Start with the basics—logging exercises, sets, and reps—and add complexity only if you need it. MyFitnessPal is the only app on this list with comprehensive nutrition tracking in the free version. It includes a massive food database and macro tracking. However, meal planning features are limited without premium.
Strong
Training readiness combines multiple metrics to give you a top-level score about how beneficial training is today. In practice, it helped me decide whether the day was a rest day, easy day or day to push myself. The downside is software — the Zepp app could use some refinement. Like Garmin, it shows a lot of data and options, but can get confusing the further you dive into everything.
Best Apps For Tracking Your Exercise Goals
The app has badges, achievements, and social features for a gamified running experience. The workouts are easy to follow because there are video demonstrations of each exercise, along with the allotted time you should spend on each one. This prevents you from losing track during your workout and mentally prepares you for the next exercise. The app also connects to your Apple Watch to provide health metrics such as your heart rate and logs your activities. It’s an interactive site for recording food/nutrition and exercise activity logs, and you can log your mood as well. Create goals and see progress, and browse the articles and forums for advice and support.
Connect with over 12 million Jefit members
The free version tracks your runs, rides, and other cardio activities using GPS. Access a comprehensive database of exercises with the ability to add custom exercises tailored to your routine. Every gym visit becomes gym001, gym002… Log sets in real time or after your session.
Members can pick and choose their workouts daily, or they can follow curated plans each week. A couple of our favorite free apps for tracking strength training is Jefit. It allows you to track your own strength training workouts with their library of exercises, each with written and visual instructions. Another good workout tracker is Hevy, which has a robust community of support where you can share your workouts and view, like and comment on others’ workouts.
Workout Planning & Logging
- Quickly view past exercise progress with the tap of a button to see how you are progressing over time and view your progress in beautiful charts.
- We spent over 40 hours testing workout tracking apps across iOS and Android devices.
- Gymaholic offers a robust Apple Watch experience for on-wrist workout tracking.
- If you want everything in one place, MyFitnessPal combines nutrition and exercise tracking.
- This app costs $25 a month ($135 a year) but lets you test it for free for seven days if you’re a new member.
- It’s especially popular among runners and walkers due to its GPS-based route mapping and performance analysis.
All your workout logs, weight changes, and measurements are saved locally on your device. This means you can close your browser, shut down your computer, and come back later to find all your progress exactly where you left it. Understand your progress with detailed, easy-to-read workout charts and stats for every exercise. View trends over time for your reps, weights, and total volume to see how your strength and endurance are improving. Identify patterns, celebrate personal records, and make informed decisions to keep your training on track toward new goals.
How we test the best workout apps
However, it is worth noting that it doesn’t support cardio tracking. The free version lets you log unlimited workouts, view progress graphs, and save your favorite routines. There is a Pro version with advanced features like body measurement tracking and unlimited workout templates, but most casual lifters will find everything they need in the free tier. FitOn is a standout app because of its library of high-quality workouts led by celebrity trainers—all for free.
What is the best free workout app?
The apps are similar or identical, and the square shape of the watch makes it easy to scroll through notifications and texts. It shows detailed workout, health and sleep metrics via Apple Health and Apple Fitness, no subscription required. You can also use the Siri voice assistant to make requests and send voice texts, which is much easier than typing a text mid-run, in my experience. If you don’t feel the need for an online support system, there are still ways to stay on top of your workouts.
Strong – Best for Minimalist Logging
Know what you like, what you don’t, and how much convincing you would need to change that. The Oura Ring comes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtlX0ZJ9AXk in six colors and a range of sizes. While you can use the Oura Ring without a subscription, you’ll be limited to the current day’s sleep, readiness and activity scores. The most important are training readiness, training status and HRV (heart rate variability) status, which work in tandem to help optimize your training and recovery. The watch has up to 18 hours of battery life, according to the brand — that’s less than most competitors.
Use Hevy on the desktop and get a big screen view of your routines, exercise progress, and see your friend’s workouts!
By pairing advanced data tracking with personalized guidance from a credentialed dietitian, Nutrisense helps you build habits that support your health goals. Cronometer is a free app that analyzes the nutrients consumed and the calories burned through physical activity. Cronometer also allows users to set goals and track their progress over time.
Get fitter, faster, smarter
MyFitnessPal is one of the most widely used fitness apps for good reason. It’s a comprehensive tool that allows you to track both your workouts and nutrition.This making it perfect for those wanting a holistic view of their fitness journey. Some are completely free or offer a free trial, and some require a monthly subscription.
There are also YouTube Shorts, and many fitness creators are posting their shorter, simpler techniques on these less-than-60-second videos. We found the 7 Minute Workout app to be the best for fitting in quality workouts quickly with busy schedules. Apps like Caliber offer limited free coaching check-ins, but ongoing support requires payment. Some apps include this free (FitNotes, Hevy), while others lock it behind premium (Strong, MyFitnessPal). This becomes crucial if you ever want to switch apps.
