Our Experts
Written by
Giselle Castro-Sloboda
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
Giselle Castro-Sloboda Fitness and Nutrition Writer
I’m a Fitness & Nutrition writer for CNET who enjoys reviewing the latest fitness gadgets, testing out activewear and sneakers, as well as debunking wellness myths. On my spare time I enjoy cooking new recipes, going for a scenic run, hitting the weight room, or binge-watching many TV shows at once. I am a former personal trainer and still enjoy learning and brushing up on my training knowledge from time to time. I’ve had my wellness and lifestyle content published in various online publications such as: Women’s Health, Shape, Healthline, Popsugar and more.
Expertise Fitness and Wellness
Think about where you’ll mainly be using the app. Do you work out at home, at the gym, outside or a mix of all three? If you like to run outdoors, for example, you’ll likely want an app that offers location tracking.
You’ll also want to figure out whether the app’s classes require you to have certain pieces of equipment on hand, like dumbbells or a yoga mat. Make sure you either have these items, or you have the budget to purchase them.
Think about what goals you’re trying to achieve when using the app. 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)? Some apps let you personalize your goals or even connect with a personal trainer to help you meet them.
There are fitness apps for every budget. Some are completely free or offer a free trial, and some require a monthly subscription. Your choice will ultimately depend on whether you think investing in a paid app will actually help you get closer to your goals and what you’re comfortable spending. Other things to consider are if you prefer live streaming or On Demand workouts.
Do you have a home gym but need more workout ideas? A fitness app can be really helpful, and there’s one for every kind of workout type. These workout apps focus on yoga, cardio, strength training and more. After the COVID-19 pandemic, I learned to adapt to at-home workouts and found I was most consistent when I downloaded the Future app, which paired me up with a coach who programmed my workouts around my goals.
We tested various workout apps to provide you with some of the best options. Many of these apps also offer free trials. That way you can give them a try before fully committing to them. Below are our picks for best workout apps as a guide at home or in the gym.
What is the best workout app overall?
The Nike Training Club is our pick for the best overall workout app because it’s free and offers a variety of classes, like HIIT, strength training, mobility and yoga, and you can even follow a program over the course of a month and decide how often you’re looking to work out. Because Nike is such a big name in fitness, a lot of its workouts draw inspiration from famous athletes, like Simone Biles or Serena Williams. If you prefer a workout app that’s more specific to your interests, such as yoga, there are others we recommend in the list below.
Best workout apps of 2025
Best Workout Apps for 2025
| Workout Apps | Type of workouts | Phone compatibility | Wearable compatibility | Cost | Live streaming and On Demand | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike Training Club | Bodyweight exercises, high-intensity interval training, cross-training, yoga, core exercises | iPhone, Android | Apple Watch | Free | Live streaming and On Demand | |
| Future | Personal training | iPhone, Android | Apple Watch, Google Pixel Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 or 5, Montblanc Summit 3 | $199/month | On Demand personalized program | |
| Peloton App One | On-demand workouts, from cycling, running and strength training to yoga, pilates and stretching. | iPhone, Android | Apple Watch, Android watches | $13/month, $129/year | Live streaming and On Demand | |
| Strava | Running and cycling tracker | iPhone, Android | Apple Watch, Garmin, Whoop, Fitbit and many other GPS watches | Free or $8/month, $60/year | Neither | |
| Sweat | Workout programs for home or in the gym, yoga, strength and pilates | iPhone, Android | Apple Watch | $25/month or $135/year | On Demand | |
| Ladder | Strength training | iPhone | Apple Watch | $30/month or $180/year | On Demand | |
| Alo Moves | Yoga, pilates, barre, meditation and more | iPhone | None | $13/month or $130/year | On Demand | |
| FitOn | Yoga, dance, Pilates, HIIT, Barre and more | iPhone, Android | Apple Watch, Fitbit, Samsung Watch, Whoop, Oura, Garmin, | Free, $25 for 6 month subscription, $40 for 1-year subscription | Live streaming and On Demand | |
| Apple Fitness Plus | Yoga, meditation, HIIT, Time to Walk, Time to Run, Kickboxing, strength training and more | iPhone | Apple Watch | $9.99/month, $79.99/year | Live streaming and On Demand |
In addition to our personal experience and expertise, here are the main factors we used to evaluate each workout app.
- Ease of use: We considered how user-friendly each app was, including whether it had easy-to-follow classes and a straightforward menu.
- Versatility: We looked at the variety of classes offered within the app to keep your exercise routine interesting. We determined whether the app is helpful for a range of workout types or would be best suited to specific fitness goals.
- Price: Workout apps vary in price, but we made sure we selected a mix of cheaper and pricier apps to fit a range of budgets.
- Programs: We looked at the programs to make sure there’s something for beginners, intermediate and more experienced users. We also considered whether the classes are live, on-demand or both and whether there’s any personalization or customization.
- Extra features: Some workout apps offer features like personal coaching, health tracking and smartwatch compatibility. We tested these features and noted which ones stood out or were most unique.
Finding your favorite workout app may require a bit of trial and error since you’ll want to see if you’re looking for a personalized experience or are comfortable with a cookie cutter plan.
Where will you be using the app? Think about where you’ll mainly be using the app. Do you work out at home, at the gym, outside or a mix of all three? If you like to run outdoors, for example, you’d likely want an app that offers location tracking. Similarly, when looking into a specific app, figure out whether its classes require you to have certain equipment on-hand, like dumbbells or a yoga mat.
Your goals: You should also think about your goals for using the app. Do you just want to get moving more often, or are there specific fitness goals (like running a certain speed or lifting a certain weight) that you want to achieve? Some apps allow you to personalize your goals or even connect with a personal trainer to help you meet them.
Budget: Lastly, know that there are workout apps for every budget — including free. Some require a monthly subscription to access, so take advantage of the free trials to determine if it’s worth the cost to you.
What is the best free workout app?
The best free workout app depends on what you’re going to be using it for. Nike Training Club offers a variety of classes, whereas an app like Strava is ideal if you’d like to keep metrics on your outdoor adventures. A good place to start is by searching your App Store and seeing what free workout apps it has to offer.
What is the best workout app for iPhones?
iPhones have many fan favorite workout apps to pick from, which include many on this list like Peloton, Nike Training Club and Strava.
How much do fitness and workout apps cost?
Fitness and workout app prices vary. Some are free or offer free trials for a week or month, which lets you test out the app before officially committing to it. Others can cost less than $10, under $50 or as much as $100 a month, depending on how personalized the experience tends to be.
Can you do personal training through workout apps?
Yes, with newer workout apps, such as Future, you can get connected to a personal trainer through an app. It will cost more compared with other apps but will be cheaper than a standard personal training session at the gym.
Do fitness and workout apps really work?
This depends on your goals and how consistent you are with a workout routine. Workout apps make it easier to work out anywhere, with or without equipment, and they take out the guesswork for you.
