ability to share workouts. A feature we really like is the ability to upload progress photos as a simple but effective way to boost motivation during the programs. Improving flexibility won’t happen overnight, so seeing your improvements definitely helps to keep you engaged. Cronometer stands out from crowded alternatives by prioritizing data quality above all else, using verified sources like the USDA and Nutrition Coordinating Center rather than unreliable crowd-sourced entries.

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Check the ratings in the app store or what users say on review sites you trust. Also, look for recommendations from leading fitness and tech sites, such as Men’s Health and CNET. Don’t forget that investing in your health and fitness can have long-term benefits, including for your wallet.

Nike Training Club – Free Guided Workouts

Used thoughtfully, a food tracking app can support weight loss, but it’s most effective when paired with personalized, expert guidance. Many nutrition professionals use a mix of consumer-facing apps and professional platforms, often choosing tools that allow detailed nutrient tracking and easy data sharing with clients. The best choice often depends on whether they prioritize behavior coaching, medical nutrition therapy, or performance-focused work.