You’ll pick your preferred training style and stay in that track for 5 to 6 week blocks, which gradually get more challenging. The Aaptiv fitness app is a great pick for women (or anyone, really) because it offers a variety of quality workouts, multiple methods of accountability, and a reasonable monthly subscription fee of $14.99. JuggernautAI costs about as much as the average workout app, however you’re not working with a real coach, and there aren’t any workout options that focus on cardio, cycling, or other activities. While Caliber’s main offering is online personal training, we appreciate that the free version of the Caliber app is ad-free and features the full exercise library of over 500 movements. Each exercise features a demonstration video, step-by-step written instructions, and the ability to log your weights and reps (and access your history at any point).
Multiplanar Lower Body
The platform has a library of Yoga, Pilates, Strength, Flexibility, and mobility. If you wear a fitness tracker, your coach can also use data like heart rate, recovery, and strain to inform programming over time. As someone who only recently started training in the gym over the past couple of years, far and away my favorite feature of Fitness Online is the app’s 3D animated exercise demonstrations. I’ve tested other apps that simply show a picture or tell you the name of the exercise, and I’m always concerned about whether I’m using the correct form—so these animations are super helpful! I also like that the animations show exactly what part of the body is targeted, with ‘Right vs. Wrong’ visual comparisons that help correct form instantly (a huge win for beginners!).
We also touch on 4 ways your phone case can amplify-your-workout, because if your tech is annoying to use, you won’t use it. Whether you want to lift heavy, run your first mile, or just undo the damage of sitting at a desk all day, the right software is the difference between quitting in week two and building a habit that sticks. The Nike Running Club is completely free, while Flex AI, FitOn, AllTrails, and the 7 Minute Workout apps offer free versions, in addition to paid plans. Download the app for free today to kick-start your progress and achieve your health goals this year. MyFitnessPal stands out for its food and nutrition tracking capabilities to help you nail your eating habits.
“Caliber has easy-to-follow instructional videos,” says Lindsay Scheele, expert product tester and the face of Garage Gym Reviews Everything. Lindsay tested the Caliber Pro membership, which gave Lindsay access to group programming and coaching. Lindsay Scheele is a certified personal trainer, ISSA-certified nutrition coach, Level 1 CrossFit coach, and lead reviewer on GGR Everything. She has a hard time not talking about fitness at family gatherings and thinks more about treadmills than Kayne thinks about Kayne. When not talking about treadmills, or testing out cold tubs, she loves lifting weights, trying new foods, and finding new music to share with friends.
Freeletics: HIIT Fitness Coach
5-star ratings were reserved for apps with a seamless user experience where workouts were easy to find, see, hear, follow along with, and track post-training. Nobody wants to pay for something they may not like, so fitness apps with free trials earn higher points than those without. In fact, apps with no trial periods earned a 1-star rating in this category. A 3-star rating meant the app offered a typical seven-day free trial. There’s a basic community feed that allows you to view others’ workouts, but not much else. It’s a simple, streamlined app that’s very beginner-friendly, but it’s not the best choice if you prefer to have access to more advanced features.
Data Used to Track You
Where applicable, apps were favored if they offered thoughtful training plans that incorporated progressive overload. In practice, this meant built‑in improvement plans that gradually increased weights, sets, reps, distance, or intensity over time, rather than random standalone workouts. Our team underwent hands-on testing of each app’s setup, usability, workout quality, and overall value, with a special focus on how well they support consistency over time. We looked for apps that are not only effective, but realistic to stick with for different lifestyles and fitness levels. Freeletics offers AI-powered coaching that adapts workouts based on your feedback and progress, creating a personalized experience similar to having a personal trainer.
Six Pack in 30 Days:Get Muscle
She loves spending time with her husband and kids and deep cleaning anything she can. Lindsay loves competing with friends and has done multiple half marathons, CrossFit competitions, and more. Most of the beginner-friendly apps provide workouts that require little to no equipment.
Why We Like Caliber Strength Training
- Pilates, yoga and walking workouts – alongside personalized nutritional plans and a food scan logger.
- If you hit your goals, you get your money back plus a split of the pot from people who didn’t.
- Overall, the Nike Run Club app provides all the tools to focus on cardio without any need to open up your wallet.
- Four made fitness feel like a noisy casino of streaks, notifications and random workouts.
- After her first daughter was born six years ago, she became especially passionate about prenatal and postnatal fitness, teaching stroller bootcamp classes and working with expecting moms as clients.
- In fact, apps with no trial periods earned a 1-star rating in this category.
This app breaks down the practice into accessible components, focusing on fundamentals before advancing to more challenging sequences. The emphasis on proper form and modifications helps prevent injury while building confidence. Plus, the exercise logging feature provides insight into calories free home workout apps burned during various activities.
How We Tested and Selected the Best Workout Apps
This makes Signature Collagen Complex useful not only for performance-focused individuals, but also for those looking to support healthy mobility and structural wellness. Whether you’re in for a follow-along workout or committing to a multi-week program, choose the work you put in. Vanguard is the king of low-cost investing, making it ideal for buy-and-hold and retirement investors. It offers a top-notch selection of proprietary, low-cost mutual funds, including many ESG options.
The BetterMe app is Pilates-focused workout app aimed toward beginners. It has a nutrition function where you can track calories or gather healthy meal ideas. One downside to TR[Ai]NER by Element 26 is that it doesn’t provide a ton of accountability. Since it is an AI-based app, you don’t get access to a human trainer.
What exercises burn belly fat?
You also won’t find any nutrition coaching or features like community leaderboards, forums, or push notifications to remind you to work out. You’ll also follow the workouts on your own, so aside from optional workout reminders, you’re not really getting any accountability with Shred. This isn’t a big deal for those who don’t mind training alone, but if you’re looking for accountability, you’ll need to choose a different option.
Shop More Of Our Workout Tech
Post-journalism school, Nicole worked in print media as a magazine editor for eight years, then went freelance for a while, writing for fitness websites and manufacturers in the industry. Now, as director of content at GGR, she brings her expertise in fitness to writing and editing honest reviews on everything you might need for your home gym. Its user-friendly interface invites you to enter the fitness world without feeling overwhelmed. This is a workout app for beginners who’ve always found fitness apps intimidating. This roundup review covers the 7 best exercise apps for beginners that just starting their healthy lifestyle journey. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, carrying extra weight, or intimidated by intense workouts, these apps meet you where you are now with customized programs and positively encouraging communities.
Best Workout Apps of 2026
You can essentially get a six-month-long training program without spending a dime. The app will only ask you to upgrade to a paid plan once you’re ready to start a fourth program, so we rated it at 5 out of 5 for its free trial. TR[Ai]NER by Element 26 is highly adaptable based on the information you give it. For example, our tester told the app that he also trains for Olympic weightlifting. It recommended some lower-body accessories he could perform without accumulating too much fatigue.