Now that lockdowns are lifting and vaccines are gradually becoming more accessible, it’s time to shed those unwanted pounds. Here are 10 fitness apps that can help get you moving and back into shape. These products are not paid endorsements and were chosen based on consumer reviews, expert insight, and the author’s evaluation. The winners are listed in alphabetical order.
7 Minute Workout
The 7 Minute Workout is the fitness app for busy people and those who know they need to exercise but just don’t want to waste time doing it. The app was designed by an exercise physiologist at Johnson & Johnson and offers a quick and easy way to fit exercise into everyone’s life, no matter their motivation or fitness ability. The 7 Minute Workout uses a science-based approach in a high intensity circuit training. The workouts move fast because while one muscle group rests, you start working a different area.
Why We Like 7 Minute Workout
The ease and simplicity of the 7 Minute Workout makes this one of the best fitness apps to use in 2021. It doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles but what it offers gets the job done. Here are more reasons it made our list of best fitness apps.
There are 72 exercises and 22 workouts that can be modified to create over 1,000 variations, ranging from low to high intensity.Workout duration ranges from 7 to 32 minutes, so you can choose how long you want to exercise and what area of the body to target.It has a Smart Workout feature that gauges your fitness and motivation level to create customized workouts.Instructional videos explain how to do each exercises properly, so you get the most out of the exercise and don’t injure yourself.It’s free and no equipment is required.
Download 7 Minute App
Aaptive
If you are a fitness class junkie, this is the app for you. The audio-only app offers unlimited access to thousands of audio-based workouts, led by expert trainers who give you tips, techniques, and support every step of the way. Take Aaptive on a run, work out at home, or hit the gym with your own personal trainer in your ear. All you need are headphones!
Why We Like Aaptive
Aaptive offers tons of workouts for every fitness level ranging from running, cycling, and elliptical to stretching, yoga, and strength training. “We embrace all paths: a morning run, a midday yoga session, an after-work gym class, or a bedtime meditation,” says Aaptive on their website. The fact that it is audio-only makes it easy to work out anywhere without the distractions of screens and technology. And the upbeat music designed for specific types of workouts ensures you never miss a beat. Here are more reasons why we love Aaptive.
Aaptiva offers over 30 new classes every week, so you shouldn’t get bored.They offer structured programs to help you achieve specific goals. For example, if you are ready to pick up the pace and move from walking to running, Aaptive has a program to help you get there. If you are a seasoned runner but not a racer, Aaptive can help you prepare for your first 5K.You don’t need Wi-Fi to use it — you can download classes to listen to offline.Users have access to a supportive, inspiring community group through the App.
Finally, we like that Aaptive offers a 100 percent money-back guarantee for the annual plan within 30 days, no questions asked. Download Aaptive If good health alone isn’t enough to get you off the couch and moving, maybe knowing your efforts are going to a good cause will. Charity Miles works with corporate donors to raise money to select organizations. For every mile you run or walk, $0.25 is donated to the charity of your choice and for every mile you bike, $0.10 is donated. It may sound too good to be true but it’s not.
Why We Like Charity Miles
It’s hard not to like anything or anyone that does good. Here are other reasons why Charity Miles made our list of best fitness apps for 2021.
It keeps track of how far you walked or ran and how much money you raised.They offer a choice of charities to donate to, and you don’t have to give to just one.It offers the ability to join or create a fundraising team so you can raise money collectively.It’s free and users like it as evident by the 4.8 out of 5 star rating in the App Store.
Download the Charity Miles App
FitOn
With over a million active users each month, FitOn must be doing something right. The secret sauce may be the instructors — many of whom are celebrity trainers. FitOn offers a huge variety of at-home workout classes — from stretch, HIIT, yoga and guided meditations — and for all skill levels, so no matter your fitness goals, you can find a class to help you reach it and never get bored.
Why We Like FitOn
Of 156,000 reviews in the App Store, FitOn gets 4.9 out of 5 stars and is rated No. 7 in Health and Fitness apps by Apple. One reviewer wrote, “This is a great app that works from beginners to advanced athletes, low intensity to high intensity, short workout if you’re in a hurry or longer ones when you have more time. I give it two thumbs up, five stars and absolutely rave to all my family.” That about sums it up but here are a few other reasons why we like it.
It’s free. No additional equipment is needed.For an additional fee ($19.99 per year), FitOn Pro offers customized meal plans, recipes and music options.The app offers a scheduling feature so you can sign up for classes with friends and message them during the class.
Download FitOn
Glo
Glo, formerly YogaGlo, offers unlimited yoga, Pilates, and meditation classes for beginners to advanced students at a moderate price. Classes are designed based on your specific needs, whether it’s to improve sleep, reduce stress, get stronger, or alleviate pain. You can also customize class duration based on your schedule. Only have 20 minutes? No problem. While there are many great yoga apps to consider, the many reviews praising Glo in the App Store make this our pick for top fitness apps in 2021.
Why We Like Glo
You can personalize your workout based on your needs. Work up a sweat in a power vinyasa class or destress in a hatha yoga class.You don’t have to show up at a set time. You can live stream classes in real time with other Glo members or download classes and practice from anywhere and at any time.Its easy-to-use search tools make finding what you want a snap.They offer a 15-day free trial, so you can test it out before you join.
Download Glo
JEFIT Workout Planner Gym Log
If you’re still walking around with a paper and pen to log your weightlifting routine, you need to download this app now. JEFIT offers detailed workout programs, instructional video exercises, and tools to log and track your workouts all from your phone. As noted in the App Store, over eight million people use JEFIT to track their workouts, and it currently gets 4.8 out of 5 stars among 29,800 ratings.
Why We Like JEFIT
It’s free, if you don’t mind ads; or for $3.33 per month, you can upgrade to the Elite annual membership for added benefits.You can move through workouts faster since you aren’t picking up and putting down your pad of paper.It offers users a built-in community of other weightlifters who offer support, motivation and a dose of healthy competition.You can customize the fitness plan and routines specific to your goals (six pack abs anyone?) or you can pick from over 1,300 exercises in the JEFIT library for inspiration.It’s instructional with detailed animations showing you how to do the exercises correctly, so you get the most benefit and avoid injury.
“This app is amazing for amateurs, pros, and workout addicts alike!” notes one happy customer in a review in the App Store. “The app itself is so easy to navigate, and with the thousands of selections of workouts that they have available (with visuals too!), you’ll be able to make your perfect workout schedule and get into shape! If you are looking for the perfect workout companion app, look no further my friend. You have found it.” Download JEFIT
MyFitnessPal
If you are the type of person who wants it all, MyFitnessPal app is for you. This popular health and fitness app logs your exercise and tracks caloric intake. Members love it — out of 1.2 million ratings, it gets 4.7 out of 5 stars.
Why We Like MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal has more than six million foods in its database, a barcode scanner, a recipe importer, a restaurant logger, and a calorie counter. No matter where you are and what you eat, you can find out how many calories you are consuming using MyFitnessPal. In addition to counting calories, the app tracks fat, protein, carbs, sugar, fiber, cholesterol, and more. It also keeps track of how much water you drink. In addition, its extensive exercise database reports calories burned based on workout. For example, MyFitnessPal informed me that based on my weight, I will burn 329 calories after an hour of power yoga. Walking for 35 minutes at a moderate pace allows me to burn 122 calories. Like many fitness app, MyFitnessPal offers a built-in community to help you stay motivated, feel supported and share ideas. It also offers additional food and fitness insights to help you make healthier choices. While the base membership is free, they offer a free one-month trial for the Premium subscription so you can see if it is worth the fee of $9.99 per month or $49.99 per year. Download MyFitnessPal
Nike Run Club
Nike Run Club (NRC) is that little voice in your head cheering you on! Touted as the “perfect running partner,” it allows you to set up training plans, challenges, and guided runs, and connects you to a social network of runners. You’ll never run alone with NRC.
Why We Like Nike Run Club
Nike Run Club rates high among reviews posted in the App Store, including achieving “Editor’s Choice” status. The audio-guided runs with Nike coaches and athletes are motivating and supportive. Coaches share pointers, tell you when to push yourself, reminds you to hydrate and keep you focused on the task at hand. “You are treated like an athlete,” says Laura Putnina in her Positive Fit blog. In addition, the choice of runs is varied both in level of challenge and duration (they even have a 5 minute “lunch run”) offering something for everyone. Here are more reasons to like Nike Run Club:
NRC tracks your distance using GPS.It offers benefits to beginner, intermediate, and advanced runners.If connects to Spotify.You can keep a log of how many miles logged in a pair of running shoes.It integrates with Nike Training Club, their other fitness app focused on workouts.
But the best feature may be that it’s free. No premium or elite subscriptions required. While the look of the app is strong and confident — just like the Nike brand — at the end of each run, your efforts are rewarded by little cheers and congratulations from celebrity and pro athletes. Download Nike Run Club
Peloton
Peloton, well known for its indoor bike workouts, also offers through its fitness app, thousands of live and on-demand classes — from bootcamp to cycling to yoga — taught by over 30 well-regarded instructors. If you love the energy of group classes, this is the app for you!
Why We Like the Peloton App
Peloton offers more than 10 live workouts a day from top trainers — including strength training, indoor and outdoor running, cycling, yoga, HIIT, meditation, and more — via the app that can be accessed from your iPhone, iPad, or from your TV. In an informal poll on Facebook, the majority of respondents voted Peloton their fitness app of choice. Of the 447,000 reviews in the App Store, Peloton received 4.9 out of 5 stars. Here are more reasons why we like it:
You don’t need to purchase the expensive Peloton bike or treadmill to reap the benefits.You can access a variety of different workout classes suitable for a range of fitness and skill levels.You don’t have to work out alone. The app allows you to work out in real time alongside others in class. You can high-five your friends and instructors can communicate with you through the leaderboard. One Facebook respondent commented, “I feel like I get to know the instructors.”It includes a guided running class that allows you to track your run.
Peloton is currently offering a free two-month trial, so you can see if you like it before you join. While it’s not free, we like that you get a lot for $12.99 per month. Download the Peloton App here
Sworkit
Whether you want to lose weight, tone muscle, improve flexibility, or do all of the above, Sworkit has a workout to help you reach your goals. The app offers more than 400 unique workouts — think yoga for runners — and over 800 exercises to get you moving. With over 26,000 ratings in the App Store, Sworkit gets 4.7 out of 5 stars and very favorable reviews. “I am just not a gym person, so I have tried numerous fitness apps and this is hands down my absolute favorite and the one I use exclusively these days.” says one reviewer in the App Store. “They provide highly customizable workouts. … The trainer does each exercise with you, and there’s an indicator for how much longer you have to that one particular exercise. Prior to starting the next exercise, there’s a demo and a brief interval allowing you to get in proper position. … I can’t even think of anything I would’ve done differently if I had designed this app myself, and that’s saying something.”
Why We Like Sworkit
Sworkit offers something for all fitness levels from beginners to serious athletes and even has a program for kids, which is free. You can customize workouts based on your fitness goals and how much time you have — choose the type of workout (strength, cardio, yoga, or stretching), your fitness goals (to tone, strengthen, or burn calories), and how long you’ve got to exercise, and Sworkit delivers a personalized workout. In addition, they offer sets of classes for monthly challenges. While you have to pay a monthly subscription, the fee seems reasonable since they provide access to certified trainers to answer your fitness and nutrition questions and one-on-one coaching. Download Sworkit
