If you're looking to save time and money on a gym membership, one of the best workout apps can help you fit in your workouts from your living room. Whether you're new to exercise or looking to try something different, these apps can take you through the sessions to get there.
While gyms have their undeniable perks - and you can use the best workout apps there too - there's nothing like grabbing your yoga mat and a set of dumbbells or setting up your walking pad for a home workout. Whether it's to fit exercise into a busy schedule or try something new, they can help boost motivation and how many times you actually exercise every week.
"It's important to make positive habits that you can stick to and be realistic," says Rosie Stockley, a personal trainer and women's fitness specialist. "Go for workouts that are going to inspire you and keep you coming back and also fit with your goals. For example, if you've signed up for a 10km run, you're going to need to focus on a running program to build your strength and endurance but then you might also want something for your days off, like yoga mat workouts." And if you need to keep track of your progress, one of the best fitness apps should help with that.
Looking to find your favourite? We spoke to the experts and rounded up a collection of the best workout apps - from Apple Fitness+ and Peloton to stretching apps like Pliability - and tested them against important criteria like ease of use, cost, and versatility.
The best workout apps for women
The best workout app overall
If you're an owner of any Apple device, whether that be an iPhone, iPad, or laptop, you can take advantage of everything Apple Fitness+ has to offer - and there's so much. Out of all the workout apps we tried, this was the one that ticked all the boxes as it was versatile, easy to use, had a huge range of workouts, and was relatively budget-friendly with everything considered.
Our editor, Kerrie Hughes, is a keen gym-goer and regularly works out. I challenged her to try the app for an Apple Fitness+ review. She's not looked back since. "I am so pleasantly surprised with this app. It's been in my back pocket the entire time though, so I'm kicking myself I've only just discovered it. The way the strength classes are structured makes it accessible for everyone - if you have experience, you can follow one instructor and challenge yourself. And if you are a total beginner, there is always someone in the class demoing a scaled-back option, which isn't something many other apps don't offer," she says.
At just under £8 per month, Apple Fitness+ is cheaper than any gym membership and there are not just home workouts to take advantage of. This platform hosts running, walking, cycling, swimming, yoga, Pilates, HIIT, and even kickboxing workouts with high-quality video demonstrations and personalisation options.
For more information, read our full Apple Fitness+ review.
The best workout app for the gym
Fitbod is an excellent app for those just getting started with strength training for women in the gym, or looking for a way to plan workouts ahead of time. The app comes in with your very own customised training plan after sign-up. You'll get to plan all your workouts, with details for reps and sets, and see a quick demonstration of each of the exercises.
On sign-up, the app will ask you a series of questions - from what type of gym you exercise in and the equipment available to how often you intend to exercise - to determine the best training plan for you. It then creates a full workout schedule based on these factors and even considers recovery time for overworked muscle groups.
I found using the app in the gym to be a discreet process. As it's all on your phone, no one can tell you're getting insights, instructions, and demonstrations between sets, which can help beat any pesky feelings of insecurity in a new setting.
The element of Fitbod I found the most beneficial was the workout videos, however. There's so much focus on the benefits of strength training at home, but not every workout app actually shows newcomers in the gym how to use basic equipment like dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, and even resistance bands. While having a personal trainer is possible for some people, it's not within everyone's budget. Each of the workouts and movements programmed on Fitbod comes with its own video demonstration, so you can learn the right form from day one.
The best workout app for yoga and Pilates
YogaGlo has one of the largest ranges of yoga sessions I've seen from a home workout app, helping users to make the most of their workouts. Along with daily live classes with an online instructor, there are pre-programmed classes on the app to do whenever suits you.
I loved how there were so many different styles to choose from, including traditional Vinyasa and Tao Yin, alongside sessions for those with injuries, who want to practice with a partner or those who are looking for a more relaxed workout session. I used this app plenty over lockdown and have kept up my weekly habit ever since. I've found probably almost 100 classes in that time that I love and keep going back to, with pre-uploaded sessions to choose from as well as live classes.
With YogaGlo, you also no longer have to weigh up yoga vs Pilates either because you can do both. It's one of the best workout apps as it promotes strengthening the body and mind, with Pilates with weights workouts alongside classic full-body Pilates workouts and more focused Pilates abs workouts.
No equipment is required, but one of the best thick yoga mats is recommended to support your body as you work out.
The best workout app for running
While there are plenty to choose from in 2025, Runna is our favourite of all the running apps. I've used this app myself for a year now for a mix of marathon training and regular cardio exercises. I love how it's completely personalised, despite being AI-led, and the interface is so easy to use.
On sign-up, you simply input your running goals - whether that's running 20 minutes a day or a half-marathon in six weeks - and your fitness level, along with any prior personal bests, and the app creates a bespoke running plan for you. If you want you, can also add strength training for runners and mobility-focused sessions into your plan, with a calendar view detailing your workouts for that week.
You can also adapt your sessions to running outdoors, trail, on a track, or treadmill. However, you will need to be able to calibrate your fitness tracker if you're planning on a treadmill run, as it doesn't always match up.
If you're going on holiday, tell Runna and the app will re-programme your rest weeks to fit in with your life. You can also add or skip workouts, so it really feels like an app that works with you, meeting you where you're at.
Given the expense of having a coach in the real world, the fee doesn't seem too extortionate, though it is more expensive than some other running apps and workout apps on this list.
The best workout app for indoor cycling
Contrary to popular belief, you don't need a pricey Peloton bike to make the most of the Peloton app. You can use any type of bike in your own home or even at the gym - including a pre-bought Peloton bike, spin bike, or smart trainer. However, it's best suited for those who enjoy spin classes and want to experience all the benefits of indoor cycling to music as each Peloton session comes with an instructor to walk you through the session and a unique workout playlist.
After the free sign-up, you answer a couple of questions about what type of workout you'd like to do, your desired intensity, what equipment you have, and how long you like to ride for, before being offered a selection of sessions to try for yourself from various instructors. On the homepage, you can track how many sessions you've done that week, month, or 90-day period, and a button on the bottom left corner allows you to track activities outside of a Peloton class, like outdoor cycling or hiking.
I loved how versatile the Peloton app is, being one of the best yoga apps and strength training apps too. There are plenty of other types of workouts in the app included as well, which makes it suited for those who want to cross-train as well as focus on cycling. You'll find Pilates and floor workouts, along with treadmill training sessions so good you'll be debating running vs cycling for a long time afterwards.
The best workout app for HIIT training
Way back in lockdown days, I used the Fiit app almost every day and five years later, it's still one of my go-to workout apps for a quick sweat session at home. While there's strength training, yoga, Pilates, and cardio activities to choose from, I found the HIIT workouts to be the best part of the app. These yoga mat workouts use basic weights to challenge upper and lower body strength, core strength, balance, agility, and so on, so it's perfect for a full-body workout.
Like Apple Fitness+ or Peloton, the Fiit app is expertly produced. You can break a sweat with celebrities like Fearne Cotton alongside expert trainers in a studio-level produced workout - all from the comfort of your own living room. And for under £8 per month, it's a lot cheaper than a gym membership.
Much like Glo, there is a range of pre-set workout videos to choose from so you can always train at the time that suits you best. However, there are also live workouts of between 10 and 60 minutes with the trainers to sign up for.
Ultimately, I love how versatile this app is. You can either invest in Fiit and sign up for the full version of the app, complete with the additional heart rate monitor so trainers and other members can compete with you on screen, or just use the free version and train with the pre-set workouts.
The best versatile workout app
Freeletics keeps things simple by getting you to choose how you want to train when you sign up. It could easily be our best strength training app on this list, as you can use it in the gym or at home with equipment too by choosing workouts based on what you have.
Choose from bodyweight, running, dumbbell, barbell, or kettlebell training plans. You also might like to do this in your local park or at home as a home workout.
The app incorporates HIIT into 30-minute sessions and there are over 1000 workout variations to choose from. At the start, you're asked to fill out a quick questionnaire to establish your goals, and then you'll be given a handy plan to follow for up to 12 weeks.
Freeletics is an app run with AI software, much like Runna, meaning you get a digital coach right at your fingertips for significantly less per month than you'd have to pay for a personal trainer. While I was sceptical about how well this would work when I first signed up, I was positively surprised by the usefulness of the insights and session plans, which are fully adaptable depending on where you're training and what you have available.
The best workout app for short sessions
If you've only got a very short amount of time to exercise or you're focused on strength training but want to include some cardio activity at the end of your session, Seven is a great app to try out. It's ultimately based on a study by the Lebanese American University, among others, that suggests seven minutes of exercise per day is all we need to change our body composition.
Much like Freeletics, you create a personalised workout plan for yourself based on your goal (Burn Calories, Build Muscle, or Get Healthier), which days of the week you want to train, and the time you're planning to work out (to receive reminders). This makes Seven one of the best organisation apps on our list as well.
Once your training plan is ready, you simply click to get started and a small, animated graphic will begin on the screen showing the exercise movement to follow. After 30 seconds, it changes and you complete another one until the seven minutes is up. It's undoubtedly the easiest workout app I've used so far, with an easy-to-navigate interface and great usability. Plus, I loved how you can target different areas of the body with different training plans.
The best workout app for Android users
If Apple Fitness+ is the best workout app for those with Apple products, Fitbit Premium is the best pick for those using Android products and one of the best Fitbits or the Google Pixel Watch 3.
Once your device is all synced up, you'll be able to track everything from your heart rate, calories burned, and step count to your Daily Readiness Score, stress levels, and sleep quality. Where Fitbit Premium comes into its own though, in my opinion, is the vast array of workout videos available to stream on your phone or connected device from the likes of Les Mills, CycleBar, and obé. Even McCall has a selection of strength and Pilates-focused workouts you can follow along with in the app.
There's certainly an argument for weighing up Fitbit Premium vs free before investing since many of the same features offered by the subscription are available with the free version of the app. However, you won't have the nearly same access to workouts, which can be played on your phone or tablet. There's also a vast array of recipes and mindfulness sessions as the platform has partnerships with some of the best meditation apps.
How we chose the best workout apps
To help you find a workout app that's right for you, we consulted the experts on what makes a great user experience and rounded up the best workout apps out there for you to access. From budget-friendly free options to more premium personalised subscription-based services, get ready to take your workouts to a whole new level. When testing the best workout apps, we considered the following factors:
- Ease of use: Working out shouldn't be a chore but faulty tech or difficulty accessing your workouts can make it so. I noted how easy each of these apps was to use from a real-world perspective.
- Specialist equipment: Was it easy to follow the workouts without any specialist equipment? In many cases, you'll have access to some light weights or the essential items needed for the activity you've chosen. However, I noted which workout apps required additional items like heart rate monitors.
- Video workouts: Are the workouts available in video form to follow along to? Whether it's a home workout app offering classes or video demonstrations of certain movements, I found the best workout apps had this in common.
- Activity type: It's important to exercise in a way that you enjoy, so I reviewed apps from across the fitness spectrum - everything from yoga to cycling - to help you find the best one for you and your lifestyle.
- RRP: Many of the apps on this list are free to download but require some kind of paid subscription or a one-off payment for the services offered. I noted which ones were more affordable than others and which ones were more of a premium purchase.
How to get the most out your pick of the best workout apps
- Get equipment: "If you’re training from home or in a park, some basic workout equipment can be beneficial," says David Wiener, a training specialist at Freeletics, one of our best workout apps. "I’d suggest resistance bands and a couple of dumbbells or kettlebells, to begin with." He adds, "I’d also advise a decent quality workout mat if you’re working out from home. It will be more comfortable and can prevent injury from slipping."
- Progress up: "Adjustable dumbbells are a great way to increase the challenge," says Jones. "But if they aren't an option, then resistance bands come in a wide variety of strengths, so you can scale the intensity up or down depending on your level or the exercises that you are using them with." He adds that a Swiss ball and sliders can be a great way to upgrade the core exercises to do at home and lower body exercises.
- Swap screens: "I’d recommend having the ability to stream the app through your TV," recommends personal trainer Aimee Victoria Long. "This can help you maintain correct form and lower the risk of injury. It can also make you feel like you're there in person in a class, and can reduce the risk of distractions through your phone."
- Tweak position: "If you have to use your phone or laptop to view a workout, be sure it is at eye level," advises Stockley. "So if you are doing a workout on the floor then have it closer to the floor, or if you are exercising standing then avoid having to bend down to see the device."
- Face your screen: Make sure you are facing the screen too. "You don’t want to be turning your head to the side or rotating your torso to view a screen whilst performing an exercise as this can have a large impact on your form," warns Jones.
