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Dec 14

The best workout apps in 2023 – Tom’s Guide

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Best workout apps: Quick Menu

If the cost of gym memberships feels like an expense you can do without right now, the best workout apps could be your saving grace. We've tried and tested many of the workout apps deemed "the best," whether that's for strength training, yoga, Pilates or CrossFit.

Workout apps are so advanced that just about any exercise style has been included, and whatever your goal, you can access an online community of like-minded people, as well as advice and personal trainers. Some home gym equipment now comes with its own handy partner app, like leading brands Peloton and Technogym, but that doesn't mean it's the best workout app for you.

For example, if you want to learn how to train for a marathon, your focus will be on running apps like Strava or Runna.Some of the apps we've chosen suit the best exercise bikes or best treadmills and others have options for mindfulness and recovery.

Apps like Peloton require a monthly subscription, which ranges from reasonable to pretty darn expensive, but others are completely free or at least offer a free trial period.If you're wondering which is the best workout app for you, here are the pros and cons of each and what you can expect after you've downloaded them.

Jane McGuire

Jane McGuire is Tom's Guide's Fitness Editor and she's spent years writing about all things health and fitness. She crossed the finish line of her last marathon in 3:38, with the Garmin Forerunner 965 on her wrist.

Here are the best workout apps you can buy right now based on our testing. Scroll down for in-depth reviews.

Best for iPhone users

Best for iPhone users

With HIIT, strength, core, yoga, Pilates and meditation classes, theres a huge variety of workouts to choose from with Apple Fitness Plus, taught by a range of different trainers.

Read more below

Best free workout app

Best free workout app

Nike Training Club has made the app completely free for users, and unlike others on this list, theres no paid version anymore.You now have the option to filter workouts by muscle group and workout focus too.

Read more below

Best for bikes and treadmills

Best for bikes and treadmills

The Peloton workout app has thousands of interactive classes thatll help you strengthen, sculpt, and get that post-Peloton buzz. The instructors stand out from the crowd, and theres also the option to join live classes, and compete with friends.

Read more below

Best for women

Best for women

The Sweat app has now grown into an extensive training app with a number of different programs and recipes to help you reach your goals. There's a structured program for every woman.

Read more below

Best for versatility

Best for versatility

EvolveYou is perfect if you're someone who likes to mix up your workouts, alternating between cardio or weights, Pilates or HIIT, the gym, or workouts in your living room. The app has six different trainers on board.

Read more below

Best for men

Best for men

You could do a lot worse than opt for the Centr app favored by Thor. Actor Chris Hemsworth has thrown his weight behind Centr, an app that looks to combine exercise with meal planning and mindfulness to help both your physical and mental shape.

Read more below

Best workout app for iPhone and Apple Watch wearers

Connects seamlessly with Apple Watch

Content updated regularly

Wide range of classes

Available to anyone with an iPhone

Cant sort classes by difficulty

Apple Fitness Plus is one of the best workout apps for Apple users. With HIIT, strength, core, yoga, Pilates, and meditation classes amongst others, theres a huge variety of workouts to choose from, taught by a range of different trainers. During testing, we also liked the fact there were two instructors in the background during classes, showing modifications for beginners, or those looking to push themselves harder this is particularly handy as theres no option to filter classes by difficulty.

The app can feel a little overwhelming at a first glance, but classes can be filtered by trainer, time, and the music you prefer to work out to. You can also add classes to your library, which lets you select classes youve taken before, or plan on taking in the future, at a glance.

During a workout, if you're wearing one of the best Apple Watches, youll be able to see stats from your Apple Watch on the screen. Following an update in 2022, you don't need to wear an Apple Watch to be able to access Apple Fitness Plus classes, however, and even without wearing a watch, you'll still get access to thousands of fitness classes you can do at home or in the gym.

The Apple Fitness Plus app won our best fitness app/subscription award in our 2022 Tom's Guide Fitness awards because of the huge variety of workouts on offer, and for its seamless integration for connecting with the iPhone and Apple Watch. We were also impressed with how often Apple adds new workouts to the platform to help prevent users from getting bored.

Read our full Apple Fitness Plus review.

Best workout app for free workouts

Content completely free

Classes labeled by intensity

Home workouts

Apple Watch app

Nike removed training programs from app

In March 2020, Nike made its Nike Training Club app content completely free for 90 days, to help people keep fit while they stayed at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the app has been completely free for users, and unlike others on this list, theres no paid version anymore.

However, with the update, Nike removed some of their training programs, which used to be a popular feature of the app. Instead, you now have the option to filter workouts by muscle group abs and core, arms and shoulders, or glutes and legs, workout focus endurance, mobility, strength, and yoga, and by equipment. There is also the option to filter by duration, level, and intensity.

During testing, we found the instructor-led workouts to be engaging and motivating, and also enjoyed the whiteboard workouts, which show you the entire workout so you can follow at your own pace. Theres also the option to connect the workout to your Apple Music. Its not perfect, but for a free app, theres plenty to keep you moving here.

Read our full Nike Training Club app review here.

Download Nike Training Club: Android, iOS.

Best workout app for exercise bike and treadmill users

Price: Free, $12.99, or $24.99 per month

A wide range of motivational classes

Easy to stack and save classes for later

Live classes to join with friends

Can be completely free

Still need equipment for full Peloton experience

If you cant afford a Peloton exercise bike or Tread to stay in shape, the Peloton workout app is the next best thing. There are thousands of interactive classes to take thatll help you strengthen, sculpt, and get that post-Peloton buzz. The instructors stand out from the crowd in terms of their enthusiasm, and theres also the option to join live classes, and compete with friends.

From strength to yoga, to HIIT cardio, when testing this app, we found it difficult to get bored. The option to stack classes is great, and lets you add multiple classes together so you can seamlessly add a cool-down or stretch to your workout. The classes are easy to follow on a phone or tablet, but to get a real Peloton experience, wed recommend streaming the workouts on the TV.

The Peloton programs give you a longer schedule of classes to help you reach your goal, whether that be to get stronger, or to crush your core in four weeks. There are also different collections of workouts, which make it easier to find a range of workouts by type, for example, strength for runners, resistance band training, or Pilates classes.

Of course, to get the most out of Peloton, its worth having access to one of the best exercise bikes, or the best treadmills to take the bike and tread classes, but even without, this is a great workout app with some of the most motivating instructors around.

In May 2023, Peloton announced three new app-only membership options: Peloton App Free(free),Peloton App One($12.99/month) andPeloton App+($24/month). App One members will get strength and floor-based workouts, while App+ unlocks cardio classes.Read more about the different membership options, and Peloton Gym workouts here.

Download Peloton now: Android, iOS

Read our full Peloton app review.

Best workout app for women

Price: $19.99 monthly/ $119.94 yearly

A number of different trainers and training plans

Easy to follow

Nutrition plans are also available

Apple Watch compatible

Need to manually tap the screen during workouts

The brainchild of Australian personal trainer Kayla Itsines, Sweat started as a series of downloadable "Bikini Body Guides" in 2015 and has now grown into an extensive training app with a number of different programs and recipes to help you reach your goals. There's a structured program for every woman from the new mom taking her first steps into post-baby fitness, to the girl looking to gain more confidence in the weights room at the gym.

Trainers include Kayla herself, as well as the likes of Kelsey Wells, Chontel Duncan, Britany Williams, and Stephanie Sanzo. You can switch your program easily and take on-demand classes if you feel like adding the odd barre session to your planner. The workouts are also compatible with Apple Watch. Theres no free version of the app, although newbies can sign up for a 7-day free trial.

During testing, we loved the range of workouts but found it a little irritating having to bend down and manually skip between exercises, although it wasnt enough to put us off using the app regularly. Wed also say this app is definitely aimed at women, but theres no reason why guys couldnt follow the training plans.

Read our full Sweat review here.

Download Sweat: Android, iOS

Best for those who love to mix it up

Six different training programs with qualified trainers

Easy to use app

On-demand classes

App can be a little glitchy at times

If you're someone who likes to mix up your workouts, alternating between cardio or weights, Pilates or HIIT, the gym, or workouts in your living room, EvolveYou is a workout app worth considering. Designed for women by personal trainer Krissy Cela, the app has six different trainers on board, all of whom have a number of different workout plans to choose from.

During testing, we found the app was easy to navigate around, although we did find it a little glitchy now and again. The workouts were simple and extremely easy to follow, making the app well suited to complete newbies, and more experienced gym-goers alike. There's also the option to play your own music or listen to a podcast while working out, as you don't have to follow along with a video, which we appreciated.

The app has a 14-day free trial, which allows you to access all areas and give the workouts a try before subscribing.

Download Evolve You: Android, iOS,

Best workout app for men

Training programs

Home and gym workouts

Meal plans

No option to play your own music

When looking for a fitness regimen, you could do a lot worse than opt for the own favored by Thor. Actor Chris Hemsworth has thrown his weight behind Centr, an app that looks to combine exercise with meal planning and mindfulness to help both your physical and mental shape.

Centr offers daily workout videos that you can practice either in the gym or at home, covering a variety of disciplines (HIIT, strength training, boxing and even yoga and pilates). Meal plans let you find healthy, tasty recipes, while guided meditations and sleep tips work on putting you in the right mental space.

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The best workout apps in 2023 - Tom's Guide

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