Exercise Apps To Get You Fit

It’s that time of year. The celebrations are over and only the bitter dregs remain.

You know what I’m talking about. The last thing you did before going to bed was eat leftover stuffing directly from the fridge — and now you’re having a slice of pie for breakfast. You can’t remember the last time you did anything more strenuous than haul holiday packages to the local UPS Store franchise. The weather is discouraging, the days are short, and though you have no intention of stepping on a scale anytime soon, you can already tell by the fit of your pants that the readout won’t be favorable. 

Of course, you’re not alone. Even though it’s largely a myth that Americans put on weight during holidays, the sluggishness one feels from abandoning regular health and fitness routines makes New Year’s resolutions seem all the more imperative. According to Forbes, 39% of Americans made getting fit their top priority for 2023, second only to improving mental health (45%). At 37%, dieting comes in at a close third.

Year after year, people express dissatisfaction with their take home pay, lack of charitable giving, stress levels, and the quality of their relationships. Yet when it comes time to make a resolution, we tend to focus on our swelling guts and lack of muscle definition. 

And each year,  more of us — the same Forbes article mentioned above says 52%— are looking for digital assistance when it comes to meeting fitness goals. If that sounds like you, read on to find an exercise app that meets your specific needs.

What To Look For in an Exercise App

• It’s a good fit for your skill level. 

If you’re just starting an exercise routine, you’ll want an app that is both easy to use and has bells and whistles designed to motivate you, like a variety of live and on-demand classes. More advanced fitness gurus might prefer a simpler user experience that allows you to create a custom workout program and chart your daily progress. 

• It can be tailored to your personal goals. 

Most fitness apps allow you to input data in order to set goals. Increasingly, app builders are using AI to further segment and personalize exercise routines. Fitness apps can suggest new exercises, show how to use proper form, and tell users when to increase activity levels. If you want to set it and forget it, look for an exercise app that can evolve as you reach your goals.  

• It’s flexible enough to stave off complacency. 

Some people are content to do the same routine, week after week, year after year. Others feel bored or reach a fitness plateau unless they switch things up. If you fall into the latter category, you definitely want an app that will give you access to a variety of exercises, not just weight lifting, yoga and Pilates, meditation, or a single form of cardio. 

• It has a robust accountability system.

Many apps contain community boards that allow you to share success stories and compare strategies. You might also choose a fitness app that gives you the option to share progress directly to your social channels so that friends and family can help cheer you on.

• It’s affordable over the long haul.

The New York Times recently ran a story about how much Americans spend on subscription services. The average — $273 a month in 2021 — is a bit shocking. Fortunately, some companies offer free versions of their exercise app, others apps are free of charge, and most premium services have free trials.

Our Favorite Apps

Peloton

The Peloton app gives users access to thousands of live and on-demand classes in spin, yoga, meditation, stretching, rowing, strength training, and more. The app also allows you to build an individual training program using either of its paid plans, Peloton One and Peloton+. 

Peloton One costs $12.99 per month or $129 per year. This option gives you unlimited access to many classes but only supports three “cardio equipment” classes per month. 

Peloton+ costs $24 a month or $240 per year. When you upgrade, you get access to exclusive classes and fitness challenges, unlimited cardio equipment classes, and the ability to use a compatible cadence monitor to track live metrics when using a Peloton cardio product.

The company offers a 30-day free trial for both of its plans. 

Apple Fitness Plus 

Peloton’s rival in the exercise app universe is Apple Fitness Plus, which offers its own digital library of exercise classes including cardio, strength training, meditation, yoga, and more. 

The app can automatically tailor classes to your fitness level or create a custom fitness plan based on your personal preferences. If you own or wish to purchase an Apple Watch, you’ll have access to real-time metrics. 

Apple Fitness Plus will set you back $9.99 per month, or $79.99 per year. New subscribers get three months free when they buy an Apple Watch, iPad, iPhone, or Apple TV. Already have all the devices you need? If it’s your first time using the app, you’ll get the first month free.

Find What Feels Good

If you’re a woman of a certain age, there’s a decent chance you got hooked on Adriene Mishler’s popular YouTube channel, Yoga with Adriene, during the pandemic lockdowns. Find What Feels Good (FWFG) is an “online library of yoga, mindfulness, and fitness classes” taught by Adriene and other seasoned professionals. 

Access to the online library (including the complete series of Yoga with Adriene) and premium courses costs $12.99 per month or $129 per year. 

While the classes themselves are exceptional, you won’t be able to customize workouts to your strength or ability level, something prospective users should keep in mind.

30 Day Fitness at Home

This popular app allows you to personalize fitness goals, has a library of videos that demonstrate proper form, and contains 300+ workouts designed to target specific body areas. 

A daily progress tracker makes it easy to visualize fitness goals. Moreover, Apple users can sync this app with Apple Health in order to track daily steps and monitor calories.

For $69.99 a year, you get access to everything 30 Day Fitness at Home has to offer. 

Caliber

If you want an exercise app that is completely free but does most of the same things paid fitness apps do, the Caliber Strength Training App is for you. One feature of the Caliber fitness coaching program — a paid service — the free version of Caliber App allows you to program and track fitness goals while giving you access to a wide variety of workouts. 

Caliber is user friendly and has standout third party app integration. It also sends users helpful information each week to keep them on track with fitness goals. 

Gymshark Training App

Another free exercise app, the Gymshark Training App is available to both Apple and Android users. It allows you to create your own custom workouts and workout plans, explore its workout library, and track your daily progress. 

Gymshark does not update workouts automatically or make customized suggestions to improve your fitness plan, but it is easy to edit both diet and exercise information on the app.

Fitness AI

FitnessAI allows you to customize workouts you can do either at the gym or from the comfort of home. The app automatically calculates changes to your routine based on the data you input based on a training system called “progressive overload.” 

Where the app shines is in its user interface — according to most reviews, the design is sleek and inviting, with bold graphics demonstrating proper form and detailed summaries of fitness goals. 

Fitness AI offers a free trial for the first seven days, followed by a weekly membership fee of $3.99 or a yearly subscription fee of $89.99. 

Some Final Thoughts

It takes over two months to form a habit. About 80% of people abandon their New Year’s resolutions by February — before they are able to take advantage of the neurological changes that make habitual activities easier to stick with. 

The novelty of using an exercise app may help you get through the slog until you develop a fitness habit. But it’s not magic. The best way to ensure success is to be realistic about goals — will you, the night owl, really be getting up in the winter dawn to hit the gym? — and try not to overdo it with injuries that can derail you early on, especially if you are older. 

As for the apps themselves, most offer similar features that will get your heart pumping and increase your muscle mass if you put in the work yourself. Ultimately it comes down to user interface and personal preferences.

An app with a paid subscription may not be worth the monthly charge if you are a seasoned workout pro who’s simply fallen off the wagon and wants an accountability system they can customize themselves. On the other hand, if you are interested in add-ons like coaching or access to classes taught by celebrity instructors, you will have to pony up some dough for the privilege.