Fitness

The 14 Best Fitness Apps, Based on Your Goals and Workout Routine

written by KATHERINE CHANG
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Graphics by: Kirra Wallace
Graphics by: Kirra Wallace

You know the all-too-common “I don’t have enough time to work out,” “I can’t find exercise I like,” or “The gym is too expensive” excuses? Well, those no longer apply, thanks to the bevy of fitness apps that make just about any workout a download and click away, no matter where you are. While some will set you back a few bucks, others won’t cost you a thing (plus, most offer a free trial). The endless fitness platforms at your fingertips can be overwhelming, so we’ve done the work for you and narrowed down the top picks to sweat it out with. Consider your phone your must-have fitness accessory. Let’s get to hitting our fitness goals with the best fitness apps of 2024.   

If you’re a gym rat…

Alive by Whitney Simmons

Whether you’re a newbie or a pro at lifting weights, this app will get you pumped (literally and figuratively). Choose from different strength training programs that vary in length (i.e. 6, 8, 10 weeks) and skill level (beginner, intermediate, advanced) or over 100+ daily workouts that target every major muscle group. 

Cost: $14.99/month or $119.99/year; 7-day free trial

FitOn

Want to work out with celebs and celebrity trainers alike without paying the hefty price tag? Look no further than FitOn. Take your pick from live-streamed classes or its catalog of on-demand options (think: strength, HIIT, Pilates) with the likes of Jeanette Jenkins (she’s trained Pink, Alicia Keys, and Mindy Kaling) and Gabrielle Union.

Cost: free

If you have minimal equipment…

Sweat 

Sometimes all you need is a workout buddy to keep you on track with your workouts. This app, created by Insta-famous Australian trainer Kayla Itsines, serves up a built-in community of women to cheer you on every step of the way, not to mention a 16-week, zero-equipment plan called “BBG Zero Equipment” that includes 70 bodyweight exercises—that’s right, sans dumbbells, resistance bands, and bench.  

Cost: $19.99/month or $119.94/year; 7-day free trial

Nike Training Club 

“Just Do It” takes on a whole new meaning with Nike’s very own fitness platform. Along with more than 185 workouts to choose from—from strength-based routines to mobility and yoga sessions—the app features at-home workouts that require minimal to no equipment. But don’t let that fool you—the strength-building circuits, HIIT, and total-body burns pack a punch. The live mindfulness sessions and guides on mindset, nutrition, recovery, and sleep are just added perks. 

Cost: free

If you’re looking for more than just workouts…

FORM by Sami Clarke

Out: same ol’, same ol’ workouts and not giving your mental health and nutrition the same TLC as your sweat sessions. In: Form’s one-stop-shop, community-driven holistic approach to wellness, offering over 300+ workouts, meditation classes, and dietician-approved recipes, meal plans, and nutrition tips. Stick with their three curated weekly schedules—Pilates x Strength, Pilates, and Strength—or use the search filter for workouts ranging from beginner to advanced, with options for equipment, heavy weights, no repeats, and more. Click here for our editor’s review of the Form App and why it transformed her fitness.

Cost: $28/month or $119.99/year; 7-day free trial

Future

Future is ditching the notion that hiring a personal trainer and getting individualized training has to cost an arm and a leg (their saying is “Finally, personal training that’s more personal and less expensive”). Get paired with a personalized trainer with a 3-minute quiz, and receive a customized workout plan for the week based on your goals, equipment, and schedule every Sunday, whether you’re in your living room or at the gym. Think of your coach as your built-in daily motivation to get moving and your constant reminder to celebrate all wins. You can also Facetime or chat with your trainer for more individualized attention.

Cost: $199/month, $179/quarter, $169/half year, or $149/year

If you prefer quickies…

MWH (Melissa Wood Health)

An all-in-one health, wellness, and lifestyle platform, MWH makes fitness accessible, flexible, and inclusive for all. “No matter what time you have available to you (yes, even 5 or 10 minutes has an impact), there’s always something you can do to take care of YOU,” shared Melissa Wood-Tepperberg, Founder of MWH. With a weekly schedule of efficient and effective Pilates and yoga-style flows designed to sculpt long, lean lines (and grouped by beginner, intermediate, and challenging levels) you can’t go wrong. 

Cost: $14.95/month or $134.99/year; 7-day free trial

Aaptiv

This audio-only app makes you hyper-focused on the workout you happen to be crushing on any given day (it’s like having your #1 cheerleader in your ear). With 2,500 trainer-led, music-based workouts ranging from running and elliptical to stretching and yoga, you’ll never get bored. 

Cost: $14.99/month or $99.99/year; 7-day free trial

If you’re looking for more variety… 

obé Fitness

If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that we can sweat it out with the best of them from the comfort of our own homes (and save some dough), and obé continues to prove that. Your fitness routine? Covered, thanks to obé Fitness’ 10,000+ on-demand workouts, with 20+ class types that feature both no-equipment and full-gear exercises. Workouts for the next week, next month, and next year? Check, check, and check.

Cost: $24.99/month or $169.99/year; 7-day free trial 

Peloton 

No longer just a stationary bike trainer, the Peloton app boasts thousands of live and on-demand classes with or without equipment that you can do at home, at the gym, or on the go. We’re talking a selection of indoor cycling, running, walking, bootcamp, strength, and outdoor (audio-only) classes. Got a competitive side (even if it’s just with yourself)? Use the metrics and performance tracking feature so that pesky motivation doesn’t wane, and participate in challenges to focus on specific goals and earn achievements.

Cost: $12.99/month or $129/year; 7-day free trial

If you’re all about low-impact workouts…

Alo Moves  

What’s a girl to do when she wants to level up her fitness, mindfulness, and overall wellness? Cue up Alo Moves, of course. With bragging rights that include a repertoire of over 2,500 classes (that are all available for offline download, BTW)—from yoga to full-body HIIT to sound baths—taught by over 60+ instructors, a strong community of users with whom you can connect based on similar goals and workout styles, and a mix of IRL backdrops in its workout videos (see: Alo in the Wild), what’s not to love? Sunrise meditation in Hawaii, anyone?

Cost: $12.99/month or $129.99/year; 14-day free trial

The Sculpt Society

When in doubt, dance it out—with celebrity trainer Megan Roup, that is (she counts Shay Mitchell, Miranda Kerr, and Karlie Kloss as her devotees). Offering five different programs (like Beginner-Intermediate and Slow + Controlled), over 400 on-demand workouts, and multiple live classes each week, you’ll find everything from dance cardio, lightweight, low-impact sculpting, yoga, stretch, and meditation classes. Soft workouts have never looked and felt better. Pssst: Listen to founder Megan Roup on The Everygirl Podcast.

Cost: $19.99/month or $179.99/year; 7-day free trial  

The Class by Taryn Toomey

The Class’ MO is “The workout where fitness meets mindfulness,” and with live-streamed and on-demand offerings and programs that combine strength-training, cardio, and mindfulness to help you feel better, clear your mind, and release emotions (AKA somatic exercise), it more than delivers on its promise. Mat-based and music-driven, you can expect guided instruction and a carefully curated playlist to exercises such as squats, jumping jacks, and burpees in each Class. The result? A cathartic workout experience that guides you to restore balance and build a resilient body. In LA or NYC? Try it IRL at their studios.  

Cost: $40/month, $110/quarter, or $400/year; 14-day free trial 

Pvolve

While it may be motivation enough seeing Jennifer Aniston putting Pvolve’s workouts to the test (she joined Pvolve in 2023 and does their workouts multiple times a week), Pvolve’s science-led method is proven to keep you living younger, longer. Combining low-impact, functional movement with resistance-based equipment that respects the body’s holistic needs (think: classes that support the pelvic floor, cycle tracking, and pre/postnatal), you can expect enhancing not only your physique, but also your strength, mobility, and stability.

Cost: $14.99/month; 7-day free trial