Best mobile apps for workouts & fitness tracking

From tomorrow, next Monday, at the beginning of the month or year, we decide to finally start training, but every time something prevents us from doing so or every single time we are just looking for meaningless excuses. More often we don’t go to the gym for one simple reason – we don’t have time for this or enough motivation. But this does not mean that you need to completely give up physical activity. Don’t panic if you don’t go to the gym every day. We present the top 10 best mobile apps for workout and fitness tracking that will help you to stay fit or start your fitness journey and get the body of your dreams. Also, you can find a short explanation of the main fitness app types and choose the right one that suits your needs.  

How often do people use fitness applications?

According to Statista, during the first quarter of 2020, health and fitness apps were downloaded 593 million times. It is projected that by the end of the second quarter of 2020, health and fitness apps will have generated 656 million downloads. In the same quarter of the previous year, health and fitness apps were only downloaded 446 million times. This increase is largely due to the global coronavirus pandemic which has caused consumers to stay at home and restructure their exercise regimen and general lifestyle practices.

By Flurry Analytics Survey, health and fitness app statistics show that users are loyal to their favorite apps. Almost 96% use only one fitness app. Over 75% of active users open their apps at least two times a week. As well, 25% of the most engaged users open health or fitness apps more than 10 times a week. 

Here are the benefits of using workout & fitness mobile apps. They allow you to monitor your progress easily, give health and fitness tips and guidelines, help to plan your workout plan, provide personal coaches, trainers, track food steps, water intake and keep you motivated. 

Which are the main types of fitness and workout mobile applications?

The most popular types of workout mobile applications are: 

• Activity tracking apps

Such fitness tracking applications allow monitoring of everything a user does during the day. They collect data on the number of steps taken, distance covered, the number of stairs climbed, speed run, hours slept, and provide insight into the number of calories burned.

• Diet and nutrition apps

Almost 18% of females and 10% of male US users are actively using applications to track their diet and nutrition. Depending on personal goals, users can rely on such applications to lose or gain weight, control their healthy eating habits, monitor the consumption of calories, and much more.

• Exercising apps

A workout application is like a personal trainer inside your smartphone. For the most part, such applications allow you to get personal training sessions in real-time with the coaches you choose. They allow users to create workout plans based on personal goals, preferences, physical conditions, etc.

• High-intensity interval training

Such applications are very popular among busy users. They offer short training workouts that last for ~10 minutes. Because of high-intensity exercises, users spend a lot of energy and burn calories over a short time.

• Personal trainer or studio app

Some personal trainers and training studios have their own custom workout apps. A possible set of functionalities can be very diverse, like features that allow you to choose a trainer, look up their schedules, find free time to book training sessions.

• Meditation and Yoga apps

This type of fitness application provides users with different levels of exercises that help them keep peace of mind and do yoga. It is important to remember that such practices should be divided into different levels of complexity based on users’ levels.

TOP 10 Fitness Mobile Apps

Here are our top 10 picks:

• Nike Traning Club 
• Seven
• Sworkit
• Runtastic 
• Map My Fitness
• JEFIT Workout Tracker 
• Shred
• My FitnessPal
• Daily Yoga 
• Fitbit Coach

With these mobile apps, anyone can start physical activity today. We have compiled a list of supplements that can be useful for both beginners and long-term trainees. So let’s get acquainted with their capabilities and functions separately.

Nike Traning Club 

The NTC is a program that contains over 60 complex activities designed by professional Nike athletes and coaches. The total number of exercises presented in the program is over 185+, and most of them affect several muscle groups at once. Classes are built on an interval system and take 15, 30, or 45 minutes. For most complexes, you don’t need any special equipment, so you can practice at home, outdoors, or wherever you want.

After starting the program, you will be asked to choose the purpose of the training, then your level of training, and then one of several training complexes. Each exercise is accompanied by prompts and motivating cues from your virtual trainer.

The Nike Training Club program has an interesting implementation of the motivational component. Each of your lessons will be taken into account and summed up, and upon reaching a certain number of points, additional exercises, complexes, and virtual trainers will open for you. Thus, as you grow in sports, new activities will be available to you, which will make the program relevant and useful for a very long time.

After installing the Nike Training Club software, you will be prompted to download additional materials, which are detailed step-by-step illustrations and videos for each exercise. All this wealth takes up over 250 MB, so make sure you have free space on your device. 

Rating in App Store: 4.9, Google Play: 4.1. NTC is a repeat App Store Editors’ Choice Award winner. Nike Training Club premium is free.

Pros:

• It’s free.
• No need for an internet connection.
• Bonus workouts from celebrity athletes and trainers.

Cons:

• It takes up a lot of space.

Our rating: 9/10 stars.

Seven – 7 Minute Workout

Seven’s workouts are based on scientific studies to provide the maximum benefit in the shortest time possible. Tailor-made workouts target your goal areas to make sure you get the most out of your training. It has over 30 million users. This app offers to create a habit of training with our daily 7-minute workout challenge.

On the first launch, the app will clarify your goal – just keep fit, get stronger, or lose weight. You will also need to indicate which days you can afford to exercise. Besides, the program will offer to buy a subscription, but if you just close this window, then it will function in a free version. The 7-minute workout isn’t designed for everyone. Those who are beginner exercisers will likely not hold up well-performing this intensive routine.

You can enter information about other types of activity (running, walking, cardio) into the program so that you get a real diary of your activity. It gives access to over 200 exercises and workouts to vary your training. You can also receive exclusive support and guidance from a certified personal trainer. 

Rating in App Store: 4.8, Google Play: 4.4. One month subscription costs $9.99 and 1 year costs $59.99. It’s named Editors’ Choice in Google Play and App Store. 

Pros:

• It requests no permission to access many other settings and programs on your device.
• Easy to understand and listen to while you exercise.
• Good visual content and graphics.
• Tracking progress helps with motivation.

Cons:

• The app gives a few seconds for warm-up exercises. 
• Not for beginners.

Our rating: 9/10 stars.

Sworkit

If you’re looking for the right pocket trainer for home workouts, then be sure to try Sworkit. It is a daily workout app whether your goal is weight loss, muscle gain, improved flexibility, or weight maintenance. Sworkit delivers more than 400 unique workouts and over 800 exercises. The program is designed to help you make fitness a habit.

You choose the time – from 1 minute to 90 minutes – and the app provides a variety, including strength training, stretching, cardio, yoga, and more. You can also save your own custom workouts.

Sworkit has smooth navigation, which makes it very easy to use. It allows you to create, store, and even share your personal workout routine with others. a unique library of kids’ workouts, perfect for any young ones. Kids Content is 100% free and does not require a subscription.

Rating in App Store: 4.7, Google Play: 4.1. It gives a free 7-day trial period to evaluate the product then you have to subscribe for the premium version ($4.99 per month).  

Pros:

• Personalized recommendations.
• Customizable.
• Kids’ content.

Cons:

• Technical issues. Black screen appears after some minutes of use.
• Between activities transitions are fast.

Our rating: 8/10 stars

JEFIT

If you’ve been doing fitness or bodybuilding for a long time, then you probably already realized that keeping a diary in the gym is an incredibly necessary thing, but despite this, many still neglect it. But, if you are not this type of person, and going to the gym with a notebook and pen is not very convenient for you, take a look at Jefit. Over 8 million people use JEFIT to track their workouts and transform their bodies.

Jefit is a personal training diary with great functionality. It allows you to create personalized workout programs, track your progress, record your training logs, count rest time, and also аnalyze your workout data.

This app contains 1,300 exercises supported with full HD videos: Barbell, Dumbbell, Machines, Cable, Band, Cardio, Elliptical, Rowing, Bike, Swimming, Static Movements, Planks, Stretching, Abs, Bodyweight, Kettlebell, Core. 

Via JEFIT you can store your workouts in the Cloud and share it with your personal trainer. 

Rating in App Store: 4.8, Google Play: 4.4. It has a free basic option, Elite Monthly for $6.99 and Elite Yearly subscription for $39.99.

Pros:

• Workout routine creating and cloud sharing.
• Many features are available in the free version.
• Rest time counting.

Cons:

• Requires a lot of “next” button-pushing.
• Confusing interface.
• Audio coaching lacks.

Our rating: 9/10 stars

Fitbit Coach

Whether you own a Fitbit tracker or not, you can use the Fitbit Coach app. This application suggests personalized workout videos, audio coaching for all levels. You can stick to your fitness goals with bodyweight, run, and walk workouts. Choose from multiple trainers and activity levels, customize your fitness soundtrack with Fitbit Radio, which offers seven stations. 

New workouts are added constantly to keep things fresh, so you can never do the same routine twice with hundreds of exercises. There are 7 to 60 minutes of workout programs, that can be done right from your phone or computer. Fitbit Coach is available in English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish.

You must have an active Internet connection to use Fitbit Coach. You can’t download ahead of time and it stores the workout audio/video sessions on the device much like what other apps do. And if you want to repeat the same workout session, first you need to re-download it. 

Rating in App Store: 3.6, Google Play: 4.4. Fitbit Coach is free to download, the free account gives you very limited workouts. It has a Premium version ($9.99/per month; $79.99/per year).

Pros: 

• High-quality programs.
• Audio coaching for all levels.
• Fitbit Radio.

Cons:

• An active internet connection is required. 
• Subscription is a must.
• Music player lacks. 
• You need to re-download the same workout video. 

Our rating: 8/10.

Daily Yoga 

Yoga is no longer simply a singular pursuit but a lifestyle choice. Here is one of the best apps for yoga lovers. There are many programs and individual workouts for different fitness levels and goals: improving flexibility, relieving stress, developing specific areas of the body, as well as for morning or evening sessions. You will find yoga classes categorized into 7 sections. This app is helpful both for beginners, and advanced yogis.  

Within each workout, there is a list of poses. You can watch them separately or start a lesson and see everything in progress. Also here you will find an excellent video, a detailed description, the ability to open the side menu and go to any position, adjust the volume of the music, or pause the lesson. 

The app includes more than 50 workout plans to help you get fit with yoga, track progress by hours, and calories burned. 

There is a large library of individual asanas with descriptions and photos, as well as dynamic blocks of postures with video. A global community, regularly updated content will help you to stay motivated. The Community tab contains many articles with useful information, interesting facts about yoga, and polls. You can ask questions about yoga, make new friends to practice, or share your yoga moments.

Rating in App Store: 4.8, Google Play: 4.7. Daily Yoga is free to download, but have in-app purchases. It offers monthly ($20.99) or yearly ($5.83) subscription plans.

Pros:

• Smart Coach option 
• A global community 

Cons:

• Some sessions in one program fail to download successfully.

Our rating: 9/10 stars.

Map My Fitness

MapMyFitness is part of the world’s largest digital health & fitness community. An excellent tracker application for workouts and calorie counting. This app will be very useful for beginners. It allows you to log strength workouts with more detail and track your progress over time by logging load, sets, and reps, build your own workout routine from over 800+ exercises. You will have access to Workout Routines written by Under Armour trainers. Via this app, you can find nearby places to run, save your favorite paths, add new ones, and share with others.

It syncs with the latest apps and most wearables: Google Fit, Android Wear, Garmin, Fitbit, Suunto, etc. Map My Fitness has a large selection of activities (over 600): running, cycling, walking, gym workouts, cross-training, yoga, etc. Also, it has real-time audio coaching for common stats like pace, distance, and duration on your runs. 

Rating in App Store: 4.8, Google Play: 4.5. The monthly subscription costs $5.99 per month, the yearly subscription costs $29.99 per year or $2.50 per month.

Pros:

• Syncs well with the other fitness tools.
• Large selection of activities.
• Real-time audio coaching.

Cons:

• Sometimes fails to record data, when it is paired with Apple Watch.
• Doesn’t have an option to track when the screen is off.
• There are a lot of ads in the free version.

Our rating: 9/10 stars.

Shred

This one is the best for generating unique workouts. Shred creates personalized training programs for your home or gym based on your goals. It includes training across 18 Training Styles (Gym, Bodyweight, and Cardio), delivers step-by-step coaching and tracking. You can also tell it to skip a workout if your home/gym doesn’t have the proper equipment for that workout, but you can’t exclude exercises based upon equipment, which further limits the variety of workout. Shred features interactive and quality visual content. 

Shred has a motivating community that pushes you through your training. You can also track your progress on a daily basis and share it with your friends.

Rating in App Store: 4.8, Google Play: no reviews. Unlimited Training program is available for $99.99 per year. It’s named Editors’ Choice in the App Store. 

Pros:

• Workout with friends.
• Interactive visuals.

Cons:

• The first updates are generally done for iOS users. 
• The routines don’t vary.
• No integrations with other fitness devices.

Our rating: 8/10 stars.

My FitnessPal

Another interesting application to help those who decided to lose weight, finally go in for sports and generally lead a healthy lifestyle. 

During registration, you enter your physical parameters: current weight, desired weight, height, date of birth and gender, how physically active you are during your work (sedentary, average activity, etc.), how many times a week you want to go in for sports, etc.

Based on the data received from you, the application calculates how many calories you must spend every day in order to achieve your goals. A food diary and searchable nutrition database include thousands of common foods. 

My FitnessPal community has over 200 million members. You can easily link your MyFitnessPal account with over 50 apps that support your healthy lifestyle. 

Rating in App Store: 4.7, Google Play: 4.4. MyFitnessPal has a free trial, plus a Premium membership. Premium costs $9.99 per month or $49.99 per year.

Pros:

• A searchable food database of over 300 million items.
• A personalized diet.
• Compatible with many apps and devices.

Cons:

• Sometimes misreports.

Our rating: 9/10

Runtastic – Adidas Running App by Runtastic

Runtastic is well known to sports enthusiasts primarily for its running and cycling mobile apps. Adidas running app is a convenient GPS tracker with a simple interface. Tracks distance, time, speed, ascent, route, and calories burned, save statistics, and allows you to monitor the results of your workouts. The program can also sync with Garmin Connect, Google Fit, MyFitnessPal, and other fitness devices.

In addition, Runtastic allows you to track shoe wear and remind you to buy new sneakers. In the application, you can save routes on the map, choosing the best running spots near your home. Runtastic also offers media player control, so you don’t have to constantly switch from app to player. 

Adidas Running by Runtastic also provides a complete manual entry for treadmill, spinning, and weightlifting workouts.  

Rating in App Store: 4.8, Google Play: 4.6. It has a free version, and also offers a Premium subscription $9.99 per month, $39.99 or $49.99 per year (price may vary by location).

Pros:

• It has many integrations with other fitness tools.
• Media player control.
• Saves routes on the map.
• A shoe tracking option.

Cons:

• GPS is showing bad network connectivity. 
• It’s a battery destroyer.

Our rating: 9/10 stars.

***

It’s very important to be fit. Eating well and exercising can help guard against depression. Healthy lifestyle is not just trendy, it reduces the risk of most diseases, including heart disease, it will help you to improve your joint stability, flexibility, strength, sense of wellness and mood, and also self-confidence.

Believe in yourself and go for your dream day by day, step by step. With these apps, anyone can start physical activity today even without going to the gym. You need to set the right goal and choose the one that suits you best. Here you can find various workout programs for all muscle groups, for both men and women. In addition, you can join a large community with members from around the world, share with them your experience, motivate, and be motivated. Just download and use it.