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Mar 31

The best personal training apps of 2024 to help you achieve your fitness goals – Fortune

Fitness Comments Off on The best personal training apps of 2024 to help you achieve your fitness goals – Fortune

How we test

We put over 30 apps to the test to analyze the quality of their coaches, intuitiveness, accountability features, and more.

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We consulted with certified personal trainers, Ph.D.s in exercise physiology and health and human sciences, and certified strength and conditioning coaches.

Modern technology has enabled personal trainers and clients to work together without needing to be in the same room, let alone the same time zone. In-person training still has its advantages. But the ability to train virtually makes it easier for more people to build strength, burn fat, and develop better habits while balancing their daily responsibilities. ( 1 )

Personal training apps make it possible for health-conscious folks to have a defined plan to follow. Many platforms offer in-depth progress tracking, customized workouts, and messaging capabilities. How much individualized support you need will determine what type of app and level of investment you should make. To help you find the ideal fit, we researched and tested more than 30 apps on key characteristics such as value, interactive features, ease of use, instruction, and more.

If you want a fitness program tailor-made for you, look no further than Future . Our top overall personal training app offers an incredible level of customization and continuous support from a certified coach. Though expensive, its worth the cost if you need accountability and motivationalong with a dynamic workout routine specifically geared to your goals.

If youre looking for a customizable personal training experience, Future has the tools to help you crush your fitness goals.

Accountability Direct message

Form feedback Video review

Future will match you with a certified personal trainer who will create personalized workout programs and hold you accountable with frequent check-ins.

Pros

No extra equipment needed

Cons

Must log workouts yourself

Price is notably higher than our other picks ($199 per month)

From its intuitive interface to its unparalleled level of personalization, Future checks all the boxes we look for in the best personal training apps. A few of our team members have utilized it for several years to help hold them accountable during their respective fitness journeys. That speaks volumes about the high-quality programming and support you receive from the certified coaches on the platform.

Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, Future customizes your experience every step of the way. The app starts with a short questionnaire about your current workout habits and fitness goals. From there, you can select a coach who you will be able to access via in-app messaging and video calls.

The setup process proved painless for our product tester, who rated it 5 out of 5 stars. That high score can also be attributed to the initial FaceTime call with her coachsomething that added another layer of personalization.

Your coach will utilize all the information you provide to construct a weekly workout plan that includes strength training, cardio sessions, and scheduled rest days. Rest days are important in any well-rounded fitness program because you need time to repair and build muscle tissue, replenish glycogen stores, and recover sufficiently to optimize your performance. ( 2 ) ( 3 ) Plus, your coach will also plan each workout based on what equipment you have.

All three of our reviewers rated the app 4.5 out of 5 stars for ease of use. One particularly enjoyed having audio and visual cues for each exercise. The cues helped keep the workout flowing smoothly. Another user-friendly feature our team enjoyed was the ability to rate and provide feedback about each workout. This information allowed their coaches to make adjustments to their programs.

Most importantly, Future earned 5 out of 5 stars for accountability from two of our reviewers.

My coach is fantastic. She would check in with me almost every day to see how I was feeling, how the workout went, or to ask why I hadnt done the workout yet. This was a big motivator for me.

Kate Meier, Team Product Tester

Exercise physiologist Chris Mohr, Ph.D., RD, adds, Accountability is a big part of the success of any program. It makes sense, as its nice to have someoneor othersto check in with you on your success and progress and to help with any challenges. The success of a social network, or a coach, has also been shown in research to improve outcomes. ( 4 )

In addition, pairing Future with your Apple Watch will allow you to monitor your activity rings and workouts consistently and effortlessly. This is a form of a gamifying app, which has been shown to enhance outcomes and simply make things stick. ( 5 ) For data-driven individuals, the integration with smartwatchesincluding the Google Pixel Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and 5 modelswill certainly be a big plus.

Smartwatches and fitness trackers are known to significantly increase physical activity and improve health, notes Dr. Jen Roper, Ph.D., CSCS, Associate Professor of Health and Human Sciences at Loyola Marymount University. ( 6 )

Perhaps the only significant drawback about Future is its $199 per month price tag. While that may seem expensive, hiring an in-person trainer could cost well over $300 per month, depending on how many sessions you book. And given the level of customization, accountability, and instruction you receive from a certified coach, we believe $199 still represents great value.

Users on the App Store appreciate that their coaches adjust their workout routines based on their travel and work schedules, as well as the equipment they have available. In addition, many enjoy the level of individualized attention and accountability.

This isnt just a generic workout app. My coach, Laura-Lynn, creates new workouts for me every week that target my specific needs. We have video check-ins, and we message every week and after every workout to make sure my goals are being met. I have some injuries and some changes to my body after pregnancy, but shes able to work around them and help me get my strength back.

Mashka Lubov, App Store reviewer

While some people dont mind paying $199 per month for the app, others consider the price a drawback. One of the only other consistent criticisms of Future is the lack of nutrition coaching and meal plans, which is a large part of well-being and a healthy lifestyle.

Between meal planning and customized workouts, your CoPilot coach can help you lose weight, build muscle, and develop healthy habits.

Live feedback Pacing and form

Training plan Personalized

CoPilot offers a well-rounded approach to weight loss by combining personal training with nutrition coaching. Live feedback on your form and regular check-ins with your coach are other standout features.

Pros

Ample communication with coach

Can switch coaches at any time

Cons

Interface issues on Android

Rep tracking may not be accurate with Apple Watch

No built-in app on Garmin or Fitbit smartwatches

An all-in-one app that supports your weight loss journey, CoPilot allows you to choose a certified personal trainer who aligns with your fitness goals and preferred training style. Besides getting expert-driven workouts that include live feedback on your form, you also receive assistance with creating meal plans that will help you trim extra pounds, if thats your goal.

To get started, you must take a brief assessment that will allow you to find a trainer who suits your needs. Once you select a coach, you can look forward to consistent communication through messaging and video calls. That helps you stay accountable, which is one of the biggest keys to achieving a specific weight-loss goal. ( 7 )

One of the best interactive features of CoPilot includes live feedback on your pacing and form. This is especially useful for beginners who may not be familiar with more technical exercises. One of our product testers who used CoPilot on his iPhone and Apple Watch also enjoyed that the workouts included videos to follow along with.

I was very impressed with the overall design and simplicity of the app and integration of the iPhone and Apple Watch.

Team Product Tester

However, he was disappointed by the lack of an online community for additional support and accountability outside of his coach. Still, at $99 per month, CoPilot is a cost-effective option if youre looking for an online training platform that offers more than just new workouts every week.

Coaches who are also certified nutritionists can help you put together macro-friendly meal plans. Because they arent registered dietitians, though, they legally cant tell you exactly what to eat, tell you to take specific supplements, or treat medical conditions.

Still, these plans will allow you to stay on track with your fitness and weight goals. In addition, the app allows you to work on four daily routines (or habits) at a time, which can help you build a well-rounded lifestyle that focuses on your physical and mental health.

This is a very unique offering and a great feature, says exercise physiologist Chris Mohr, Ph.D., RD. Many apps focus simply on fitness and/or nutrition.

Users on the Apple App Store consistently praise the ability to have workouts tailored to their needs.

On the other end of this appis an actual human being, who can work around my schedule and equipment to develop a plan, wrote a reviewer with the screen name brchaplin. I can do the workouts any time. I think this system would work for anyone, ranging from the not-so-fit like me to people who already do gym workouts.

I can do the workouts any time. I think this system would work for anyone, ranging from the not-so-fit like me to people who already do gym workouts.

brchaplin, Apple App Store reviewer

In addition, CoPilots seamless integration with Apple Watches has helped many users stay accountable.

Several negative reviews pointed out issues with the app not functioning properly. Besides technical glitches, a few customers found their CoPilot experience disappointing due to trainers who did not deliver high-quality programming.

Available in three tiers, Caliber is a fitness coaching program that delivers science-backed strength training and nutrition plans.

Food tracking Cronometer app

Accountability Weekly review

In addition to customized workout programming, Caliber also offers nutrition guidance from certified nutrition coaches. Your personal trainer will also provide regular feedback and update your plan as you progress.

Pros

Nutrition coaching available

Multiple communication channels

In-app performance metrics tracking

Cons

Personalized macros only available with paid versions

Limited fitness tracker integration

Has more of an emphasis on strength training and less of a focus on cardio

As one of the top-rated personal training platforms weve tested, Caliber stands out for its personalized workout plans and excellent nutrition programming. Available in three tiers, the platform uses scientific principles and data-driven programming to help you achieve your fitness goals.

The free-forever version allows you to create your own workout plan, but you dont get access to a coach. Our product tester selected the Caliber Premium Coaching package, which starts at $200 a month. After an easy setup process that earned 5 out of 5 stars, she connected with a coach who created a customized training plan. All paid versions of the Caliber app include coaching across nutrition and healthy habits in addition to strength and conditioning.

Although the price tag may seem high, our reviewer found Caliber to be worth the cost for several reasons. Primarily, she appreciated the excellent level of accountability, rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

It doesnt get better than this except for being with a trainer in person. This style of personal training kind of forces you to be held accountable because the trainer can really see what youre doing all the time.

Team Product Tester

Our reviewer also appreciated her trainers routine check-ins that included video reviews of the previous weeks workouts. Her coach also outlined incremental goals for the coming week. Plus, the app has a feature that lets you record right from within so you can send videos directly to your trainer for feedback.

Besides having a customized weightlifting and cardio routine to follow, Caliber also helps guide your nutrition. Our tester said her coach provided sound advice and helped her improve her relationship with food.

Note, however, that Calibers nutrition coaches arent registered dietitians. They can provide general nutrition advice about tracking macros, shopping for healthy meals, and the pros and cons of various diets. They cant tell you to follow a specific diet, tell you exactly which foods to eat, or help treat medical conditions.

Caliber is one of the top personal training apps on the App Store. Customers consistently praise the level of individualized attention they receive from their coaches.

My coach listens to me but doesnt allow me to slack off, wrote one reviewer with the screen name FelinatheFox. She educated me as we went through each workout as to which muscles are being worked and the anticipated outcome.

Another user who admitted to previously struggling with consistency has found investing in the Caliber app to be worthwhile, especially when trainers in her area cost about $80 per session. Her trainer has adjusted her workouts based on her busy schedule and conducts multiple weekly check-ins.

While there arent many negative reviews, one customer wrote that her trainer didnt maintain consistent communication or change up the workouts. Another customer pointed out that the app doesnt integrate with many fitness trackers. This makes it more challenging to monitor your health data and performance metrics.

Joggo is a personalized running app that offers customized workouts and meal plans to help you get fit and improve your performance.

Plan update Every two weeks

With Joggo, youll get a personalized plan tailored to your goals, fitness level, and lifestyle. The option to add a strength training plan allows you to follow a more well-rounded workout routine.

Pros

Sturdy and high-quality mattress

Nice option for stomach sleepers

Good option for back sleepers

I also like this for heavier sleepers

Cons

Pretty high motion transfer

Luxury Firm is too firm for side sleepers

Customer service was longer than average

Founded by a former Ironman competitor, Joggo aims to help people reach their running and weight loss goals by providing personalized running and nutritional plans. The app features several tools to support your journey, including GPS locating tracking, distance and speed monitoring, and audio guidance for workouts.

If youre trying to drop a few pounds, theres also a weight tracker to record your progress. Even if you dont need this feature, Joggos other tools can help you get more out of your cardio workouts and improve your speed and endurance.

Our product reviewer found the setup process straightforward, giving Joggo 4 out of 5 stars in this category. Once you answer questions about your current fitness level, diet, health issues, and other relevant information, Joggo presents different running plan options with estimates of how long itll take you to achieve your goal.

While our tester gave Joggo 3 out of 5 stars for instruction, she didnt feel it was necessary to force users to look at or go through a short warm-up before starting their run. That feature may benefit beginners who need ideas on how to prepare for a run. But more experienced runners may find themselves tapping ahead to get to the actual workout.

Our tester also found the voice guidance feature that provides cues like remember to breathe too basic for advanced runners.

Joggo wont cost you nearly as much as some of the other online personal training apps on this list. While the company doesnt publish pricing on its website, you can get a general idea of the prices based on the results of completing an online quiz.

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The best personal training apps of 2024 to help you achieve your fitness goals - Fortune

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