The Best Fitness Apps of 2026, Tested & Reviewed NBC Select

Plus, all that logged data makes it easier for the AI platform to curate your recommended training schedule as it learns and progresses with you in the gym. 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. (1) Thankfully, Caliber offers three tiers of subscriptions that cater to a variety of budgets. As stated before, Reverse Health is primarily focused on supporting older women through health and wellness, especially athletes nearing or currently in menopausal stages.

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If you’re interested in signing up for a fitness app, I spoke to experts about what to think about while comparing different options. The NBC Select staff and I also tested over a dozen fitness apps (including some that are free) to share our top picks. It also offers community features, challenges, and guided training plans. JEFIT is a simple way to track your workouts, log your progress, and explore new exercises, all for free. After creating an account, you can customize routines, monitor your lifting and body progress, and tap into community-created plans.

YouTube: The Most Convenient Fitness App.

Nike Training Club (NTC) is one of the most comprehensive free fitness apps available on Android. It offers a variety of workouts, including strength training, yoga, HIIT, and mobility sessions. You’ll find programs for beginners and athletes alike, with video guidance and tips included.

Best Fitness Tracker Overall: Fitbit Charge 6

The good news is that Strava offers a free 30-day trial to those who want to try out its upgraded features before committing. The app’s creators believe that connection is the best way to stick to your goals. That’s why they set you up with a partner who can hold you accountable. There are plenty of coaches on this app with numerous years of experience in their respective fields. Do you just want to get moving more often, or are there specific fitness milestones you want to hit (like running a certain speed or lifting a certain amount of weight)?

Best Fitness Tracker for Health Monitoring: Samsung Galaxy Fit 3

top-rated workout apps

When I put my phone in Do Not Disturb mode, the tracker follows the same command. The Samsung Health app is also one of my favorites as it’s clean, it doesn’t have ads and it tracks everything from my water intake to my snoring. The Vivosmart 5 doesn’t try to be a fancy smartwatch, it focuses on being a high-end tool. I’ve noticed that if I have a stressful afternoon at work, my Body Battery drains even if I’m just sitting at my desk. It’s an incredibly accurate reflection of how I actually feel, which is why Garmin is a no-brainer when it comes to the best fitness trackers in the market. What makes one the best is really about which form factor suits your lifestyle.

Lifehacker Logo

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. The app offers a huge library of workouts led by vetted Nike coaches, covering strength, cardio, HIIT, mobility, core and yoga flows. Each workout is categorised according to your goal and the equipment needed, and the workouts range from quick five-minute exercises to 30-minute sessions. Caliber focuses specifically on strength training with a scientific approach to building muscle and improving body composition.

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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. All the fitness apps below come recommended by NBC Select staff members or the experts I spoke to. I detailed important information about each option, including the types of exercise they offer and in what modalities, as well as their overall cost and how long their free trials are. There are a ton of free workouts and features for you to use, so you don’t get bored.

top-rated workout apps

The ultimate workout planner for strength training

  • I’ve been using this app for over a month, and I’ve already lifted more weight than I did before pregnancy – so it has definitely worked for me.
  • If you were looking to be in great shape this summer, now is the time to start training for it.
  • Sweat will give you a selection of appropriate alternatives so your workouts are more customized to what you like (which is great for motivation).
  • There’s something grounding about knowing other people across the country are doing the same workouts at the same time, especially when I’m constantly on the move.
  • With this intense and subscription-free VR fitness app, you’ll be punching, squatting and dodging your way to your dream body.
  • On the most basic level, the best fitness trackers offer GPS connectivity to help you stay on your training course and basic activity tracking.

Meanwhile, detailed maps allow users to find and navigate through the best routes for their workouts. You choose from four workout lengths (the 30-minutes one suitably being dubbed ‘extreme’), and the app strings together simple exercises. Except when your entire body is screaming at you for not initially going for the six-minute option.

WithU — Audio‑Guided Coaching

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. Yes, if you choose one with structured programming and qualified instructors. Paid apps typically offer progressive multi-week programs, form coaching, workout variety, and accountability features that free options lack. A 2024 IHRSA study found that people using structured fitness programs were 3x more likely to still be exercising 6 months later than those using unstructured content. At $10-15/month, paid fitness apps cost less than a single gym visit in most cities.

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Stefani has successfully used food-tracking apps on her own weight-loss journey to support meal planning and more. Cost for premium features, and overall value are taken into account, as well as whether the app integrates with other health platforms and devices to monitor activity, sleep, and hydration. We prioritize apps available on both iOS and Android to ensure accessibility for a wide range of users. To get a true sense of performance, we download and use each app ourselves and also gather feedback from experienced food tracker users. Adidas Running lets you track outdoor activities workout tracking apps like running, walking, and cycling. It uses GPS to provide real-time feedback on distance, pace, duration, and calories burned.

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